Moto Razr 2019 shows exactly what I want from a foldable phone

Update: Motorola Australia has confirmed the Moto Razr 2019 will be coming to Australia. Danny Adamopoulos, GM Sales APAC for Mature Markets, on the launch of the motorola razr:

“I am delighted to confirm that the device you’ve all been waiting for will be coming to Australia.

This is a transformative time for both Motorola as a company, but also the broader telecommunications industry here in Australia. And much like the razr flip-phone redefined what a smartphone could be in the noughties, we’re now ready to flip your world all over again with the world’s first vertical folding display in a mobile device. The razr is coming. Stay tuned.”

We’ve seen a couple of takes on the foldable phone, first from the Royole FlexPai, then the Samsung Galaxy Fold and the Huawei Mate X. Now Motorola is redefining the fledgeling foldable category with a new take – and I love it.

Called the Moto Razr 2019, the phone is as close to an old school flip phone as you can get. Unlike the competition, the Razr 2019 doesn’t fold out to a tablet, instead it’s a clamshell design offering a 2.7-inch ‘Quick View’ display on the front opening to a 21:9 aspect ratio 6.2-inch OLED panel which is thiner and well suited to scrolling documents or watching wide-screen movies.

The phone has a 16MP camera on the back beneath the smaller display which lets you take high-res selfies, or you can use the 5MP selfie cam hidden in the notch of the larger display. A familiar chin at the bottom of the phone includes a fingerprint scanner for fast, secure biometric security.

The clamshell design is tantalisingly familiar to former Razr owners, with the compact form factor allowing it to fit comfortably in your pocket, but offering a large single panel display when opened. It’s familiar, and frankly looks awesome and is the first foldable I think I’d actually open my wallet for.

Open your wallet you will if you want one, with the phone priced at $1,500 USD when it goes on-sale. Pre-orders will go live on Boxing Day in the US ahead of a January 9th launch.