Motorola MOTOROKR Z6
Pros
- Build quality, finish, speedy and slick looking user interface, bundled with S9 Bluetooth headset
Cons
- It doesn't come with a 3.5mm headphone jack, an average performance from camera
Bottom Line
The MOTOROKR Z6 corrects two of Motorola's biggest issues - user interface and speed - making it an excellent handset overall.
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Price
$ 579.00 (AUD)
Packaged with a pair of Bluetooth stereo headphones, and providing access to Australian ARIA chart music, Motorola's MOTOROKR Z6 is certainly an excellent example of the mobile musical push. Almost identical in design to their first slider handset, the MOTORIZR Z3, the Z6 is a solid, if not outstanding unit that offers a much speedier interface than previous Motorola models.
Features
The Z6 is a standard quad-band GSM phone (850/900/1800/1900MHz) and voice performance is adequate; volume levels in particular are excellent. We were also impressed with the clarity of calls and the performance of the handsfree speakerphone.
Connectivity comprises of Bluetooth 2.0 and USB 2.0, and a USB cable is included in the sales package. The MOTOROKR also features the AD2P Bluetooth profile for streaming music to any compatible Bluetooth accessories, such as wireless headphones. The handset is sold in a MOTOROKR DUO bundle; the Z6 handset along with Motorola's S9 Bluetooth Stereo Headphones. The music player supports MP3, AAC and AAC+ file formats, and makes use of Windows Media Player 11, so you can drag and drop files onto the device. You can store music using either the 64MB on-board memory, or the 1GB microSD card slot - annoyingly located beneath the rear battery cover.
The MOTOROKR has a 2-megapixel camera with 8x digital zoom and a light for night-time photography. The camera's performance is average, so it's not adequate for any serious photography. A five- and 10-second timer, video recording and playback are included, but there are no effects or advanced settings.
The Z6's menu has undergone a bit of an overhaul. Graphics are crisper and clearer, menus are speedy and responsive and the general look and feel is a highlight. Motorola has been lagging behind many competitors in this area, so it's good to see the Z6 rectify these issues.
The MOTOROKR comes standard with WAP 2.0 and supports standard SMS, MMS and email messaging with POP3 and IMAP protocols. Also featured are voice activated dialling, a 1000-entry phonebook and a number of PIM features such as alarm clock, calculator and currency converter. While the new voice dialling is a highlight, it can also check for new text or email messages and read them out loud.
For messaging, Motorola continues with its iTAP predictive text input method, which will take time to adjust to should you be used to the more popular T9 method. Messaging speeds have been improved though, as the Z9 doesn't suffer from the keystroke delay that plagued previous Motorola handsets.
Design
Measuring 105x45x16.2mm and weighing just 106g, the Z6 feels well built and the spring operated slider is sturdy and solid. The gloss, chrome silver finish is a nice touch and we are pleased to report that the phone conceals scratches and marks quite well, although it is a fingerprint magnet.
The 2in, 262K colour screen is bright and clear, and does a relatively good job of displaying graphics. The keypad is simular to the RAZR range; keys are flat and feature a bright blue backlight. They do require a firm press, but tactility is fair and each key is clearly separated. A five-way navigational pad, two selection buttons, answer/end call keys and dedicated keys for music and clear are the other controls. Dedicated camera and voice dialling buttons are on the right side, in addition to volume controls and a programmable shortcut key on the left.
Battery life is above average according to Motorola figures of up to seven hours of talk time and up to 400 hours standby. We found ourselves charging the handset every two to three days.
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