The ThinkPhone by Motorola is a business-focused flagship built with Lenovo and styled after ThinkPad laptops. It was announced at CES on January 5, 2023. Sales started in Europe and the UK in early 2023, and US sales began on April 28, 2023. In the US, it launched at $699.99 for the 8 GB / 256 GB model, unlocked only. The phone is no longer sold by Motorola, and the ThinkPhone 25 has replaced it.
Design and display
The back uses an aramid fiber inlay with a carbon-fiber look, set in an aluminum frame. A red key on the left side can be programmed for quick actions. The phone carries an IP68 rating and passes MIL-STD-810H tests. It came in one color, Carbon Black.
The 6.6-inch pOLED screen has a 2400 x 1080 resolution and a 144Hz refresh rate. It supports HDR10+ and reaches a rated peak of 1,200 nits. Gorilla Glass Victus covers the front. The phone measures 8.26 mm thick and weighs 189 grams.
Performance
Inside is the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, a 4 nm chip with an Adreno 730 GPU. Motorola sells it with 8 GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 256 GB of UFS 3.1 storage. Lenovo also mentioned 12 GB RAM and 128 GB or 512 GB versions at launch. There is no microSD slot.
Cameras
The main rear camera has 50 MP, an f/1.8 lens, a 1/1.5-inch sensor and optical stabilization. A 13 MP ultrawide camera with a 120-degree view also handles macro shots. There is no telephoto lens. The main camera records up to 8K at 30 fps or 4K at 60 fps. The 32 MP front camera has autofocus and records 4K at 30 fps.
Battery and charging
A 5,000 mAh battery powers the phone. It supports 68W wired charging, and the 68W TurboPower charger comes in the box. That charger can also power some ThinkPad laptops. The phone adds 15W wireless charging.
Software and updates
The ThinkPhone shipped with Android 13. Motorola promised three Android upgrades and four years of security updates. Think 2 Think features link the phone with Windows PCs for shared clipboard, notifications, file transfer and app streaming. Moto KeySafe stores PINs and keys in an isolated secure chip. Other features include Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos and an under-display fingerprint reader. The USB-C port supports DisplayPort output.
Should you buy the ThinkPhone?
The ThinkPhone suits business users who want a durable phone that works closely with Windows laptops. It offers a fast chip, a large battery and fast charging. However, it has been discontinued, and Motorola no longer sells it new. Its successor is the ThinkPhone 25, which has a longer update promise. Buyers who find a new unit should note that its update window is shorter than on newer phones.
