Motorola signature

One of the most stylish phones in the universe, but that comes with a matching price and two compromises

- TIM DANTON

I'm not the most stylish of men. More Berghaus than Burberry, more Casio than Cartier. So arguably Motorola made a tactical mistake when sending me its Motorola signature for review, as this ultra-slim phone is all about making a fashion statement.

You can buy it in timeless black – or Pantone Carbon to use Motorola's branding – but I prefer the Martini Olive version. With its leather-like rear finish and bronzed edges, it catches the eye in a way that black never will. Whichever colour you choose, though, you're missing the point if you slap a case on this phone.

As is the modern way, the Motorola signature is also incredibly slim. For the most part it measures 7mm, rising to around 10mm for the inevitable camera bump. That bump sits to the left of the rear, but the design avoids the annoying trait of sitting unevenly on the table as it fills almost two-thirds of the width.

I'm not such a fan of the weight balance, as it feels top heavy when trying to type and hold it one-handed, but I haven't dropped it in our three weeks together. Even if I did, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 is as good as things get when it comes to drop protection and scratch resistance. The phone also has IP68 and IP69 ratings, meaning it's well protected against dust and you can submerge it in up to 1.2m of water for 30 minutes.