Motorola MPx220 vs. i-mate SP3i: Photo Shoot-Out

[Kris Kumar]

Presenting in the blue corner the clam shell contestant, the Motorola MPx220, weighing 110g. And in the red corner we have the challenger, weighing only 102g, the i-mate SP3i.

Which one would you bet on? :drool:


Figure 1: Click on the image for a higher resolution image.


Figure 2: Click on the image for a higher resolution image.


Figure 3: Click on the image for a higher resolution image.


Figure 4: Click on the image for a higher resolution image.


Figure 5: Click on the image for a higher resolution image.


Figure 6: Click on the image for a higher resolution image.


Figure 7: Click on the image for a higher resolution image.


Figure 8: Click on the image for a higher resolution image.


Figure 9: Click on the image for a higher resolution image.


Figure 10: Click on the image for a higher resolution image.

[Kris Kumar]

Presenting in the blue corner the clam shell contestant, the Motorola MPx220, weighing 110g. And in the red corner we have the challenger, weighing only 102g, the i-mate SP3i.

Which one would you bet on? :drool:


Figure 1: Click on the image for a higher resolution image.


Figure 2: Click on the image for a higher resolution image.


Figure 3: Click on the image for a higher resolution image.


Figure 4: Click on the image for a higher resolution image.


Figure 5: Click on the image for a higher resolution image.


Figure 6: Click on the image for a higher resolution image.


Figure 7: Click on the image for a higher resolution image.


Figure 8: Click on the image for a higher resolution image.


Figure 9: Click on the image for a higher resolution image.


Figure 10: Click on the image for a higher resolution image.

[hacr]

I have always been a flip phone fan, but with the today screen information of a smartphone, I want to be able to see the info all the time. I like the black border too, it makes it look larger.

I ordered mine from TeknToys last week, they say it isn't shipping until December 1st though

[possmann]

I gotta say that I like the flip phone format, but have been turned off by Moto as of late. I like what the HTC device has to offer and the reviews of this device seem to be more favorable (quality of speech, connectivity etc...) than those limited reviews I've seen of the Moto device.

I'm gonna wait until T-Mo get's their acts over here to the USA (which I hope is before June...)

[aristoBrat]

Originally Posted by possmann

I like what the HTC device has to offer and the reviews of this device seem to be more favorable (quality of speech, connectivity etc...) than those limited reviews I've seen of the Moto device.

Considering that this is their fourth generation WM Smartphone, I think HTC has learned a lot (and more importantly -- applied what they've learned).

If the SP3i is really just a SP3/C500/SMT 5600 "in different clothing", then I have no doubts that this phone is going to rock, especially in regards to battery life!

[aristoBrat]

Originally Posted by possmann

I'm gonna wait until T-Mo get's their acts over here to the USA (which I hope is before June...)

I know I said it a billion times ... "I won't buy another non-T-Mobile branded Smartphone", but I broke down and picked up the Audiovox SMT 5600 and am LOVING it (on T-Mobile).

I think I'm one of the few that prefer the thumb rocker vs. the joystick, so I guess I'll have to make that my justification for not waiting for T-Mobile's SDAs!

[sunit02]

I had ordered through tek n toys myself, but they didn't respond to my email about when they will have them in stock. So I cancelled my order via email. Their email estore@shopplex.com which is the email address on the order confirmation email doesn't even work. I got a bounce-back message delivery failure from that address. Their other one (sales@tekntoys.com) seemed to work. Of course, they didn't even confirm the cancellation. I can't say that I trust these guys. They would have left a more favorable impression if they had initially labelled it as a pre-order item and be more attentive to their potential customers. I even cancelled my credit card to be safe.

Originally Posted by hacr

I have always been a flip phone fan, but with the today screen information of a smartphone, I want to be able to see the info all the time. I like the black border too, it makes it look larger.

I ordered mine from TeknToys last week, they say it isn't shipping until December 1st though

[Kris Kumar]

Originally Posted by aristoBrat

Considering that this is their fourth generation WM Smartphone, I think HTC has learned a lot (and more importantly -- applied what they've learned).

If the SP3i is really just a SP3/C500/SMT 5600 "in different clothing", then I have no doubts that this phone is going to rock, especially in regards to battery life!

Not sure if the SP3i can be branded as the 4th generation. Because under the clothes it is still the same hardware and software. But the clothes make all the difference.

The (plastic) material, the finish and the detail on this device is much better than the Audiovox SMT5600. I am a big fan of Sony Ericsson's styles (Note: I said "styles" ;-) ). And this phone can compete with SE in terms of the quality of styling. I wasn't able to take good pictures of just the SP3i last night. Will update this thread later with some more. :-)

The tri-tone body - combination of silver, gray and black is awesome. Plus the plastic has a rich-soft feel to it when you are holding it in your hands.

Overall I am torn between the (buggy) MPx220 and SP3i. :? Both have their strengths and weaknesses.

[Kris Kumar]

Note to all the readers interested in buying SP3i.

eXpansys is currently not carrying the US (GSM 850/1800/1900) version. And Tek n Toys, don't know when they are going to carry or what version they are going to carry.

So please do NOT pre-order without knowing what you are going to get. Mine is the GSM 900/1800/1900 or European version from eXpansys.

And we know for sure that SP3i is going to be released in the GSM 850/1800/1900 version. Because of the FCC clearance. It is just a matter of time. I am guessing weeks instead of months. So hang on.

Since I am on T-Mobile (they don't use 850MHz) so I don't have to worry too much about missing the 850MHz band. In fact if I had the 850 band, I would have missed the 900 band more because of my India trips, where 900 band is used.

[aristoBrat]

Originally Posted by Kris Kumar

Not sure if the SP3i can be branded as the 4th generation. Because under the clothes it is still the same hardware and software. But the clothes make all the difference.

Forgive me for listing the Orange-branded names (I forget the HTC ones), but don't the HTC generations go like this?

1: SPV (Smartphone 2002, crappy screen/keypad)
2: SPV e100 (Smartphone 2002, fixed screen/keypad, external camera)
3: SVP e200 (Smartphone 2003, added BlueTooth + integrated camera)
4: C500 (Smartphone 2003 SE, miniSD, new form factor, substantial battery life)

The SP3i would fall into the 4th category AFAIK.

Part of the reason I brought this up is because I remember reading (on MoDaCo) about all sorts of call volume, camera, and BlueTooth issues with the E100 and E200 -- not much unlike what Moto is having with the MPx220. I guess I was attributing the C500/SP3/SP3i/SMT 5600s relative lack of issues on the fact that HTC's "been down that road before", vs Moto, which is "still on that road" (meaning that there's still hope for them).

[revolution.cx]

SPV had an external camera.
The SPVx or E100 really was a 1.1 type release.

So I'd say that the typhoon is the 3rd generation.

Hey, wait a second...it doesn't matter. The typhoon's just a great phone.