I’ve by no means had an expertise that moved me to tears like Motorola’s press launch saying the ThinkPhone 25. Moto took my favourite cellphone from final yr and turned it right into a mid-range also-ran. If that is not dangerous sufficient, it added insult to damage by saying the nerfed ThinkPhone 25 would not be accessible in america.
It is unfair to say the ThinkPhone 25 will probably be a foul cellphone. Nonetheless, I am disenchanted that Motorola took it in a unique route than the unique. As a substitute of creating a run at units just like the Google Pixel 9 and Samsung Galaxy S24 FE, Motorola appears content material to relegate the ThinkPhone to area of interest standing when it might’ve been far more.
What made the unique ThinkPhone improbable?
Highly effective efficiency and worth
I did not suppose Motorola would promote the ThinkPhone to non-enterprise prospects. After I noticed it go reside on Moto’s website for buy, I used to be excited for just a few causes. The Motorola ThinkPhone supplied all the facility we would moderately want in a no-frills package deal with excellent battery life. However Motorola might promote the ThinkPhone for $700 by chopping out the fluff, an distinctive worth given all the things we obtained.
The Motorola ThinkPhone supplied all the facility we would moderately want in a no-frills package deal with excellent battery life.
It wasn’t as flashy because the flagship providing from Samsung and Google, however it included many options to like. Its show was a improbable 6.6-inch P-OLED 1080p panel refreshing at 144Hz. It was snappy and responsive, with sufficient brightness to be viewable outside. The ThinkPhone was powered by a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, which was greater than sufficient energy for all the things we wanted to do on the time, paired with 8GB of RAM.
A lot of the ThinkPhone’s attraction was its construct high quality. I beloved the way it felt with an aramid fiber weave again and aluminum body. It was navy drop-test compliant and IP68-rated, giving it superior sturdiness to different high-powered telephones. I by no means rocked my ThinkPhone with a case, as I assumed the cellphone would defend the case and never vice versa. It was additionally mild, weighing 188g because of no again glass.
Telephones aimed toward enterprise prospects are solely good if the battery lasts the course. The ThinkPhone had a 5,000mAh cell, and I usually bought eight to 9 hours of screen-on time with out breaking a sweat. When it was time to recharge, I might use TurboPower, which delivers 68W wired charging. Motorola ensured that ThinkPad 68W charging cords would work on the ThinkPhone, which means you solely needed to bear in mind one charger on a visit. This was a pleasant contact.
The software program was additionally a robust level of the ThinkPhone. Moto’s Prepared For (since rebranded Sensible Join) is an excellent Samsung DeX competitor, permitting connectivity between a cellphone and a PC. I might use my ThinkPhone as a webcam or run apps on a bigger show. It was a improbable expertise.
Motorola takes issues in one other route with the ThinkPhone 25
Slower specs and cheaper price level
I haven’t got many complaints in regards to the ThinkPhone 25 on paper. Motorola goes with a Dimensity 7300 chipset, which I have been pleased with in different units. It additionally plans to maintain the rugged construct, simply in a smaller type issue, because the ThinkPhone 25 will sport a 6.36-inch P-OLED show. A compact chassis means lowered battery dimension. Nonetheless, I do not suppose battery life will probably be impacted negatively, given the ThinkPhone 25’s smaller show and mid-range chipset.
I am extra disenchanted that Motorola is abandoning a portion of consumers who would love a extra highly effective cellphone and sturdy construct however do not want all of the bells and whistles of costly flagships. We do not see many no-nonsense telephones launched.
I do not suppose a $500 worth level is smart for the ThinkPhone 25. It will face the identical points because the overpriced Moto Edge (2024), struggling to discover a house in a crowded mid-range market.
Motorola let a winner get away
The ThinkPhone deserved an opportunity to run again with a transparent advertising and marketing technique and presence in provider shops as a worth different to the wallet-eating behemoths we get from Google and Samsung. If Motorola had stayed the course, there would’ve been large competitors between the Google Pixel 9, Samsung Galaxy S25, and ThinkPhone 25. As a substitute, the ThinkPhone 25 will not make it stateside, and I will be left with the dream of what might have been and barely misty eyes.