When Motorola released the modern era version of it’s previously successful Razr flip phone as a flashy folding phone with a hefty price-tag of US$1,500, we expected something really great but it was quite a disappointing smartphone with numerous flops that got it thrown into the basket of “just another smartphone”.

First it was about the creaky hinge then the horrible cameras and what’s worse than a terrible battery in a US$1,500 smartphone. But it’s like Motorola one of the pioneers of modern day mobile phone is bouncing back with a much better design this time around with a feature-rich model which will add support for 5G network, better cameras and other useful quirks.

Also, there will be a slight redesign this time around meanwhile the image render of the device looked quite similar to it’s failed predecessor which includes a 6.2-inch 21.9:9 foldable display inside the device with a 2.7-inch OLED view finder outside for “quick view” of notifications and other basic features.

And it’s also closely priced to it’s predecessor at about US$1,399 which is just a US$100 discount this time around. But it’s not just about the price that’s changed.

Even with the price reduced, the device will sport the mid-range Snapdragon 765G which will help the device have support for 5G network as well as an increased 8GB of RAM rather than the previous 6GB and the internal storage cranked to 256GB while the battery sits at 2,800mAh.

In the hardware spectrum, one of the most noticeable design is the repositioning of the fingerprint scanner to the back of the phone wherefore it was on the chin of the device back in the previous model.

And speaking of the device’s cameras, the previous model had some quite terrible combination with a 5MP front facing selfie camera and then a 16MP primary sensor at the back of the device which doesn’t work pretty well unless you’ve got some really great lighting.

But then we have this new generation Razr with a 20MP sensor that shoots quad-pixel 5-pixel stills and then the rear camera is bumped up to 48MP with laser autofocus technology, time-of-flight sensor and optical image stabilization.

And yeah you’ll now be able to use the View finder on the device’s front to see yourself while you take selfies from the back.

Then there is the 5G network support which is part of why it’s priced in the north of US$1000. The device will have support for the sub-6 GHz networks which is though not as fast as the mmWave variant but can work from long range compared to the latter.

The new Galaxy Z Fold 2, Z Flip all have support for 5G network and the Razr will be an addition to the line.

Motorola is also making the new Razr much more accessible. Where the original was a Verizon exclusive in the US, the new model will be sold unlocked as well as through AT&T and T-Mobile. (Verizon is notably missing this time around, likely due to the lack of mmWave support.)

It’s also worth noting that Motorola is laying more emphasis on software improvements on the next-gen Razr among which includes the device’s functionality thanks to it’s SD765G chipset and the software improvement will offer access to a variety of applications which includes Google Maps, YouTube, Games and you’ll be able to reply to text messages without the need to flip open the phone.

But we don’t know if there will be an improvement on the device’s hinge development. The newly released Microsoft Surface Duo or the Galaxy Z Fold 2 all have great hinges to the point whereby they can be used in different form factors. And that should be the case with the up and coming “next-gen” Motorola Razr flip smartphone.

The second-generation Razr will be available unlocked later this fall for $1,399.99 at Best Buy, B&H Photo, Amazon, and Motorola’s website. It’ll also be sold through both AT&T and T-Mobile.