Hands on Razer Phone review: an absolute beast of a smartphone

The Razer Phone is here at last – a smartphone built for gamers, by gamers, but we'll say this straight away – you don't need to...

The Razer Phone is here at last – a smartphone built for gamers, by gamers, but we'll say this straight away – you don't need to be a gamer to appreciate this smartphone.

We've had a chance to get hands on with the device before the launch.

So, what makes the Razer Phone so special?

For a start, just look at it. This thing is mean.

Taking inspiration from Razer's range of gaming laptops, the Phone is crafted from matt black aluminium, giving it the appearance of a stealth jet.

It's understated though, with just a contrasting black Razer logo on the back giving away its identity (a limited edition launch model will feature a venom green logo).

The next thing you'll notice is the stunning QuadHD 5.7-inch IGZO LCD panel that runs at 120HZ. 

This high refresh rate is a technology Razer uses in its gaming laptops, and is now making its way into a mobile device.

Razer has called this an "Ultramotion" display, meaning it'll dynamically synchronise the GPU and display.

Not only will this high refresh rate improve the look and playability of games (reducing lag), it'll also have an positive impact on scrolling through websites and social media. 

We've seen this in action, and it looks great.

Flanking the display are two large speakers, each with a dedicated amp. Not only are these speakers impressively loud, but they also support Dolby Atmos. 

This will be great for gaming, as well as watching films.

From our early hands on, we're very excited about this phone, and can't wait to get it in for a full review.

The Razer Phone will be exclusive to Three in the UK. It will cost £49 upfront on all of the 24 month contracts below:

100GB data, AYCE mins and texts - £49 pcm
30GB data, AYCE mins and texts - £45 pcm
12GB data, AYCE mins and texts - £41 pcm

In the US, it'll cost $699 contract free.

The Razer Phone will start shipping on the 17th November, pre-orders start on 3rd November.