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The most helpful favorable review
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156 of 176 people found the following review helpful:
Black (RAZR) is Beautiful
The Black RAZR V3 is the wireless phone I have always wanted. It's that simple.
Before having bought mine, I would read commentary from people who would cite all of the features the RAZR doesn't have: "I could buy the (insert model number of cheaper, but still expensive phone which does 100 different things--all of them poorly) and get more for a lot less...
Published on May 12, 2005 by NOIR X
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143 of 160 people found the following review helpful:
Decent reception + sound. Short Talk-Time. Lousy Camera.
I've been using a black RAZR for 3 months and here are my thoughts:
THE GOOD
========
- FREE!! with a T-Mobile 1-year family plan
- Better reception than my previous, 3 yr-old Nokia handset (6610)
- Can use the same phone when travelling in Europe, Asia. Just need to get a pre-paid SIM chip locally.
- Can be...
Published on June 18, 2005 by redhill
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143 of 160 people found the following review helpful:
Decent reception + sound. Short Talk-Time. Lousy Camera., June 18, 2005
This review is from: Motorola RAZR V3 Unlocked Phone with Camera, and Video Player--International Version with No Warranty (Black) (Wireless Phone Accessory)
I've been using a black RAZR for 3 months and here are my thoughts:
THE GOOD
========
- FREE!! with a T-Mobile 1-year family plan
- Better reception than my previous, 3 yr-old Nokia handset (6610)
- Can use the same phone when travelling in Europe, Asia. Just need to get a pre-paid SIM chip locally.
- Can be charged from laptop using included USB cable.
- It's BLACK.
THE OK
======
- Passable voice quality. (Maybe it's just because it's GSM technology, and coverage is not fantastic in outside of cities.)
- Slim profile, though a little heavier than my previous handset
- Nice colors in screen. Great ringtone sounds. Though these are pretty standard nowadays.
- Decent bluetooth range. Paired this with a Jabra BT800 headset and I can run into the coin laundry with my ear piece and still connect with the phone in the car outside.
THE BAD
=======
- Short battery life. 7 hours talk-time as advertised is a imaginary. Phone starts to beep after 2-3 hrs of talking.
- Organizer (calendar, alarm, notes, contacts) doesn't sync correctly with Outlook.
- Oily screens!! The inside and outside screens and the metallic keypad get oily fingerprints after every use (is it just my skin?!) Looks yucky and kinda destroys all the aesthetics.
Tried wiping now and then but notice minor scratches start to accumulate. (My clothes are not always cotton and I don't usually carry eye glass cloth.)
- Low camera resolution. Other new phones have close to twice that resolution. Pics always kinda dark.
- Camera doesn't take video.
- No MP3 or radio. Some of the newer Nokia and Sony models are close to iPod Shuffle capacity already.
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156 of 176 people found the following review helpful:
Black (RAZR) is Beautiful, May 12, 2005
This review is from: Motorola RAZR V3 Unlocked Phone with Camera, and Video Player--International Version with No Warranty (Black) (Wireless Phone Accessory)
The Black RAZR V3 is the wireless phone I have always wanted. It's that simple.
Before having bought mine, I would read commentary from people who would cite all of the features the RAZR doesn't have: "I could buy the (insert model number of cheaper, but still expensive phone which does 100 different things--all of them poorly) and get more for a lot less money." When I would research a model recommended by these self-proclaimed gadget freaks, I'd find that it's dimensions make keeping it in a pocket an awkward and uncomfortable proposition; I'd find that the pictures it takes are not nearly of comparable quality to those taken by even a modest digital camera; I'd find that the lo-res video it can shoot serves no practical purpose; I'd find that web-browsing, game-playing, Instant messaging, streaming television content, all suck up battery-life and ultimately make the device useless for the unlikely purpose of placing and taking phone calls; I'd find that the phone casing is composed of cheap and flimsy plastics which make me wonder how long it wll last; I'd find that little attention had been paid to how the phone's design will contribute to, or detract from, user comfort. After my investigation, I concluded that for all the money I would save by buying "Phone X" over buying a RAZR, I would still have paid hundreds too much for a filmsy hunk of cutting-edge technojunk. (Don't take my word for it. Look around on the Net for comments about the RAZR around the time of its inroduction and see the recommendations from consumers that people choose the Motorola V600 instead. Then look at the consumer reviews of the V600 on this site.)
The RAZR has a camera, a web-browser, Instant messaging capability, and a whole array of other features all of which are listed in the product description. To the extent that the RAZR does these things adequately I will offer little, if any, comment--mainly because I don't care about them. That to which I can and will attest is that the RAZR exceeds my expectation on how it serves AS A PHONE.
Using my own criteria, a wireless phone should draw and hold a signal; It's earpiece should deliver clear sound at a volume which can compete with background noise; it's mouthpiece should pick up the users voice clearly; it should be compact enough to allow for placement in clothing pockets without creating prominent bulges; it should be solidly built out of durable materials which are not prone to scratching; it should have decent battery life. And yes, anything for which I pay hundreds of dollars should be designed with aesthetics in mind: there are far too many wireless phones which look like disposable children's toys, or like awkward, all-purpose, button-riddled gadgets.
Using the above criteria, the RAZR V3, particularly the Black model, is close to perfect. The sound from the ear piece could certainly be louder, but I have yet to have a caller's voice drowned out by the noise of busy New York City streets. The people to whom I'm speaking have reported to have heard my voice loudly and clearly. Battery life could be longer, but then, the same could be said about many wireless phones which are bulkier and have larger batteries. I have used the phone on both T-Mobile and Cingular networks and found that it draws a strong signal on both; it has never dropped a call. I found the speaker phone to be loud and clear despite my expectations to the contrary. Is the much-lamented Motorola phone book program clunky? Yes it is. But the RAZR's voice-dialing works well, making it possible to avoid scrolling through the phone book if one hates it that much.
I'll try to boil it down with a somewhat clumsy analogy: Complaining that the RAZR doesn't do enough in the way of tech-gimmicks to justify its price (which is considerably lower that it was when it was introduced) is like complaining that an exotic sports car isn't worth the money because it doesn't have a cup holder, a GPS system, and DVD player like the Minivan you've been looking to buy. That ridiculousness ignores the engineering that makes the sports car a superior performer on the road, and the attention put toward making it sleek and aesthetically pleasing. The RAZR's performance has made concern over signal strength a thing of the past. and its design is unmatched--not just for it's ultra-compactness, but for the solidity of it's build. That makes it worth what I paid for it. And my inability to speak to the quality of other phones on the market put them out of consideration.
Besides, as they say, black is beautiful.
That the RAZR cannot serve as a business-card scanner doesn't trouble me. For those who need to have whichever feature-laden mobile gadget is most desired at the moment, buy a Samsung MM-A800, clip it on you belt (you'll need to), and earn yourself the right to say your phone can do just about everything--poorly.
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21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
Form over Function, May 21, 2006
This review is from: Motorola RAZR V3 Unlocked Phone with Camera, and Video Player--International Version with No Warranty (Black) (Wireless Phone Accessory)
Don't expect this phone to work any better than a Motorola V551. I wrongly thought with the price as high as it was that I'd have perfect reception and no dropped calls. Nothing has changed.
Don't get me wrong, this matte black phone is slim and sexy and lightweight fun and easy to slip into a pocket. But those are it's biggest draws.
Some other cons include:
-The large square screen and key pad get dirty easily from holding the phone up to your face. I don't wear make-up, but if I did, I can imagine that I'd always be taking a toothpick to all of those little crevices between the keys on the flat keypad all the time. As it is now, I'm constantly wiping the screen and keys.
-The battery life is not long and if you're going anywhere overnight, remember to bring your charger.
-The operating system is the same as other newer model Motorola phones, so don't expect a big upgrade there either.
If Cingular is your provider, the sim card from your current phone will work in this unlocked version nicely. However, make sure you've saved all of your numbers and info on the card and not on the old phone before you take the sim card out of the old phone, because it doesn't slip into this phone very easily. Once it's in, it is difficult to remove.
If you have some extra money to spend on a new phone and you don't mind the same reception problems as cheaper phones, then this is the phone for you.
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22 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
Motorola has exceeded my expectations!, June 18, 2005
This review is from: Motorola RAZR V3 Unlocked Phone with Camera, and Video Player--International Version with No Warranty (Black) (Wireless Phone Accessory)
Prior to buying my phone, i got a lot of really bad feedback - from my husband, sister and friends. They kept telling me that V3's limited features are not worth my money and that I would be better off sticking to my trusty Nokia phone. Besides that, they said that a Motorola is not very user-friendly.
I conditioned myself to thinking that I will not complain about the limited features of a V3 only because I really wanted to have one so badly (because of its stylish appearance and size). I did buy a V3 despite my husband's objections and was surprised to find that the V3 is more than just a basic phone!! It has some features that I initially did not expect it to have. You just need to read the manual and tinker with the phone to unlock your phone's potentials. Another surprise, my black edition V3 is able to CAPTURE, and not just play, videos....
Most of V3's functions are a lot similar to my Nokia phone, so I didn't have to make a lot of adjustments getting used to the V3. You can even tailor the buttons/assign functions to keypads according to your preference.
The only thing I think Motorola should've done is to have copied Nokia's technology in terms of browsing the phonebook/directory. With the V3, you need to go through each person in your phonebook on a per alphabet basis to find a specific number. With the Nokia, if you want to skip some names that start with the same alphabet letter, you simply key in the next letter in the person's name so you get less names to scan through.
Also, it's a pity that my battery's life is so short - it lasts only about 2-3 days with minimal usage.
Also, it would've been nice for my phone to have an infrared capability, although with the bluetooth technology, I guess I could live without the infrared.
Overall though, my Motorola V3 is such a joy to behold!!
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
Don't drop it!!!!, September 18, 2006
This review is from: Motorola RAZR V3 Unlocked Phone with Camera, and Video Player--International Version with No Warranty (Black) (Wireless Phone Accessory)
If you are even slightly rough on cell phones than this is NOT the phone for you! I dropped mine less than two feet (about knee high) and now everytime I flip it shut it turns off and the screen goes blank (white) everytime I try to turn it back on. There are alot of people (at least 4) that I know that have the same exact problem with this phone!!!
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20 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
Warning: European Unit, comes with no warranty, October 9, 2006
This review is from: Motorola RAZR V3 Unlocked Phone with Camera, and Video Player--International Version with No Warranty (Black) (Wireless Phone Accessory)
I purchased this phone from Amazon last week. I have tried several chargers and this will not charge. I called Motorola and they say this is not a U.S. issued phone and therefore they will provide no warranty on it at all.
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12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
Motorola finally getting it right, August 7, 2006
This review is from: Motorola RAZR V3 Unlocked Phone with Camera, and Video Player--International Version with No Warranty (Black) (Wireless Phone Accessory)
This is my fourth consecutive Motorola phone. I've owned a Timeport, v66, and v600. The Timeport was simply terrible. The v66 was a little better, but the Motorola menu had to be the worst of any phone I had ever used. My v600 was a very pleasant surprise. My sleek and functional RAZR is the best phone that I have owned. I really like the large crisp screen. The tiny external screen is a great addition. After three weeks of fairly heavy use, I haven't had any problems. The RAZR has pretty good talk time, but I'm not certain whether or not one can really get the 7 hours claimed by Motorola. The feature that I really like and appreciate is the abilit to charge my phone with a standard USB cable. It's nice not having to carry around an extra charger when I'm already lugging around my laptop and its power supply.
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18 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
Warning! Offered by Tiger Direct..., April 1, 2006
This review is from: Motorola RAZR V3 Unlocked Phone with Camera, and Video Player--International Version with No Warranty (Black) (Wireless Phone Accessory)
The RAZR is a nice phone, but this review isn't about that, instead it is about the people selling it which is just as important. If you haven't dealt with Tiger Direct lately or at all, then you should be aware that they sell refurbs and open box items and have changed from a decent seller to completely clueless. Their customer support is non-existant and if the item is not in stock, then they won't bother letting you know. You will sit around wondering why your package never arrived because you won't get a live person on the phone and they don't answer email until a month later. It is better to check www.nextag.com or any other price comparison site using the keywords "Unlocked RAZR" where you will get it cheaper and can be assured that the product is coming from a reputable seller. Tiger Direct is probably the worst electronics dealer on the net because they are so big and feel they don't have to care about their customers. Hopefully, you go somewhere else and save yourself a headache. These people just don't care.
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
Horrible Quality Control, August 13, 2007
This review is from: Motorola RAZR V3 Unlocked Phone with Camera, and Video Player--International Version with No Warranty (Black) (Wireless Phone Accessory)
Great phone functionality wise, but horrible hardware quality. My third replacement phone just stopped working- one week after the one year (cingular) warranty expired.
All three failures were the same problem- the keypad stops functioning except for the end/power button.
I guess it is just a form-before-function problem, as my Nextel Motorola i730 (work phone) doesn't skip a beat after 3 years of drops, tosses, kicks, etc...
I'm bitter and I have no other recourse than to post a bad review since Cingular and Motorola now say it's my problem. I'm sure it will hurt them dearly... LOL
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11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
Overall, great phone... but not perfect, August 31, 2006
This review is from: Motorola RAZR V3 Unlocked Phone with Camera, and Video Player--International Version with No Warranty (Black) (Wireless Phone Accessory)
First of all let me say that I did not purchase my RAZR from Amazon. I purchased my phone from my local Cingular store. I have wanted one of these phones since they first came out. Here is a breakdown of my opinion of the phone:
PROS:
*Thin, elegent looking phone. When the phone is opened it really is amazing how thin it is.
*Suprisingly durable. Despite the fact that it is so thin, it is relatively hardy. I thought it would be easy to break (especially when open) but it is a sturdy little phone.
*Large, vivid screen. The inside screen is quite large and images, menus, colors, etc. show up very well. (As with all cell phones, it is harder to see in bright daylight though.) Outside screen convenient.
*Speaker phone is better than on other phones I've had (mostly I've had Samsung).
*It is a desired phone, and every time I get my phone out someone makes a comment about it.
*Some other reviews have mentioned problems with the volume of calls, and that menus are clumsy. I disagree with this. I have not had any problems with either of these. As a matter of fact, I like that you can rearrange pretty much any of the menus you want to. Placing what you use most at the top of the page and what you use least at the bottom. I have also not had problems with dropped calls.
CONS:
*Outside screen does not display time in such a manner that is easy to see when the phone is not in use (you must push one of the side buttons or open the phone to light up the outside screen).
*As mentioned in other reviews, the phone collects fingerprints and oils from your skin very easily. I have to wipe off the screen and buttons every single time I use it. Especially if I have on makeup when I use it.
*Twice since I have had the phone (I've had it close to a year) it has just shut down on me. The so-called "white screen of death" I suppose. Luckily a cold restart (taking out the battery for 10 seconds and then turning the phone back on) solved the problem.
THE ONE REAL PROBLEM:
The only thing that was frustrating to me about this phone is that within a few weeks of getting the phone I started to notice sone dust collecting under the main inside screen. Over time more and more collected. Within 3 months, the whole bottom right corner was just covered in dust and it was maddening. And there was nothing you could do about it since it was underneath the screen. Luckily my phone was under warranty, so Cingular replaced it for me. Would you believe the new one they sent me did the SAME THING! Actually it collected dust faster then the first one I'd had. Feeling quite frustrated, I called customer service again, and the sent me ANOTHER phone. Luckily this time no dust collected under the screen. I've had this last replacement now for 8-9 months and haven't had the problem again.
Overall, I really have loved my RAZR. Once I got the dust problem resolved, I have had no other complaints. I would recommend that if you purchase this phone, make sure you also get a warranty, and watch closely for dust accumulation. If you don't experience that problem, I hope you enjoy this phone as much as I have.
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