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Razer Phone
Razer Phone
Razer Phone
Razer Phone
Razer Phone
Razer Phone
...


7.9/10
Informr score
The Razer Phone currently has an Informr score of 7.9 out of 10. This score is based on our evaluation of 28 sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

The "1-Minute" Review

Verdict

If you can overlook the phone’s camera shortcomings, the phones speakers and 120hz HDR display offer a mobile gaming and media experience few phones can rival at a competitive price.

What's good

  • Silky smooth 120hz display
  • Dolby Atmos and 5.1 surround sound
  • HDR support
  • Blazing performance
  • All-day battery
  • Front-facing speakers

What's bad

  • Weak camera
  • No headphone jack
  • No waterproofing or resistance

Razer enjoys a solid reputation in gaming accessories and gear. But the Razer Phone marks their entry into a different market. Designed as a phone for gamers and media lovers, the phone brings nothing particularly new to the table, but attempts to handle the important aspects well.

The phone’s unique design immediately sets it apart from the pack. The square, flat chassis is the polar opposite of many of the sleek, curved designs from flagships in recent years. However, reviewers found the phone comfortable to hold and noted that the design works well for gripping the phone in landscape mode—an important considering for long gaming sessions or binge-watching your favorite shows.

The phone also includes a combination power button and fingerprint scanner on the side. While some questioned the placement at first, most found it easy to reach and responsive.

Heading around to the front is where the phone shines. The 5.7-inch, HDR-ready IPS display runs at a resolution of 1440-by-2560 to provide loads of detail and great viewing angles. But the real difference is the 120hz refresh rate. Reviewers loved the fluid movement and silky smooth scrolling on offer. The phone adjusts refresh rates based on your activity to help conserve battery life and provide an optimal experience.

To help keep up with the display, Razer went with an octa-core 2.35Ghz Snapdragon 835 processor and a massive 8GB of RAM. As expected, we found zero complaints about performance. The phone’s thicker design also allows for better heat dissipation when pushing the phone to its limits. So you’ll have little worry of hot hands or slowdowns. 

Of course, all that power means nothing without the room to store your apps or movies. Fortunately, the phone includes 64GB of internal storage and supports microSD cards up to 2TB.

Another area the phone stands out is the audio experience. The dual front-facing speakers with Dolby Atmos and 5.1 surround sound support wowed reviewers with both their volume and clarity—though some noticed a bit of harshness at full volume. This lessens the blow of the missing headphone jack, but if you’re looking to use your favorite cans to make the most of your games, you’ll need a 3.5mm to USB Type-C converter.

The phone’s 4,000mAh battery was enough to keep the phone running for a full day—even with moderate gaming and movie watching. Should you have issues, dialing back refresh rates and performance can help with squeaking a few more hours out of a charge. When it comes time to charge, the Qualcomm QuickCharge 4.0 Plus charger will top you off in just over an hour.

Despite all the good things reviewers said, there was one aspect of the phone that received endless complaints—the camera. On paper, a dual lens 12MP rear camera and 8MP front-facing lens sound like a good set up. In action, reviewers had issues with blurry shots, grainy low-light pictures, and shutter lag. To make matters worse, even when they captured a clear shot, colors were dull and muted. 

Most recommend downloading a third-party camera app instead of using the stock app. Razer is issuing updates to address camera concerns. However, at the time of writing, these haven’t improved many of the issues reviewers noted.

Despite this setback, the phone appears to accomplish what it claims—creating a powerhouse mobile device geared toward gaming and media consumption. Overall, reviewers agree. VentureBeat notes, “When it comes to consuming media and games, I don’t think you can get a better smartphone. But if a questionable camera is a deal breaker for you, either get something else or wait for the Razer Phone 2.” SlashGear also commends it, saying, “... the Razer Phone is like no other company’s ‘first try’ I’ve ever experienced.”


Android
Operating system
Operating system
Android
2.45 GHz
Processor
Processor
2.45 GHz
5.7"
Screen Size
Screen Size
5.7"
12+ MP, f/1.75
Camera
Camera
12+ MP, f/1.75
4000 mAh
Battery


What the Critics Are Saying...


TrustedReviews
TrustedReviews

The Razer Phone is still a fantastic handset that makes the case for smartphones including variable refresh rate screens. It’s only a shame the camera falls way short of expectations.

- Alastair Stevenson, TrustedReviews
3G.co.uk
3G.co.uk

The Razer Phone has the best speakers you'll find on a phone and a screen built with gamers in mind. If you want a gaming phone this is a top choice but even if you don't it's worth considering, as long as you can live with the design.

- James Rogerson, 3G.co.uk
Android Central
Android Central

Razer is asking $700 for a phone that offers supreme performance in some areas while falling short in others. Depending on how you primarily use your phone will be key in determining whether a ridiculously smooth (but occasionally dim) display backed by top-end performance specs can outweigh a lackl...

- Marc Lagace, Android Central
Notebookcheck
Notebookcheck

The Razer Phone is a high-quality phone at a fair price, and will certainly find its audience not just among gamers.

- Florian Wimmer, Notebookcheck
Venture Beat
Venture Beat

As a first foray into this space, the Razer Phone is an incredible device. When it comes to consuming media and games, I don’t think you can get a better smartphone.

- Jeff Grubb, Venture Beat


Prices (Where to Buy)




Common Questions


We've got you covered! Download a free PDF copy of the Razer Phone user manual here.


Razer backs up the Phone with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.


If your Phone has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact Razer support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find Razer's contact information here. If your phone is off warranty and needs repair for a physical problem such as a broken screen or bad battery, you should visit an authorized service centre or a local phone repair shop. You can also connect with others in The Informr Community Forum to find and share answers to questions.



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Screen Size
5.7"

The Razer Phone's screen size is 5.7 inches with 1440 x 2560 pixels resolution.

Processor
2.45 GHz

There is a Qualcomm MSM8998 Snapdragon 835 Octa core 2.45 GHz processor (CPU).

OS

The phone runs on the Android 7.1 Nougat (Update Available: 8.1 Oreo) operating system (OS).

Camera
12+ MP

You can take photos with the phone's onboard 12+ MP, f/1.75 camera.

There is also a secondary front facing camera with 8+ megapixels resolution.

Storage
64 GB

Internal memory is 64 GB. An external, MicroSD, MicroSDHC, microSDXC (up to 2000 GB) expansion slot is available for increased storage capacity.

Battery
4000mAh

The phone is powered by a Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion), 4000 mAh battery. Razer's performance ratings are 1676 minutes, 446 minutes Wi-Fi surfing.

Razer Phone Specs

Overview
Release Date November 15, 2017
Regions Available USA, Canada, United Kingdom
Operating System Android 7.1 Nougat (Update Available: 8.1 Oreo)

Compare Android Smartphones

Processor Qualcomm MSM8998 Snapdragon 835 Octa core 2.45 GHz
Internal Storage 64 GB
RAM 8 GB
Hearing Aid Compatible No
TTY/TDD No
Noise Cancellation Yes
SAR Head: 0.35 W/kg
Body: 0.68 W/kg
Manufacturer Warranty 1 Year
Accessories Included AC Charger, Manual
Cellular
Networks
GPRS, EDGE, HSUPA, HSPA+, LTE
Mobile / Cellular Data
4G/LTE
Push-to-talk (PTT) No
Wi-Fi Calling Yes
Voice over LTE (VoLTE) Yes
SIM card size
Nano-SIM
Dual SIM No
Connectivity
USB Micro-USB 2.0
USB OTG Support Yes
GPS Type A-GPS
Infrared No
Bluetooth 4.2
Bluetooth Profiles A2DP, AVRCP, OPP/FTP, HFP, HSP
Bluetooth Audio Codecs SBC
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n
Mobile Hotspot Yes
Memory Expansion Slot Yes
Expansion Slot Info MicroSD, MicroSDHC, microSDXC (up to 2000 GB)
NFC Yes
Data Tethering Compatibility Yes
Camera
Main Camera
Resolution / Aperture
12+ Megapixels, f/1.75
Zoom
Yes
Flash
Yes (Dual LED)
Additional Rear Camera Info
Auto focus, Effects, Geotagging, Panorama, Self-timer, Dual camera feature (13 MP 2nd camera), Phase detection
Video Recording Formats
3GP / 3GPP, H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4, WMV
Video Recording Parameters
Ultra HD (3840 x 2160 pixels), 30 fps
Front Camera
Resolution / Aperture
8+ Megapixels
Additional Front Camera Info
F2.0 aperture
Video Recording Parameters
Display / Screen
Type Color
Technology LCD (IPS)
Colors 16.7 million
Resolution 1440 x 2560 pixels
Pixel Density 513 pixels
Size 5.7 inches
Secondary Display No
Sensors Ambient Light, Proximity, Motion / Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Digital Compass
Multi-Touch Yes
Fingerprint-Resistant Coating No
Additional Display Features Capacitive touch screen, Corning Gorilla Glass 3, 120 Hz refresh rate, Wide Color Gamut
Power & Battery
Battery Type Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion)
Battery Capacity 4000 mAh
Removable Battery No
Wireless Charging No
Fast Charging Yes
Video Playback Time Up to 415 minutes
Internet Use (Wi-Fi) Up to 446 minutes
Internet Use (Cellular) Up to 570 minutes
Talk Time Up to 1676 minutes
Standby Time Unknown
Mixed Usage
Physical Characteristics
Design Type Bar
Material Aluminium
Colors Black
Dimensions [H x W x D] 15.8 x 7.8 x 0.8 cm (6.2 x 3.1 x 0.3 in)
Weight 197 grams
Water Resistant / Waterproof No
Rugged design No
IP Rating No
Headset Jack No
External Speakers Stereo
Input / Navigation
Sleep / Wake Key Yes
Home Key No
Input / Keyboard Type Touchscreen
Navigation Type Touchscreen
External Volume Control Yes
Fingerprint Sensor Yes
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Additional Information Other Names (AKA):
Related Links Manual (PDF)
Razer Phone Reviews
Where to buy Razer Phone
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