Motorola V3 update gains some oomph, loses some charm

The Motorola Razr V3x phone includes G3 technology

The V3 clamshell mobile phone served almost single-handedly to turn around Motorola's flagging handset business. So it's no surprise that the phone, which set a new benchmark for style, has been upgraded and released as the V3x.

While beefier than the V3, the V3x is a third-generation phone for Vodafone customers, meaning it allows high-speed data connections and the fancy services that go with it such as video calling, mobile TV streaming and (expensive) music downloads.

With those features you can forgive the extra girth.

But the idea of the old V3 was to create a stylish phone that appealed to people who just wanted to make calls and send messages. It was deliberately light on features, sort of like the first iPod. Keep it simple and stylish seemed to be the idea.

The V3x however, has had to enter 3G territory to keep the trend-setting corporate set interested and here we have a very different phone. It's one that will be attractive to those who held off buying a model from the first wave of 3G handsets that hit the market late last year.

The lovely metal case of the V3 is gone, presumably to cut down on weight. I'm disappointed at the inferior quality of the new casing - the metal was what made the V3 stand apart from other plastic phones.

There's voice dialling and a two megapixel camera that takes reasonable shots. A second camera built into the hinge inside the phone is for use during video calls. The incoming caller is displayed on the incredibly bright and sharp screen, with the user appearing in a small square to the side.

The menu system hasn't changed much and Phone Tools software, which comes with the V3x, lets the user sync their computer's address book with the phone.

For the first time that I've seen, the headphone jack comes in the form of a mini-USB connector. In fact, the phone is also charged up and connected to the computer via mini-USB, which is a nice touch. It removes the clutter of power and headset connectors from the phone. Users will however be stuck with using the supplied headphones, which could become annoying given that the V3x has pretty good sound, especially when the earphones are plugged in.

Under the hood of the V3x is a tiny slot for a 64-megabyte TransFlash media card. These cards are the size of a finger nail and are increasingly being fitted in mobile phones to carry songs for the music player and recorded photos and video clips.

There are some other nice touches. A bright light that fronts the camera and acts as a flash for the camera also doubles as a decent torch. A stylish blue panel running along the bottom lip of the phone pulses blue when it's charging. It's these little touches that show the craftmanship that made the V3 such a hit is still to the fore.

* If you don't like clamshell phones and can't be bothered with flashy 3G services, the Motorola SLVR L7 may appeal as a cheap alternative to the aging V3.

It has many of the features of the V3, including that cool-to-the-touch, metal exterior. It's a sturdy yet thin slab of a phone with a screen that's smaller than the V3x, but nonetheless, equally bright and crisp.

There's a small camera built into its back, but the quality isn't great. Along the phone's side is a little rubber flap disguising a Trans Flash port. You can therefore load up the phone with songs and use it as a fairly competent music player. Battery life is impressive. The L7 went for most of a week without needing recharging.

The L7 isn't quite as ergonomic to hold as the V3x, but then its $400 cheaper. In a way, it also holds truer to the tradition of the V3 - a stylish phone with just a few tricks.


Motorola Razr V3X

* Pros: Screen quality; Trans Flash card; camera.
* Cons: Plastic shell.
* Price: $899.
* Herald Rating: 8/10.


Motorola Slvr L7

* Pros: Metal casing.
* Cons: Low-quality camera.
* Price: $499.
* Herald Rating: 7/10.