Motorola Signature 27 Hands-On: A premium textile back, a powerful camera, and a hefty price tag
Motorola aims to make its mark in the premium segment with the Signature 27, relying on powerful hardware, a comprehensive camera system, and an unusual choice of materials. The manufacturer is also stepping up its software support, promising seven years of updates. With an MSRP of $1,599, however, expectations are high.
For the launch, Motorola invited us to Tromsø, Norway, where we were able to try out the smartphone for the first time and take numerous photos. The weather, however, didn’t cooperate: thick clouds, fog, and limited daylight characterized most of the shots.
Body - Signature 27 uses textiles instead of glass
A distinctive feature of the Signature 27 is its textile back panel. We were able to try out both the dark Pantone Coal Smoke color variant and the green Pantone Capulet Olive model. The two differ not only in color but also in their surface texture.
On the green model, the back feels soft and relatively smooth. The Coal Smoke version, on the other hand, has a coarser texture and offers noticeably more grip. Fine orange and blue threads are also woven into the dark material, which are only noticeable upon closer inspection.
Both versions feel comfortable in the hand, though the smartphone feels slightly top-heavy. At 227 grams, it’s certainly not a lightweight. The case is rated IP68 and IP69 for dust and water resistance, while Gorilla Glass Ceramic 3 is designed to protect the display.
Under the hood is a Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6, paired with 12 GB of RAM and 512 GB of UFS 4.1 storage. The 6.78-inch Tandem AMOLED display has a resolution of 2,772 x 1,272 pixels and, thanks to LTPO technology, supports an adaptive refresh rate of up to 120 Hz. Motorola touts a peak brightness of an impressive 12,000 cd/m². However, this value is likely only achievable for very small portions of the screen and under specific conditions. For outdoor readability, the average brightness across the entire screen is a much more meaningful metric. Our measurements will reveal just how bright the panel actually gets. Users sensitive to PWM will find the high-frequency PWM dimming at 2,160 Hz of interest. The Motorola Signature 27 also supports operation with a stylus. This allows users to take handwritten notes and make more precise inputs. We’ll examine which stylus functions are supported and how well input works in practice in our in-depth review.
The Signature 27 is well-equipped when it comes to connectivity: In addition to Wi-Fi 8 and Bluetooth 7.0, it features USB 3.2 Gen 2, which theoretically enables data transfer speeds of up to 10 Gbit/s. The silicon-carbon battery has a capacity of 7,000 mAh. According to the manufacturer, it can be charged at up to 90 watts via a cable and 50 watts wirelessly.
The audio system includes stereo speakers that were tuned in collaboration with the Danish audio specialist Bang & Olufsen. Motorola is thus relying on a well-known partner from the premium segment for sound quality as well. Whether this collaboration actually results in an audible improvement remains to be seen in our speaker measurements and detailed listening test.
Camera: First photos from Tromsø
Motorola has equipped the device with a 50-MP main camera featuring a Sony Lytia 910 sensor and optical image stabilization. It also includes a 200-MP periscope camera with 3x optical zoom and a 50-MP ultra-wide-angle camera. The front-facing camera also has a resolution of 50 MP. An additional Event Vision Sensor (EVS) is designed to help with moving subjects.
During our stay in Tromsø, we were able to take numerous photos. All images were captured directly with the Signature 27 and have not been edited. However, the conditions were challenging: a cloudy sky, fog, and low light resulted in low-contrast scenes.
The results make a good first impression. In the photo of the Arctic Cathedral, numerous details of the facade remain recognizable. The large-scale mural featuring the whale also displays vibrant colors without appearing overly saturated. The landscape shots capture the gray atmosphere quite naturally, although finer textures appear slightly soft in places.
Of particular interest is the photo of a gray heron, taken with a 35mm-equivalent focal length of 470 mm. Despite the high magnification, the contours and individual structures of the plumage remain clearly visible. Upon closer inspection, however, some details appear smoothed out, suggesting extensive image processing. For such a high zoom level, the result is still quite decent.
Even in low light, the Motorola delivers usable results. The illuminated ship in the harbor is rendered well, though individual light sources are overexposed and details are lost in dark areas. The close-up of a dessert, on the other hand, shows vibrant colors and clear isolation of the subject.
We did notice one minor flaw with the ultra-wide-angle camera: the live view image stuttered at times. It remains to be seen whether Motorola will fix this before the device goes on sale.
Seven years of updates and a high price
Motorola ships the Signature 27 with Android 17 and promises seven major Android version updates as well as seven years of security patches. Given the high purchase price, the long-term software support is a key selling point.
However, with an MSRP of $1,599 (12 / 512 GB), the smartphone is positioned to compete directly with the competition’s most expensive flagship models. The unusual fabric finishes and extensive features speak in favor of the Signature 27, while the slight top-heaviness and stuttering with the ultra-wide-angle camera raise some minor concerns.
A specific release date for Germany has not yet been set. However, Motorola plans to launch the device before Christmas 2026. Whether the Signature 27 can justify its high price will depend in particular on our measurements of display quality, performance, and battery life, which you’ll be able to read about in our in-depth review.
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