The Razer Phone 2 is expected to launch later this year – here’s everything you need to know about the gaming-focused smartphone sequel
Razer, best known for its high-end PC gaming hardware, burst onto the smartphone scene towards the tail end of 2017 with the aptly-titled Razer Phone. Perhaps rather surprisingly for a first effort – or perhaps not, given the top-notch quality of their gaming devices – it was a superb handset, earning high praise in Nathan’s original review.
It stood out among its flagship rivals thanks to its unique 120Hz screen, high-end internal components and strong gaming capabilities, but Razer might be looking at one-upping its gaming-focussed smartphone later this year. Seven months on from the release of their first phone, whispers about the launch of the second iteration are only getting louder.
A September release date is pencilled in for the imaginatively-titled Razer Phone 2 and, if true, the list of leaks will increase as the rumoured announcement date creeps ever closer. So, if you want to know what we do, just read on for all the information you need about the Razer Phone 2.
We’ll be updating this page as and when more information emerges, so be sure to check back in to see what’s in store for the Razer Phone 2.
Razer Phone 2 release date: When will it come out?
The new Razer Phone 2 is likely to be unveiled later this year, with an internal source citing a September launch, according to FrAndroid. The first-gen Razer Phone was launched in late 2017, so the September release date makes sense as a matter of consistency.
If the September launch is to be believed, we can speculate that the Razer Phone 2 will be unveiled at IFA 2018 – the Berlin technology trade show, which runs from 31 August to 5 September.
Bear in mind that the source is unverified and that Razer are still newcomers to the smartphone game after all, and another high-end release merely a year after their first effort would be rather unexpected.
Razer Phone 2 price: How much will it cost?
Again, there’s not a lot to go on here, but we can still make an educated guess about the Razer Phone 2’s price, if we take a look at how much its predecessor cost when it launched last year.
When it was launched, the Razer Phone cost £695 – though it was £100 cheaper if you picked one up directly from Three. For a similar-quality phone, packed with gamer-friendly features like the first one, we’d expect the price to be roughly similar or perhaps a little more expensive.
Razer Phone 2 design: What will it look like?
While the Razer Phone was well-built and crammed with fantastic features, its looks were rather divisive. It certainly wasn’t equipped with the same narrow-bezel design or edge-to-edge screen of many its top-of-the-range rivals. The matte black aluminium chassis and sharp corners weren’t for everyone – and played havoc with jean pockets.
At this rather early stage, there are no leaked photographs or renders of the new phone. I don’t expect Razer will differ too much from the original design, although I would hope the gaming firm will address the predecessor’s design shortfalls.
Note – the images used in this article are of the first-gen Razer Phone.
Razer Phone 2 features and spec: What does it do?
Yet again, there’s very little to go on with the Razer phone 2’s features. However, with the first Razer Phone featuring a 5.7in 120Hz display, 8GB of RAM, 64GB of storage, an impressive 4,000mAh battery and a pair of 12-megapixel rear cameras, we would expect largely similar specs – with upgrades to the cameras and CPU, perhaps.
Some Razer PC peripherals, such as the Mamba Hyperflux mouse, feature wireless charging via the company’s Hyperflux technology, too. We don’t know whether wireless charging is on the cards for the Phone 2 just yet, but it would be a welcome addition.
Razer’s Project Linda – first shown off as a concept at CES 2018 in January – is expected to be announced alongside the company’s new smartphone. Essentially, this is a laptop that’s powered entirely by a phone, which is achieved by slotting the Razer (or possibly the Razer 2) into the space usually occupied by the trackpad.