Motorola's QWERTY i465 Clutch messaging phone gets reviewed

Motorola i465 Clutch

Motorola i465 Clutch

Motorola i465 Clutch

Motorola i465 Clutch

At first glance, Boost Mobile's Motorola i465 looks a lot like full-QWERTY keyboard candybar smartphones that come complete with a large price tag and a multitude of great features. Closer inspection, however, reveals a phone that was created with entry-level users in mind. Its versatile keyboard puts the device at an advantage for messaging, but spending some quality time with the new phone and the features it includes would be the only way to know its true value. We took a closer look at the i465 to do just that.

Physical Aspects

The i465 is a very compact device that weighs in at 96g (3.4 ounces). Though light, it feels solid to hold, like holding a stone that fits in the palm of your hand. The 112mm x 54mm x 14.9mm (4.4in x 2.1in x 0.6in) body has rounded edges with a plastic bevel that conforms to a metal, beveled edge that surrounds the face of the device. The phone is mostly comprised of rubberized plastic that has a good texture. The back is soft and ribbed so you can maintain a strong grip. Overall, the device feels great in your hand but looks a bit drab.

On the left hand side of the phone, a well-textured volume rocker has a great tactile response when the volume is raised or lowered. Below the volume controls a dedicated push-to-talk button lets users quickly direct connect to friends and family and send events, contacts, and more information. Below that, users can open a compartment that contains a charging port and a 2.5mm audio jack.

Though the front of the i465 provides a multitude of quick shortcuts, it is a jumble of buttons that looks busy and unattractive. There are 14 function buttons on the front face to choose from, not including the 35-key full-QWERTY keyboard. Directly to the right of the tiny 1.79-inch 65k color TFT display are dedicated messaging, web browser, and camera buttons. Their quick access is appreciated but could have been better spent on real estate for a larger screen.

A d-pad controller is set below the screen, along with two multi-function soft-keys and call send and end buttons. To the left and right of those buttons is a menu button and a PTT^(INFO) speaker button. We felt that the menu button should have been more prominently placed for easy access, and thought that the close bunching of buttons left little room for the d-pad. The pad's small size leaves anyone with large fingers out of luck.

The full-QWERTY keyboard is also tightly packed in, but the buttons are cut at sharp angles, which makes them very usable. The keys feel sturdy and respond well to quick typing. They light up when pressed, but the lettering overall is hard to scan, since both symbols and letters are printed in large text on each button.

Source : www.mobileburn.com