21 Jun 2008
As today's mobile phone companies compete, Motorola's RAZR line has also evolved. RAZR2 V9 is far from being just an update version of earlier RAZR phones, as it now has a whole new look accompanied with awesome features.

Although its appearance is very similar with RAZR2 V8, the RAZR2 V9 seems to have remedied the flaws of V8. The handset is still made with high quality materials such as stainless steel, a chemically hardened glass and a 2-tone soft touch casing with chrome coat. These materials were used with the intention to ensure a thin shape with a strong structure. The phone measures 103mm in height, 53mm in width and 13.3mm in thickness which is a bit thicker than the Motorola RAZR2 V8.

Aside from its stylish design, the impressive external screen with integrated touch sensitive controls gives it a luxurious feel. The said 2-inch external screen is the largest of its kind. Moreover, located at the bottom of the external screen are touch-sensitive quick access keys used for the music player. The said functions are play or pause, rewind, and forward. Haptics technology was also applied on V9, wherein it produces a vibrating feedback every time the user presses a command.

The inner portion of the phone also showed improvements. It has a QVGA main screen which shows a high quality resolution of 240x320 pixels and supports a 262k colour display. The flat keypad is smoother and more responsive, the big bump at the base has been removed, and the hinge was altered in order to perfectly fit against the keys.

Unlike the previous predecessors of RAZR, V9 now runs on a Linux based operating system which allows add-on applications. Basic features of the phone include a 1000 entry phone book that allows storage of 6 different numbers with two email addresses. A 15-polyphonic ringtone with an mp3 option is also housed in the phone. It has text and multimedia messaging features, a voice recorder, voice command & dialing function, and an independent voice recognition utility.

Connectivity features for RAZR2 V9 include a Micro USB, Full Speed USB 2.0, USB mass storage, and Bluetooth wireless technology version 2.0 with enhanced data transfer rate. This will be very useful for data transfer and downloads.

The mobile phone has an internal memory of 45MB and an expandable microSD card slot which the V8 does not have. The RAZR2 V9 is known as the fastest GSM RAZR around because it now supports 3G (with HSDPA implementation). It allows up to 3.6 Mbps of fast download, which is very useful for direct web access and real time video calling. It can be described as a DSL connection in your pocket.

The Motorola RAZR2 V9 comes with a 2 megapixel camera. The said camera allows picture taking with options of 4 resolutions and 3 quality settings. Other camera functions include a self-timer, a free memory space indicator, shutter sounds, lighting options, color styles, exposure settings and up to 8 times digital zoom. Although the phone does not have auto focus and a camera flash, the user can opt for the night mode feature. It also comes with an in-house camcorder, which has similar settings to that of the still camera.

The handset is also notable for its high quality integrated music player with user friendly interface. It can play common music formats like MP3, WAV, MIDI, XMF and others. Music management and control is also provided in order to fit user preference. Sound quality of surround speakers is definitely impressive. Furthermore, its music features have a shuffle and repeat mode, a bass boost and audio setting.

Another appealing feature is the CrystalTalk technology that enables a clear and precise call quality. This is made possible through its automatic audio adjustment to match the ambient volume. In addition, the RAZR2 V9 includes the “See What I See” feature. The said feature allows on-the-spot video sharing, wherein users can stream live video footage to others while a call is on going.

Performance wise, the Motorola RAZR2 V9 has a fast user interface which shows no text lag. Its biggest draw back is its battery life as it drains easily. For this reason, it is not suitable for heavy users. Even if it has an average camera feature, it still has an excellent music playback and great looks that will stir envy.

Reviewer: Sue Darling - Scotland
Reviewed on: 23rd June, 2008
Rating: 6/10
I have had motorola flip phones for years so upgraded to the V9 but am sending it back after only 3 days as the letters and numbers on the keys are chipping off with my long finger nails, not impressed either with the small choice of ring tones compared to the razrs. like the solid feel of the phone but cons outway the pros.

Reviewer: Carol - Worcester
Reviewed on: 31st May, 2008
Rating: 9/10
Only just received this phone and like what I see so far. Having read lots of comments on poor battery life I am following advice and going through three cycles of letting the battery drain completely before recharging. There doesn't seem to be the option for receiving delivery reports for texts, but apart from that I can't find any faults. It's certainly a stylish phone and I think I'm going to like it!

Reviewer: sahil - liverpool
Reviewed on: 22nd February, 2008
Rating: 9/10
i have this phone n i must say Motorola has gone far much better than the v3i much better interface easy to use . they coul have changed from 2MP camera to a 3.2MP camera ortherwise its a ROCKER

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