Razer launched the first generation Razer Phone smartphone in late 2017. It is the first smartphone in the world to be equipped with a display with scanning frequencies up to 120Hz, accompanied by strong specs powerful and extremely impressive dual speaker system on the front. However, the screen of the device is quite dark and the dual camera on its back is not appreciated. To overcome these weaknesses, Razer recently launched a successor version called Razer Phone 2, accompanied by a host of new enhancements and features.
DESIGN
Except for the glass back, the design of the Razer Phone 2 does not have too many changes compared to the first generation. The frame of the machine is still made of metal like last year’s model with familiar, square and sharp design. In a sea of smartphones with rounded, rounded curves and a slim design, the Razer Phone 2 brings with it a contrast and distinctness.
Of course with such a design, Razer Phone 2 may not be suitable for some users’ preferences. However, it has excellent machining quality and brings a high level of feeling, but this phone is quite thick, heavy and not quite comfortable when holding it after a long time use.
Switching to the glass back also means that the Razer Phone 2 is more likely to be fingerprinted. However, thanks to this glass back, the Razer Phone 2 supports wireless charging and indeed, the other fingerprints are still very small compared to the advanced wireless charging feature equipped on this phone.
This year, Razer also added the IP67 water and dust-proof capability, which was not included on the previous predecessor. Adding these two features is a clever move by Razer to make the Razer Phone 2 competitive with rivals because now, wireless charging and water resistance have become features not missing on high-end smartphones.
Another major change in design on the Razer Phone 2 is Razer’s familiar three-headed snake icon that is now able to glow with an extremely beautiful RGB LED system. This is a great change and makes this phone stand out more literally as a gaming smartphone.
Logo colors can be customized via Razer’s Chroma application, where you can choose any color or effect you want. Razer also offers options to keep the logo light on or only when the screen is turned on to save battery power.
The buttons on the Razer Phone 2 and the port placement are still the same as last year’s model. The volume up and down button on the left and the power button are located opposite on the right. The bottom edge of the device is quite thick and is where the USB Type-C connector is located, unfortunately it is not equipped with 3.5mm audio jack. The machine’s fingerprint sensor is now integrated into the power button and this is a big plus for Razer.
SCREEN
The screen of the Razer Phone 2 is essentially the same as the first Razer Phone. Instead of going along with the trend of “rabbit ears screen” like today, the Razer Phone 2 sorta keeps the older, more traditional display design. It has a 5.7-inch LCD screen, resolution 2560 x 1440 pixels and an aspect ratio of 16: 9. The panel looks really sharp , with very good color and solid contrast, and Razer has also bumped up the brightness compared to last year’s model. That change, honestly makes a noticeable difference for outdoor use, the visibility is much better now.
The most prominent highlight on the screen is the 120Hz scanning frequency. With such a high scan frequency, the Razer Phone 2 will provide a smoother and more flexible experience, allowing users to view more frames per second, just like high-end screen models for gaming PCs.
PERFORMANCE
Of course, the performance of Razer Phone 2 will definitely not disappoint you. The phone handles very fast, flexible and responds well to everyday use as well as running all extremely graphic demanding games. Like many high-end flagships, the Razer Phone 2 comes with a Snapdragon 845 processor and comes with 8GB of RAM. Sure, this device will give you a better gaming experience than ever before, especially the experience from 120fps supported games that only Razer Phone has.
To improve performance, Razer has added a steam cooling system to dissipate heat evenly and reduce heat even better. The device is still warm if the user has been playing the game for a long time, but it is certain that it will never get to an alarming level or mess with gaming performance.
The giant Razer Phone 2 comes with a battery capacity of up to 4000mAh and it can give enough power for users to use it comfortably through one working day. The on-screen time of the device usually reaches about 5 to 6 hours and at the end of the day, the phone has about 15 to 20 percent battery life.
Of course, this is a statistic when setting the screen at 120Hz scanning frequency and the Razer icon on the back is always bright when the screen is turned on. You can also extend the usage by turning off the Razer logo on the back of the device.
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CAMERA
The first gen Razer Phone kind of let people down when it came to cameras, and even though Razer tried to make things better on the Razer Phone 2, the outcomes were really not that impressive. Like the previous model, the Razer Phone 2 comes with a 12MP dual camera on the back, with a normal lens and a lens that gives 2x optical zoom.
Razer also tweaked the main sensor, adding optical stabilization, and the pixel size is 1.4 microns. Out front, there’s a selfie camera with 8MP resolution, and it can do video capture at 60fps. In theory, that combo of specs sounds great, but in practice the picture quality that comes out of the phone is not always, or even often, as consistent as the numbers suggest.
SOFTWARE
There is not much to say about the software on Razer Phone 2. It basically uses the Android operating system version 8.1 Oreo with some customization from Razer. It comes pre-installed with Razer’s green, black and gray theme themes. In addition, it also comes with a lot of default apps like watches or computers.
Like the first Razer Phone, this phone uses Nova Launcher with Google’s similar interface to Pixel Launcher but offers more customization. Also, Razer still throws in a bunch of personal tweaks and theme store stuff, so you can grab custom wallpapers, icon packs , notification tones and more.
The biggest bummer with the Razer Phone 2 software is that it is just not updated up to Android 9 Pie. Even if it was pretty recently launched , it still shows up with Android Oreo, and honestly it feels kind of underwhelming really. Hopefully Razer will soon release Android 9 Pie update for this phone in the near future.
SALE PRICE AND CONCLUSION
The Razer Phone 2 is currently available for $ 799.99. This is a really competitive sell price, for a top-tier flagship handset or smartphone dedicated to games.
Overall the Razer Phone 2 is a great smartphone for gaming. Also, the addition of water resistant protection and wireless charging made this device feel way more solid than the first Razer Phone. Besides, it also has a very nice RGB logo even when not turned on.
These changes are not too big to “force” you to upgrade to the first Razer Phone, but if you are looking for a powerful smartphone with a “no-eared rabbit screen” under $ 1,000, Razer Phone 2 is a great choice for you … Of course when you don’t have too many camera requirements.
Tech Reviewer & Product Analyst
Định Bia has spent over 10 years testing consumer electronics with a focus on smart technology. He work as a product advisor at Biareview where he helped customers find the right devices for their needs. He personally tests every product featured on this site using a consistent evaluation framework covering quality, durability, and value. All reviews are based on experience, not influenced by the manufacturer.