Razer Phone 2 Review | Game All You Can

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Finally, the second generation Razer phone is here. Since it’s a gaming phone, the hardware is the best you can find on a 2018 Android smartphone with a premium build and the best speaker system. The screen feels dated since Razer used the traditional 16:9 ratio but the speaker system surely makes up for it. The Razer Phone 2 looks stunning and comes with a glowing Razer logo. So without waiting, let’s take a closer look at the complete Razer Phone 2 review.

Brilliant Design and Premium Build

While the Razer Phone 2 is one of the premium Android smartphones, the design feels more dated. Though it comes with a premium Glass back while the frame is made of Aluminum, the box is boxier in shape and has a 16:9 display (will talk further about the display later). The Razer Phone 2 is available in Mirror Back option but there is also a Rugged Satin color available which has a matte look to it but costs a $100 more.

It’s not a thin device considering the 8.5 mm thickness also, it’s heavier too at 220 grams. Holding the device isn’t too comfortable because of the sharp edges of the device. Also, the Mirror Black option is slippery and catches Fingerprints quickly. However, Razer hasn’t wasted the potential of a Glass back and included Wireless charging in their devices.

Along the left side, there are circular Volume keys and just above them is the SIM slot. On the right, there is a Power Key which also doubles as a Fingerprint scanner and is easy to reach. One the front, there are large Speaker Aluminum grills above and below the display. The above grill also houses a selfie camera, proximity sensor, and an earpiece. At the bottom, there is a Type C charging port and nothing else since Razer has eliminated the Headphone jack. Coming to the back is where the real fun begins. There is a big Razer logo which illuminated. This RGB logo can be controlled by the Razer app which comes preinstalled and you can also select the Glow colors for different app notifications. Also, there is a Dual Camera module with flash located in symmetry just above the logo. Overall, the build quality is premium but the durability is affected due to the use of Glass. The Razer Phone 2 is also IP67 water and dust resistant which keep the device safe against water splashes.

Gosh that 120Hz Screen

The screen on the Razer Phone 2 is kind of a mixed bag. It is a IGZO IPS LCD screen which has a resolution 1440x2560 and pixel density of 513 pixels-per-inch. The screen has a 120 Hz refresh rate which makes scrolling, navigating through the UI much for fluid and responsive. Also, the display supports HDR content and comes with Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection. There is an Oleophobic coating on the screen as well.

Talking about the screen quality, the 16:9 ratio feels old as even the budget phones are adapting to the 18:9 screens. However, the high screen resolution provides high details and sharp text. The pixels are not visible even at a closer look. Since it’s an LCD panel, the blacks aren’t as inky as found on OLED panels but it has a surprisingly good sunlight visibility. The viewing angles are also great and overall, it’s a great display for media consumption or gaming. The HDR content on the display looks exceptional, however, there is a big which drops the brightness too low in the Netflix app. Overall, the display is responsive due to the faster 120 Hz panel and it’s sharp and bright too.

High on Gaming with Near Stock Software

There are no compromises in terms of performance on Razer phone 2. It packs the powerful top-of-the-line Snapdragon 845 withh 8GB RAM and 64GB of internal storage. We played many games on the Razer Phone 2 and there were no signs of any slowdowns or frame drop.

One thing you should know that not all games on the Play storesupports 120Hz refresh rate hence not every game can utilize the full potential of this screen. However, we tried 120Hz games too like Alto’s Odyssey and the gameplay was phenominally smooth. Other heavy games like PUBG or Asphalt 9 works just as well. We never ran into any thermal issue thanks to the new Vapor Chamber cooling system. Overall, the Razer Phone 2 is a great device for gaming utilizing the full potential of the Snapdragon 845.

On the software front, the Razer Phone 2 runs on near stock Android 8.1 Oreo. Razer has been using Nova Launcher as their default launcher and it comes with plenty of customization options. There are some apps which come pre-installed like Razer Chroma which allows you to customize the RGB Razer logo. Another app is the Razer Cortex which is a game launcher and list down games which supports 120Hz refresh rate. Overall, the software performance is pretty smooth and close to stock. However, there is no Android Pie as of now.

Generation Old Cameras but Great Battery Life

The new Razer phone comes with a Dual camera unit o the back which houses a 12 Megapixel with f/1.8 aperture and another 12 Megapixel sensor with f/2.4 aperture. On the front, is an 8 Megapixel sensor with f/2.0 aperture. The camera app is simplified and comes with all the useful features like HDR, Panorama, Portrait etc. Also, there is no shutter lag and the focus locks quickly. The primary sensor does come with OIS for better low light shots and video stability.

Camera performance on the Razer Phone 2 has been improved over the first generation but the quality still lags behind flagship grade. Yeah, the images have good details, colors and dynamic range but the overall image quality is still no on par with other $800 smartphones. Portrait shots aren’t great either with average edge detection and artificial blur. Night time shots aren’t any good story either since the images capture contains noise and your hands aren’t stable the shot comes out to be blurry. The front 8-megapixel sensor captures good photos during the day but struggles in low light situations, however, the portrait mode on the front works slight;y better than the rear camera.

Moving to the battery life, it’s simply phenomenal. The Razer phone comes with a 4000 mAh battery which lasts a full day with heavy usage. You can also drop down the battery consumption by dropping the refresh rate to 60Hz and changing the battery consumption in Razer Chroma app to low or medium. Even with all the settings turned high, we were able to end our day with 37ttery remaining. The phone does support Quick charge 4.0 and comes with a charger included which can reach 50% in just half-an-hour. Also, the Razer Phone 2 does support wireless charging which makes it more convenient to charge.

Razer Phone 2: More Features

Razer Phone 2 supports single SIM and the second slot is reserved for Micro SD card. The memory is expandable up to 512 GB which is enough even for hardcore users. Other connectivity features on the device include WIFI, Bluetooth, and A-GPS. The phone comes with a couple of sensors including Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity, and compass. It does support NFC but there is no IR blaster.

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