Motorola Razr: Reboot of iconic folding phone teased in new video

2019 version will be instantly recognisable to fans of the classic flip phone

Fifteen years after the launch of the Motorola Razr, the iconic flip phone is about to get a 2019 makeover.

A new video of the folding phone has been shared on the Weibo page of Motorola’s parent company Lenovo, revealing a render of what the new device might look like.

The phone will be instantly recognisable to fans of the original, featuring the same slim design and folding mechanism.

Beyond the technological upgrades, the main difference appears to be that the new phone is noticeably wider than its predecessor – presumably to incorporate a standard smartphone screen ratio when unfolded.

Its resurrection comes amid a new-wave of foldable smartphones from major manufacturers like Huawei and Samsung.

The most high-profile has been the beleaguered Samsung Galaxy Fold, which was delayed earlier this month due to issues with the folding mechanism.

Lenovo will be hoping the Razr’s revival can emanate some of the success of the original, which sold more than 130 million units to become the world’s most popular flip phone.

The price of the latest phone may prevent it from experiencing the same level of mainstream popularity, however, with a report in The Wall Street Journal suggesting it will set customers back $1,500 (£1,170).

This makes it cheaper than other folding smartphones, such as the $2,000 Galaxy Fold, but still more than double the cost of the original Razr when it was released.

The Motorola Razr 2019 will be among the cheapest of the new generation of foldable smartphones (Lenovo)

The Motorola Razr 2019 will be among the cheapest of the new generation of foldable smartphones (Lenovo)

The new Razr will not be the first reimagining of an early noughties classic. In 2017, Nokia updated its classic 3310 but without the high-end specs that the new Razr is expected to have.

Motorola are yet to divulge a release date for the Razr, though it can be expected to officially launch at some point in 2019.