The Motorola RAZR2 V9 Mobile Phone is an update of the original RAZR. Made of hard steel and featuring a sturdy hinge, the new model provides a rugged design to compensate for its even sleeker profile. The external LCD is just as durable, with a hardened glass overlay while fitting an impressive 262K colors on a 2-inch screen. This sizeable display is especially useful for Photo ID and for the music player (when album art and track info are displayed). Unfortunately, the glass is prone to smudges, and text can be difficult to read in direct sunlight.

Below the screen are a few dedicated buttons for music listening. Playback is quite good, although the speakerphone's sound quality isn't as rich and as deep as on other high-end phones. Music files, meanwhile, can be stored on a MicroSD card (not included) or in the 45MB internal memory. With the RAZR2 V9's access to XM Mobile Radio and MobiTV, you can watch television shows at their regularly scheduled times. The phone utilizes the HSDPA high-speed network (and EDGE networks where HSDPA is not available), so streaming and downloading speeds are stellar. A dedicated button for the 2-megapixel camera is also on the exterior, which takes pictures and video of exceptional quality. They can be viewed on the LCD or sent via the Internet or Bluetooth.

The phone itself is true to its name, measuring just one-half inch thick. This generation of the RAZR is a bit wider at two inches, however, making navigation of the buttons a little easier. But what really improves ergonomics is the feedback that buttons provide--when pressed, there is a slight vibration, so you know when your touch has registered.

Inside the phone is yet another 262-color LCD (this one 2.2-inches diagonally) that beautifully displays menu options and web pages. Along with the sleek form factor, it is these two impressive screens that will draw most consumers to the RAZR2. One note to watch out for, though, is that the phones for the different carriers are quite different. For instance, some versions have a 65K-color display and a 1.3-megapixel camera.

Call quality for the quad-band phone is superb with the RAZR2 providing reliable connections free of static and dropouts. Meanwhile, the battery offers about 4 hours of talk time and 10 days of standby. Other features include: 1000-contact phonebook, photo ID, and vibrating ringers.

Pros: Excellent call clarity, slim design, impressive external and internal LCDs
Cons: Speakerphone, lossy external LCD

Warranty
1 year