Motorola Razr V3

The Motorola Razr V3, popularly called simply the Razr (pronounced /ˈreɪzər/ like "razor"), is a clamshell style cell phone developed by Motorola. A 2G quad-band worldwide GSM phone, it was released initially in September 2004, and in the US in November 2004, being the first product released under the RAZR (or MOTORAZR) moniker. Updated versions were later released as V3i, V3x and V3xx which included changes such as improved cameras, expandable memory, or 3G, and variants were released to support other networks.

The Razr V3's internal specifications were almost identical to the preceding Motorola V600 and V500 series, but it was built in a completely new, skinny body. Codenamed "Siliqua", Motorola began development in July 2003, in parallel with a complementing "feminine" flip phone project (which became the Pebl), although it was a technical challenge. Motorola industrial designer Chris Arnholt was responsible for much of the Razr's distinct features: the phone had a strikingly thin profile at the time on a flip phone set, sported an electroluminescent keypad made out of a single metal wafer, housed in an aluminum body with an external glass screen. The "Razr" name was coined by executive Geoffrey Frost, who was instrumental in the phone's success. Rather than launching at a fair, Motorola CEO Edward Zander unveiled the Razr V3 at a presentation held in Chicago on July 27, 2004.

With its unique look and high price, it was initially positioned as a desirable premium product. Despite its otherwise average internal features, its groundbreaking sleek exterior eventually made it extremely successful following price cuts. In the United States the V3 series was the most popular cell phone in 2005, 2006 and 2007 and remained best-selling until the latter half of 2008. The Motorola Razr has become an icon of mid-2000s popular culture as well as a defining icon of industrial design. The Razr series was succeeded in 2007 by the Motorola Razr2 series.