Motorola's new Signature 27 smartphone aims to set a higher flagship standard

Motorola has unveiled its new Signature 27 smartphone, aiming to raise the bar for flagship devices. Unlike foldable phones, the Signature 27 boasts a traditional design and a hefty price tag. The standout feature is its 6.8-inch Extreme AMOLED Duo display, a 120Hz screen touted as the brightest on any smartphone. However, this peak brightness is context-dependent, with sustained performance during regular use being more modest.

Powering the device is Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Mobile Platform, paired with 12GB of RAM and 512GB of UFS 4.1 storage. The camera system is Motorola's most advanced yet, featuring a 50MP main camera, a 50MP ultrawide lens, a 200MP periscope telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom, and a dedicated event-based sensor for capturing fast-moving subjects.

The front camera is a 50MP model for video calls and selfies. DXOMARK currently ranks the Motorola Signature 27 second in camera quality, only behind the Huawei Pura 80 Ultra. Additional features include Bang & Olufsen audio, Corning Gorilla Glass Ceramic 3, a 7,000mAh battery with 90W wired charging, and a six-antenna design to boost 5G speeds.

Motorola promises seven OS updates and up to seven years of security updates following its global launch. The device is available for pre-order starting November 19 in either coal smoke or capulet olive colors, with a launch date of November 26 and pricing beginning at $1,599.99.