In mid-October Patently Apple posted a report titled "Samsung to Introduce a Second Foldable Smartphone Design that Reinvents the Classic Flip Phone using Next-Gen Thin Glass." Although Samsung has been working on this for years, it's Motorola (via Lenovo) that will be taking orders for their new foldable smartphone simply branded 'razr' first. Samsung is likely to introduce their version of a single-display based flip-phone at an event being held on February 11 in San Francisco.

It's being reported today that the highly anticipated Razr reboot has a new release date in North America: February 6. Preorders for the $1500 foldable Razr smartphone will begin on January 26.

The new razr smartphone will be available on Motorola's website and through Verizon (VZ), which is the exclusive U.S. provider. Lenovo's Motorola wanted to set the date prior to Samsung's event on February 11th that will be unveiling their version of the bendable display based flip-phone.

CNN reports that If the $1,500 price tag gives you sticker shock, Verizon is offering a payment plan of $62.49 a month for 24 months. That's ... still more than twice the monthly cost of an iPhone 11.

The power of nostalgia and the unique look has overpowered potential customers' ability to restrain themselves: Motorola last month delayed the initial launch date, scheduled for January 9, because of higher-than-expected demand and limited supply of the iconic phone.

This Razr is the second reboot of the brand. In 2011, it launched the Droid Razr but it failed to take off. Will the old saying 'Three Times a Charm' prove out for Motorola's new razr? Only time will tell.

Motorola said that launch dates for other countries will be announced later. Canada's TELUS has already set up their page, getting ready to tell Canadians when it'll be available.

For now, Apple will sit out the first couple of rounds of foldables to see the market's reaction to such smartphones and tablets. Patently Apple has a display patent archive covering foldables that you could review here.

Apple has clearly shown that they've been covering this possible next wave of smartphone form factors and will certainly introduce one when they think that they could bring something of value to market.

With Microsoft planning to introduce Surface Neo (foldable tablet) and Surface Duo (a foldable smartphone) for Q4 2020, Apple will be sure to monitor the success of such devices before giving their teams the green light.