Motorola is officially back in the flagship space, with its new Signature 27 phone available for pre-order starting today, but it’ll cost a pretty penny.
Motorola Signature 27 is, in every sense of the word, a true and proper flagship smartphone, with specs that are more or less unmatched in the US and hold up even in international markets.
The full specs on Motorola Signature 27 include:
- Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6
- Display: 6.8-inch Extreme AMOLED Duo (Tandem OLED), 2772×1272, 120Hz, 12,000 nits peak brightness, Gorilla Glass Ceramic 3
- 162.01 x 77.04 x 7.99mm, 227g
- 12GB of RAM(+ 12GB RAM Boost)
- 512GB UFS 4.1 storage
- 7,000 mAh battery, 90W wired charging, wireless charging
- Cameras:50MP Main + 50MP Ultrawide (122°) + 200MP 3x Telephoto + Dedicated Action Sensor + 50MP Front
- IP68/IP69
- Android 17with 7 years of OS/security updates
Add it all up, this is a true flagship like we’ve never really seen from Motorola, especially in the US.
Motorola also touts that Signature 27 is compatible with GrapheneOS, has an “ArcticMesh” vapor chamber cooling system with diamond-infused thermal gel, and reiterates just how bright that display is. The Tandem OLED technology in use is also mentioned to be 34% more energy efficient and have a 121% longer lifespan compared to traditional OLED panels. The speakers are also tuned by Bang & Olufsen, a name we’ve not seen in the Android space since LG was still in the game.
On the software side, Android 17 is available out of the box with the promise of 7 years of OS upgrades and security updates – no promises on how often those will be delivered, though. Motorola is also the first brand outside of Pixel to fully embrace Gemini Intelligence, with Gboard Rambler, “Create My Widget,” app automation, and Sign-To-Text ASL translation all supported on Signature 27.
Battery life should be excellent with a 7,000 mAh cell inside that Motorola says charges at 90W (wired) and uses silicon-carbon battery tech. Wireless charging speeds top out at 50W on Motorola’s charger and it sounds like it maxes out at 15W on other devices based on the company’s communication with us. There appears to be no Qi2 support either, sadly, even though Motorola supports the tech elsewhere in its lineup.
The cameras are not holding back either. The 50MP main shooter uses a Sony Lytia L910 sensor with LOFIC for improved color, brightness, and video, with two other 50MP sensors for the ultrawide and front-facing cameras. There’s also a 200MP periscope telephoto camera that’s only 3x optical quality, but goes all the way to 100x hybrid zoom. Motorola has also equipped the device with a dedicated EVS action sensor that is specifically used to improve clarity and sharpness on fast-moving objects while using an “Action Shot” mode.
Truly, a full flagship across the board, but oh boy it is not cheap.
Motorola Signature 27 is launching in the US for $1,599 on November 19, with pre-orders open today. That’s for the 512GB/12GB variant that’s also the only one coming to the US, with colors including “Coal Smoke” and “Capulet Olive.” There’s no availability coming to Canada at this time, but US buyers can get a free Moto Watch Ultra (the one with Wear OS) with their pre-order from Motorola.com for a “limited time.” That same offer also includes a free year of the “motocare” extended warranty. There’s no word of carrier launches yet, but Motorola says US units are “universally unlocked.”
What do you think of Motorola Signature 27, and would you pay $1,599 for it?
Pre-order Motorola Signature 27:
More on Motorola:
- Moto Buds Ultra 27 and Watch Fit 27 help complete the company’s new premium ecosystem
- Moto Tag 2 brings its UWB and Android Find Hub integration back to $20
- Motorola is rolling out its Android 17 update to more devices
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