How much is too much to pay for a smartphone? Prices have climbed globally—IDC forecasts a nearly 30 percent rise this year alone amid ongoing memory supply crunches—but would you pay $1,600 for a Motorola?

That kind of money typically buys a folding phone with a bendable screen—where steep manufacturing costs justify the markup—or a maxed-out “candy bar” slab from an established premium brand like Apple or Samsung with gobs of internal storage. Motorola hasn't pushed into this price bracket outside of its latest Razr Fold or Razr Ultra folding devices, but that's changing with the new Motorola Signature 27.

It marks Motorola’s first unapologetic, ultra-premium candy bar in the US in six years, harking back to the Edge+ from 2020. And this time, rather than settling into the comfortable value-flagship tier, Motorola is taking direct aim at the highest-end Galaxies and iPhones on hardware alone. Preorders open on November 19, and the phone goes on sale November 26.

So what exactly do you get for $1,600? The Signature 27 has contoured edges, a thin design, and an “integrated” camera plane—similar to the iPhone 18 Pro’s Camera Plateau—finished in ceramic and brushed aluminum. It comes in two colors: Pantone Capulet Olive with a textile-inspired finish and Pantone Coal Smoke with a tactical-weave finish. The front glass is Corning's Gorilla Glass Ceramic 3, and the phone has an IP68/69 rating for top-of-the-line dust and water resistance.

8-inch screen. Motorola claims its “Extreme AMOLED Duo” panel is the brightest smartphone display on the market, peaking at an eye-searing 12,000 nits.

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