Motorola Razr I review

Motorola's Razr I smartphone is the second Intel-powered smartphone to arrive in the UK, following on from the Orange San Diego which launched back in June.

Intel has long claimed that there's currently no need for quad-core technology in smartphones. Building on this, Motorola goes as far as to claim that the Razr I's 2GHz Intel Atom processor with its  single core can outperform dual-core rivals.

While we wouldn't say the handset is as fast as quad-core power houses like the HTC One X and Galaxy S3, having put the Razr I through its paces, we have to concede there is some truth to Motorola and Intel's boasts.

The Razr I is yet to ship in the UK, so we looked at a pre-release sample unit which may not represent the finsihed firmware that buyers will see.

Design and build 

The Razr I combines design elements of Motorola's Razr and Defy series of smartphones, featuring the rounded edges and corners that are offset by a patterned back and industrial looking screws lining its outer edges.

The combination makes the Razr visually striking and we're happy to see a device that looks noticeably different from the soft, curved designs seen on competitor handsets like the Galaxy S3.

Despite feeling like it's made of plastic, the Razr I features the same life-proof kevlar coating as its predecessors. This means that as well as being scratch and drop proof, the Razr I is also proof against the occasional splash of liquid.

We inadvertantly tested the Razr I's life-proof status when we accidentally dropped the device into a puddle, and were pleased (as well as relieved) to see that it survived the drop without so much as a scratch, and still worked despite its brief submersion.

The Razr I is a good size to fit in your hand, hitting the same mid-sized sweet spot as Nokia's Lumia 800 and Apple's iPhone 4S, measuring in at 123x61x8.3mm. This means that the Razr I is comfortable to use for both small and large handed individuals.

Within its mid-sized chassis, the Razr I houses a 4.3in edge-to-edge display that boasts a 540x960 HD resolution based on Super Amoled technology.

Testing the screen, we were impressed how well it performed, with incredible brightness levels and viewing angles. So bright is the Razr I's screen that we actually found ourselves having to turn it down when using it indoors.