Digital Trends

Motorola MOTORIZR Z3 May 10th, 2007 | by Stewart Wolpin

Features and Design

Even though this phone is supposedly EDGE capable, neither the phone nor the T-Mobile website indicates that it is can access this high-speed network. However, we are assured by T-Mobile that it is an EDGE phone.

You'll be forgiven if you confuse the Z3 with Motorola's clamshell KRZR. Almost exactly the same size (the Z3 measures 4.15 x 1.8 x 0.63 inches and weighs 4.06 ounces; the KRZR measures 4.05 x 1.73 x 0.67 inches and weighs 3.6 ounces), both phones feature a bright 1.9-inch LCD and similar, by-now-familiar RAZR navigation array and dialpad. But instead of KRZR's mirrored glass/metal exterior, Z3's case is the same smooth, rubberized outer shell found on Motorola's PEBL.

Of course, the Z3 is a slider, which means its screen is exposed to the elements and whatever else is jangling in your pocket. The Z3 has a two-step keypad unlock sequence to keep you from accidentally redialing a number. An exposed screen and a keypad lock are, of course, non-issues with a clamshell.

On the left spine are the volume toggle and a Motorola action button, which is programmed to activate the music player. There are no external music control keys. On the right spine are the miniUSB jack that doubles as a headphone jack, the camera activation/shutter release and the memo record button. As with most Motorola phones, there's no standard 2.5mm jack. The fancy sliding box the phone is packed in includes loose-fitting, wired Motorola stereo earbuds with extra ear pads with a right-angle miniUSB jack, along with a USB PC connection cable and a 128MB microSD Card.

Backlighting on the alphanumeric characters on the white-on-black keypad is blue, bright, and even, making dialing and texting relatively easy. But the phone's so skinny that both the dialpad keys and the navigation and function buttons below the screen on the slider top are a bit tightly packed, requiring more attention than usual to avoid errors.

Inside the Z3 is a quad-band world radio (so the phone can be used in Europe and other locales with GSM coverage), a 2MP camera with a bright video light and 8x zoom, 20MB of internal memory, voice memo recording, and voice dialing. The phone book supplies space for five phone numbers per entry, two e-mail addresses, URL, postal address, birthday, and picture CallerID.

The built-in music player supports MP3 and iPod-friendly AAC files and stereo Bluetooth. Unfortunately, the microSD slot is located behind the battery cover. Once inserted, the card is wedged into a small space, making it almost impossible to remove without tweezers.

The Z3 is also a “MyFaves” capable phone.

Image Courtesy of Motorola