The Motorola Atrix is a smartphone equipped with a 1GHz dual-core processor.
The phone runs Google's Android 2.2, codenamed Froyo, Operating System (OS), has an HDMI-out port and records HD video.
Motorola's powerful HD Multimedia Dock and Laptop Dock accessories attempt to make the Atrix more than just a smartphone (check out the video after the break for more on this), but this is a fast and powerful mobile device on its own and is a worthy choice for anyone looking for an excellent all-round Android phone.
The Motorola Atrix Android smartphone may lack the unibody design of competitors like the HTC Desire HD, but its plastic frame feels relatively well constructed.
The rear battery cover does feel flimsy when removed, but does not creak or rattle once clicked into place.
The Motorola Atrix is less than 11mm thick, which is a nice surprise given it comes with a large 4" capacitive touchscreen.
Motorola has used 'Gorilla Glass' for the Atrix's display, which the company claims is difficult to scratch or crack.
The screen is bright and clear and has excellent resolution but its text is a little smaller than on most other Android smartphones, and it doesn't fare too well in bright sunlight. The smartphone's display has a resolution of 540x960, making it a full 16:9 screen - that is great for video playback.
The Motorola Atrix has four touch-sensitive buttons that sit below the display.
These menu, home, back and search keys are backlit and generally responsive, but they are easy to accidentally bump.
They cannot be used to wake the Atrix when the screen is locked.
Along with external volume controls on the right side, the only other physical button on the Motorola Atrix is a power/lock key that also doubles as a fingerprint reader.
The button is recessed and is situated in an awkward position, making it difficult to press single-handedly. You can use the fingerprint reader to unlock the phone by swiping across it; this worked relatively well during testing but is slower than using the regular pass code or pattern unlock options.
The Motorola Atrix runs the 2.2 Froyo version of Google's Android Operating System, so it supports Adobe Flash and has the ability to act as a wireless hotspot.
The Atrix technically should be able to be upgraded to the latest 2.3 'Gingerbread' version of Android given it sports a dual-core processor and very high-end specs, but Motorola hasn't announced if or when the device will receive this update.
The Motorola Atrix comes with the latest version of Motorola's MotoBlur service.
Motoblur is a widget-based interface that combines multiple social networking and communications accounts (Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, LastFM, email, Picasa, Photobucket and Yahoo Mail).
You'll need to create a MotoBlur account to use the Atrix, but it's free and it allows content and data to be pushed live to the handset. Motoblur also provides excellent security features including the ability to automatically wipe the handset when it is lost or stolen, and the automatic back up of content Over-The-Air (OTA).
We like the idea of Motoblur, but the execution of the service on previous smartphones was far from perfect.
Some of the flaws we encountered with the early version of MotoBlur have been corrected, including the ability to resize home screen widgets, and better implementation of contacts across multiple social networking services.
The Motorola Atrix Android smartphone also features Swype text entry with the on-screen keyboard.
Swype allows you to slide your fingers over the letters you want to type in a single motion, letting the software work out the word you're trying to write. Though it sounds awkward, Swype is very easy to pick up and surprisingly accurate.
As with most on-screen keyboards, the software will learn as you type and add words you use regularly to its database.
The Motorola Atrix is one of the fastest Android phones we've tested.
Swiping through home screens and using multitouch gestures is smooth and efficient, while the Web browser renders pages quickly, and didn't suffer when loading Flash intense sites. The smartphone comes with a few handy applications preloaded, including Quickoffice, Media Share (for playing video and music through a DLNA-compatible television) and task, battery and data managers.
The Motorola Atrix has 16GB of internal storage along with a microSD card slot, 1GB of RAM, a front-facing camera for video calling and a rear 5-megapixel camera that records 720p HD video.
The Motorola Atrix also comes with an impressive 1930mAh battery; for the average user, this means you should easily be able to get more than 24 hours of juice out of the Atrix before it needs a recharge.
Motorola Atrix Android Froyo smartphone key features and specifications:
• Dual core processor capable of opening Web pages twice as fast as most other smartphones, rendering games faster and displaying HD video on big-screen TVs
• Full 1 GB of RAM for twice the RAM of most smartphones to deliver effortless multi-tasking, such as watching a movie while receiving and responding to Email
• World’s first qHD display for a smartphone, offering high resolution and 24-bit color
• Front- and rear-facing cameras for video chat and the ability to record in HD
• Up to 48GB of storage (16GB internal and optional 32GB MicroSD card) – enough to store thousands of songs, photos and movies
• Biometric fingerprint reader for easily unlocking your phone while providing extra security
• Under 11mm thin with an extra large 1930 mAh battery for extended standby and talk time
• Two microphones employing noise-reduction technology so your calls will be heard loud and clear in even the noisiest environments
In conclusion, the Motorola Atrix is highly recommended by this reviewer.
Good:
Slick and fast user experience, HDMI-out, good build quality, dual cameras, fingerprint reader, 16GB memory, decent battery life, Swype
Bad:
Screen is hard to see in sunlight, touch-sensitive buttons, no word on Android Gingerbread update
The Motorola Atrix doesn't stray too far from the norm once you look past its dual-core processor and fingerprint reader, but it is a slick, super-fast Android smartphone with good battery life.
Anyone after a new Android phone with a big screen should definitely consider the Atrix; we just hope Motorola gives Atrix users the latest Android updates.
Check out the Motorola Atrix official video below that presents smartphone's features not covered in this review:
Source: IDG
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