Customer Reviews

Motorola KRZR K1m Phone (Verizon Wireless, Phone Only, No Service)

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(14)
1 star:		(11)

 

 

To me, the deciding factors for a phone are: Call Quality, Size, Batttery Life, Features. So this is what I will focus on:

CALL QUALITY: I'm also very impressed with the call quality and clarity. Both with and without bluetooth, I no longer have to repeat myself or say "what?". The speaker is very loud and clear and unlike the RAZR, you don't have to hold it a certain way to hear. The overall reception is great.

SIZE: The phone is a bit longer than most, but it's very narrow and thin. It a very good compromise. As a result, it's very comfortable as a handset when talking, feels good in the hand, and I am VERY happy with how it feels in my pocket.

The build feels fairly solid and I don't expect to see loose parts in the future.

BATTERY LIFE: OK, I must RAVE here. I received this phone over a week ago and charged it up immediately. I am now on day 8, yes day EIGHT, and have yet to charge the phone again. It's still showing 1 battery bar. Needless to say, I'm quite impressed. Granted, I only enabled the bluetooth radio when I use it and I've only spent about 100 minutes talking on it this past week. Neither of my previous 2 LG phones lasted longer then 3 days under any conditions though.

FEATURES: It has all the bells and whistles: camera, evdo, mp3 playback, voice recorder, video capture, etc... I've not put these to the test yet though.

I must also comment on the charger\data port. It is a standard usb mini port. This means you can buy a standard non-proprietary USB A to USB mini B cable ( < $5 ) and connect this phone to your computer's USB port to RECHARGE THE PHONE and for any needed data connectivity. It's a VERY VERY NICE FEATURE to me. No longer do I need to spend an additional $20 for a data cable and another $30 for a second charger. $5, hook the phone to my pc at work or on the road, and recharge.

Now the cons,
1) yes, it shows fingrprints. Wipe it and forget it.
2) I'll be suprised if the the charger port cover lasts two years. I don't now a better way to cover it though.
3) Screen is smaller than some. This is due to the size of the phone though.
4) DAMN VERIZON for crippling this phones bluetooth profiles and also putting their interface on it. Verizon does this on all their phones though so nothing that you can get around.

This phone is good quality phone, with good quality camera and video recorder. Inserting or removing MicroSD card from under the battery cover is not a big deal. But there are three things I like to see Moto improves it over the time:

1) font size is small. Due to high resolution screen, the letters are small, if you don't have a 20 years or yonger eyes, you may have problem to read the display; Hope Moto will make the font size adjustable;

2) Moto Phone Tool software could not get the driver download. I spent a few hours on the phone with Motorola support trying to get the Krzr driver download, so that the Moto Phone Tool would work with this phone. They say Moto had released 4.3 Phone Tool software, we spent many hours with Motorola support engieers and mangers, get the software updated to 4.3.5 but still no driver, I can not sync the phone book into the phone. Motorola support engineers suggest to pay Verizon $50 per month to enable the Internet, then sync the phone book over the Internet, instead of USB cable. We are not ready to do that. Even with level 3 support engineers and support managers, they can not provide a URL to download KRZR driver, or email us the driver.

3)Voice dialing needs improvement. I think the best way for setup voice dialing is in the phone book. At each entry, you should be able to tag each entry with a voice prompt, so that you can use voice dialing easily. Right now, the voice dialing was trying to be smart by recongnizing your voice to English letters. So if you call "Bill Smith", you will need to speak clearly as "Bill Smith", if you want to say "call Billy", it will not work. What if the name is not that easy to pronouce? It will not work. When I only had one entry in the contact list, the voice calling works like a charm --"call home" from the bluetooth headset automatcially called the number. When I has typed 10 contacts in the phone, now, the voice dial get confused and not dialing. I think Moto needs to redesign this part, so that user can use whatever the voice prompt for each phone book entry. Half smart thing is the worst thing.

Other than these, I like this phone much better than others.
Aug/1/2008 update:
After using it over six months, I had a few times the bluetooth function lock up the phone, screen turn into bright white. Only way to get out that state is to take out the battery. Not easy to do when you driving.

My boy dropped the phone on the floor. Phone landed on its back. But front face glass shattered. Still working, but disappointed for the face glass broken by the shock to its back.

I absolutely adore this phone. It appeals to the techno geek and to the "I don't get technology" type-person. Being the latter, I was scared of this phone. But once I got my hands on it I found it to be one of the best phones I have ever owned. It is durable, compact, and the battery life is extremely long. Although it does have an highly annoying fingerprint catching factor, it is nothing a nice silicone cover can't fix.

The layout is set up really nice and the menu is accessible--you can find your way around without using a manual. The audio on the phone is high quality. I can hear everything clearly and that is one of the joys of this phone.

This phone is great! Clear sound and nice to use. Unfortunately, Verizon disables many of the great functions the phone has!

You cannot use your own ringtones...you have to purchase ringtones from Verizon only!

Transferring pictures from your phone is a pain...you must buy the extra memory module for your phone, copy the pictures from phone memory to card memory, remove the card and put it in a card reader on your computer.

The LCD screen is excellent, unfortunately, Verizon puts big borders and stuff on it though, which reduces what you can see.

There are other frustrations like having to spend about $60 or $70 for the software packages to sync with your calendar, and do other stuff that probably should be included with the phone. Just keep in mind if you get your Krzr for $99 it will cost you much more to actually get a little of the funcionlaity from your phone.

Customer service isn't great either...here is the actual email I got back when I asked how to get the USB drivers installed...(the store sold me the wrong Mobile Office Kit)

-Account:

-Dear Scott,
-you need to have windows Medial pay for vcast it comes with cd
-driver for your phone and the software, from VERIZONWIRELESS
-Store.That is only way. Sincerely,

-Amil
-Verizon Wireless
-Customer Service

That was a big help :|

In my opinion, Verizon is a bait-and-switch company because it is not at all obvious to the normal consumer that they deny you the freedom to use your phone the way it was designed to be used.

Great phone, works great for music, email and navigation also im's, beautiful, have to buy separate cord/software from verizon to download songs, and will have to buy microsd card to keep a decent amount of music/data on phone- RG

In the Fall of 2005, I gave in to the hype, and bought a Motorola RAZR to use on Edge Wireless, a subsidiary of AT&T/Cingular. Before buying, I thought, "how can I go wrong? A thin phone, very much in style, that is half the weight and size of my current phone? Sign me up!"

Let me tell you, that was the WORST cell phone buying decision I've ever made.

The RAZR was everything I didn't want in a phone. Sure, it was thin, but that thinness came at a high price. First off, its battery life was crap. Just...crap, as in it gave out on me each day on less than an hour of calling (yes, I had a new battery that I tried to condition). Secondly, the phone was flimsy, and was actually difficult to hold, due largely to it's width from left to right. Next, it was so thin that it was bordering on being just plain flimsy feeling. I felt like every time I closed the flip, I'd crack the LCD, or break the hinge. I usually pretty careful with my electronics, but geez, using the RAZR made me feel like I was talking into a thin-shelled, not-hard-boiled egg, bound to break at any moment. I ended up returning the RAZR and going back to my trusty (and rather unbreakable Nokia 3595).

Time passed, and I switched to Verizon Wireless, and got an LG VX5200 flip phone. It was as bare bones as my Nokia, but it had a VGA camera, so I felt real "hip." Then, the iPhone came out, and I decided that I wanted a new phone too, even though I couldn't yet afford to get the iPhone. I started exhaustively reading cell phone reviews, and eventually settled on the KRZR.

I was worried. I remember reading several positive early reviews of the RAZR back when it came out in 2004, and then being sorely disappointed. Fortunately, Verizon Wireless has a 30 day return program, so I felt that I would have an opportunity to try the phone out and return it if need be. Well, color me surprised, as the KRZR is just about the best phone I've owned thus far.

The KRZR is everything the RAZR isn't: it's incredibly sturdy feeling, has a massively improved battery life over the RAZR and my LG VX5200, and has a much more refined and improved overall feel to it.

The first thing I noticed about the KRZR was how sturdy and un-flimsy it felt in my hand. The hing is much more substantial than the RAZR's and my old LG's hing, and the buttons are even more intuitively spaced and laid out. Also, the KRZR is much, much, much easier to hold, as it's thinner than the RAZR (from left to right), despite being a little thicker.

I think Motorola got smart and realized that, at this point in time, cell phones can only get so thin before becoming too breakable. I feel like I could drop the KRZR and not suffer anything more than a ding in the plastic siding or maybe a scratch on the glass screen (which seems to be as un-scratchable as the iPhone's screen).

My KRZR came with a 880 mAh battery, which has something like 220 more mAh's than the RAZR's stock battery. On it's first charge, the KRZR's battery only lasted for 44 minutes (yes, MINUTES) of talk time (!!!!!). Needless to say, I almost took it back right then and there. But, after two more complete discharges and charges, the KRZR's battery just kept performing better and better. I've never had a rechargeable device improve it's charge retention as well as the KRZR has. It was a little creepy, how it just kept on getting better and better. Currently, if I charge it over night and talk on it for about 1.5 hours per day (while doing 2-3 text messages a day, checking voicemail, etc., but not using V Cast), I get about 60 hours of total "away from the charger" time. I'll update this review if this changes soon).

Playing games, using V Cast, or constant texting on the phone depletes the battery a lot faster than talking does. Surprisingly, using the camera and video capabilities of the KRZR didn't do much to effect it's battery life.

The KRZR's Bluetooth functionality is no longer crippled by Verizon. Using iSync on my MacBook Pro (running Mac OS X version 10.4.10), I was able to send all of my contacts from my Mac to my KRZR in less than 30 seconds. Nice. Very, very nice. The RAZR, of course, got all my contacts mixed up, and would not accept more than one phone number per contact (as my Address Book software on my Mac organizes it). The KRZR had no problems accepting my multi-phone number contacts. I have not yet had a chance to buy and test a Bluetooth headset with the KRZR, but every review I've read says that it works just fine with them.

Somethings I wish the KRZR had are: an actual 2.5mm headphone jack. Motorola includes a headphone adapter in the box, but this is just one more small object to lose. A dedicated phone jack would be nice. Also, and this is just a pipe dream, but I would love some way to sync the KRZR with iTunes. I know, I know, the iPhone has a monopoly on this, but jeez, wouldn't it be great?

The overall build quality of the KRZR is heads and tails better than the RAZR. This phone looks so much sharper and more "fashionable" than the RAZR. My RAZR owning friends all seem to prefer it, and even though I had my reservations about how long it was, it really does look, feel, and perform better than the RAZR, or any other flip phone I've used so far.

So, if you're looking for a thin, reliable, sturdy, and good looking phone, go for the KRZR!

I got this phone...well actually two, one for me and one for my girlfriend, and BOTH experience the same problems; short battery life like everyone says, the phone freezes at random times FREQUENTLY especially when trying to send a message and then you got to take the battery out and turn it back on, frequently will say "failed delivery" while sending a text even when you have a good connection, it randomly shuts off every couple days. I took both phones in for repair and explained what was wrong with them and they still have the same problems.

Basically the only thing good is I've never had a dropped call yet, but a lot of times it's hard to place a call too even when you have the full 8 bars. So anyway, if I were you I'd get the LG Envy instead. I wish I did.

I purchased this phone after my good experience with the Motorolla e815 cell phone. The improved reception compared to my previous Samsung and Audiovox was extraordinary. I have yet to be disappointed, never losing calls in my house anymore.

I am a little disappointed with the text messaging features. The e815 was very intuitive with the use of apostrophes and inserting quick text. The KRZR requires 4 strokes (using shortcuts) to insert an apostrophe, while the e815 was able to figure them out in iTAP mode.

The camera has the same lag that the RAZR has. The camera will snap the picture, but the aperture stays open for so long, all but the most static of shots will be blurred. Again, the e815 was a great camera, but the inset lens fills with lint if you put the camera in your pocket. The KRZR has a smooth surface over the lens, so it is easy to clean off, (I just wipe it on my shirt if it seems dusty). If you plan on taking any kind of action shot, however, you'll probably be disappointed.

For phone calls, I am very pleased with this phone. The buttons are easy to use, and you can actually feel them under your thumb. The sound and reception are wonderful. When using a bluetooth headset, I don't have to worry about being able to hear the other person, or there being static when the phone is in my pocket. I love the voice recognition.

The battery life is terrific. I am thinking about getting a memory card for holding music, since I have realized that as a phone, the battery has ample storage. I don't think listening to music is going to ruin my battery life. (I'll update this after testing the card).

Best of all with this phone is: it fits in a pocket. It seems like phones have been getting bigger, rather than smaller lately. Finally, there is a phone that is small, has good reception with an internal antenna, and no protrusions on which to get hanged. An added little feature, too, is the anti-slip backing. You can put this phone on your desk, or dash, and not worry about its sliding all over the place.

FOLLOW UP:
After about one year, I could not make a call lasting more than about twenty seconds. The phone would go from fully charged to empty unpredictably. I replaced the battery with one from Amazon, and have returned to my original happiness with the phone. Being a tech kind of guy who likes having the latest and neatest phones, I have to say that there isn't one out there yet that strikes my fancy more than my current phone. Being that I don't text too much, the lack of a full sized keyboard might be why, but other than that, I am just so pleased with this unit.

I have owned a number of phones over the course of the last couple of years. Recently (within the last 3 months) I have tried the Samsung, Chocolate and LG VX8600.

Phone
Call quality is much better than what I experienced with the LG. The LG sounded muffled to people on the other end when I was talking with them. Those same people now say that this phone is great. Much crisper. Reception is also better than the LG, which does surprise me.

Camera
Hey it is a camera phone! It does what it is designed to do.

Music
The phone uses a mini-SD card. Works great. No bogging down of the processor as I experienced with the Samsung.

Texting
I like the iTap better than LG's version. There seem to be more words loaded into the dictionary.

Bluetooth
I am currently using a plantronics 655 Bluetooth headset. Call quality is excellent and much better than the 8600.

So far it is a keeper!

Hi - I have the Fire Red phone..I recently upgraded from a 3 yr old Motorola V60 (last of the old black & white screens!). I like the practical features that motorola offers on the KRZR and it's performance has been great. Improvements from "older phones" include 1 - no more antenae...yeah! (they always get in way or break) and reception is fine, even in the areas I know to be "staticy".... 2 - more stylish - black, white or red...i choose red for easy visibility in purse, or car. I like the reflective surface on face-up side, and "texture" on back side, so it does not slide around.... 3 - ultra slim, pretty light, but still feels like a phone in your hand when talking - I like this, that the mic is near your mouth! 4 - keypad has slight "nubs" so you can sense separation between buttons, this is nice as some phones are hard to dial from cuz too smooth / sensitive buttons.

Great and easy to use features include phonebook, you can set events w/reminder alarms in the calendar, calculator, 3 frequent alarm clocks (example is monday-friday 6 am), the camera (it's a two click process - much faster and easier than competitors) and speakerphone.


It has plenty of standard ringtones, and you can download from Verizon other ones too. It has a place for additional memory card (extra $$)....it can download music, etc. but I have not attempted that yet. I have an mp3 player, so don't see need for it (yet) in my phone too!

Warning...it only comes with a charger for home plug, so plan on spending $30-$60 for a car charger, $35-$70 for Bluetooth hands-free (gotta be a safe driver!)... $10-$30 for case (custom belt clips are $20), $35-$70 for extra/ extended life battery and $xx for the extra memory card. gone are the good old days of the "extras" being included in a package!