Non-Gamer review

[linebusy]

Just thought I'd post this for anyone out there seeking opinions before springing for one of these devices while they're on sale.

Positives:
Big
Fast
Excellent audio
Zero bloat
Enough customization through novalauncher and the Razer theme store to tailor it to your liking.

Negatives:
Big (yes, this posted in both the + and the - column)
Heavy

Yeah, I wanted more display area and I got it. Overall, this phone is taller than a Samsung S9, but the display area is taller, too. The real difference in size, though, is the width and weight. if you're a veteran smartphone user and remember going to an S6 or S7 and thinking they were big, this will completely redefine what "big" is to you.

I just want to comment on the display. I haven't used it in direct sunlight yet, so I'm not going to provide any feedback there. While looking at this on the shelf, it was side-by-side with some Nokia phone. With their brightness maxed, you could see a dramatic difference. Putting them both in auto mode definitely leveled them out, but it was obvious the Razer couldn't achieve the brilliance of the Nokia when maxed out. The tint of the Razer is much warmer (some might say yellow) while that of the Nokia was much, much cooler (blue). As I stood there on the fence a bit, I then put my current daily-driver (S7) next to them to see how it looked. That sealed it as the RP2 was quite a bit brighter (and even a bit cooler) than my S7, assuring me that I'd have zero issue with brightness. Is the RP2 warmer or dimmer than other displays out there? Yes. Is it cooler and brighter than other displays at the same time? Yes, too.

I'm concerned about support. With rumors of the RP line-up ending or possibly it just being replaced with an RP3, it almost deterred me from buying the device. The savings (compared to other current models with similar specs) made the risk worth taking. One of my pet peeves with Asus has been that the the Transformer tablet they made (excellent hardware at the time, with a display better than most still today) was dropped from their line-up and they did nothing to support it thereafter. That ticked me off and I don't want to be in that situation again. So, there's a risk of that same frustration here if Razer handles their dropped devices like Asus does. Worst case, I give it to my son in a year and grab something else that's actively supported.

Lastly, I'm going to grab a case and popsocket for this. With the width, I think I'll benefit from having another grip point. I'll stop back by to comment on that later next week.

 

[Golfdriver97]

I liked the idea of Razer doing a phone. I just wish they had a smaller device to go with it. I probably would have got one of those.

 

[Mike-Mike]

I just switched from my S10+ back to my Razer Phone 2

 

[linebusy]

Wow. What's the story there?

 

[Mike-Mike]

I have big hands and like big phones, the original Nexus 6 was perfect for me.

I also prefer 16:9

I pre-ordered the S10+, but the Razer Phone 2 had that crazy sale before my S10+ arrived.

I figured I would check it out and keep it as a backup. However I just like it better.

And I am not a Samsung hater, I love my Note9. The S10+ is physically smaller and once you get used to this wide body of the Razer it is hard to go back

 

[LuxuryTouringZone]

Having used big, heavy phones, this phone would be no issue for me.

 

[linebusy]

My Tudia case saved my phone in a 4' fall onto a cement floor yesterday. Landed on the corner leaving a nice divot in the soft part of the case, but the phone is unharmed. Whew.
Bought a Nite Ize large phone holster from Home Depot of all places today. Not gonna tuck it away in my coat pocket like that again.

 

[p51]

I have big hands and like big phones, the original Nexus 6 was perfect for me.

I also prefer 16:9

I pre-ordered the S10+, but the Razer Phone 2 had that crazy sale before my S10+ arrived.

I figured I would check it out and keep it as a backup. However I just like it better.

And I am not a Samsung hater, I love my Note9. The S10+ is physically smaller and once you get used to this wide body of the Razer it is hard to go back

Is the smaller screen size of the RP2, compared to the S10+ very noticeable? I currently have the XS Max and just ordered the RP2. I'm worried that I'll find the screen size of the RP2 to be too small, as I'm used to & like the screen size on the XS Max. Looked at the S10+ but found that screen to be a bit too narrow for my liking.