Razer acquires Nextbit, the Kickstarter mobile success

by Mark Tyson on 31 January 2017, 11:01

Tags: Razer

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The Nexbit Robin was Kickstarted back in 2015 and was a major success, easily surpassing its funding goals. Behind the company and the Robin, with its "integrated cloud (Android) OS", was an ex HTC exec, a couple of ex-Google employees, and Foxconn manufacturing muscle.

Today HEXUS has received an email carrying the news that Nextbit has become part of the Razer family. Following the acquisition "Nextbit will operate as an independent division inside Razer, focused on unique mobile design and experiences. To put it simply, we'll be doing exactly what we've been doing all along, only bigger and better." Those who are users of the Kickstarted Robin phone might be relieved to hear that "We will continue to fulfill warranties for 6 more months. And as promised, we will continue to provide software updates and security patches through February 2018".

From the other side of the equation Razer Co-Founder and CEO Min-Liang Tan, shared his vision regarding the deal. Mr Tan started by saying that "Nextbit is one of the most exciting companies in the mobile space." He went on to say how Razer's track record of industry disruption has seen it "dominate categories with longstanding incumbents" and this strategy can be applied to growing business in new areas - which we assume will be the mobile industry.

In recent memory Razer has also acquired companies such as Ouya and THX.



HEXUS Forums :: 4 Comments

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Can't be much of a success if Razer wound up buying them.

The actual Nexbit device was genuinely interesting and a good attempt at something different but the mobile wars are over and anything attempting to disrupt it is doomed to failure. Especially anything that is an Android fork for a variety of reasons (security/updates etc), the Nexbit was Android but underneath a custom layer of a whole bunch of other stuff.

Can't see an Android Razer phone being a huge draw, what with Microsoft's CPC (cellular PC) program kicking off at the end of the year, given Razers userbase a gaming focused CPC would make more sense.

(CPC's arent meant to disrupt mobile but keep the PC's head above water so it isn't swept away by the mobile tide, by salvaging whats left of Windows Phone & rolling it into PC).
Kato-2
Can't be much of a success if Razer wound up buying them.

Not necessarily; Razer bought THX and I'd say they were a huge success, at least for a while.
Kato-2
Can't be much of a success if Razer wound up buying them.

They kept selling out run after run of them, IIRC. Going to Razer is a statement about fulfilling their sales potential. It's not a case of a manufacturer picking up a failing brand cheap.

I hope that graphic on the main news page a mock-up though. This design sold on its simple prettiness. That ugly Razer logo would ruin it.
They need a better camera and battery on that phone