Motorola Razr
The Razr V3 launched in late 2004 as the world's thinnest clamshell phone at a shocking $500. Its anodized-aluminum body, laser-etched keypad, and impossible thinness made it a fashion statement. When the price dropped in 2005–2006, everyone had one—and snapping it shut after a call was the whole point.
Before the Razr, flip phones were common but chunky. Motorola's 2004 V3 model redefined what a phone could look like—impossibly thin, industrial, and gorgeous. Early adopters paid premium prices, but the Razr became the must-have status symbol by 2005. It was the phone for anyone who wanted to be seen as cool, tech-forward, and fashionable.
The V3 line became the best-selling clamshell phone in history, with over 130 million units sold. Every follow-up variant and color refresh sold on the strength of that original design. The satisfaction of snapping the phone shut at the end of a call became embedded in the user experience. Then the iPhone launched in 2007, touchscreens became inevitable, and the Razr era ended almost as fast as it had begun. Its influence on phone design outlived it by years.
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