Motorola RAZR V8 Review

Permalink: Motorola RAZR V8 Review by Franz Bicar

Motorola has been very successful with their RAZR line of handsets. The RAZR V8 is definitely one of them. As with the past RAZR’s the V8 is designed with style and sophistication in mind. Its packaging gives you the idea that you are about to experience a highly stylized handset. The phone looks fantastic with its glossy metal front finish and two-inch external screen. The V8 has still got that slick feel we’ve come to love with the various RAZRs and, although 55mm wide, it surpasses most handsets and still fits neatly in your palm.

Even with its poshness and style, the V8 is one tough cookie. The internal frame is made of stainless steel that makes it durable yet relatively light at 117g. And the exterior screen is made with chemically hardened glass, which is incredibly scratch resistant. Given its appealing shine, the handset is susceptible to fingerprints on both the screen and the exterior.

The V8 is as mentioned, came from the RAZR line of phones and those who had their hands on the earlier version will feel very familiar with this one. The V8’s navigation is simple. The large 2.2-inch internal screen, which has twice the resolution as the original RAZR, allows easy access to the applications.

In tune to other handsets in the market, the V8 features a speed dial option, that allows you to store up to nine pre-set numbers, which can be activated with a single key. The V8 is fitted with CrystalTalk technology, that automatically adjusts the audio to ensure calls are clear and crisp, despite any noisy environment you may be in.

All these features are very good, but there are also things that are disappointing with this phone. The phone lacks 3G and the two-megapixel camera means the V8 ultimately falls short of some of the more equipped handsets. The camera itself has a multi-shot facility, that allows you to take up to eight consecutive pictures, while it is also possible to send a photo from your handset direct to a Bluetooth-enabled printer. The video recorder allows up to two hours of recording time, as well as a playback option.

Aside from this, the V8 does feature other impressive functionalities like its built-in media player and its great battery life, which for people on the go, is very very important. Motorola has enabled its handset to support Windows Media Player 11, which allows you to purchase, synchronize and transfer your music library to your phone in a matter of minutes.

The V8 can be paired with a 2GB removable memory, that should give you room for approximately 1,000 songs. By using its high-speed USB 2.0 connection, it should be possible to transfer 1,000 songs in about 30 minutes. The music quality is impressive, yet this is balanced out by the disappointing lack of an expandable memory card slot.

When the clamshell is closed and the media player is still in use, the external screen transforms into a touch-screen interface. You can rewind, pause or skip tracks by touching the screen and as a nice little touch, Motorola has included a vibrating response to any command you place.

The exterior screen also comes into play when you receive a text message. You can read your texts without having to open the clamshell by using the side keys. What’s more, Motorola has included a number of quick replies, so you can reply to a text without having to open the handset. You can also create your own pre-set messages.

Sources:
http://www.phonearena.com
http://reviews.digitaltrends.com
http://asia.cnet.com