The gaming-centric Razer Phone will cost US$699.99
US- and Singapore-based gaming accessories company Razer has unveiled its first smartphone and, keeping in line with its ethos, have designed it to fit the heavy-duty demands of gamers.
The Razer Phone, which runs on Android Nougat (and will be updated to Android Oreo next year), is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chip and 8GB of RAM.
Its 8mm-thin aluminium body is packed with a massive 4,000 mAh battery, which is 1.5 times the capacity of the iPhone 8 Plus. Additionally, the battery supports Qualcomm Quick Charge 4+ rapid charging capabilities.
The Razer Phone is outfitted with a 5.72 inch display with 2K resolution and 120 Hz (Hertz) UltraMotion technology.
In layman’s terms, the greater amount of Hz a display has, the faster its refresh rate, and faster refresh rates translate into smoother graphics. The latest edition of the iPad Pro is also capable of 120 Hz refresh rates but the Razer Phone is one of the earliest adopters of this standard in the smartphone category.
Hz is also more commonly measured as frames per second. 1 Hz is equivalent to 1 frame per second. To further illustrate this example, here’s a video of games that run at 60 frames per second. So imagine how that would look like when the frames are doubled.
And the Razer Phone doesn’t just process pretty graphics, it takes great pictures as well: it comes with dual rear 18 MP cameras, allowing users to switch from telephoto to wide-angle shots seamlessly. The cameras also come equipped with dual-tone flashes to create natural-looking shots.
Also Read: Razer CEO Min-Liang Tan built a cult following, says one fan has brand tattooed on arm
Regarding its audio capabilities, the Razer Phone is loaded with dual dedicated amplifiers powered by Dolby Atmos technology with a THX-certified USB-C audio adapter with 24-bit digital audio converter (DAC). Razer claims these will deliver both cinematic and audiophile-quality audio.
The launch of the Razer Phone should come as no surprise to industry pundits. Earlier in January, Razer had already announced its intentions to enter the mobile phone industry with the acquisition of Nextbit Systems Inc. — the company behind an ‘indie’ smartphone named Robin.
Last year, Razer also bought George Lucas’ pioneering audio company THX, which explains why the Razer Phone has THX technology embedded in it.
Gaming partnerships
Flashy specs and no games make for a white elephant. Razer has already partnered up with some of the notable gaming developers, including Tencent, Square Enix, Wargaming Group, BANDAI NAMCO, and others to bring on board popular mobile games.
Here is a rundown of the games that will be available on the Razer Phone.
- “Arena of Valor” from Tencent
- “Final Fantasy XV Pocket Edition” from Square Enix
- “Gear.Club” from Eden Games
- “Lineage 2: Revolution” from Netmarble Games Corporation
- “Old School RuneScape” from Jagex Limited
- “RuneScape” from Jagex Limited
- “Shadowgun Legends” from Madfinger Games
- “Tekken” from BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Europe
- “Titanfall: Assault” from NEXON Co., Ltd. and Particle City, Inc.
- “World of Tanks Blitz” from Wargaming Group Limited
“It’s common knowledge that I’m obsessed with my smartphones, I play a ton of games on them, and they’re my go-to for streaming content,” said Razer Co-Founder and CEO Min-Liang Tan, in an official press statement. “We have wanted to make a phone with gaming-level tech for years, and the Razer Phone delivers in every way we imagined.”
The Razer Phone will be officially launched in the US, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, France, Denmark and Sweden on November 17, with reservations starting today. 1,337 sets of the Razer Phone will come embedded with Razer’s iconic triple-headed snake logo.
Its recommended pricing is: US$699.99 / €749.99 / £699.99.
There is no word yet on when the Razer Phone will enter Asia and how much it would cost.
—
Image Credit: Razer
The post Razer has unveiled its new phone and its specs are to die for appeared first on e27.