Gaming phones like the new Razer Phone 2 seem to fascinate the companies that make them more than the general public. Razer really wants “gaming phones” to happen. But if you’re not sure what that means, the only way for them to convince you is to make gaming phones.
So Razer is at it again with the second iteration of its phone that’s dedicated to the idea that people want the smartphone equivalent of a high-end PC with gaming specs. Razer’s hope is that if you’re deeply involved in mobile gaming, want to stream gameplay, or think you can gain an edge in your next match from gaming-oriented hardware, investing in a phone specifically tailored for what you’re into might make sense.
However, mobile gaming doesn’t have the same lofty requirements as PC gaming. You don’t need a massive desktop or a 2,000$ Laptop to play mobile games at their best settings; any other flagship smartphone will do. What Razer wants you to believe is that the Phone 2 is a great phone and the best gaming phone. But only one of those things is true.
Advantages in this flagship are Smoothest display on any current Android phone, Best speakers on any current Android phone and A light-up Chroma logo. Where disadvantages are Cameras are (still) a miss, brick design is unwieldy and gets warm playing videos / games. Since the original Razer Phone launched last year, the
Razer Phone 2 has gone through a long list of improvements, but it kept its boxy design. Razer didn’t change the bezels in this year’s model. They’re everywhere! For a device with such thick top and bottom sections dedicated to the speakers, I would have hoped there would be smaller bezels framing the screen.
Razer Phone 2 Specs:
- Display: 5.72-inch IGZO 120Hz screen at 2560 x 1440 and wide color gamut
- Processor: Snapdragon 845 (2.8GHz) with vapor chamber cooling
- Camera: f/1.75 12MP and f/2.6 12MP rear-facing cameras
- Storage: 64GB, micro SD expandable to 1TB
- RAM: 8GB
- 24-bit DAC audio adapter
- Wi-Fi / Bluetooth 5.0/ NFC
- Android 8.1 with Nova Launcher
- Battery: 4,000mAh with wireless and fast charging
- IP67 water and dust resistance
- Dimensions: 6.24 x 3.11 x 0.33 inches
- Weight: 220 grams
It’s also got a Vapor Chamber cooling system, which Razer says keeps the phone cool while playing demanding games (but still gets hot). The Razer Phone doesn’t have a headphone jack, but a 3.5mm dongle is included in the box, as well as a USB-C charger. The Razer Phone 2 launches with Android 8.1 Oreo—which isn’t the current hotness (that’d be Android 9.0 Pie). Razer promises they’re rolling out Pie soon, but there’s still no release date. Thankfully, Razer’s version of Oreo is mostly stock and free of bloatware. The Razer Phone 2 is compatible with GSM carriers like AT&T and T-Mobile, which excludes Verizon.
The Razer Phone 2's blocky design won't be to everyone's liking, but I find it unique and alluring. The squared edges are reminiscent of the IPhone 5 and fit well in my hand, especially in landscape orientation. I have large hands, however, and in a smaller pair of mitts this phone might be more than a handful. I like that I can confidently stand the Razer Phone 2 on its side to watch a movie or capture a video.
The Razer Phone 2 has a 4,000-mAh battery that lasted only 9 hours, 16 minutes in CNET's battery test. The original Razer lasted 11 hours, 32 minutes, which wasn't that great either considering other phones with a battery this large last 15 hour or more. In daily use, it had no problem getting through a long day.
Currently it runs a near-stock version of Android 8.1 and I'm curious if the battery life will improve after the phone is upgraded to Android Pie. After we've had a chance to test the phone thoroughly with the new OTA update, we'll be back with a full rated review.
The processor, RAM and "vapor-chamber cooling system" make it as fast, if not slightly faster than the Galaxy Note 9 and One Plus 6. But it comes nowhere near the performance of the IPhone XS, at least in the benchmarks. Check out the results of performance tests below.
When it comes to game controls, the Razer Phone 2 doesn't bring anything new to the table. You're left with onscreen joysticks and buttons. The upcoming Asus ROG Phone uses squeezable corners to add left and right trigger buttons for games played in landscape. That solution appears to be a more explicit attempt to address the needs of gamers looking for more of a gamepad style of control. Razer does have one trick up its sleeve: The Raiju Mobile game controller, sold separately. It works with any Android phone, not just the Razer, and will be available to purchase later this year. No word on pricing yet.
The Razer Phone 2’s cameras haven’t improved by much. The new rear cameras are 12MP Sony sensors with f/1.75 and f/2.6 lenses. Razer also developed a new camera app that supports 4K recording (up to 30 fps), HDR, portrait modes for all three cameras, and “beauty shots.”
Unfortunately, none of this makes a real difference. The Razer Phone 2’s camera setup won’t stand up to an iPhone or Pixel camera. In most scenarios, photos come out with a flat color profile — which is fine for editing, but it lacks vibrancy and contrast. If you don’t have the best lighting, the results will be noisy, with overexposed whites and blacks that look more like grays.
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