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It's not easy to turn heads in the mobile industry in 2018. At best, we see new handsets boasting critics but also a feeling of stifled boredom. Maybe it's the best of the genre so far, but so what? Aside from the fact that each box is checked, what does it bring back to the table? Fortunately, for those of us who are looking for something different (although a little weird), Razer has decided to embark on the mobile phone market. The gaming hardware company is now using its second generation smartphone, the Razer Phone 2, and remains true to its original vision: a handset for high-profile mobile players. This puts the device in an interesting position. It is a luxury product – so it should not only compete with the best, but do more. It is there that intervenes the display of refresh rate of 120Hz and the bright RGB logo.
But the price is revealing. Although it is certainly competing with other high-end devices at $ 799 – like the Pixel 3, for example – it still dares not go higher. The main reason is probably that the Razer phone has too little brand recognition (or not the right kind – when I say the name, most people think it's a reincarnation of the famous Motorola Razr), however I think the price is appropriate in other respects, too. First, because the gaming phone market is still nascent, and second, because Razer continues to find its place in mobile hardware. The Razer 2 phone is a great phone, but it does not check all the boxes for now.
120Hz still astounding
Let's start with the display as this is the main selling point of the device. While this may sound like a hyperbole, the refresh rate of the 120Hz display is nothing short of breathtaking. When you enable the setting (90Hz by default), the display can change images up to 120 frames per second. That's twice as often as an ordinary smartphone. In addition, the Razer Phone 2 has a touch sampling of 120 Hz, which allows to enter the touch inputs at a much faster rate. The latest iPhone has this technology, which plays a leading role in the quality of interactions (something that Apple fans love to brag) – and that is associated with a 60Hz screen.
It's hard to say how much this refresh rate improves the overall gaming experience, but also simple mobile navigation. In recent years, few new mobile technologies have been seen as a significant and generational step forward. The devices without glasses or almost without glasses come closer, but it is a change that divides and introduced the much-maligned notch. I think everyone could be late on 120Hz screens. Every interaction has been significantly improved, from Pokémon Go to scrolling on Twitter.
The only drawback is that the screen is not OLED (the technology is not there yet) and that the IGZO LCD is much darker and warmer than the one you'll be used to if you use just about n Any other flagship Android bonus. Rest assured, it's better than last year's Razer Phone – about 50% better, going from 380 nits of brightness to 580 nits.
Display is now quite acceptable, although you may have to squint at the screen on a sunny day. But it's a small price to pay for a screen with the sweetest and sweetest interaction I've ever seen.
This handset is powered by a Snapdragon 845 chipset – standard number for the flagship products of 2018. As we have seen with the other biggest smartphones of 2018, it is endowed with outstanding performance, a great Qualcomm Adreno 630 GPUs, as well as the gigabit LTE X20 modem. There's also 64GB of internal storage and 8GB of RAM, double the size of Pixel 3. Of course, many will argue that 8GB of short-term digital storage is simply useless, but this argument is rather useless. go out the window. If a device could use backup RAM, it is a device dedicated to 3D games and, if not, there is no harm in doing so.
Performance and design in practice
In my gaming experience with the phone, my longest session lasted about two hours. I've been playing Lara Croft Go (a game optimized for 120Hz) without stopping during this time, and the experience has remained constant throughout. No slowdown and no crash. I can not say the same thing in case of overheating: the phone is a little hot during the intensive processing tasks (about 110 degrees Fahrenheit), but stabilizes at this level when you keep playing.
I can not know if there is an indictment of the new cooling system of the phone's steam chamber or its identical operation because the heat is distributed in a relatively homogeneous way at the back of the phone. It's not uncomfortable, but it worries me a bit for the 4000 mAh battery – it could contribute to faster degradation than usual. For now, the battery life is an excellent aspect of the Razer Phone 2. When I settle for daily phone activities such as navigation, calls and messaging, its life is more than a day, this which is excellent compared to many leading companies. But the game causes a precipitous fall, as one could expect. In about two hours of play, you risk losing 50% of your charge. If the phone is completely idle, you will lose about one percent per hour.
The only problem I had with the overall gaming experience of the Razer Phone 2 is the design of the device. It may be the least comfortable phone I have used, and I have used several Sony phones in recent years. I will note that I have quite small hands and wrists, but even people with larger hands than mine found it big, angular and heavy (36 grams more than the 3 XL pixel, to be precise) . Of course, I appreciate the 5.72 inch screen, but at what price? My little finger almost broke every time I tried to put the phone on it. The handset is also a very dangerous device for getting into a pair of pants or a jacket pocket, given its size and slippery glass back. All this taken together is for me a decisive point. The design is just not practical.
Speakers and RGB light delights
This does not mean that there are no good sides to this. In fact, the front speakers bring us back to the convenience of convenience stores. I know it may not be very sophisticated, but I like to play music and podcasts from the speakers of my smartphone. This is the best way to bring audio with you home if you do not have a configured multi-room audio system. It's unpleasant when the sound quality is low and quiet, but I do it anyway. That's how I'm engaged in this lifestyle. Fortunately, the Razer Phone 2 has made listening to podcasts and music aloud a fantastic experience.
These speakers are so loud. Up to 103.3 strong decibels. You can easily hear your sound even if you are doing the dishes or taking a shower. The quality is very good too. This is not the best thing I've ever heard, but at average volumes, it sounds well balanced and has a lot of body. Even when you hear sounds at the highest possible volume (which hurts the ears, it's so loud) – it's only slightly metallic and the highs do not seem masked. The performances of the wired headsets are also satisfactory, but nothing exceptional. In close comparison with Pixel 2 using Razer's new wired Hammerhead earbuds, I found that the 2 pixel's audio had more depth and sharpness, but in everyday use, I did not find it. I did not notice a lot of difference.
I'll be back for a moment on the external speakers – that's another reason that impresses me particularly: Razer has managed to include these two massive front speakers while offering IP67 waterproofing, excellent for peace of mind. In addition, the company traded a metal back against a glass, allowing wireless charging. But the most important design element, in my eyes, is the RGB light logo. I chose the "breathable" lighting rhythm, which immediately gave the device the impression of being an adorable little sensitive robot – an effect reinforced by the fact that the lights notify you of notifications – blue for Facebook, yellow for Snapchat, etc. – and alert you when the battery is low with a red light. Never have I felt more guilty of not having a charge cord. I love the RGB light logo so much that it almost makes up for the uncomfortable and blocky design of this mobile gaming beast. But not quite.
Camera and user interface
Let's move on to the less exciting aspects of the Razer Phone 2. First, the camera. The first Razer phone got a very bad news regarding the camera. There were many problems, ranging from low dynamic range to slowness of focus and capture speed to the wrong user interface of camera applications. This time it's a much more respectable shooter, and Razer is to be congratulated for at least trying to solve as many of last year's problems. He replaced last year Samsung sensors by sensors from the IMX range of Sony, and also worked on the software and the user interface of the application. What we have, however, is a camera that fits perfectly.
Right: Razer Phone 2. Left: Pixel 2.
There is not much to do to get the richness of the details and the vibrant colors you see with an excellent camera like the Pixel 2. The pictures tend to be softer and there is a tendency to blow the areas clear of a given scene. That being said, it's not a bad shooter and, it's a gaming phone. For what it's worth, it has elevated the camera experience to a level that does not not a decisive factor, at least not for me – and it's probably the same for anyone who is just an intermittent photographer.
As for the user interface, apart from some improvements to the game, Razer is sticking to Android near the stock, a choice that was hailed last year. Out of the box, the new phone runs Android 8.1 Oreo, which tempers the excitement. When I spoke to Razer, a representative of the company said that he was committed to regularly updating the information. Up to here, all we have to watch is the update schedule of the first Razer phone, launched in November 2017 with Android 7.1 Nougat and Android 8.1 Oreo five months later, in April. Hopefully this year, the company will not lag behind and may even be able to accelerate its pace: a high-end Android smartphone is nothing if not well supported. On a positive note, the phone continues to integrate the Nova Launcher Prime, extremely customizable and familiar to many Android users – a very smart choice for a new mobile brand.
Should you buy it?
It depends.
In part, your operator could be taken into account in the decision. The support will probably be better than last year because Razer says that Verizon customers can use the device this time – but I have not been able to check Verizon's network performance, partly because that Razer would only guarantee AT & T before launch. I've also tried T-Mobile, and it worked very well, but Project Fi is not yet supported. In short, it is probably best to proceed with a little caution. If you buy the Razer Phone 2, keep it in good condition to be able to return it if it does not work properly on your network.
Is Razer doing enough to impose on the smartphone market as a luxury gaming experience? In most cases, yes. Its 120Hz refresh rate and powerful features make its use absolutely delicious. The front speakers and the RGB illuminated logo only add to the fun. That said, there are some major disadvantages, including camera and design. Razer is about to be the best you can get – it's not quite there yet.
Do not buy it …
If you need a good camera, you will not have to worry about playing and the comfortable design is important to you.
Buy it…
If you're looking for an amazing performance experience coupled with features, you'll be hard pressed to find another great product.
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