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Update | Razr 22: Motorola sets an imminent launch date for the global version of its latest foldable smartphone

Is the global Razr 2022 nearly here? (Source: SnoopyTech via Twitter)
Is the global Razr 2022 nearly here? (Source: SnoopyTech via Twitter)
The Motorola Moto Razr 2022 has proven a hit on the Chinese foldable smartphone market thanks to its upgrades over its predecessors. Now, it is finally ready to try and do the same in other regions such as Europe. Then again, according to the latest leaks, it might fail to undercut its main rival the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 on its impending global launch.

Update: As the global version of Motorola.com is now showing a welcome pop-up form for an email list to stay updated on the release of its flagship foldable, it seems leaks predicting its imminent launch are right on the money. It seems the device will ship as the "Razr 22" on the international market, although it seems to have the same design and specs as the original premium mid-year model so far.

Original Article: With its main 144Hz pOLED display, enlarged cover screen, updated battery and series-first flagship-grade SoC, the Moto Razr 2022 gives the impression of being the best foldable device Motorola has made to date - even if it has dropped the nostalgia-rich build of its forebears in the process.

Furthermore, the OEM was able to start it at the relatively bargain price of just 5,999 yuan (~US$888 at the time) in its native market of China. This is just 1 reason why many foldable fans may be overjoyed to learn that the new clamshell device is now tipped to launch on October 25, 2022 - just 2 days from today.

According to the leaker SnoopyTech, the global version of the new premium device will debut at "just" €1,299 (~US$1,281). That figure is contradicted (albeit slightly) by a new Appuals post that asserts it will in fact start at €1,199 (~US$1,183).

Then again, the latter figure (quoted by a second well-known tipster, Sudanshu Ambhore) could apply to an 8GB RAM/256GB internal storage base model, whereas a top-end 12GB/512GB SKU could be the one that costs €100 more.

All the same, neither hypothetical price may be the deal some prospective buyers might have dreamed of based on the Razr 2022's Chinese-market price structure. On the other hand, the smartphone's only real counterpart on the market, the Galaxy Z Flip4, still demands an official starting price of €1,099 (~US$1,084) in Motorola's possible next target market.

That price gets you an 8/128GB unit of Samsung's latest clamshell foldable, which tops out at €1,279 (~US$1,261) right now for one with 512GB of internal storage - although it will still have the same amount of RAM in that case. (Then again, the Flip4 is also listed for as little as €798.99 (~US$788) with some third-party sellers at present.)

Therefore, the latest Razr just might stand a chance of looking attractive to some consumers should it be ready for an international launch at last. Then again, this decision might still be complicated by a number of factors.

For example, even if Motorola is truly about to spring its global product event on us in the next couple of days, it will be released right on the cusp of a holiday sales season that will probably have a particularly early onset in 2022.

Finally, the OEM has yet to say a single word on software for putative international Razr 2022 units, or, most importantly, long-term support for the same. This is a significant point to take into account before buying one from any source, especially considering its 5G forebear and its abandonment issues.

The "Razr 2022 Global Edition". (Source: Sudanshu Ambhore via Appuals)
The "Razr 2022 Global Edition". (Source: Sudanshu Ambhore via Appuals)
 
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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > News > News Archive > Newsarchive 2022 10 > Razr 22: Motorola sets an imminent launch date for the global version of its latest foldable smartphone
Deirdre O'Donnell, 2022-10-23 (Update: 2022-10-24)