The mobile phone world is currently dominated by chipset makers such as Qualcomm, Nvidia and Apple, but old industry vet Intel is keen to claim a share of the pie for itself. It’s hoping that the Motorola RAZR i – essentially an updated version of the Motorola RAZR M – will be the device that grants a foothold in the smartphone arena, thanks to the fact that it features the new Medfield chipset, clocked at a powerful 2 GHz. Is this device impressive enough to steal away the thunder of rival Android devices, and can it establish a new era of dominance for the RAZR brand which revolutionized mobile phones almost a decade ago? We’re about to find out.
Hardware
As we’ve already touched upon, in terms of design the RAZR i is basically a RAZR M, albeit with some very minor external changes – the most obvious being a physical camera button. Other than that, you could place the two siblings side-by-side and not be able to tell the difference.
Oddly, Motorola’s designers haven’t taken the same ‘big screen’ route as their rivals at Samsung and Sony, and have instead opted for a more modest 4.3-inch screen, which feels small when compared to the massive displays on the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S3 and Nexus 4. By keeping the screen an acceptable size, it has allowed Motorola to make the RAZR i quite compact, with dimensions similar to the eminently pocketable iPhone 5. We actually found ourselves quite liking the size of the phone; it sits in the palm comfortably and doesn’t require massive fingers to operate with one hand.
You have a micro SIM and a microSD card slot on the left, and exposed screws that adds the rugged feel to the phone.
Flipping the RAZR i over reveals a Kevlar back which seems to be at odds with the rest of the design, but still manages to look appealing all the same. However, the most alluring element of the phone’s outward appearance is the aforementioned screen; it uses Super AMOLED tech to deliver striking colours with amazing contrast. The only downside is that it’s based on a Pentile pixel arrangement, which results in a speckled effect if you look very closely.
At the back there is an Intel branding on the Kevlar back.
At the top you there is a 3.5mm audio jack and a VGA front-facing camera with 720p HD video recording.
Software
As we all know now, Google now owns Motorola. However, this relationship doesn’t seem to have benefited latter party all that much, as the RAZR i is effectively running outdated software – it’s on Android 4.0.4 (Ice Cream Sandwich) while the newly-launched Google Nexus 4 is loaded with Android 4.2 – the latest edition of Jelly Bean.
This means RAZR i owners will miss out on cool features like Google Now – Android’s answer to Apple’s Siri – and Project Butter, which is intended to speed up the user interface and make things smoother. It’s not a deal breaker – and 2013 should bring a Jelly Bean update – but if you’re keen to remain on the cutting edge of Android, you may be disappointed.
At least Motorola has attempted to introduce some software features which make the RAZR i unique. The most obvious is SmartActions, which allows you to automate elements of your phone’s functionality to make it even smarter than it already is. Things like automatically dimming the screen and switching off Wi-Fi when your battery is low, or turning off your ringtone at night so it doesn’t wake you up. Many of these tasks are predefined, but you can create your own so your handset functions exactly how you want it to.
Elsewhere, the RAZR i comes preloaded with the usual smattering of applications, including Quickoffice for handling documents, a Driving mode app for using your handset safely when in your car and User Guide which breaks down the core features of the phone to make it easier for newcomers to understand.
Storage
With 8GB of storage space – of which just over 5GB is available to the end user – the RAZR i isn’t going to challenge the bigger boys of the Android world. Thankfully, unlike the Nexus 4, Motorola’s phone comes with a MicroSD card slot, allowing you to add more space with cheap media cards. Because it’s running Android, you could – and should – make use of cloud services such as Picasa (for photos and videos) and Google Music. Doing so will free up plenty of space, which you can then use for installing applications and games.
Camera
The RAZR i’s 8 Megapixel snapper comes with an LED flash and captures good quality images with plenty of detail. It boasts the usual selection of shooting options, the most impressive of which is the HDR mode, which – when used correctly – can make your images look truly impressive. If you’re taking a shot in an area where the balance of light is a bit off, HDR can help bring out detail in the image which might usually be lost due to harsh contrast.
Here are some camera samples
Video recording is also available, with 1080p capture at 30fps. The results are pretty standard for a mobile phone camera, although fast movement can sometimes result in a blurred picture. The RAZR i certainly won’t replace your handheld camera, but it’s a nice extra to have in your pocket when you need to record impromptu footage.
Here is the 1080p Full HD video sample
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njP5FVoUsfk
Performance and Benchmarks
Thanks to the fact that it’s packing a Medfield chipset comprised of a 2GHz Intel Atom CPU and PowerVR SGX540 GPU, the RAZR i is pretty darn quick. It may only be using single-core technology, but it manages to beat many dual-core Android phones when it comes to speed and raw power. Still, there are moments when it stutters and stumbles, and the occasional jerkiness takes the shine of the generally nippy UI.
Quadrant Benchmark
The Razr i is just above the Razr Maxx in the Quadrant Benchmark.
AnTuTu Benchmark
Razr i does pretty decent in the AnTuTu benchmark with 8425 point, that is just below the One X.
SunSpider Javascript Benchmark
Razr i tops the SunSpider with just 1075 points, overtaking the Xolo.
Smartbench 2012 – Productivity
The phones doesn’t do well in the SmartBench Productivity, but manages to overtake the Xolo.
Smartbench 2012 – Gaming
The PowerVR SGX 540 GPU combined with the 2 GHz CPU places the Razr i in the top spot with 2950 points in the SmartBench 2012 Gaming benchmark.
Battery Life
We’re so used to having to charge Android phones once a day that it came as quite a surprise to discover that the RAZR i has the stamina to last almost 48 hours before needing a top-up – and that’s with quite extreme usage, as well. This is due in part to the large capacity 2000 mAh battery (which isn’t removeable), but also illustrates how useful Motorola’s SmartActions software is when it comes to managing your power demands.
During our tests, the RAZR i lasted for around 8 hours when looping a video, while the web browser test resulted in a slightly smaller figure – around 7 hours. These aren’t groundbreaking results, but within the context of the Android arena, they’re decent enough.
Conclusion
Motorola is keen to make the once-proud RAZR brand a force to be reckoned with, and the RAZR i is certainly a step in the right direction. The Intel tech which powers this device shows serious promise, and the mid-range price should help it gain a sizeable audience. Aside from some sluggish moments during use, the RAZR i delivers a positive Android experience and boasts a stunning Super AMOLED screen. It might lack the gravitas of the Galaxy S3, but it’s a viable option for cash-strapped purchasers who want a smartphone which isn’t such a monstrously large size.
Pros
- Amazing screen
- Slim, compact design
- Power internal tech
- MicroSD slot
Cons
- Not running Jelly Bean at the launch
- Slows down every now and then