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Tag: motorola

  • Motorola G5S Plus review
    Welcome to the 2018 Motorola G5S Plus review. After checking out the G5S we really had to compare it to the larger G5S Plus. Since both are now in run out to make way for the G6 series they now get our attention.  The G5S Plus is the bigger screened version of the regular G5S but there is more changes than. The G5S Plus is currently priced under $350 AUD which is impressive for the spec. In terms of construction the Motorola G5S Plus is just like the G5 which is very good. The styling is old fashioned but 2018 but it still looks good enough be considered mid range. Like the G5 Sthe back panel is not longer removable and as a 2 piece slab style smartphones go it is very well made and certainly no complaints for the price. In terms of hardware the G5S Plus has better specs than the G5S better CPU, bigger screen and so forth. There are no fancy edge to edge screen, or AMOLED even multi-megapixel screen just a reasonable 1080P. Once again due to it's price we have no problems with it parts mix and it is certainly better specified than the Nokia's as an example. In terms of use the Motorola G5S Plus has a stock-ish Android interface that means it works smoothly and fast considering the hardware. We had not complaints about speed or performance in general. We also think the the Snapdragon 625 CPU SOE is probably the ideal budget compromise in terms of operation in 2018. In conclusion the Motorola G5S Plus is a great phone with the spec of a phone that usually sells for $100 more eg. Nokia 7. The G5S Plus is hard to go past when priced at a very affordable $329. Although $50 more than the regular G5S the Plus version is well worth it for the faster CPU and graphics. The G5S Plus is arguably the best value Android based smartphone you can currently buy in mis-2018. However note that Motorola's new owners Lenovo no longer offer regular or if all Android software updates so you're stuck with what ever bugs came with the phone you bought. Hence they will never be recommended by us over a brand that does eg. Nokia. Specifications
    • Motorola G5S Plus
    • Network Quad-band GSM All 3G frequencies(dependent on country) All 4G frequencies (dependent on country) Dual SIM available
    • Design Touch screen
    • L153.5 x W76.2 x D8 mm
    • Weight 168 grams
    • Display 5.5 inch 1,920 x 1080 AMOLED
    • Camera 16MP auto-focus LED Flash 5MP 2nd forward facing still/video call camera
    • Video Camera 1080 HD 30FPS main video camera
    • Connectivity Wi-Fi Bluetooth V4.2
    • CPU Octa-core 2.0 Ghz (Snapdragon 625) Separate Andreno 506 Graphics CPU
    • Memory 4Gig RAM Up to 64 Gig for user Up to 128Gig microSD expansion
    • Features Fast charging capable A-GPS, GLANOSS, Compass, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, fingerprint scanner Li-Po 3000 mAh battery Up to 25 hours for average use.
    • Price history Approx $329 AUD July 2018 (Outright)

  • Motorola G5S Review
    Welcome to the 2018 Motorola G5 review. The G5S is the newest entry level phone form Motorola. In 2018 there is so much more competition from less known brands and that make it hard to standout be be considered for purchase. Price, specification then branding are the keys to this market and the Motorola G5S is arguably one of the most known. We like the G5 series as we actually bought one and it still works well. With the release of the G5S it's logical successor of the G5 we decided to have a closer look. The Motorola G5S is priced at $279 AUD which makes it appealing and competitive. In terms of construction the Motorola G5S is just like the G5 which is very good, certainly better than the asking price suggests. However it is unfortunate that it looks like the older model. Overall there isn't anything to complain about considering the price. Of note that aluminium body is a nice touch at such a low price. In terms of hardware the G5S clearly has lower end parts but the upgrade for RAM to 3 Gigs means that its enough to handle multiple apps easily and helps the now Snapdragon CPU equipped some headroom. It has all the usual Android spec of microSD expansion, fingerprints and 1080p HD screen and surprisingly fast charging. Apart from that there is really no other standout features which is fair enough given the price and allows of the higher end G5S Plus some spec updates. In terms of use the Motorola G5S has virtually a stock Android interface that means it works smoothly and fast considering the hardware. Android is fully functional put of the box here days and there is little complain about in terms o fuse. It really reminders us of a PC that doesn't run windows. All the popular Apps will work well despite the low CPU except for graphic intensive games. In conclusion the Motorola G5S is a great little phone with the spec of a phone that usually sells for $50-100 more eg. Nokia 6 and that's why it will be a phone we will always recommend above the lessor or better promoted brands. It's a phone that works well as long as you don't run heavy duty games like Fortnite. If you want a bigger screen and better specs there is always the G5S Plus. Nonetheless as a phone for basics of Whatsapp, Facebook, instgram, banking, web browsing, videos and music it is hard to go past the Motorola G5S for the price of under $300 at the moment but you need to consider the G5S Plus...However note that Motorola's new owners Lenovo no longer offer regular or if all Android software updates so you're stuck with what ever bugs came with the phone you bought. Hence they will never be recommended by us over a brand that does eg. Nokia. Specifications
    • Motorola G5S
    • Network Quad-band GSM All 3G frequencies(dependent on country) All 4G frequencies (dependent on country) Dual SIM version available
    • Design Touch screen
    • L150 x W73.5 x D8.2 mm
    • Weight 157 grams
    • Display 5.2 inch 1,920 x 1080
    • Camera 16MP auto-focus LED Flash 5MP 2nd forward facing still/video call camera
    • Video Camera 1080 HD 30FPS main video camera
    • Connectivity Wi-Fi Bluetooth V4.2
    • CPU Octa-core 1.4 Ghz (Snapdragon 430) Separate Andreno 505 Graphics CPU
    • Memory 4Gig RAM Up to 32 Gig for user Up to 128Gig micro-SD expansion
    • Features Fast Charging capable A-GPS, GLANOSS, Compass, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, fingerprint scanner Li-Po 3000 mAh battery Up to 25 hours for average use.
    • Price history Approx $279 AUD July 2018 (Outright)

  • Motorola G5 Review
    Welcome to the 2017 Motorola G5 review. The G5 is the newest entry level phone form Motorola and was released along side the G5 Plus. In the past we usually combine the review for both phone bearing very similar names for the sake of easy comparison however there is a significant difference in terms of performance that there will be a separate review for the G5 Plus next week! The Motorola G5 is priced at $299 outright in Australia, which is a very good starting price for spec and performance. It is as good as or better than more expensive models from less known brands and manufacturers. Eg. Oppo and ZTE for example. In terms of construction the Motorola G5 is good. The body is mostly plastic and glass but with a metal back plate but despite having a removable back it is very well put together and you wouldn't even know. That said the plastic bits are not noticeable at all but the chrome edge indicates it is not a top range phone of 2017. Overall there isn't anything to complain about considering the price. In terms of hardware the G5 clearly has lower end parts (unlike the the G5 Plus) but it includes a multi-function fingerprint reader, a 1080P HD display that looks really good, a fast charging function, microSD memory expansion and a separate graphics CPU.  You also get a rare bonus of dual SIM capability. Sure it only has an Octa-core 1.4 GHz CPU but is doesn't really feel it until performing intensive tasks like loading complex web pages, but games seem to work quite well. Once again considering the low price this it perfectly acceptable. In terms of use the Motorola G5 has a stock Android interface that means it works smoothly and fast considering the hardware. There are a few interface tweaks like the multi-function fingerprint scanner for the Android buttons. Only intensive web browsing reveal it's average 2GB RAM as games demo'ed seem to work well. Being stock Android everything simply works and you still have the option of customising it with what ever interface apps you want. The G5 feels better and smoother than virtually all the budget and cheap Android phones we've tried to date. In conclusion it is rare that we post a review of a mobile phone so early in it's release phase and that's because Motorola G5 impressed us. It's smooth fast and looks good for an inexpensive phone. The G5 is also cheaper and better than most of the newer phone brands from China we've tried recently and that's a huge complement. The Motorola G5 is a rare phone it's relatively cheap priced at less than $299 and great specifications for the price for the Australian market. Well worth a look if you're for a budget phone. That said do check out the next review on the Motorola G5 Plus which is even better! Specifications
    • Motorola G5
    • Network Quad-band GSM All 3G frequencies(dependent on country) All 4G frequencies (dependent on country)
    • Design Touch screen
    • L144.3 x W73.4 x D9.5 mm
    • Weight 145 grams
    • Display 5 inch 1,920 x 1080 AMOLED
    • Camera 13MP auto-focus LED Flash 5MP 2nd forward facing still/video call camera
    • Video Camera 1080 HD 30FPS main video camera
    • Connectivity Wi-Fi Bluetooth V4
    • CPU Octa-core 1.4 Ghz Snap Dragon 430 Separate Andreno 505 Graphics CPU
    • Memory 2 Gig RAM Up to 16 Gig for user Up to 128Gig micro-SD expansion
    • Features GPS, GLANOSS, accelerometer, ambient light, gyroscope, fingerprint scanner, proximity Li-Po 2800 mAh battery Up to 25 hours for average use.
    • Price history Approx $299 AUD May 2017 (Outright)

  • Motorola ATRIX Review

    hyp4mhz
    Welcome to the Motorola Atrix review of 2011.  The Atrix was released in early 2011 as a high end model with most of the latest hardware technology that would become common throughout the rest of the year. As a phone the Artix is a very cool design details that require a close up look to appreciate. Unfortunately these details will probably be hidden or 'protected' by some cheap protective case that has become so common these days. In terms of hardware you will find a few things not found on any or very few phones currently for sale (2011). For example the dual-core CPU with a separate graphics processor, biometric security or finger print scanner and the previously mentioned scratch resistant glass. However to balance off the new features there a few things that are not quite up to top spec level. Far example the 4 inch screen size, 5MP camera and missing FM radio. The Atrix has a decent screen but it is not AMOLED but has a higher density of pixels (aka iPhone) which means  it is definitely not quite as nice to look at and the Atrix will have higher battery usage as a result. In terms of construction the Motorola Atrix is very good however still not close to the impressive iPhone or the Nokia N8.  Sure it may not be made of a single piece of aluminum or plastic but the way it has been put together is solid and feels good enough. The carbon fiber like rear cover also looks pretty good close up.  No creaks or rattles and as good as the segment leader the Samsung Galaxy S. If you do get an Atrix remember that the front screen is Gorilla glass which is more scratch resistant than virtually all 'accessory' coverings you could possibly buy. Our Nokia N8 has the same feature and has been without a cover for at least 6 months not a scratch to be seen! In terms of operation the Atrix is very slick despite the Motoblur affected interface. We have no criticisms of any importance apart from those related to the way Android OS or Motoblur works. The web browser allows you to visit any site even with Flash based content - however it will not run complex games like those on Facebook. Final words? Lots of technology in a small package, if you can live with an average sized screen (4 inches ) then go for it. As with all Android phones it all depends on the price as they can basically do the same thing. Great phone but there are so many other great phones too! Specifications
    • Motorola Atrix
    • Network Quad-band GSM 850/900/1800/1900 Tri-band 3G 850/900/1900/2100 (dependent on country) HSDPA 14.4 Mbps data speed (download) HSUPA 2 Mbps (upload)
    • Design Touch screen slider
    • L190.1 x W120.5 x D12 mm
    • Weight 385 grams
    • Display/s 4 inch 540 x 960
    • Camera 5MP LED Flash 2nd video call camera 1.3MP Forward facing camera for video calls.
    • Video Camera 720P or 1080P dependent on version of Android OS.
    • Connectivity Wi-Fi Bluetooth V2.1
    • CPU 1 Ghz Dual core Separate Graphic CPU
    • Memory Up to 16 Gig for user Up to 32Gig micro-SD expansion
    • Ring tones MIDI, MP3, Video, vibration and others
    • Features A-GPS AndroidApp store Free Google Navigator (requires data plan) Compass Accelerometer Dolby Digital Proximity Ambient Light Music and Media player MS-Word, Excel and Powerpoint, PDF, ZIP compatible Organiser/Calender SMS, MMS, IM, Email Speaker Phone/Hands free Li-Po 1950 mAh battery Up to 400 hours Standby Up to 9 hours Talk Time
    • Price history Approx $xxx AUD late 2011 (Outright)

  • Motorola DEFY Review

    hyp4mhz
    Welcome to the Motorola DEFY review.  The DEFY was released in late 2010 into a very crowded Android based phone market. It's selling point was the ruggerised case and screen and a slightly faster 800Mhz CPU than the base models but slower than the top end models. It has been awhile since we reviewed a Motorola phone because since they started using the Android operating system they are basically the same apart of hardware variations.  The once industry leading Motorola used to make really cool looking phones all the latest technology - hampered by the short sighted networks installing crap software that often made them poor to use.  We can be thankfully for Apple for releasing us from the phone networks - unfortunately that meant that we are now being locked into the Apple 'network'. We like freedom so there must be a better solution our there - perhaps Android OS is our savior? Android in its standard form works really well but again Motorola has not understood that tinkering with the core of the operating system simply does not result in a better experience! Why couldn't they just put an App in? Maybe it was a model we tried but we came away thinking that the DEFY was not sluggish but more a tad unresponsive. Overall though it feels faster than the 600Mhz CPU but definitely slower than the 1Ghz. Th model comes with Android 2.1 so your missing a few features most will not miss. The DEFY can be purchased for any 3G network including Telstra 850Mhz NextG however outright DEFYs can also be bought for other networks. So before buying make sure you know which network it will In terms of construction the DEFY is light and solid but lacking any design flair. The ruggerised case feels good enough and hard wearing to carry around without extra protective cases but being completely honest it looks like a cheap phone. If you're clumsy, then its water and scratch resistance will help you out but you may need a case to hide it from the public. BTW the publicity pictures makes the phone look better than it actually is. There is nothing else exceptional about the DEFY but for the unnecessary Motoblur application which is annoying. We couldn't get it work properly for your information, some updates just wouldn't happen. Seriously Motorola, get your act together and put in a turn off button. If Motoblur does work it's still less useful than the dedicated apps or the web browser versions for Facebook, Twitter and other types of social networking accounts. Other than that the phone works as expected In the end we didn't want to write up too much more because we were already let down by the lack of any improvement to the interface compared earlier models.  It is the only ruggerised Android which we've seen to date so this is the key selling point. However a decent case will make any other touchscreen closely match the DEFY. Overall only gave the Motorola DEFY a passing grade. Sure it does everything OK but that's it. We felt that the company wasn't even trying when it sent this one out to the public. Specifications
    • Motorola DEFY
    • Network Quad-band GSM 850/900/1800/1900 Dual-band 3G 850/900/1900//2100
    • Design Touch screen
    • L107 x W59 x D13.5 mm Weight 120 grams
    • Display/s 3.7inch TFT 480 x 852
    • Camera 5MP Auto focus LED Flash
    • Video Camera 640 x 480 pixel main video camera 30FPS
    • Connectivity Bluetooth V2.1 Wi-Fi Micro-USB
    • CPU 800Mhz
    • Memory Up to 2 GIG available to user MicroSD up to 32Gig
    • Ring tones ACC, MP3, vibration and others
    • Features A-GPS Accelerometer Sensor Ambient Light Sensor Compass JAVA Apps Music and Media player Organiser/Calender SMS, MMS, IM, Email JAVA MIDP 2.0 FM radio with RDS Speaker Phone/Hands free 3.5mm AV/headset Custom 3.7V 1540mAh Up to 9 days Standby Up to 6 hours Talk Time
    • Price history Under $488 AUD 2011 (Outright)

  • Motorola DEXT Review
    Welcome to the Motorola DEXT/CLIQ review. Released early 2010 the DEXT along with MILESTONE and BACKFLIP are the latest Google Android operating system based mobile phones by by Motorola.  Using Android as the basis for their mid-range and up phones was probably one of the best moves by the company since the V3.  As a result their phones now have a consistent, stable, fast and customizable and supportable user interface as well as all the latest functionality. The design of the DEXT and CLIQ is as a typical QWERTY slider but with touch screen functionality as well.  The design works really well when typing emails and BLOG entries.  There is absolutely nothing wrong how the phone works once you get used to the operating system. The MOTOBLUR system does make your life easier if you want to remain connected to every major social network site on the Internet. It basically brings up 'widgets' for all the different networks so you can see what everyone is up to.  It does work well.  The only issue we have is that if your phone network provider has poor internet connectivity you will encounter updating issues.  Since this phone is available though OPTUS at present (2010) it is a  hit an miss when accessing the internet. I don't like the idea of syncing with all your online data since many do not put in their up to date or correct details due to privacy concerns - especially in Facebook! Network signal strength based on using the Optus carrier is good likewise battery life.  However like all smart phones these days the Cliq's battery life is not exceptional reportedly lasting the usual 12 hours or so with moderate usage.  Since it seems that this is normal for this type of mobile phone it is no longer complaint worthy 2010.  However this sort of battery life is poor considering that the latest Nokia smart phones for example have at least a full 24 hours before wanting to be charged with needing a bigger capacity battery. In terms of functionality the DEXT has the lot, everything you could need in a mobile phone in 2010.  It is a high end phone except...although well constructed it does not feel like a must have phone. It needs better looking materials or design as opposed to better quality because the quality is fine.  The Motorola V3, V3XX, V8 and V9 where lovely phones to look at and touch the DEXT is the almost the complete opposite.  I wouldn't say it ugly - more inoffensive I guess. There's not much else to say really.  The DEXT has all the stuff you could want in a 3G internet connected phone.  It works really well. Specifications
    • Motorola DEXT
    • Network Quad-band GSM 850/900/1800/1900 Tri-band 3G 900/1700/1900/2100  (Dependent on country) HSDPA 7.2 Mbits data speed (download)
    • Design Touch screen QWERTY slider
    • 114 x W58 x D15.6 mm Weight 163 grams
    • Display/s External TFT 320 x 480
    • Camera 5MP
    • Video Camera 640 x 480 pixel main video camera 15FPS 144 x 176 video call 15FPS
    • Connectivity Bluetooth V2 Micro-USB
    • CPU Qualcomm MSM7200A 528Mhz
    • Memory Up to 256MB available to user MicroSD up to 32Gig
    • Ring tones MIDI, MP3, Video, vibration and others
    • Features Android 1.5 OS A-GPS Wi-Fi Motoblur integration Accelerometer Proximity sensor Light Sensor Magnetometer (Compass) Music and Media player Organiser/Calender SMS, MMS, IM, Email JAVA MIDP 2.0 Speaker Phone/Hands free 3.5mm AV/headset 3.7V 1420mAh Up to 14 days Standby Up to 6 hours Talk Time
    • Price history From $xxx AUS 2010 (Outright)

  • Motorola BACKFLIP Review
    Welcome to the Motorola BACKFLIP MB300/ME600 review. Released early 2010 the BACKFLIP along with the other Android based phones by Motorola.  Using Android as the basis for their mid-range and up phones was probably one of the best moves by the company since the V3.  As a result their phones now have a consistent, stable, fast and customizable and supportable user interface as well as all the latest functionality. To prevent too much repetition from the Motorola DEXT/CLIQ review, the BACKFLIP is the same phone in a different case. The design of the BACKFLIP is different.  The keypad is always on the outside of the phone and to use it just flip it to the correct angle.  It is different but it does work.  The keypad being on the outside will be subject to rough surfaces but from the materials used it should remain scratch-less for some time. In terms of battery life - we do not really know but signal strength appears to very good. (We couldn't test the phone for long!) The screen itself is on par with any other smart phone certainly the same as the benchmark iPhone 3. In terms of functionality the BACKFLIP has the lot, everything you could need in a mobile phone in 2010. It is also a design statement yet works.  You will stand out from the crowd in a good way and worth the questioning looks and comments.  However the only thing that does not attract up to the phone is the chunky design.  Better looking materials would help! There's not much else to say really.  The BACKFLIP has all the stuff you could want in a 3G internet connected phone.  Like all the latest Motorola phones based on the Android OS it works really well. Specifications
    • Motorola DEXT
    • Network Quad-band GSM 850/900/1800/1900 Tri-band 3G 900/1700/1900/2100 or  (Dependent on country) HSDPA 7.2 Mbits data speed (download)
    • Design Touch screen QWERTY slider
    • 108 x W53 x D15.3 mm Weight 163 grams
    • Display/s External TFT 320 x 480
    • Camera 5MP
    • Video Camera 640 x 480 pixel main video camera 15FPS 144 x 176 video call 15FPS
    • Connectivity Bluetooth V2 Micro-USB
    • CPU Qualcomm MSM7200A 528Mhz
    • Memory Up to 256MB available to user MicroSD up to 32Gig
    • Ring tones MIDI, MP3, Video, vibration and others
    • Features Android 1.5 OS A-GPS Wi-Fi Motoblur integration Accelerometer Proximity sensor Light Sensor Magnetometer (Compass) Music and Media player Organiser/Calender SMS, MMS, IM, Email JAVA MIDP 2.0 Speaker Phone/Hands free 3.5mm AV/headset 3.7V 1420mAh Up to 14 days Standby Up to 6 hours Talk Time
    • Price history From $xxx AUS 2010 (Outright)

  • Motorola V3xx Review

    hyp4mhz
    Welcome to the Motorola V3xx mobile phone review.  We've had this phone for at least a year now but due to various reasons haven't done a write up.  However its 2009 now and about time we did something... The V3xx is the 3G version of the V3 model range.   It was released back in  2006 when it was still one of the thinnest and arguably the best looking clam shell phone around.  In 2009 its still a good looking phone and one that should really sell better than it has. The phone clearly has had decent software updates over the years because our latest version (Telstra) is obviously better than a Vodaphone version 18 months older.  So watch out and make sure you get the latest V3XX models.  Make sure your carrier has a stable phone software. Construction wise it has a metal faced flip part and quality plastic base topped with the Motorola trademark aluminum keypad.  (The battery cover at the back also felt like it was made of metal) The Key pad is customized for whatever network is offering the phone.   It's a very well built phone with no creaks.  The spring loaded flip works very well and reliably over the thousand or so open and close its been subjected to.  Overall a very well made phone that's nice to hold. It is slightly bigger than the original V3 and subsequent V3i models. The most important thing you should consider when buying is to get one which has multiple 3G and GSM network frequencies eg. 2100mhz, 850mhz or even 900mhz etc.. because get the wrong version it won't work internationally. The operating system is the ages old Motorola OS and it shows.  It has long menus and menu names which are not quite right.  Most annoying is the inability to personalize the OS with custom themes without spending a lot of time and with dubious certainty modding the OS.  Nevertheless the phone is quite stable with only an annoying backlight bug  for the external screen which we have yet to mod out of the OS! The menu navigation and activating is very fast!  However a few options that you need to change are located in illogical places.  Eg. Open flip to answer is in the in-call options menu.  The dual naming of Skins and Themes.  Yes they are the same thing (except for icons).  Furthermore you cannot video call directly from the contacts menu!  You have to have already called the person by voice and then go to the call logs to be able to video call. The best feature of the V3XX is definitely the internal screen.  It's brilliant literally.  Very high quality display better than any mobile phone we've used to date (2008).  The external screen however is not very good too small and too dim - at least it's color. The keypad is very easy to use but feels stiff - after all it is aluminum!  The backlight is a nice iridescent blue and the keys if important enough have their own coloured backlight.  There are 3 keys on the flip part - one for volume, camera and one to activate the backlight. The speaker volume is pretty decent on par with say most Nokia's. Sound quality is a bit tinny as per most mobiles but fair enough.    However the call quality - microphone and earpiece quality is very good.  I dare say better than most other phones we've used.  The background noise reducer actually works in almost all instances! The implementation of SMS or texting is not as good as the competition.  It requires several buttons and options before you can send a message off - specifically to someone not in your phone book!  Not good for those game shows where you need to be quick to enter. The internet browser seems to have been updated and now using Opera 8 - better than many others I don't care to mention for this type of phone. Also missing is a File Manager.   You can't create folders and organise files yourself it does it all for you.  Its good for those who can't be bothered sorting out files or older folk who don't want additional complication.  All you do is to go to the Multimedia - Media finder option and all the files are there.  Icons will only appear if it can read the file so easy to see what works or doesn't work on the phone. There are plenty of customization options . The standard options are wallpaper, tones and the most important soft key reassignment.  The installation of skins and JAVA software was easy enough but you have to be sure they are made for Motorola phones.  There aren't too many because Motorola have not made a easy to access skin editor/designer.  That's probably why Nokia and Sony Ericson are now more popular phones - which allow anyone with some determination to fully create their own. Overall it's got all the usual functionality including MS Exchange compatibility which was a nice surprise.  This software may not be available on phones from certain networks.  And I guess that's the main issue - the V3XX is clearly heavily modified by whatever network you're buying the phone for.  So some may have much better software than others... As for other features the phone has everything a mid-range phone would have but at a cheaper price.  Although some V3XX do not have a airplane mode - the latest models finally have one! Due to the very thin profile there's only a mini-USB connector for everything including earphones.  That can be forgiven since it doesn't have an FM radio but it does have a microSD slot for extra memory. Battery life is a decent 7 days on standby. Network reception is very good.  It was quite surprising especially comparing the signal levels to the Telstra branded and made for network ZTEs phones.  The V3XX kept full signal bars whilst the ZTE only had two less than 1/2 strength. Conclusion: The V3xx is a very good phone - in particular the Telstra software version we tested.  It's not embarrassing to show off to your mobile savvy friends and has all the latest functionality for 3G networks.  (Mind you if they don't know it's a XX they aren't as savvy as you think!) If you get one it should keep you happy for a couple years that's for sure. There are a few annoying things caused purely by illogical placement and/or naming but we got over it and you probably will too. It's a phone that has definitely gotten better with age. Specifications
    • Motorola V3xx
    • Network Quad-band GSM 850/900/1800/1900 3G 850/1900/2100 (Dependent on country) HSDPA 3.6 data speed
    • Design Flip or Clamshell
    • L102.9 x W53 x D17.3 mm Weight 108 grams
    • Display/s Internal TFT 240 x 320 External CSTN 96 x 80
    • Camera 1.3 MP
    • Video Camera 480x 272 pixel video camera
    • Connectivity Bluetooth V1.2 Mini-USB
    • CPU
    • Memory 50MB available to user Micro-SD card up to 2Gig
    • Ring tones MIDI, MP3 and others
    • Features Menu Themes Image and Video viewer Organiser/Calender Video calling Voice memos SMS, MMS, IM, Email (inc. ActiveSync for some countries) JAVA MIDP 2.0 Speaker Phone/Hands free Battery 940 mAh Up to 300 hours Standby Up to 3 hours Talk Time
    • Price history From $149-199 AUS 2009 (Pre-paid) From $499 AUS 2007 (Outright)

  • Motorola V9 (RAZR2) Review

    hyp4mhz
    Welcome to the Motorola V9 mobile phone review. The V9 was released in late 2007 as the successor to the V3xx which in turn was the replacement for the V3 and V3i.  The V series phones from Motorola have always looked good and the V9 and its twin the V8 are no different.  They are great looking phones anyone would be happy to own. There have been many version of the same phone over the years the last one being the V9x which included on-board A-GPS for navigation. The V9 is the 3G version of the latest V series phones.  It features large dual 240 x 320 screens with external touch controls  and the slimmest and arguably best looking flip phone or clam shell design on the market.  It is packed with technology including 500Mhz CPU. Quality of construction was as good with excellent attention to detail and materials. The V9 however does have issues.  It uses Motorola's ancient OS that has been enhanced over the years to cater for more functionality.  Even worse due to the horrible way the mobile network companies 'customise' the phone for their network ruins the experience for the user.  For example some models do not have a flight mode or others can't change the soft key functions or even worse limit functionality on the external touch buttons.  So if you have problems blame the network not Motorola. Despite all that if you get an network free version you will be impressed by the high quality screens, phone speed and usability.  However you will be disappointed at the un-logical menu structure.  The standard browser is annoying so get a model with Opera installed or download it your self.   Some mobile networks also place a limitation on 'push email' functionality which again hurts the reputation of the V9.  The v9 does not have a FM radio either. Regardless of network the thing that probably hurts the v9 the most is the difficult way to install software unless from the network provider.  Also the limitations of installing simple things such as new themes is disappointing.  If you want customization then you need to visit the Motorola hacking sites for the instructions.  If you happy with the basic functionality then you will be happy that is what this phone is good at. Overall this is a great looking phone with some issues.  Mind you when we reviewed the V9 we didn't encounter software related bugs that everyone seems to be reporting but we got one that didn't have a flight mode.  Great phone for talk, text and internet if you get a network free one.
    • Motorola V9, V9x, V9m, RAZR2
    • Network Quad-band GSM Tri-band 3G 850/1900/2100 (Dependent on country)
    • Design Flip Phone/Clam shell L103 x W53 x D13.3 mm Weight 117 grams
    • Display/s Internal: 262K TFT - 240 x 320 pixels 2.2" External: 262K TFT - 240 x 320 pixels 2.0"
    • Camera 2 MP Camera Video capable 220 x 176
    • Connectivity Micro USB, Bluetooth
    • Memory Up to 50MB internal memory MicroSD memory - up to 8Gig
    • Ring tones MP3, MIDI, WAV, Vibration
    • Features SMS, MMS, IM, WAP, Email, Blogging JAVA MIDP 2.0 Modem for PC Wireless audio and video streaming Web browser Voice recognition and response Touch sensitive keys Speaker Phone/Hands free Picture - Music - Video Player CrystalTalk technology Bluetooth printing
    • Speed : 500Mhz CPU
    • Battery Life 950mAh Li Ion Up to 14 days standby Up to 5.4 hour talk time
    • Price history From $399 2009 (Outright) From $599 2008 (Outright)