After announcing their second generation gaming phone last month, the Razer Phone 2 is now available to purchase as a carrier exclusive from Optus in Australia from today.
The phone is available from Razer, and will be arriving at retail as well, but if you want the phone on a plan Optus has partnered with Razer as part of their commitment to growing the gaming and esports ecosystem in Australia which began with sponsoring the inaugural PVP Esports Championship in Singapore last month.
The Razer Phone 2 is available starting on a range of plans which include bonus data offerings until the 13th of January, and unlimited calls and text to standard Australian numbers. Plans start from $90 per month plan ($45 Plan + $45 Phone), including 4GB of data (2GB + 2GB bonus data) on the Optus 4G Plus network, but there’s many other options including their $105 per month plan which includes a massive 200GB of data (100GB + 100GB Bonus Data).
The Razer Phone 2 reflects Razer’s heritage as a top tier manufacturer in the gaming industry, incorporating many features adored by gamers such as the 120Hz Ultra Motion IGZO LCD display which is 50% brighter than the previous model to improve viewing in direct sunlight. The screen also incorporates HDR with Netflix HDR certification included, and Dolby Atmos sound for better audio on the move.
The phone also utilises their Vapor Chamber cooling technology from their laptop range allowing for improved cooling of the Snapdragon 845, which translates to an additional 20-30% performance improvement from the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor. The processor is paired with a massive 8GB of RAM and 64GB of on-board storage which can be expanded with microSD cards.
Though quite blocky in design, the 16:9 aspect ratio of the phone should make for a great gaming platform, and design wise the multi-coloured Chroma logo on the rear which can be customised to your liking.
Razer Phone 2 will launch with Android Oreo 8.1, with an upgrade to Android Pie 9.0 in the works. Razer has also committed to keeping pace with Google’s monthly Android security patches.
Optus Head of Product Shawn Van Graan said of the addition of the Razer Phone 2 to the Optus range
Optus is moving into a new and exciting esports market as the exclusive Australian carrier of the amazing new Razer Phone 2. As one of the world’s top gaming device manufacturers, Razer has designed a high-performance smartphone that is packed with features, including a 120Hz LCD display, extra-long battery life and internal cooling system, making it the perfect companion for Optus customers who love gaming and consuming video content on the go.
Our Optus plans for the Razer Phone 2 offer huge amounts of data, as well as the option to add entertainment extras including Optus Sport and TV streaming on eligible subscription services without using the plan’s data, which is perfect for mobile gamers and entertainment fans.
You can order the Razer Phone 2 from the Optus website now, with delivery between 1-5 days, or head in-store to check out the phone at your local Optus store.
I went into Droptus in the Brisbane City mall to check it out and the tech rep said they were having problems with the demo unit so didn’t yet have it on display. They still tried to sell one to me sight unseen but I said I’d like to actually see the phone before buying it.