Motorola's new Signature 27 has it all if you can stomach the $1,600 price tag

Motorola's new $1,600 phone offers a 12,000-nit display, setting a new benchmark for screen brightness.

Motorola has launched its new flagship smartphone, the Signature 27, with a premium price tag of $1,600. The device boasts top-tier specifications, including the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 processor, 12GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage. It features a 6.8-inch 120Hz Extreme AMOLED Duo display with a peak brightness of 12,000 nits, setting a new industry standard. The camera system includes a 50MP primary, a 50MP ultrawide, a 200MP 3x telephoto lens, and an event-based vision sensor for enhanced action shots. Powering the device is a large 7,000 mAh silicon-carbon battery with 90W wired charging support. The Signature 27 will ship with Android 17 and promises seven years of OS updates, with AI features rolling out in the coming months. Notably, it also offers the option to install the privacy-focused GrapheneOS, a first for a Motorola phone. The Signature 27 will be available for preorder on November 19 and on sale November 26.

Motorola's reentry into the high-end US market with the Signature 27, priced at $1,600, signals a strategic shift toward premium devices and a challenge to established players like Samsung and Apple. The device's aggressive pricing, close to foldable phones, suggests a focus on feature parity and pushing technological boundaries, particularly with its groundbreaking 12,000-nit display. The inclusion of an event-based vision sensor indicates Motorola's efforts to innovate in computational photography, aiming to overcome past limitations in capturing moving subjects.

The unprecedented display brightness and the novel camera sensor tech position the Signature 27 as a device for enthusiasts and early adopters willing to pay a premium for cutting-edge hardware. The dual-OS offering, with the option to install GrapheneOS alongside Android 17, caters to a growing segment of privacy-conscious consumers and highlights Motorola's willingness to provide choice beyond standard manufacturer offerings. This move could set a precedent for other manufacturers considering deeper integration with alternative operating systems.