Motorola Pebl review

You can configure the functions of the two softkeys, the four points on the navigation button and the smart key (which sits on the left edge of the casing), so they start the applications or services that you want from the home screen, allowing you to customise your options quite extensively.

Both voice-command software and the built-in voice recorder are activated by the right edge button -- you press and hold for the latter, releasing the button when you want voice recording to finish. The voice-command software can launch applications as well as make calls, and it made the first 'digit dial' call (you say the numbers) we asked it to perfectly.

But there are a couple of areas in which the Pebl is wanting. There's no player for your digital music, which these days makes any handset feel out of touch -- though we freely admit not everyone wants this capability in their phone. In any case, with just 5MB of internal memory and no support for extending this with flash memory cards, you'd be hard-pressed to get any tunes on board, even if there were a music-playing application built in.

More interestingly, the camera is below par. With a maximum resolution of 640x480 pixels for images, and alternatives of 320x240 pixels and 160x120 pixels, you are going to be taking quick snaps for MMS and emailing to others rather than capturing photos to keep. VGA resolution cameras are starting to feel very outdated, and this may be Motorola's big mistake with this handset.

You can capture video with the Pebl, but again there are some limitations. There are two resolutions -- 176x144 pixels and 128x96 pixels -- which are best suited for quick playback or MMSing and then discarding.

More annoyingly, video and stills capture are controlled by separate applications and you have to choose which you want before starting to shoot, rather than when the main screen has turned into a viewfinder. Being unable to easily switch between modes means that when shooting something fun with your friends you might have to ask them to wait while you swap between capture modes.

Performance
For making and receiving calls, the Pebl performed very well. Maximum volume is not as loud as we might like, but calls themselves were clear enough and the voice-dialling system worked well enough that we'd consider using it.

The handset battery stood up well too. With no fancy extras like music playback to worry about it doesn't have to work as hard as some, and we were happy to go for a few days of average to low-level usage without needing to charge.

The general size and shape of the Pebl means it lodged well in the smallest of pockets, making it an ideal 'travelling light' handset. Just don't expect state-of-the-art features from it.

Edited by Mary Lojkine
Additional editing by Nick Hide