Some reviewers have described the Krzr as an evolved Razr V3, and to all intents and purposes it is part of the Razr family. However, the Krzr represents a significant step forward for Motorola. It has an improved interface and keypad layout that make it much more enjoyable to use.
Our review sample came from T-Mobile, but it's also available from Orange, O2 and Vodafone, free on various monthly contracts. It's not available on pay as you go, but if you hunt around online for a SIM-free model, it'll set you back around £250.
Design
The Krzr K1's mirrored front is a marked change from Motorola's previous designs. Made from a combination of blue hardened glass, metal and reflective plastic, the Krzr shines from the moment you take it out of the box. It also picks up fingerprints like a crime-scene investigator, but that's to be expected from a surface like this.
Measuring 42 by 103 by 16mm, the K1 is narrower and taller than the original Razr V3, but 1mm thicker when folded. It's also heavier at 100g, but as with the original V3, it feels well built and unlikely to break if you drop it.
On the right and left of the K1's hinge there are two gem-like blue dots. Alongside the dimples on the bottom section of the handset, they emphasise Motorola's attention to detail.
The left side of the phone houses a dedicated volume rocker and shutter button, and on the right side there's a softkey that gives you access to the voice-commands menu and recorder. Further down the right side is a mini-USB charging port that lets you connect to a PC via a USB cable and also doubles up as a headphone port.
The back of the phone is fairly bare, aside from a hole for the speaker at the bottom. The back feels rubberised and doesn't show up fingerprints as much as the front, prompting us to wonder why the entire phone wasn't made of the same material.
The battery cover is similar to the V3's, but rather than popping it off you need to slide it upwards. The microSD slot is hidden behind the cover, but you don't need to take the battery out to change it. Still, it would be less fiddly if it were accessible from the outside.
Opening up the K1 is as easy as opening up the V3, because the sides of the top and bottom section are curved, making it simple to slide your finger or thumb between them. Once the phone is open you see strong V3 influences in the K1. The screen keypad and general layout is like looking at a mini version of the inside of the Razr.
The most striking differences are the colour and size. The K1's interior matches the exterior, with a blue border around the colour screen and a flat, blue keypad.
The screen measures 30mm wide by 37mm tall -- a little on the small side. One of the standout features of the V3 was its large screen, and while the K1's screen does display 262,000 colours and is bright, it would be easier to view Web sites if it were as large as the V3's.
The keypad is slightly different to the original because it's much smaller and there's a cancel (or go back one page) button in place of the message button on the right of the navigation key.
The new cancel button is a significant addition, because on the old layout you had to reach for the top-left softkey to delete something in a text or go back one page, making it rather fiddly. The keypad feels strange to use at first if you're used to the size of keys on the V3, but after a while it's actually quite easy to press the keys correctly and it doesn't feel cramped.
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User reviews3
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jamie44 17 July 2008
Good: Nice compact size, most functions easy to use
Bad: Some menu functions hard to find. Camera button on side
Comment: I have had this handset for 18 months and whilst generaly OK I have lost count of the number of photos of the inside of my pocket I have taken or the changing ring styles just by catching the buttons on the side of the phone. If you can live with these minor nigles as I could then its great, if they are going to wind you up then dont get it. As for me \i am about to upgrade and am going back to Samsung phones as Motorola have stagnated again!!
Mark Bradley 4 July 2007
Good: Slim, stylish, good reception and call quality
Bad: Glass front gets greasy and covered in fingerprints; Still a problem with personal ringer ID acting as message tone; Main and outer screens could have been a little bigger
Comment: To begin, this review refers to several phones I've owned recently, for comparison. I'm a bit of a phone addict, the K1 is my 22nd in 9 years.
I recently bought a Sony Ericsson z710i, but with summer now here I was looking for a second phone which would easily slip into my jeans pocket.
Having had a Razr in the past I decided on the Krzr K1, having been won over by the dark blue good looks of this clamshell.
The build quality, as always with Motorola, is excellent. The phone feels sturdy, at 102g, it's not the lightest, but at least you know it's in your pocket.
The hinge feels reliable but smooth as you open the flip. There is no slight sideways movement that I've found on some other phones.
The main screen has 162,000 colours, but is disappointingly small at less than 2 inches, and resolution is not the greatest at 220x176 (compared to the 320x240 of the Samsung D830 and Nokia 6131, both of which I've owned - I really do buy 4 phones a year..)
The external screen at 96x80 pixels is more than adequate for displaying signal strength, battery life, incoming calls and messages etc.
If you like to keep your phone scratch free and clean as I do, a big minus point is that the glass front of the K1 attracts greasy fingerprints like you wouldn't believe. Fortunately I wear specs for computer work, so I had my lens cloth available for cleaning the K1's front panel.
However, not to be outdone I bought a crystal case which adds little to the bulk of the phone and keeps it's outer casing in pristine condition.
Having had appalling signal reception on my recent Nokia 6131, I was pleased to find the signal strength was good on the K1, and call quality is more than satisfactory. This is my 5th Motorola, and apart from the Startac 130 in 1999, I've always found their call quality and signal strength impressive.
The Motorola menu system is for fans only. It really is an acquired taste. After not having had a Moto for a couple of years, it took a while to readjust. I always believe that if you are experienced with mobiles, yet still have to read the instructions to find an obvious function (in my case adding to speed dial) then it's not very intuitive.
The one irritating "feature" which has still not been resolved by Motorola, is the fact that if you choose a ringer ID for a contact, that ringer is also used as their message tone. This means, without looking at the screen you don't know whether you're receiving a call or text.
The MP3 player is adequate, the 2MP camera is poor in quality, but to be fair, it's a phone. I use a proper digital camera, video camera and MP3 player for these functions.
The keys have raised rubber separators which mean it easy to text without having to look at the keypad. Despite the flat appearance there is an obvious response you can feel when pressing a key (unlike the Samsung D830).
Despite minor drawbacks, I still like this phone a lot. My main criteria are as always, good reception and call quality. The size and weight make is suitable for slipping into your pocket.
At £100 on 30/06/07, it's definitely worth the money I paid for it.
Pauline Robinson 17 November 2006
Good: Size and shape. Colour. Ease of use.
Bad: Having to keep polishing the front cover.
Comment: I have found this phone simple to use without having to spend hours reading the manual, there are tutorials on the phone itself if you need help. The software that comes with it and the USB cable makes it very easy to transfer music and pictures to the phone, and calls and texts can be made through the PC. It is small enough to be comfortable to use in one hand, all the keys are within easy reach of your thumb, but large enough to be easy to read. It feels well built and sturdy, and is beautiful to look at. The removable memory card slot makes it very versatile and can store tons of pictures and music. Why have a phone and an MP3 player when you can have it all in one attractive package?
It is available on Pay as You Go. I got mine with Virgin. It cost £240 with £30 free airtime as I already had a Virgin Sim Card.
All in all a very well designed phone.
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