Motorola Razr V3: The iPhone of Yesteryear

The Motorola Razr V3, a slim and stylish clamshell phone, was a major hit in the early 2000s, bridging the gap between bulky phones and modern smartphones.

: The Motorola Razr V3 revolutionized the mobile phone industry with its ultra-thin design and premium materials. Launched in 2004, it quickly became highly sought after. Despite its basic internal features, its sleek appearance and celebrity endorsements drove massive sales. The Razr V3 sold over 130 million units before being overtaken by the iPhone in 2008.

Before the advent of smartphones, the Motorola Razr V3 emerged in 2004 as a game-changer with its ultra-thin design and stylish look. Veteran engineer Roger Jellicoe spearheaded the secretive 'Razor' project to bring this vision to life, making significant design choices like dropping the headphone jack and using aluminum instead of plastic for the case.

Upon its release, the Razr V3 was priced at $500 but became available for as low as $99 with a contract, leading to widespread popularity. Its internal features were similar to older models, but the phone's aesthetics and the ability to take selfies with its 0.3MP camera made it very appealing. The Razr V3x and V3i were later introduced with upgrades, including higher camera resolutions and microSD support.

The Motorola Razr V3 enjoyed immense success, selling 50 million units by 2006 and eventually reaching 130 million before the iPhone's rise. However, subsequent models failed to maintain the same impact. Motorola's phone division was sold to Google in 2012 and later to Lenovo, but the legacy of the Razr V3 lives on as a significant evolutionary step towards modern smartphones.

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