Motorola A1200 InDepth Review of Specs Prices Pros & Cons

Overview of Motorola A1200

The Motorola A1200, also known as the Motorola Ming, was a landmark device in the mobile phone industry upon its release. Announced in December 2005 and released shortly after, it marked a unique departure in Motorola's design ethos. The A1200 was part of a pioneering series combining elements of personal digital assistants (PDAs) with mobile telephony, leveraging Linux as its operating system, and featuring a touchscreen interface which was a standout feature at the time.

Design and Build Quality

The Motorola A1200 features a compact design with dimensions of 95.7 x 51.7 x 21.5 mm, making it easy to hold and use with one hand. Weighing 122 grams, it strikes a balance between sturdiness and portability. The phone utilizes a clear flip cover, which not only protects the touchscreen but also allows users to view the display even when closed. This was a distinctive design choice and gave the phone a futuristic feel for its time.

Available in Black, Red, and Silver, the Motorola A1200 was designed to appeal to a broad audience with its sleek and professional look. The device's tactile feel and solid build quality were highlights for many of its users, emphasizing durability without sacrificing style.

Display

The Motorola A1200 is equipped with a 2.4-inch TFT resistive touchscreen display. Offering 256K colors and a resolution of 240 x 320 pixels, it provided clear and vibrant visuals, which were impressive at the time of its release. The screen size translated to a screen-to-body ratio of approximately 36.1%, making it one of the more industry-leading displays for mobile phones during its era.

The resistive nature of the touchscreen allowed for stylus-based input, which was quite popular among PDA users. While capacitive touchscreens were not yet the standard, the resistive screen gave users a higher degree of precision when navigating menus or creating texts.

Performance and Operating System

Under the hood, the A1200 was powered by an Intel XScale 312MHz processor, providing reliable performance for its time. Although modest by today's standards, this processor was capable of handling basic applications and multitasking requirements for everyday use.

The use of Linux as the operating system was a bold move that showcased Motorola's commitment to innovation. This choice allowed for greater customization and flexibility in software development, setting the A1200 apart from many of its contemporaries that were using more traditional proprietary operating systems. Linux helped optimize battery performance and reduce operational latency, which contributed positively to user experience.

Camera Capabilities

The device sported a 2 MP rear camera, aimed at providing good quality images suitable for casual photography. Though it lacked a front-facing camera, the rear camera supported QCIF video recording. While basic by modern standards, it was an exciting feature for users at the time, providing them with the ability to capture memories on the go.

Connectivity and Network Features

The Motorola A1200 was designed to support GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 bands, ensuring wide coverage and connectivity options. Equipped with GPRS Class 10, the device allowed users basic access to mobile internet services. However, it did not support EDGE, which limited the speed of data transmission in areas where 3G or higher-speed networks were unavailable.

Despite the absence of WLAN, the A1200 offered Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP support, allowing wireless connections with other devices for file transfers or audio streaming. The inclusion of a stereo FM radio provided an additional source of entertainment, a common feature in phones of that era.

Storage and Memory

The device included a dedicated microSD card slot for storage expansion, a crucial feature given the limited internal storage capabilities of phones during that time. This expandability allowed users to store music, photos, and additional applications as needed.

Audio and Multimedia

The Motorola A1200 was equipped with a loudspeaker system and supported vibration alongside downloadable polyphonic and MP3 ringtones. Although it did not feature a 3.5mm audio jack, users could still enjoy music and radio through the device's speaker or Bluetooth headsets.

Battery Life

The A1200 housed a removable Li-Ion 850 mAh battery, identified by its model number BT50. It provided a standby time of up to 200 hours and a talk time of up to 4 hours, which was ample for standard usage patterns at the time. The removable nature of the battery was a practical feature, allowing users to replace it easily if it degraded over time or if a backup was needed for extended use.

Legacy and Impact

Though discontinued, the Motorola A1200 carved a niche for itself in the history of mobile phones. It represents an era of rapid innovation and stands out for its adoption of a touchscreen interface and Linux operating system. Even now, it’s remembered for its distinctive design and the foresight Motorola showed in blending smartphone and PDA functionalities.

The lessons learned from designing and marketing the Motorola A1200 contributed to the development of future smartphones and highlighted the potential of using open-source operating systems in consumer electronics.