Razer’s gamer-oriented Razer Phone is now getting its May software update, including camera enhancements, new privacy controls, and unspecified bug fixes. In fact, that actually began rolling out today, May 21, as an over-the-air update but is also available via the official support site – accessible via the button below – for those feeling a bit less patient. Perhaps most importantly, the new privacy controls bring the phone into compliance with the E.U.’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) rules. Primarily, that means users will have access to exactly what data Razer is collecting and how it’s used. The GDPR goes into full effect on May 25 and requires that users have the right to access, change, or erase data held about themselves. As a result, Razer is changing applicable products and services to meet that standard or removing them entirely, although no specific details have been provided about the changes.
Looking past that and the unspecified bug fixes, the camera software is getting at least one enhancement with this update as well. The new mode allows for more accurate depth-of-field effects on shots that are taken in portrait orientation. That effectively allows more focus to be cleanly placed on the main subject of the photo, such as a specific object or person while drawing attention away from the background. The inclusion of the new feature brings Razer’s high-performance device in line with features found on many competing devices, such as the Google Pixel 2 or Samsung’s flagship devices.
While the company obviously wasn’t the first to include it, it’s great to see a continued commitment to the quality of experience delivered by its over-the-top hardware. For those who may not recall, the Razer Phone features a dual-sensor setup with one 12-megapixel wide-angle lens set at an aperture of f/1.75 and a 13-megapixel sensor tuned for zooming with a f/2.6 aperture. Portrait mode should be a noticeable enhancement, despite that the camera already includes dual phase detection autofocus.
Razer Phone Software Update