When we pulled the Motorola Razr I out of
its box, the first thing we thought was, “Wow – it looks like an iPhone 5.” We
know that will have some Apple fan boys clutching their pearls, but hold the Razr
I in your mitts and you’ll see what we mean. .
Firstly, the size. It’s
about the same width and height, albeit a little fatter and slightly heavier,
than the iPhone 5. It also feels similar – the mixture of Kevlar and glass
instead of aluminium and glass gives it that premium feel, and Motorola has
gone down the same industrialized route as Apple.
Motorola Razr I
The big selling point
for Motorola is the screen. It’s an edge to edge display, meaning there is no
wasted space at the side taken up by an annoying bezel. It’s smaller than many
these days, at 4.3 inches across and with a 540 x 960 pixel display, but being
a Super AMOLED panel, blacks are very black and colors are incredibly vivid.
Android and apps
As it ships, the
handset comes running Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich, but we think it’s
inconceivable that a Jelly Bean update won’t be around the corner. Firstly,
because Google owns Motorola now. And secondly, because this is a high-powered,
flagship handset. As with most Android phones, you get a dock at the bottom
with shortcuts to preconfigured apps (which you can alter) and your app drawer.
Motorola has tweaked some of the icons for non-Google apps in its own style.
“If you’re after a work horse that won’t
let you down, it’s ideal”
The camera is 8MP. Granted,
that’s hardly cutting edge. But it’s the favored spec among manufacturers these
days, and it’s just as much about the lens, aperture and so on, anyway. The
interface is neither overly complicated, nor so bare that it’s a nuisance. You
have access to standard features such as timer or single shot mode, exposure
settings, pointless effects, and the option to flit between portrait and
landscape, and so on. In good light, pictures come out well. Photos are
passable, but you can tell they came from a camera phone, which is a line that
is becoming more and more blurred as technology advances.
The front facing
camera is VGA only. It’s a bit of a disappointment, since it means lower
quality images, but then the idea behind these cameras is that they’re used
more for video calls than vanity. And since bandwidth issues mean you’re not
going to be sending the most high definition video around, it’s all passable
enough.
The cameras wont’ blow your mind, but
the rear one does a good job.
Getting into video
shooting mode is easy enough – as with most phones, you enter through the camera
mode, and then just toggle on. You can shoot in a number of resolutions –
ranging from QVGA, all the way up to HD+ (1080p), which is the standard
resolution and selected by default. The Motorola Razr I’s HD+ videos look
fantastic – especially when you view them back on the screen of the phone.
Again, this is because of that amazing Super AMOLED color quality. However,
this is where we managed to stump the Intel chip. We thought it was unbeatable
– it’s not. Playing HD+ video back on the phone led to some serious stutter
every few seconds. One thing we will say for the camera, though, is that it is
one of the best we have tested for going from pitch black to bright light with
minimal fuss. You can see how well it copes between two extremes where many other
(more expensive) devices have struggled.
Apple crumble
Some would say Android
devices such as the Motorola Razr I are closing the gap on iPods and iPhones.
After all, storage-wise, you can now make an Android device far larger for all
of your HD video and music content. With 64GB cards available, add that to
whatever your internal storage is, and you can see why.
Its small- but it has a whopping
2,000mAh battery inside
Plus, there are
various apps for both Windows and Mac that enable you to sync your content
easily enough via cable or Wi-Fi. One other benefit is sound quality. Apple
users are stuck with the Apple music player software, though they can change
their headphones to make things sound better. But on the software side, there
are so many Android music players that enable you to play around with equalizer
settings, enabling superior sound quality before you even plug your cans in.
you don’t’ find many pre-installed on the Motorola Razr I, though- out of the
box, you just have the standard Music app, which is a competent music player,
but won’t set your world alight.
If you’re after a work
horse that won’t let you down, we recommend the Motorola Razr i. Yes, its small-
but it has a whopping 2,000mAh battery inside. Motorola hasn’t given exact estimates
away for the talk time, but various sources point to claims of about 20 hours
Is it revolutionary? No. but it has a
very impressive specs list – and it’s not too expensive.
Motorola’s done a good
job with the Razr i. it’s taken a line that refuses to die quietly, injected it
with a little bit of pizzazz and thrown it right out there for all and sundry.
Is it revolutionary? No. but it has a very impressive specs list – and it’s not
too expensive. Not everyone wants a phone that will drop the kids off at school,
bake you a cake and give you a massage in the evening. Some want a device with
little pocket imprint, with fantastic specs at a reasonable – rather than
stupid – price. And that’s what you’re getting here.
Good size and weight, big, vibrant
screen, Intel Inside
If taking photos is
your sole aim or you’re OCD about pixels, look elsewhere. But if getting a top
smartphone that leaves you enough change left over for a cod and chips on the
way home – and with a battery life to put others to shame – is your goal, we
heartily recommend the Motorola Razr i.
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Details
·
Price: $481.69
·
Website: www.amazon.co.uk
Specification
·
Screen: 4.3-inch 540 x960
·
Processor: 2.0GHz
·
RAM: 1GB
·
Cameras: VGA (front), 8MP (rear)
·
OS: Android 4.0.4
·
Wireless: GSM, HSDPA, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC
·
Battery: 2,000mAh
·
Connectivity: Micro USB, 3.5mm
The good:
·
Good size and weight, big, vibrant screen,
Intel Inside
The bad
·
Design divides opinion, low pixel density,
poor vibration
Dimensions
·
Height: 122.5mm
·
Width: 60.9mm
·
Depth: 8.3mm
·
Screen size: 4.3-inch
·
Weight: 126g
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