Motorola RIZR Z6c Review

Introduction:

The Motorola Z6c “World Edition” phone is designed for the average international traveler in mind that wants to be able to place and receive calls while abroad. It is capable of working on the Verizon CDMA network, as well as GSM 900/1800 networks when used in other countries, however a SIM card from Verizon is required. The only other device currently offered by Verizon to work on GSM networks is the BlackBerry 8830 Smartphone, which is targeted more to business travelers.


The Retail Package includes the Motorola Z6c World Edition phone, user manual, microUSB-to-2.5mm headset adapter, microUSB elbow adapter, 950mAh battery, and wall charger with three adapter plugs for international use.

Design:

The Z6c features a slider design and looks almost identical to the Z6tv, which offers Mobile TV service instead of international roaming. It is constructed from black and silver plastic throughout, yet is durable and should hold up to everyday use. The slider is very easy open and close and has a fluid movement to it. The back of the device has the same soft-touch coating that is featured on other Motorola phones (Maxx, V9m, Q9m).



You can compare the Motorola RIZR Z6c to many other phones, using PhoneArena's Visual Size Compare tool.

Located on the left side is the volume rocker and speakerphone button, while the right side has the voice command button, keypad lock, and microUSB port. The 2MP camera and speaker are on the back. One aspect that we did not like was the design of the microSD card slot. You must first remove the battery door cover and slide the microSD card in above where the SIM card would be located. This is pretty simple, but removing the memory card proved to be more difficult. You have to press down (pretty hard) on a piece of plastic that locks the card into place, while at the same time sliding the card out. This is a poor design, and is very inconvenient to the consumer. We much prefer the design of the memory card slot on the Z6tv, where it is accessible from the side of the phone.


The main display is 2.0” diagonal with a QVGA resolution of 240x320 pixels and 65K color depth. Despite its average size, it has good contrasts, shows images with full color, and has a 6 level brightness control. Even though we used the brightest backlight level, the TFT display is still difficult to view while in direct sunlight.


Directly below the display is the 5 way navigational D-pad, which is used for navigating through the phone’s software. We noticed that it is slightly smaller than the D-pad used on the Maxx and V9m, but the difference is negligible. To the left and right sides of it are the two soft keys, camera button, clear, send, and end buttons. Sliding the phone open reveals the hidden numeric keypad. It has a nice silver finish, which stands out from the black plastic used on the front. The buttons are slightly curved and are well spaced with raised rubber edging between them. The blue backlit numbers are easy to see, but the letters are somewhat small. Overall, the keypad on the Z6c is easy to use for dialing and text messaging thanks to its excellent tactile feel with raised rubber letters and key separators.

Interface:

There were no surprises regarding the Main Menu, as it is laid out just like every other Verizon phone, with categorizes for Get it Now, Messaging, Contacts, Recent Calls, and Settings & Tools. There are two Themes that are included: Default (Rainbow) and Youth. The Default theme is identical to the one used on the V9m, but the Youth theme is more colorful. The menu speed and response time from both are quite fast. Unfortunately, neither one is animated like the FlashUI themes used by LG and Samsung.


The Phonebook is identical to the V9m, where up to 1000 contacts can be stored, each with their Name, Mobile 1, Home, Work, E-Mail 1, Group, Picture, Ringtone, Mobile 2, Fax, E-Mail 2, and Notes. Since this is a “world phone” it would have been nice if the phonebook were capable of storing more numbers per person, such as a local US number and international number. Once a contact is saved, you can assign them to one of 999 speed-dial locations.



The 2MP Camera is located on the back and can be used with the phone slid open or closed. We found that it was easier to use with the phone closed and placed in Landscape mode. In doing so, this makes the Z6c about the same size as most compact digital cameras, even though a larger screen and more mega-pixels would be nice.


Although it uses a basic 2MP sensor, the image quality was not as good as we’ve seen from the V9m, Maxx, and Voyager. When used outside, colors were not as saturated and images lacked fine detail. Inside images also looked muted and soft. But this is to be expected, since the Z6c does not have an Autofocus system, which also means that it cannot be used for Macro images. Photos in the dark are impossible to take, as there is no built-in flash on the device. Videos can be recorded at a maximum resolution of 320x240 with no time limit (up to the available space on the microSD card). Though this may sound nice, the video quality is lacking just like every other Verizon phone, and should only be used for short recordings.


The music player is basic and is laid out like most other Verizon phones, with categories for Genres, Artists, Albums, and Playlists. It is capable of playing back MP3, WMA, and ACC audio files. Even though there is only one (mono) speaker located on the back, we found that the music quality was better than the FlipShot’s stereo speakers, but still was not as loud as music played by the V9m. Unlike most new phones that use touch-sensitive buttons for music control, you have to use the D-pad on the Z6c for rewind, play/pause, and fast-forward. Included with the phone is a microUSB-to-2.5mm headset adapter that you can use with stereo earbuds for listening to music. The Z6c also supports Stereo Bluetooth A2DP and AVRC profiles, which gave us 25 feet of static free music using our Motorola S9 headset.


Other software features include Mobile Web 2.0, VCast Music downloads, V Cast Video streaming, and VZ Navigator for GPS guided directions. Unfortunately, all of these services are only usable while in Verizon’s CDMA network. We can understand why this is, but it would have been nice if at least the Web Browser were GSM compatible.

Performance:

(Please Note: All calls were placed within the US and while on Verizon’s CDMA network.)

We found that the Reception and Call Quality of the Z6c were both good, equal to that of the Maxx, and were able to place and receive calls in fringe areas without problem. The voice quality in the earpiece is clear and natural sounding, with no distortion present, even when the volume was raised to the highest level. We still consider the V9m to have better voice quality, but it is by a very slim margin. People that we talked to (using a land-line) said that our voice was also natural sounding and was clearly heard. The Speakerphone on the Z6c works well, and is quite loud when the volume is at the highest level. For international GSM use, one should expect different degrees of call quality, depending on what network provider you are using.

There is very little lag when opening up downloaded applications or when going through the different menus. The Z6c comes with 77MB of internal memory, but only 55MB is available to the user. Fortunately, the device will accept microSD cards up to 4GB in size to allow additional space for music, pictures, and videos.

The included 950mAh battery is rated to have 5 hours of talk time or 15 days of standby time on a full charge. Our testing showed 4 hours of talk time.

Conclusion:

The Motorola Z6c is a quality device and should be considered by consumers who require a Verizon phone that can also be used internationally. The call quality and reception were both good, with no distortion or interference. The slider design is unique, as most Verizon phones are either a flip or candy-bar style. It is well constructed and looks professional with the back and silver styling throughout, but it would have been nice some FlashUI Themes were included. The 2MP camera is good, not great, so be sure to pack a real digital camera with you if you’re going to be taking a lot of pictures. The MP3 player works well and sounds good, despite the very basic interface. Overall, we would recommend the Z6c if you require a Verizon phone that can be used internationally on GSM networks. However, if you are a business professional, then the BlackBerry 8830 Smartphone might be better suited to your needs.