ThinkPad is a highly successful PC brand that should be sold in retail stores, however the new sister product ThinkPhone is and when married with the super slick ultra-portable ThinkPad Z13, this is a seriously smart combination when it comes to productivity.

Motorola who manufacture the ThinkPhone, have developed ultimate tech marriage for power users and those who flit between home and office and want the ultimate in security between both devices while being able to easily shift data between devices. Z

The new ThinkPhone phone has been delivered to market by Lenovo subsidiary Motorola who also own the ThinkPad brand, it’s thin without compromising on performance or capability.

On top of Android 13 and a much-improved UI layout, Motorola has incorporated some unique features in their new ThinkPhone smartphone that delivers a high level of security, the innovations are timely given the recent hacks of Optus, Medicare, and Finance Company Latitude.

For those who love the stylish sneak of red, found on ThinkPad notebooks especially on the track button, the new TP smartphones has a classic red on off button made of aluminium, which looks very smart. And like the ThinkPad there is also a red dot in the ThinkPhone name on the back of the device.

As for the can customize its behaviour: a single press can launch an app or app feature of your choosing, and a double press can initiate a ThinkPad integration feature.

Boasting special security software, the device features a back manufactured out of aramid fibres.

Another standout features are Motorola’s Ready For PC, a suite of continuity features that work with Windows PCs and of course the Lenovo manufactured ThinkPad range.

How this works is that the devices pairs automatically with the notebook, and you can run a variety of phone apps on the PC, which is a really neat offering, a classic example is text messages.

Another really good idea developed by Motorola engineers was the ability to use the ThinkPhone as a web cam. In the past we have found that cameras in Android smartphones are often better and clearer than the cameras found in notebooks.

You can also use the ThinkPhone to shuffle information via a clipboard between devices.

The first thing you notice about this device is that it feels different in the hand, it’s light and comfortable and that’s because Motorola has used lightweight aramid fibres material, for the back of the ThinkPhone.

This delivers a unique feel, smart look and above all the feeling of durability with the size of the device also contributing to the overall feel of the device.

The back is also matte, and the material makes it entirely resistant to fingerprints and smudges from moisturisers.

Similar to carbon fibre the material is significantly stronger and lighter than steel and I suspect that we are going to see more devices in the future made from this material.

The frame on the inside is made of highly durable aluminium and the front display, is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus and the phone itself is dust- and waterproof according to IP68 and MIL STD 810H.

For a sub $1,000 device the new ThinkPhone has a good AMOLED display that delivers 144Hz refresh rate as well as HDR10+ capability. The 6.6-inch 2400×1080-pixel display, delivers a 20:9 aspect ratio which is ideal especially for business use.

Its bright and very sharp, icons stand out and images and video are very easy on the eyes with colour saturation well balanced.

Under the bonnet is a very capable Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 chipset which is fast and as for audio lovers there is a dual stereo speaker with Dolby Atmos support that pumps out excellent sound. At one stage I hooked up a pair of the new Bowers and Wilkins PX8 McLaren Edition headphones and the experience was as good as you can get with this level of headphone.

The Think Phone’s rear camera is built around a 50-megapixel main camera with stabilised f/1.8 lens, a 13-megapixel ultrawide lens that doubles as a macro camera.

Also built in is depth sensor which kicks in when shooting portrait images. It’s a bit of a gimmick but it actually works. The images we shot were clear and sharp which for a sub $1,000 camera is as good as you get.

This is a device that’s been built for work and the Chicago based engineers who designed the device have put a lot of effort into the workmanship and the delivery of a device that has a premium look and feel.

Under the volume controls on the right-hand side power button below.

The power button doesn’t double as a fingerprint reader. Instead, there’s one built into the screen, which is actually easiest to reach with your thumb (or your pointer finger on the other hand).

Over on the left edge, you’ll find that distinctive red button, which can be programmed to perform a range of tasks. A single press opens any app of your choice, while a double press launches the “Ready For” app for linking with your Windows notebook or PC.

What’s surprising is the inclusion of a giant 5,000mAh battery, which is as big as they come. This is not a big smartphone, and the inclusion of a big battery seriously delivers with over 40% battery left after a heavy day of use. I always charge overnight so I was not tempted to try and stretch the device to two days of use.

In the box is a 68W wired charger and for the first time a Motorola premium device has support for 15W wireless charging which was not in the old Razr smartphone.

Conclusion: Could I easily switch to this device from a premium Samsung device that is twice the price? The answer is yes because it does deliver all the basics without compromise.

It’s light, has stunning battery life and access in and out of apps is easy. The fact that I can toggle between a notebook and smartphone with information available on both devices is a big plus.

Avis once had an expression that they used when they were number three in the market. ‘We Try Harder’ the strategy eventually got them to #1.

Now Motorola is trying harder with great devices that are now serious challengers to offering from Samsung in particular.

This device is the sort of smartphone that will strip share from high-risk Chinese brands as well other Android manufacturers and the marriage of a notebook and smartphone is a neat plus with the ThinkPhone.

Rating: 9.5/10