If there’s one thing people should know about entering the mobile market today, it’s that, now more than ever, a smartphone needs to have something unique to make it stand out. Over the years, smartphones have slowly but surely become more like one another, making differences between them negligible at best most of the time. But sometimes you still come across a device that truly has some stand out aspects, which gaming company Razer hopes to achieve with its new “smartphone for gamers”, Razer Phone.
For the most part, speculation and rumors leading up to the official reveal of the device were spot on. Razer Phone features a 5.7-inch QHD display, the powerful Snapdragon 835 processor, an impressive 8GB of RAM, 12-megapixel dual cameras on the back, 8-megapixel camera on the front, 64GB of internal storage with microSD card slot, and an impressive 4,000 mAh battery. It’s housing is similar to the Nextbit Robin, which comes as no surprise considering Razer acquired the company’s assets earlier this year. There are some differences in design, such as the color scheme, the presence of a large Razer logo on the back, and dual front-facing speakers.
Along with its impressive specs, Razer seemed particularly proud of the device’s audio and screen qualities. Front-facing speakers running Dolby ATMOS audio, THX certified listening experience with headphones, and an IGZO panel QHD display with 120Hz Ultramotion are all excellent talking points for the phone, considering good quality audio and visuals are important for a solid gaming experience.
But while its specs are noteworthy, the Razer Phone is not without its flaws. There is no 3.5mm headphone jack – a bold move for somebody just entering the smartphone space – and the device has fairly large bezels, a trend which has quickly become undesirable for a smartphone. On the plus side, the dual front-facing speakers give real purpose to the top and bottom bezels’ existence.
One of the most impressive aspects of this device, however, is the price. I was fully prepared for the company to announce some $800-$900 price tag, but I was wrong. The Razer Phone costs $699. Although that is still on the higher side of things, $699 is still not as expensive as a 2017 flagship could be. I would argue that it’s a reasonable asking price.
Overall, the Razer Phone seems better than I anticipated. Top notch specs, big battery, and a competitive price tag make this a good Android smartphone for more than just gamers – you just get the added perk of being able to handle even the most graphic-intensive games exceptionally well. And while its boxy design might not be everyone’s cup of tea, I’m personally fond of it. I purchased a Nextbit Robin earlier this year when it was on sale for $118, and I was really happy with the device. It felt surprisingly good in the hand, and its corners – which look sharper than they feel – provided a solid grip.
It will be interesting to see if Razer will be successful in their first foray into the smartphone industry. The device comes out just a couple of weeks after the long-awaited iPhone X was released, and also trails behind the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL (which appear to have some issues) and the Galaxy Note 8 (which thankfully seems to have no issues this year). Regardless, those are some big names to compete against. Even so, I do think the Razer Phone is worth checking out, as it brings plenty to the table for a reasonable price.
