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Motorola MOTO U9 mobile phone

Fashion-conscious design can only get you so far

The U9 supports multiple audio formats including MP3, AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, Real Audio and WMA files. The U9 has 25MB of internal user memory, so memory card expansion is essential – the phone supports MicroSD cards up to 4GB capacity. The slot is under the battery, so you have to power down to swap cards.

Motorola has chosen to double up its microUSB port as the headphone connector too, limiting the quick plug-and-play headphone upgrade and charge/listen options. The sound performance from the phone is fine through regular earphones, producing a very acceptable performance. You can switch to an inbuilt loudspeaker, too, but that’s quite a tinny experience when the phone’s being carried. You can add Bluetooth stereo headphones too.

Motorola Moto U9 keypad

The numberpad and controls are reasonably responsive

As well as for tunes the external display can be used to see who’s calling, to read text messages and reply to them, using the side keys to select from pre-defined message templates to send.

While it’s a bit different from run-of-the-mill outside clamshell displays, the magically materialising screen isn’t the brightest or most detailed external display. As usual with fashion phones, that’s not going to bother buyers more concerned with the style surface, and there is an undeniable look-at-me factor.

The camera, built into the top of the flip cover, is a 2-megapixel shooter that doesn’t impress. Although it’s an improvement on the original PEBL’s very basic VGA snap’n’send camera, cameraphones have moved on, and 2 million pixels is now standard issue. There’s no flash, autofocus or dedicated controls, and few settings adjustments to speak of (though you can do a few editing tweaks post-shooting).

Next page: Verdict

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