Motorola’s Rizr is back as a concept phone with a rollable screen
Three years without the debut of its wildly popular Razr phone, Motorola gave the world the Rizr. While minion by many, the product never managed to capture the same level of cultural enshroud as its predecessor. The two devices shared some key diamond languge, with the Rizr distinguishing itself by way of a exhibit that slid up to reveal the physical keyboard underneath.
A lot has reverted in the 17 years since that product’s release, but pursuit the Razr’s resurrection as a foldable, the now Lenovo-owned firm is bringing the Rizr when in concept form. As with the Razr, it’s well-spoken why the visitor opted to kick the tires on the old brand. You could say the 2023 Rizr is a spiritual successor of sorts to the 2006 model.
Image Credits: Brian Heater
The new version trades the sliding whoopee for a rolling screen (get it? “riser?”). We’ve seen proofs of concept for the technology in the past, largely as standalones. The concept is not entirely dissimilar from foldables, in that it’s screen technology designed to fit increasingly phones in less space. By default, it sports a meaty five-inch 15:9 screen. When unrepealable apps are opened, gestures triggered or orientation change, it mechanically extends to 6.5 inches with a 22:9 speciality ratio.
Image Credits: Brian Heater
It’s a neat trick, for sure. But it’s worth noting that phone makers are increasingly pursuit the lead of car companies by announcing concept devices. It’s a little well-nigh gauging consumer interest and a little well-nigh showing the public — and shareholders — that your R&D department is doing some innovative work — whether or not said work unquestionably leads to a product in the end. See also: yesterday’s OnePlus 11 concept device.
Image Credits: Brian Heater
I will say that Motorola’s parent company, Lenovo, has never been shy well-nigh bringing warlike strange form factors to market, whether it’s an E Ink tablet or the ThinkPad X1 Fold, which is powerfully a foldable phone in palmtop form.
It does, however, raise plenty of questions, should this thing overly unquestionably hit the market. Given what occurred in the primeval days of foldables, I’d say that tautness is on the top of my list. You’ve got to make sure a device you’re selling to the public is capable of repeating that whoopee hundreds of thousands of times.
Image Credits: Brian Heater
Will we see a productized version of the Rizr at next year’s MWC? I wouldn’t wall on it. But it’s moreover nice to see companies thinking outside the same old smartphone slate.
Motorola’s Rizr is when as a concept phone with a rollable screen by Brian Heater originally published on TechCrunch