Motorola razr (2022)

Lenovo has posted the image below via the Chinese social media platform Weibo. The image reads "hellomoto, hello snapdragon 8+". A reference to the recently announced Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1. Below that we see the unmistakable outline of a razr phone, most likely the razr 3.

An employee of Motorola itself posted the image. In the accompanying text, he or she also mentions that "the new phone feels really good". Previously published images already showed that the razr 3 probably has a new look. A look that is more like the Samsung Flip 3 than the previous razr.

Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1

Qualcomm announced the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 on May 20, claiming the 4nm-based TSMC chip is up to 10% faster and up to 30% more energy efficient. Qualcomm says to expect the first products with a Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 in the third quarter of 2022. That automatically means the Motorola razr 3 is not expected before July 2022.

The photo of the razr 3 comes from Evan Blass via a posting on 91mobiles. Evan has a reputation to uphold; he was also the first to show photos of the razr 1 and razr 2.

The photo above is partially blurred, possibly to protect its origin/source. But we can largely see its folded exterior, and it's completely different from its predecessors. We see a dual camera in the corner and the design looks more angular. This is all very reminiscent of Samsung's Flip 3.

razr 3 specs

The front seems to be made of glass with it still unclear how much of it is screen. The frame appears to be aluminum judging by the antenna bands. The volume button on the right now consists of 2 separate buttons instead of 1. According to Evan, this future razr will come out in two colors: Quartz Black and Tranquil Blue.

Earlier rumors talked about a high-end processor for the razr 3 and Blass agrees. The device will get a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 or Gen 1 Plus processor with 8 or 12GB of RAM memory. The camera sensors are 50 and 13MP in size, the latter of which doubles as a macro camera in addition to ultra-wide-angle. A combination that Motorola uses more often.

razr 3 availability

The foldable has a Full HD + resolution display with a punch-hole at the top for the 32MP selfie camera. That means the notch is gone. Blass expects this razr codenamed "Maven" to come out sometime in July or August, but only in China first. A global rollout will follow later. Expect high retail prices.

The Motorola razr (2019) and the razr 5G were received quite well. They were just a bit expensive. You mainly got mid-range specifications for a high-end price. That was largely due to the flexible screen which is expensive for Lenovo to buy. That made the choice of mid-range components like the camera and processor somewhat questionable.

As mentioned, that's going to change starting with the razr 3. Because it is expected to receive a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1; the latest chipset what Qualcomm currently has to offer. XDA Developers, the source of this story, further believes that the Motorola razr 3 will be equipped with a 6.7-inch FHD display without a notch. This time, Lenovo will make use of a hole punch. The refresh rate would go up to 120Hz.

Also camera improvements

In terms of cameras, we expect a 50MP main camera and a 13MP ultra-wide-angle. The selfie camera would be a 32MP one. The device is said to run Android 12 out of the box with between 6 and 12GB of RAM memory. When it will see the light of day is unknown. Previous models were always announced at the end of the year, except for 2021; that year was skipped.