Motorola Razr
Series of mobile phones by Motorola Mobility
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The Razr name was introduced with the V3 model (then styled RAZR, also MOTORAZR) in 2004, which became extremely popular. The line was succeeded by the Motorola Razr2 flip phones in 2007. The Razr later evolved into a line of non-clamshell devices in 2011, Droid Razr (known simply as the "Motorola RAZR" on non-Verizon networks), bearing design similarities to the originals. Razr was revived again in 2019, this time evolving into a line of all-screen clamshell foldables that continues to this day.
First generation - Razr V3 (2004-2007)
The Razr V3 was introduced in 2004 and became wildly popular. Motorola released several upgraded versions, including the Razr V3x in 2005 (which featured 3G connectivity), the Razr V3i, and the Razr v3xx in 2006, along with various variants. Motorola also released the Motorola RAZR maxx V6.
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Second generation - Razr2 (2007-2009)
The Razr2 was the successor to the Razr series. The Razr2 was 2 mm thinner than its predecessor but slightly wider. Some versions featured Motorola's MotoMagx operational platform, based on the MontaVista Linux OS. The Razr2 was available on every US carrier, and EVDO, GSM, and HSDPA versions were released by late 2007. The Razr2 line consisted of 4 models: V8, V9, V9m, and V9x.
The phone improved picture quality, speed, and multimedia capabilities over the original Razr. It also featured an external screen with touch-sensitive buttons, which allowed users to use some of the phone's features without opening it, and Motorola's CrystalTalk technology to improve call quality and help reduce background noise. Different color variants were released, including a Luxury Edition and a Ferrari Edition.
However, Razr2 sales were not as strong as those of the original V3 series, as consumers moved to competing products. Because Motorola relied so long upon the Razr and its derivatives and was slow to develop new products in the growing market for feature-rich touchscreen and 3G phones, the Razr appeal declined, leading Motorola to drop behind Samsung eventually and LG in market share for mobile phones. Motorola's strategy of grabbing market share by selling tens of millions of low-cost Razrs cut into margins and resulted in heavy losses in the cellular division. The cell phone division became part of Motorola Mobility in 2011 as a result of the Motorola split.
Third generation - Droid Razr (2011-2013)
The Razr brand returned in 2011 with the introduction of the Motorola Droid Razr smartphone (the "Droid" name only used by Verizon in the USA). The line shared its trademark thinness and stylized tapered corners with the original. The line included:
- Droid Razr, flagship successor of the Droid Bionic
- Droid Razr Maxx, variant with a larger battery
- Motorola Razr V, a cheaper Droid Razr released in Canada
- Droid Razr HD, new flagship introduced in 2012
- Droid Razr Maxx HD, variant with a larger battery
- Droid Razr M, same internals as Droid Razr HD but in a smaller body
- Motorola RAZR i, variant with an Intel Atom-powered chip and no 4G
- Motorola Razr D1 and D3, entry-level products released in Brazil in 2013
The Droid Razr HD and Droid Razr M were succeeded by the Droid MAXX and Droid Mini, respectively.
Fourth generation - Razr foldable smartphones (2019-present)
The Razr was revived again in 2020 with the release of the Razr foldable smartphone (flip phone) with a flexible folding interior display, styled after the clamshell form factor of the original models. Announced in November 2019, the new Razr has a design reminiscent of the classic Razr V3. A full successor did not come out until 2022 and since then Motorola has annually updated this series of new Razr foldables. The line includes:
Clamshell-style foldables
Book-style foldables
In March 2026, the Motorola Razr Fold was announced which marks Motorola's first book-style foldable rather than clamshell-style foldable as the rest of the Razr line.