The Motorola Razr V3im is the Razr V3i with iTunes on it. So what does the m edition give you that the old Razr didn't? The most obvious differences are that the handset is the colour burgundy and there's a dedicated iTunes button in place of the messaging key. The iTunes key lets you access Apple's music application without having to go through the phone's menu, which is useful if you want to listen to your tunes without having to fiddle around too much.
Once you access the phone's interface, you'll notice that it's identical to the V3i's, except that there's an iTunes icon in the menu that gives you access to the application, which is a mini version of the full software. You also have the option to turn the phone on in aeroplane mode, which means you can use it exclusively as an MP3 player and also save battery when you don't need to use the handset as a phone, giving you more time to listen to music.
In the box you get a CD with iTunes on it and Motorola's Phone Tools software. Once you install iTunes, the phone is automatically recognised when you plug it in and doesn't require any drivers. You also get an adaptor in the box that lets you plug in your own 3.5mm jack headphones, which is great if you've spent a fortune on a pair of brand new Sennheiser headphones, and means that the sound quality won't be limited by the proprietary earbuds included.
The iTunes software on the V3im is basic compared to the iPod interface but lets you access playlists, artists, albums, songs and shuffle mode, which is much better than the built-in music software on most phones. The application is very easy to use and even shows album art. Annoyingly, you can only put a maximum of 100 songs on the phone, which is strange considering they provide you with a 512MB card. We imagine this is a limitation placed by Apple, so that the V3im doesn't cannibalise the iPod market.
Aside from that, the features on the V3im are identical to the ones on the V3i and if you want to see those, have a look at our V3i review. Overall, we like the dedicated iTunes key and software but we're not impressed with the 100-song cap or the lacklustre effort in making it a music phone -- although having said that, it's miles better than the Rokr. It's available on an O2 contract from £30 or on pay as you go from the Carphone Warehouse for £250.
Edited by Mary Lojkine
Additional editing by Nick Hide
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User reviews7
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ipodtouch 29 December 2007
Good: iTunes function, colour, slimness, well built
Bad: naff camera, 100 song iTunes limit, slow
Comment: Hi, i am neither satisfied or dis-satisfied with ths mobile, i suppose the reason which makes this stand out from the rest of the v3 range is the fact that it has iTunes built in, however this is useless fo somebody who wants to put alot of music on it as it stores only 100 songs on iTunes where you then have to use the media player.
The media player whch is included on the phone is very basic and boring, for example t doesn't show song listed by artist, album etc. it jst shows them in one long list which is very annoying if you are trying to find a specific song. Also there is the problem that after one song has finished it doesnt move onto the next song, you then have to press the next button which means taking the phone out of your pocket to play the next song.
The keypad is very responsive and looks very nice in a dark room where it glows blue, however there is the problem that the navigation keys and the number 5 key are risen slightly for obvious reasons, when you close the phone these raised keys rest against the screen therefore leaving marks on the screen when you open it.
The speakerphone is very loud in quiet places however if you are walking down a noisy street it becomes almost impossible to hear which isn't helped by the face that it faces the back of the phone specificly in a place where your hand covers it.
The operating system is simple and easy to use but is very slow, i have often found the phone to have frozen so i then have to take that battery out and put it back in to restart the phone.
There are a number of themes already installed on the mobile but they are all very dull, te following are discriptions of the themes:
Moto, Blue and green wit white writing.
Indium, Grey and purple with black writing.
Scarlet, Silver and pink with white writing, very hard to read although that may just be me because i'm colour blind.
Silver, Grey and white with black writing.
Pink and dark pink with white writing.
I find the design of the phone very old as it dates back a couple of years to when it was very popular, in my opinion i think motorola have run out of sales for the V3 design. So they have brought out an new model, the RAZR2 V8. I have only read abot the RAZR2 and held a dud in store so i can tell you that it feature alot more but that it is very big compared to the V3im but a couple of mm slimmer.
Jim Barton 23 July 2007
Good: Small size, big screen, good camera
Bad: Replacement has just started giving problems - cutting off calls
Comment: I love the size of the thing and its so easy to use. I have had motorola for work and myself for 5 years so I am used to the menus. I find the PC backup to be great - when it works, which is far from always. Luckily just backed it up before it crashed on me. Back to the old Rokr E1, which works solidly but has a rubbish camera.
Steven Jones 30 January 2007
Good: microUSB connection, small, iTunes
Bad: Bluetooth lock ups, difficult to remove microSD
Comment: I'm sure if you love your music the iTunes in this phone will attract, however using it for much else is frustrating. The inbuilt browser rarely works with gmail or hotmail (installing 3rd party browsers prove this could work on the handset!), and I found using it with my PDA over bluetooth for a GPRS connection resulted in the phone locking up 1/3 times and requiring the battery to be pulled for a few seconds. In fact the only way I've been able to live with this phone for the full year of my upgrade contract is to replace all the onboard apps with 3rd party ones. Good job it was a free upgrade for me or I would be more annoyed.
See all 7 user reviews