The Razr line has fast become the new flagship for Motorola. Last year Motorola launched the original Razr along with the Maxx, these were proving vastly popular amongst Smartphone users across the globe. Motorola then released the upgraded Razr i  that again proved to be a success. Motorola have arguably produced the best Smartphone to date if we’re going to consider battery life as the key feature with the Maxx. I say this as Motorola’s Razr line has received positive reviews with regards to battery life.

I have a Motorola Razr Maxx myself and I can honestly go a day-and-a-half without charging my device; which is extremely convenient considering I have a busy day to day lifestyle and don’t always get the opportunity to charge my phone when I like.

Motorola are rumoured to be focusing much attention towards battery life on the upcoming Razr HD, so let’s take a look at what it has to offer.

Spec

The Razr HD is running Android 4.1 Jelly Bean (upgradeable to 4.2) and is powered by a dual-core MSM8960 Snapdragon S4 processor clocked at 1.5GHz whilst also featuring an Adreno 225 GPU. 1GB of RAM ensures that everything runs as smooth as possible. There’s a generous 16GB of internal storage as well as the option to expand that with a micro SD card slot for up to 64GB.

Hardware

First impressions were positive when I held the Razr HD in my hand for the first time. Comparing it to my Razr MAXX; there were some significant improvements in the feel and sheer quality of build between the two. The Kevlar backing stood out for me as it was smooth and allowed for a firm grip; the patterned design on the Kevlar itself looked smart also.

On the front of the phone we find a 4.7 –inch slab of Gorilla Glass with a small Motorola logo situated at the top of the device. The logo sits directly above the notification light which lights up vibrantly when you have a missed call, email or message.

Motorola have scrapped the capacitive buttons for on screen buttons as well, I originally thought that this would be a hindrance as it cuts off the bottom of the screen by a fair chunk but the Razr HD possesses a large enough display to counteract this, to be quite honest it works, and it works well. 

On the right hand side of the phone you’ll find the lock button which has a raised tread like surface to help with locating the button. The volume bar is found towards the middle of the phone about half an inch below the lock button. On either end of the volume key there is a small raised surface; again this is to make it easily accessible.

The micro-USB and HDMI ports are located at the bottom left hand side of the device. Slightly further up you’ll find the micro-SD and micro sim slots. These can be accessed via the SIM tool included in the box, just pop it into the SIM hole and push down, it will then pop straight out.

Display

The Razr HD features a large 4.7- inch HD Super AMOLED display with 312 ppi. The quality of the display on the whole is superb, it’s exactly what you would expect from a top end Smartphone today. It retains deep blacks along with vivid and vibrant colours that really stand out on the minimalistic face of the Razr HD.

The Gorilla Glass keeps your screen scratch free, you can walk around with keys and coins in the same pocket and you won’t find a single mark or scratch.

When I took the Razr HD outside into direct sunlight i noticed that there was almost no glare whatsoever, the screen didn’t fade and it was almost as if I was still in doors under artificial light.

Whether the display is as good as the HTC One X or the Samsung Galaxy S3 remains to be seen, I guess it all comes down to personal preference but I was definitely impressed with this HD Super AMOLED display.

Connectivity

The Razr HD comes pre loaded with Google Chrome for Android allowing for a smooth browsing experience. It is of course Wi-Fi enabled. 4G connectivity is the main highlight here for me, you can use your Razr HD as a mobile hotspot on 4G for up to 8 devices which is extremely impressive. There is Bluetooth Technology 2, Micro USB connection as standard for charging the device and of course transferring data. The Razr HD features a high transmission rate allowing for super fast speeds of 480 Mbps max. aGPS also features along with standalone GPS, eCompass and GLONASS. For audio connectivity there is also a 3.5mm headset jack. NFC is also featured enhancing the options available to you.

Camera

Features an 8 megapixel camera along with LED flash with recording capabilities for up to 1080p HD. There was a significant improvement when comparing the camera to that of the Razr i and the Razr Maxx. Although there was a clear improvement; images were still blotchy and the colours were not that vivid compared to other Smartphone cameras that we have tested of late. This may not be a negative though as I have found that some Smartphone cameras can make shots look unrealistic with high contrasts.

The 1.3 megapixel front facing camera does the job, perfect for Skyping friends or family and takes an impressive self portrait.

When I switched to HDR mode the image quality did improve once more, especially in certain situations where lighting was an issue. I did notice however that once I switched to HDR mode; the shutter speed slowed significantly to my frustration.

The camera was what I would expect from a top end Smartphone but nothing more. Taking casual snaps is fine and the odd scenic shot but you’ll always be able to tell that the image was captured by a Smartphone.

Battery

2350 MAh of battery life is certainly impressive considering how slim the Razr HD actually is, although it is not removable. Motorola did indicate quite recently that they are set to concentrate on battery life ahead of any other feature which in truth is a shrewd move – as battery life is a huge issue for many users today.

I didn’t get to test the battery to its limit as I didn’t have the opportunity to run it on a 4G service. I did however use the camera for some time, browsed quite frequently, watched videos on YouTube and of course played some games that I downloaded from the Play Store.

Motorola have stated that the Razr HD can play YouTube content for up to 7 hours and 6 hours of web browsing on 4G LTE including loads of hours of talk time. These stats would tend to differ depending on how many applications you have open at once.

It’s clear to see that the battery life is definitely a key feature of the Razr HD as I found it almost impossible to drain, in the time I had it with it. You’re probably looking at near on 24 hours of battery life on an average day-to-day usage.

Conclusion

On the whole I was impressed with the Motorola Razr HD, the build quality was second to none and with the edge to edge screen it really gives it a premium look whilst maintaining a fairly simplistic face. I was particularly impressed with how thin the device actually is considering the size of the battery. The Kevlar backing is extremely tough and allows for a nice grip, it doesn’t show up any finger prints either.

The display is a nice size and gives off vibrant and vivid colours, reacts well to touch giving you a smooth experience.

The battery life is clearly a massive plus – even though it’s non removable.

The camera wasn’t great, you have to be in the perfect light outside to really get that quality shot. It is difficult with so much competition out there, cameras are ever evolving on Smartphones today.

But – if it’s a top end Smartphone that will get the job done and will also offer you hours of use; then the Motorola Razr HD is the one for you.