Comparing the RAZR with its Competitors

As there are countless slim cell phones on the market, we will focus this article to the slender clamshells out there as they compete directly against the ubiquitous MOTORAZR. Near the end, we will briefly comment on skinny candybars and slider phones.

Comparing the RAZR with its Competitors

It can be a little difficult comparing the RAZR on a one-to-one basis against other mobile phones out there, as there are several different versions of the handset. Refer to our main Motorola Cell Phones article for an explanatory breakdown of the five different RAZRs on the market, but here is a Coles Notes version:

GSM Motorola RAZRs

If you are with a GSM service provider (like T-Mobile, Cingular, or Rogers Wireless), then you may have these three RAZR options available to you:

• The V3 was the first RAZR and it is by far the most basic. It only has a VGA camera, 5.5MB of internal memory, and no expansion slot. It is functionally identical to the chubbier Motorola V600.

• The V3i is a slight step up, offering similar functionality as the Motorola V635. This means the camera is now 1.23 megapixels and there is a microSD memory card expansion slot. The biggest appeal of the V3i is that it is compatible with iTunes.

• The V3x looks a little different than the V3 and V3i, and for good reason. It is the most powerful of the bunch with UMTS high speed data, dual cameras (a 2.0MP for stills and a VGA for video calls), and an integrated media player.

CDMA Motorola RAZRs

The Motorola RAZR was not originally available from CDMA mobile operators like Telus Mobility and Verizon Wireless. Eventually, at least two CDMA MOTORAZRs were released:

• The V3c was the first RAZR to sport a CDMA radio. High-speed 3G data comes by way of EV-DO, the camera is 1.3 megapixels, and there is an integrated media player (although there is no memory expansion slot).

• The V3m is a slight step up from the V3c, including a microSD expansion slot this time around. In this way, it is much more useful as an iPod replacement, especially consider that the Verizon version supports V-CAST.

The Two Biggest RAZR Competitors

Now that we've gotten that out of the way, let's compare the RAZR to two of its most prominent competitors. Both are very alluring mobile phones in their own rights, bringing just as much to the table as the Motorola rendition. You'll notice that both come with nicknames that are a little too similar to RAZR, emphasizing how "sharp" they are. Yes, you have options.

Samsung A900 "Blade"

Samsung is known for producing some of the skinniest phones in the world, highlighted by their "Ultra Edition" line of super-slim handsets. One of their most popular offerings (of those available in the United States and Canada) is the SPH-A900, more commonly referred to simply as the Blade. This music-centric cell phone sports external media controls, EV-DO high-speed data, and Bluetooth. One thing that sets it apart from the RAZR is that the 1.3 megapixel camera can swivel to provide some interesting picture-taking opportunities.

Look for the A900 Blade at your local Sprint or Bell Mobility dealer.

Sanyo Katana

Its keypad may not as sleek and metallic as the Motorola RAZR, but you have to admit that the Sanyo Katana comes with one of the boldest looking paint jobs out there. Also dubbed the Sanyo 6600, this "ultraslim mobile phone" really cuts a rug, but they've skimped out on the features somewhat. The camera is a blur-tastic VGA unit and there isn't any EV-DO connectivity, but the external color display looks particularly vibrant.

This phone, like the Samsung Blade, is available through Sprint in the US and Bell Mobility in Canada.

Other Similar Mobile Phones

If you open up the field to other form factors, it becomes even more difficult to compare the RAZR with its competitors. More specifically, the candybar version of the RAZR (the SLVR L2, L6, and L7) has plenty of competition coming in from many fronts, including the UTStarcom-made Slice from Virgin Mobile. You may also want to consider the lovely LG Chocolate Phone from Verizon Wireless.