Motorola RAZR2 V9 Review

Introduction:

On the heels of Sprint and Verizon Wireless, AT&T has released their RAZR2 variant, the V9. This quad-band GSM device features the same 2 megapixel camera, ultra-thin design and 2” outer display with touch sensitive buttons we found on the V9m, and the V9 has HSDPA is on board to deliver 3G data. The phone retains the same glass and stainless steel design found on all variants of the RAZR2, and the V9 gets a deep burgundy paint job.


Design

The V9 is very similar in design to the V9m. In fact, with the exception of the color difference, the casual user would never notice a difference. However, the V9 comes in at 1.6mm thicker and 7g heavier that the V8 and V9m, and the size and especially weight difference are noticeable when holding the two units.

Model	Dimension (Inches)	Dimension (mm)	Weight (oz)	Weight (Gramms)
Motorola RAZR2 V9	4.0" x 2.10" x 0.50"	103 x 53 x 13.3	4.4	125
Motorola RAZR2 V8	4.0" x 2.10" x 0.50"	103 x 53 x 11.9	4.1	117
Motorola RAZR2 V9m	4.0" x 2.10" x 0.50"	103 x 53 x 11.9	4.10	117
Samsung A717	4.10" x 2.10" x 0.50"	104 x 54 x 12.7	3.3	93

The V9 is constructed of a stainless steel frame, with a near seamless integration of a glass cover over the 2mp camera and gorgeous front display. Along the left side is the volume rocker, a smart key and microUSB port. On the right the user will find a single key, used as a camera shortcut.

2 Megapixel Camera	Left Side	Right Side

The back is again coated in a soft-touch paint to make the phone easier to grip. The battery door has no mechanical latch, but instead is slid on and off to reveal the battery, microSD slot and SIM slot. Thankfully the microSD slot is accessible without removing the battery, one of the gripes we had with the V9m. The battery must be removed to swap out SIM cards, but that is not an issue as the SIM card is seldom removed. Below the door sits the speaker. In our review of the Sprint V9m we mentioned that the slots found on the bottom of the phone were speakers, but upon further inspection they seem to serve no actual purpose as sound is not emitted from them.

Front Display

The front display is 2”, with a QVGA resolution and 262k colors. The increased colors make the screen noticeably crisper than the one found on the V9m. The touch sensitive strip along the bottom is still present, but it is much less functional on the V9. More on that later in the review.

Inside Display

Opening the phone reveals a 2.2” QVGA display. Like the front one, the inside screen features 262k colors, again making it crisper than the V9m.Despite its actual 2.2” size, the screen looks much smaller because of the abundance of dead space around it. We feel the display could be significantly bigger, even up to 3”.

The keypad is in the same vein as the V9m, but has been reworked a bit. The directional pad is a bit smaller to make room for a back key underneath it, in-between the send and end keys. Underneath the left soft key the user will find the AT&T globe, which launches the web, and on the right side a shortcut for Cellular Video. The keypad is still very wide, meaning two handed operation will be preferred for typing out messages.

LG KC550 Review

Introduction:

The cell phone market offers a variety of models, targeting the different consumer groups. Some people look for music centric devices, others are interested in such that have advanced Internet capabilities, cameras etc. In this review, we will discuss a model targeting the last group.

This is LG KC550, the first budget 5-megapixel cameraphone from a leading manufacturer. It is a mid-level slider and is equipped with Schneider-KREUZNACH autofocus lens, which places it next to the pretentious cameraphones. The manufacturer claims that the model has a fast processor for faster picture viewing and reproduction of videos in DVD resolution (720x480 pixels). In addition, the LG has a built-in TV-out and an accelerometer with which to play the preloaded games.


The package includes:

• LG KC550
• Charger
• Stereo earphones/handsfree
• USB cable
• User manual
• Software CD

Design:

The design resembles the one of the modern digital cameras and is more convenient for taking pictures than attractive. The materials used to make the phone create a nice feeling of a quality product.

You can compare the LG KC550 with many other phones using our Size Visualization Tool.

The TFT display is 2.4” with resolution of 240 x 320 pixels and supports 262K colors. In darker environments, they are well-saturated and lively, and the screen is even brighter than usual. Unfortunately, due to the mirror like effect, it is almost useless in direct sunlight.

The soft buttons and the SEND/END keys are slightly protruding, meanwhile, the 5-way D-pad and the „C” button have a well-expressed relief. The interesting thing here is that when activating the camera, the D-pad’s directions light up in white, indicating their functions. All buttons require a bit more pressure, but you can clearly feel when pushing them. The comfort level they provide is average and it could have been better.

The slider has almost no backlash, the mechanism is stable but it creates the feeling that you have to push it manually all the way up. The keyboard is very similar to the one of KF600, but unfortunately, just like in it although the order in which the buttons are arranged attracts attention, they are not user-friendly. They are clearly felt when pressed, but similarly to the soft ones, more pressure needs to be applied. This is quite annoying, especially when typing a message.

On the left, you’ll find the charger slot, and on the right, the one for the microSD card, the volume controls and the camera buttons. The last ones are easy to distinguish and are easily pressed.

Samsung OmniaLITE B7300 Preview

Introduction:

The Samsung OmniaLITE B7300 falls into the category that new-generation of affordable smartphones are, because it runs the new Microsoft operating system – Windows Mobile 6.5. As its name suggests, the handset is a budget-oriented model of the Omnia lineup. Don´t jump to conclusions on the lightweight Omnia capabilities though. While its hardware appears slightly pruned off, this holds true for the phone’s software and functionality. Let´s first take a closer look at its design.



Design:

Being a budget-oriented device, the Samsung OmniaLITE B7300 doesn’t sport a huge display. Still, the screen measures healthy 3 inches, which is quite good for a low-end smartphone. Its resolution of 240x400 pixels is lower than what top handsets deliver as well, and seems to have an adverse effect on the legibility of cramped texts. Don’t get this the wrong way, things still remain readable and discernible, it´s just we are prone to fiddling criticism at times.

Overall the design of Samsung OmniaLITE B7300 is conservative

You can compare the Samsung OmniaLITE B7300 with many other phones using our Size Visualization Tool.

The overall design is conservative, but you won´t fail to notice the nice pattern on the back that gives the phone a slightly dainty and stylish look. Actually, the stencil is quite reminiscent of the very same honey-comb template that seems to have inspired the designers of the initial version of the new operating system’s start menu.

It´s worth mentioning that the Samsung OmniaLITE B7300 is equipped with a microUSB port, microSD slot and a special Main Menu button on its left hand side.

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