Features
There's a tendency with fashion-centric phones to think of style first and substance later. However, the Krzr K1 doesn't disappoint in the features department. One of the most important features is that the interface is more user-friendly than older Motorola phones, which had a reputation of being difficult to use.
One area where you notice a great improvement is in the text-input interface, which now offers a better predictive service. As you press each key it offers you a potential word that you might be trying to type, and with the new cancel button it feels more natural to correct your errors.
The K1 has a 2-megapixel camera that takes still pictures and videos. You can access the camera by pressing the shutter button on the left side. This also works with the K1 shut, using the external screen as a viewfinder.
Once you have taken a picture you can edit it, adjusting the picture's brightness, contrast and sharpness. You can rotate a picture, add a border or mirror effect and then send it to your friends via Bluetooth or MMS.
The music player plays MP3, AAC and AAC+ files, lets you create play lists and search through albums, songs, genres and artists. You can also put the player in shuffle or repeat mode.
Proprietary stereo headphones are provided in the box, but the K1 also supports stereo Bluetooth (A2DP), so you can use a stereo Bluetooth headset to listen to your music wirelessly. Using the expandable microSD slot you can store up to 1GB of songs or pictures, and the K1 comes with a USB cable so you can transfer data to or from your PC straight out of the box.
Other services include calendar, alarm, SMS and MMS messaging, a voice recorder, speakerphone mode, polyphonic ring tones, Java games and you can browse the Web using the WAP browser. It supports T-Mobile's Web & Walk service, too. The K1 has quad-band connectivity, so it will work anywhere that uses a GSM network (ie most of the world).
An interesting but somewhat curious feature is the voice-command service that at the push of a button and a spoken command lets you compose an email, voice memo or text message. This isn't always easy to access, as you need to speak clearly and be in a relatively quiet place. We're also not sure why you would want to use this system for anything other than a voice memo, since the text and email features require you to eventually type on the keypad, anyway.
Performance
The audio quality during calls is loud and clear and the speakerphone works as expected. The audio quality on the music player is clear too, but it would have been nice if there was an adaptor for a 3.5mm jack.
The picture quality from the 2-megapixel camera is as expected and great for MMS messages, but without autofocus some shots come out blurry. There's no LED light or flash, so shots in low light aren't possible.
Battery life is quoted at 300 hours standby and 6 hours talk time. We wouldn't dispute this -- we charged it after about two days of moderate to heavy usage.
Edited by Mary Lojkine
Additional editing by Nick Hide
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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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