Razer Phone 2 first look: great speakers, fast refresh rate, but no big changes from last model
Cult phone maker Razer’s follow-up smartphone has a new glass back, slight improvements to its cameras and better waterproofing, and retains most of the best features of the first model
Gaming hardware maker Razer has announced a follow-up to last year’s cult favourite Razer Phone, and much like Apple’s new iPhones and Samsung’s Galaxy Note 9, it’s an iterative update that may have audiences asking “wait, that’s it?” at first.
Whether it’s the boxy rectangular design, the 5.7-inch 2K resolution display, or the dual front-facing speakers that fill most of the forehead and chin bezels, the Razer Phone 2 looks just like its predecessor.
Were it not for the new glass back – which brings with it wireless charging – they would feel exactly the same in the hand too.
Little touches remain, such as volume buttons that sit in the middle of the phone to avoid accidental presses when gaming and the side placement of the power button/fingerprint sensor.
Here’s what has been upgraded: the processor got bumped up to the expected Snapdragon 845; the LCD display panel is slightly brighter; the Sony IMX camera sensor aperture has been improved slightly (to f/1.7, from last year’s f/1.8); and the phone is now IP67 water-resistant, no small feat for a phone with such large speaker grilles.
