MobileBurn got themselves
a hands-on with the hot new Motorola RAZR 2 V8 --- if you don't think it's hot, at least admit that it's what the original
RAZR should have been. The most notable change is obvious, and very welcome: no more hump, chin, or lump used to accommodate the chunky internals. The semi-touch screen is also an interesting variation on the usual touchscreen style, with tactile buzzing feedback when one of the three touch buttons on the external screen are pressed. The pre-production model had a poor shutter button, which is a bit of a disappointment since this is usually a well used button, and considering the effort put into the external screen. (Let's hope that this'll get fixed for production models.) The reviewers found that the main keypad was great, with a not-too-rubbery feel, and the UI is an improvement in all the areas that count -- snappy, clear, and customizable. The refinements make the RAZR2 V8 sound like a winner to us: a pity it had to be such a long time coming.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jorge @ May 27th 2007 3:21PM
Nice try moto. I find moto design to be too conservative. Also if the camera is like the krzr then it is not that great.
I wish they make a phone with a touch screen and add a mobile os like symbian or window mobile. Also include decent camera such as 3 mega pixel with auto focus and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Also include wifi and gps. And make the design less conservative.
wsjchoi @ May 27th 2007 3:48PM
stop hating like a whore, this new razr is a fashion phone, not a freakin piece of brick that does everything and bulges out of your pocket.
even the "has it all" n95 lacks some things.
you're just a whore that hates motorola just like apple-nuts that claim vista sucks like hell
Justin @ May 27th 2007 3:38PM
The American cell phone market sucks, USA needs to step it up
Issy @ May 27th 2007 3:55PM
I love you.
Big @ May 27th 2007 9:29PM
APPLE FANBOYS SUCK !!!!!
DOWN WITH MAC !
Dustin @ May 27th 2007 4:01PM
Huh. Looks quite similar to my LG VX8600 I've had since November.
J. Evans Turner @ May 27th 2007 4:05PM
I actually prefer the stylings of the old RAZR and Q. This is just "bleh". There is no distinctive appearance.
Big @ May 27th 2007 5:21PM
The RAZR was a fantastic phone as well as an innovative piece of technology. What suprised me most about the phone was how it turned family members of mine who weren't good with technology into users who could explore most features of the phone due to its slick interface.
What bothers me however is I was expecting the V3x with its video chat to re-revolutionize the cellphone industry. Apparently, they never had networks fast enough to support the video chat.
I like this model better than the KRZR but I wish it had more ground breaking technology in it.
Jeremy K. @ May 27th 2007 5:57PM
It's sexy... I also like the mini usb to minimini usb! Didn't know there was a minimini usb or whatever it's called.
Deezee @ May 27th 2007 6:33PM
I think this might be my next phone.
TIMMAH! @ May 27th 2007 6:44PM
Have they fixed this issue of dust getting under the screen casing? I have a RAZR V3 and I can't see the screen outdoors anymore because of the dust that's built up between the case and the LCD screen.
Jamie Marsden @ May 27th 2007 7:01PM
I think this new design is much better than the old one. I always thought the keypad on the old one looked odd, and not at all nice. The new keypad is slick.
gsd @ May 27th 2007 7:29PM
I have two RAZRs in my household. Both basically died out after less than two years of moderately careful usage. Both batteries only work for maximum of 5 hours (30-40min. speaking) after complete recharging, both phones' reception became abysmal. Someone I know didn't have any reception problems but his battery's life was even shorter than ours. Long story short, the worst phone I've ever had. Which is too bad, considering that it's also one of the thinnest ones I've ever seen (a major requirement since I prefer keeping it in my coat/jacket pockets).
ark_v2 @ May 27th 2007 7:34PM
I'm I the only one who doesn't like it?
That silver part below the screen makes it look ugly IMO. Other than that is ok.
dcny @ May 27th 2007 8:34PM
Cant Motorola come up with something new instead of modifing the same damn design, razr krzr they all look the same come up with something new im so sick of the damn razr's that was 2004 or 2005 when ever the hell they first came out, if motorola wants to come out with a new phone every month they could atleast come with a new design
get that man a tripod @ May 27th 2007 9:48PM
Obviously none of you guys have held this thing in your hand. It's pretty nice. If you just hate Mot, too bad. But they will catch your eye when you see them in public.
MaXKiLLz @ May 27th 2007 10:44PM
I just need to know if Verizon will have it at the end of June, when my "New Every 2" becomes available...
cgarison @ May 27th 2007 10:56PM
Forget how soon can I get one from Cingular. How soon is this thing going to be available from Rogers in Canada. The unlocked RAZR V3 that I purchased from Rogers has been a 3 times better phone than any of the crap I have seen from Cingular. The Cingular RAZRs were dying in just a few month while my unlocked international RAZR has been through hell in the last year and still works perfectly.
Bo @ May 27th 2007 11:26PM
Meh I'll wait for the 3rd iteration.
absurdio @ May 28th 2007 12:01AM
What is the MATTER with you people?
Re: the Apple comments: uh, yes, Apple fanboys do, I suppose suck, but they don't really suck any more than imbeciles shouting "DOWN WITH MAC" in the comments section of a completely Mac-free article...
And as far as the "tired of the RAZR look" sentiment goes: I've asked this before, and I'll keep asking until I get a decent answer: what the hell else do you want? I'm not die-hard Moto aficionado, but I also recognize a pretty decent phone when I see one. My biggest complaints about the original RAZR were 1) the hump and 2) the dimensions...and both of those have been changed for this iteration. And on top of that, the specs on this phone are a damn sight better than those of the original RAZR. I'm not married to the phone by any means, but I think it's a pretty big step up from what the RAZR was. And yeah, sure, I wish it had a rocket-pack, dish washer, and 46" holographic display, too, but that just ain't happenin' yet. And I understand that the US phone market is a ways behind the rest of the world's, but - at least by this country's standards - this thing doesn't look too shabby.
So, again: what do you WANT, people?
MrGam3r @ Aug 22nd 2007 9:02PM
i want it to be affordable....
BobTurbo @ May 28th 2007 12:09AM
I have never understood how anyone can find any of the RAZR phones attractive? I have a feeling you are just products of a marketing campaign that tells you what is attractive as you have no god dam sense of style of your own. Actually that is exactly it. You are all the same tools that wear each new stupid fashion that the marketing departments sell you. Is this phone the new black?
Eric @ May 28th 2007 12:43AM
Very nice. Looks expensive. I want one.
jackson @ May 28th 2007 6:56AM
really it will rock the mobile fans!!!!!!dude!
hydrogen_wv @ May 29th 2007 9:07AM
BobTurbo - You know what they say... Opinions are like ***holes... yours stinks. Have you ever thought that everyone has their own opinions on, well, everything. Sure, people that go out and blindly buy this phone because their friend has one are tools, but there are people, like me, that actually like the look of the phone. I'm as non-trendy as you could imagine. I wear what is comfortable, I buy what I like, I prefer efficiency over looks when it comes to almost everything.
Anyway, I like the look of the Motorola phones. They are visually appealing. I like this one a lot better, though. Will I ever own one? probably not. I've seen a lot of them broken, I've heard they aren't very durable, and I've heard a lot of people say that they hate them. Durability is the biggest thing for me, though. My phone gets dropped, banged, scratched, etc....
Yeah, it's a nice phone. Yeah, it has good features, Yeah, it looks nice... But it's just not the phone for me.
Jason @ May 29th 2007 2:01PM
I agree with hydrogen_wv. You buy what suits you and to add to that, you buy what's in your budget and what's available. If this phone is reasonably priced and has the features I want, then I will look at the design and make a decision.
That said, though I don't like the original RAZR, beyond its slim form, this new one looks much nicer and has made improvements in key areas. I can't wait to see what the new OS is like. That's one of the biggest gripes I have - slow response.
kevin @ May 31st 2007 9:21PM
I don't know if anyone else cares but -as far as I know- most of, if not all of motos phones for sometime have had limited bluetooth profiles, the only one being for voice/a BT ear piece. This plus their widely common durability problems and constant updating instead of doing it right the first time leads me to never consider moto. It's a shame people can be sold such an expensive item on looks and size. I guess there's no reason for moto to make a more reliable phone if that's not on the top of most consumers list.
Andrew P @ Jun 6th 2007 8:31PM
Knowing Moto the USA release date should be about 2-3 weeks after x-mass and cost twice as much as any other phone on the market. I am sure China has them now. They wounder why there stock is flat.