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Motorola PHOTON 4G

Motorola PHOTON 4G
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Posted: 09 Jun 2011 Announced: 09 Jun 2011
Market Status: Released
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US carrier availability: Sprint - Available (Since 31 Jul 2011) U.S. Cellular - Available as Motorola ELECTRIFY (Since 22 Sep 2011)
Links: Motorola PHOTON 4G manual Motorola PHOTON 4G Review Motorola Photon 4G vs. HTC EVO 3D Motorola Photon 4G Official Page

The Motorola PHOTON 4G for Sprint is not just a regular Android – it packs a dual-core Tegra 2 chip, along with WiMAX, CDMA and GSM connectivity. Specs-wise, it's somehow similar to the ATRIX 4G on AT&T, but has a different styling. It will run Android 2.3 Gingerbread and will have 4.3" qHD touchscreen, 8MP camera, 1GB RAM and a kickstand.

Rating

Excellent 9 out of 10

Good

8.3 out of 10

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Motorola PHOTON 4G specifications

also known as Motorola MB855, Motorola ELECTRIFY

Pros

Dual core processor
Dual-mode CDMA/GSM phone
Fast mobile data support (4G)
High pixel densitiy screen, over 250ppi (256 ppi)
Big screen (4.30 inches)
High-resolution display (540 x 960 pixels)
Fast processor (1000 MHz)
Lots of RAM (1024 MB RAM)
High-resolution camera (8 megapixels)
HDMI connector for TV-out (Micro HDMI (Type D))

Cons

Bulky

Design

Device type:
- Smart phone
OS:
- Android (2.3)
Form factor:
Form factor - Refers to the form factor of a phone. The main handset designs are bar, clamshell, slide, swivel
- Candybar
Dimensions:
- 5.00 x 2.63 x 0.48 (126.9 x 66.9 x 12.2 mm)
Weight:
- 5.57 oz (158 g)
  the average is 4.2 oz (120 g)
Side Keys:
Side Keys - Buttons on the side of the phone, designed to be used by fingertips while holding the phone - one-handed operation.
- Right: Volume control, Camera shutter

Display

Physical size:
- 4.30 inches
Resolution:
- 540 x 960 pixels
Pixel density:
Pixel density - The pixel density of a display represents the number of pixels over an area of one inch. It’s measured in “pixels per inch”, or ppi. The higher the number, the more detailed and good-looking the display is.
- 256 ppi
Touchscreen:
- - Capacitive, Multi-touch
Features:
- Light sensor, Proximity sensor, Scratch-resistant glass

Battery

Talk time:
Talk time - Maximum talk time in hours
- 10.00 hours
  the average is 8 h (496 min)
Stand-by time:
- 8.3 days (199 hours)
  the average is 21 days (498 h)
Talk time (3G):
- 9.10 hours
Stand-by time (3G):
- 13.1 days (314 hours)
Capacity:
- 1700 mAh
Type:
- Li - Ion

Hardware

System chip:
System chip - Most modern handsets use an advanced chip that includes many of the device’s hardware modules like the processor, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and sometimes even the wireless radio. This field shows what particular system chip (or System-on-a-Chip) is used in the phone.
- NVIDIA Tegra 2
Processor:
Processor - The processor is the main computing component of a phone and is a major factor when it comes to the overall speed of the device. Some more powerful smartphones use dual-core and quad-core processors designed to deliver greater performance.
- Dual core, 1000 MHz
System memory:
System memory - System memory, or RAM memory is the type of memory that the device uses to temporarily store data from the OS or currently-running apps. The more RAM available to the device, the better the performance will be when multiple or heavier programs are running.
- 1024 MB RAM
Built-in storage:
- 16000 MB
Storage expansion:
- Slot Type:
  - microSD, microSDHC
- Maximum card size:
  Maximum card size - Shows the capacity of the memory expansion slot that can be added
  - 32 GB

Camera

Camera:
- - 8 megapixels, Immobile
- Flash:
  - Dual LED
- Features:
  - Auto focus, Digital zoom
Camcorder:
- - 1280x720 (720p HD) (30 fps)
- Features:
  - Video calling
Front-facing camera:
- 0.3 megapixels VGA

Multimedia

Music player:
- Filter by:
  - Album, Artist, Playlists
- Features:
  - Album art cover, Background playback, Preset equalizer
- Supported formats:
  - MP3, AAC, AAC+, WMA, WAV, AMR, MIDI
Video playback:
Video playback - Video support such as MPEG4
- Supported formats:
  - MPEG4, H.263, H.264
Radio:
- - FM
Speakers:
- Earpiece, Loudspeaker
Streaming:
- - Audio, Video
YouTube player:
- Yes

Internet browsing

Browser:
- - Yes
- Supports:
  - HTML, XHTML, WAP 2.0, Flash
Built-in online services support:
- Facebook, Flickr, Picasa

Technology

CDMA:
CDMA - Code Division Multiple Access. A technique of multiplexing, also called spread spectrum, in which analog signals are converted into digital form for transmission. For each communication channel, the signals are encoded in a sequence known to the transmitter and the receiver for that channel. The foremost application is digital cellular phone technology from QUALCOMM that operates in the 800MHz band and 1.9GHz PCS band. CDMA phones are noted for their excellent call quality and long battery life.
- 800, 1900 MHz
GSM:
GSM - Global System for Mobile communications. A world standard for digital cellular communications using narrowband TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access), which allows up to eight calls at a time on 800 MHz and 1800 MHz frequencies. Introduced in 1991. Is the standard most commonly used in Europe and Asia, but not in the United States. GSM phones use a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) smart card that contains user account information. Any GSM phone becomes immediately programmed after plugging in the SIM card, thus allowing GSM phones to be easily rented or borrowed.
- 850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz
UMTS:
UMTS - Universal Mobile Telecommunications Service, also called WCDMA, is a 3G (Third Generation) packet-based transmission of text, digitized voice, video, and multimedia at data rates up to 2 Mbps. It is based on GSM standard and is supported by major standards bodies and manufacturers
- 850, 1900, 2100 MHz
Data:
Data - Shows the particular phone's type of data. the major mobile phone data types are GPRS, CDMA2000 1xRTT, EDGE, CDMA2000 1xEV-DO, UMTS, etc.
- HSPA (unspecified), UMTS, EDGE, EV-DO Rev.A, WiMAX
Global Roaming:
Global Roaming - Global Roaming is the convenience of having a mobile phone to make and receive calls, send and receive SMS while you travel overseas with your regular mobile number. Usually the Global phones support multiple frequencies like - 900/1800/1900 mhz.
- Yes
Positioning:
Positioning - This field shows the positioning systems supported by the device. There are three main types: GPS, A-GPS and GLONASS. GPS - This is one of the most widespread global positioning technologies, developed and maintained by the U.S. government. It uses satellites in order to detect your location. Works best in clear weather. A-GPS - A-GPS stands for Assisted GPS and is the industry standard for positioning and navigation. “Assisted” means that it can use local wireless networks, in addition to satellites, for quicker and more precise localization. GLONASS - GLONASS is a global positioning system, developed by the Russian Federation. It’s very similar to GPS, but isn’t so popular in cell phones.
- GPS
Navigation:
- Yes

Phone features

Phonebook:
- Unlimited entries, Caller groups, Multiple numbers per contact, Search by both first and last name, Picture ID, Ring ID
Organizer:
- Calendar, Alarm, Document viewer, Calculator
Messaging:
- SMS, MMS, Threaded view, Predictive text input
E-mail:
- - IMAP, POP3, SMTP, Microsoft Exchange, Push e-mail
Instant Messaging:
- - Google Talk
Games:
- - Yes

Connectivity

Bluetooth:
- - 2.1, EDR
- Profiles:
  - Advanced Audio Distribution (A2DP), Audio/Visual Remote Control Profile (AVRCP), Basic Printing (BPP), Dial-up networking (DUN), Generic Access (GAP), Generic Audio/Video Distribution (GAVDP), Generic Object Exchange (GOEP), Handsfree (HFP), Headset (HSP), Human Interface Device (HID), Message Access Profile (MAP), Object Push (OPP), Phone Book Access (PBAP), Serial Port (SPP)
Wi-Fi:
Wi-Fi - Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) - used radio waves (RF) or infrared signals to send and receive data over the air. Most popular WLAN solutions today is Wi-Fi (802.11b and 802.11g) standards. 801.11b provides data speeds of around 11mbps while 802.11g can go up to 54 mbps.
- - 802.11 b, g, n
USB:
- - USB 2.0
- Connector:
  - microUSB
- Features:
  Features - Universal Serial Bus - is a plug-and-play interface for connection a computer and add-on devices such as joysticks, keyboards, wireless phones, scanner, cameras etc. USB supports hot-swap (ability to add a new device without having to reboot the computer). USB supports data speed of 12 megabits per second.
  - Mass storage device, USB charging
Headphones connector:
- 3.5mm
HDMI:
- - Micro HDMI (Type D), 1.3
Charging connector:
- microUSB
- DLNA, Computer sync, OTA sync

Other features

Notifications:
- Service lights (Multiple color), Haptic feedback, Music ringtones (MP3), Polyphonic ringtones, Vibration, Flight mode, Silent mode, Speakerphone
Sensors:
- - Accelerometer, Compass
Hearing aid compatibility:
- - M4, T4
- Voice dialing, Voice commands, Voice recording

Regulatory Approval

FCC approval:
FCC approval - The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is an independent United States government agency, directly responsible to Congress. The FCC was established by the Communications Act of 1934 and is charged with regulating interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite and cable. The FCC's jurisdiction covers the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. possessions. Every wireless phone device that that is sold in the U.S. has to be tested and approved for sale by the FCC.
- Date approved:
  Date approved - Shows the date when the particular phone is approved by the Federal Communications Commission
  - 07 Jul 2011
- - FCC ID value:
    FCC ID value - Shows the FCC Identifying value of the particular phone
    IHDP56MD1 link
FCC measured SAR:
FCC measured SAR - The exposure standard for mobile devices employs a unit of measurement known as the Specific Absorption Rate, or SAR. The SAR limit stated in the international guidelines is 2.0 W/ kg*. Tests for SAR are conducted using standard operating positions with the device transmitting at its highest certified power level in all tested frequency bands. Although the SAR is determined at the highest certified power level, the actual SAR of the device while operating can be well below the maximum value.
- Head:
  - 0.93 W/kg
- Body:
  - 0.91 W/kg

Availability

Officially announced:
- 09 Jun 2011

Shopping information

MSRP price:
- - 550 $

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