Motorola gets cold feet, delays $1,500 Razr foldable days before launch

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Motorola gets cold feet, delays $1,500 Razr foldable days before launch

Moto claims the delay isn't "significant," but it also won't give a new launch date.

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The $1,500 foldable Moto Razr was announced in November and quickly became one of the most striking and talked-about smartphones in recent memory. Motorola combined the nostalgic design of one of the most iconic flip phones ever, with new-age foldable display technology and a wild new hinge design that didn't crease the display. Frankly, it seemed like a real winner.

 

But now, six days before pre-orders were going to start, Motorola has suddenly delayed the device. The Verge has a copy of Motorola's statement, which reads:

Since its announcement in November, the new Motorola razr has received unparalleled excitement and interest from consumers. Demand has been high, and as a result, has quickly outgrown supply predictions.

 

Motorola has decided to adjust razr’s presale and launch timing to better meet consumer demand. We are working to determine the appropriate quantity and schedule to ensure that more consumers have access to razr at launch.

 

We do not anticipate a significant shift from our original availability timeline.

Pre-orders for the new Razr were supposed to start December 26, with an official launch date of January 9, 2020. Motorola claims the delay won't be "significant," but now there is no official launch date at all. It's hard to imagine how an "insignificant" delay would help the company with stock issues. Normally companies are fine with popular products selling out.

 

Between the Samsung Galaxy Fold, Huawei Mate X, and Moto Razr, we're now three-for-three with foldable smartphone delays. Every other company trying to build these foldable devices has run into significant manufacturing and durability problems. Samsung sent the Galaxy Fold to reviewers and, after disastrous early impressions and several dead screens, was forced to delay the launch and spent the next five months reworking the device. In the wake of the Galaxy Fold delays and the US' export ban, the Huawei Mate X was also delayed five months and reworked from the initial design. Motorola doesn't come out and say it's having issues manufacturing the new Razr, but given all the problems everyone else has had, it's hard to not draw that conclusion from this delay.

 

Like we said, there is no longer a launch date or pre-order date for the Moto Razr, so we'll keep you posted.

 

Listing image by Motorola

 

 

Source: Motorola gets cold feet, delays $1,500 Razr foldable days before launch (Ars Technica)