Motorola V635 (Unlocked)

When you have the Motorola V635 in your hand you know it. It is a substantial handset. It tips the scales at 134 grams, or almost 4.7 ounces. With a metal battery cover and metal front flip cover it feels solid because it is solid. The phone is not large. It is only marginally larger than the Motorola V188. It will fit nicely into cases used with a Nokia 6103 or 6131 as well as many similar form factor Motorola models. It is a sturdy, well built physical specimen.

It's tank-like build in no way hinders it performance. The V635 scrolls through menus quickly. The tactile feedback from the keypad is crisp and distinct. The keypad a is a bit more slick than some. It is in no way difficult to use as a result of this texture choice by Motorola. In contrast the non-numeric keys have a rough texture that makes for a nice touch. The Voice key on the side of the handset activates a bit too easily. It seems everytime I pick up the handset it wants to voice dial.

The true measure of a mobile handset is the ability to pick up and hold signals coupled with the quality of the speaker and microphone. It is here that the V635 really shines. It finds the signal in fringe areas and it holds on tenaciously. The speaker is loud and quite clear, about the clearest, most natural sound I've heard from a mobile handset. The microphone also produces a very clear and natural sound for the person at the other end.

In addition to telephone basics this handset has Bluetooth, an MP3 player, Internet browser, IM, E-mail, Java and the ability to handle up to a 2 gigabyte microSD card. This phone has a lot going for it. The MotoMixer is a fun way to produce new ringtones based upon the included pre-set MIDI patterns. It has voice notes and voice dialling. A calendar, calculator, datebook, alarm clock, two games and currency converter round out the software goodies.

The camera has 1.2 megapixels with zoom and video capability. It has supplementary illumination for dark scenes. The handset menu refers to it as a flash but actually it is a constant illumination rather than a flash.

That it is also is one of the nicest looking flip phones around doesn't hurt it either. This is one handset that doesn't have to show its age. The black center piece is easily removed and replaced with a new one. The front cover and battery door are also easily and cheaply available. For less than the price of a nice lunch a person can renew the entire outside of the handset and never touch a tool. It's not that these are prone to scrapes and damage but if your phone starts to look a little ragged you can spruce it up and keep on going.

Many extras, solid basic performance and few weak areas make the V635 an ideal handset. Most of the units you find on eBay are unlocked, they work with any GSM carrier that operates on 850/900/1800/1900 bands because this is a quadband model. That means it will work in North America, South America as well as on the continent and in the UK.