The smartphone race: Razer takes the fight to Apple and Google

The premium smartphone market is dominated by Apple and Google. When it comes to developing connected devices, the two tech giants have over a decade of experience.

This can make it difficult for smaller companies to enter the industry, but it hasn’t stopped the gaming brand Razer from taking on the smartphone kingpins.

What separates the Razer Phone from the competition is its focus on performance. It boasts one of the most powerful processors on the market in the form of a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 – the same chip found in the Samsung Galaxy S8.

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But Razer Phone users will have 8GB of RAM at their disposal, double the amount found in the S8. This means the device should easily handle difficult tasks such as playing graphics-intensive video games and editing photos on the go.

The company says the performance of the Razer Phone will also help extend its battery life, as will its large 4,000mAh battery pack.

The smartphone is also equipped with a “quad HD” display with a refresh rate of 120Hz. This means games and videos should have a playback that’s smoother than even the most powerful games consoles.

The device has an angular design that’s devoid of the curved edges and glossy finishes that appear on the Google Pixel 2 and iPhone X. There are thick bezels at the top and bottom of the display. These house the THX “certified” dual-amplifier speakers.

While this may appeal to audiophiles, Razor has followed in Apple’s footsteps by making the controversial decision to removed the handset’s headphone port. As a result, only bluetooth headphones can connect to the device.

Those looking for an alternative to the smartphones offered by today’s tech giants won't have long to wait. The Razer Phone won't be released until 17 November, but you can register your interest on the company's website.

The device’s blocky design may not appeal to everyone, but the handset’s performance – and £699 price tag – could make it an appealing alternative.