Unfolding the Motorola BACKFLIP Specs Pricing Pros & Cons

Introduction to Motorola BACKFLIP

The Motorola BACKFLIP, launched in 2010, was a unique and innovative smartphone that set itself apart from its contemporaries with a distinctive design and feature set. Despite its eventual discontinuation, the BACKFLIP represented an early attempt by Motorola to stand out in the rapidly evolving smartphone market.

Design and Build

The BACKFLIP was named for its signature design element: a reverse-flip QWERTY keyboard. The device measured 108 x 53 x 15.3 mm and weighed 133 grams, making it compact and relatively portable. Its design was striking, featuring a keyboard that flipped backward and wrapped around the device when not in use, revealing a 3.1-inch TFT display with 256K colors, protected by Corning Gorilla Glass. This screen had a resolution of 320 x 480 pixels, providing a pixel density of approximately 186 ppi.

Hardware Specifications

Under the hood, the BACKFLIP was powered by a Qualcomm MSM7201A chipset with a 528 MHz ARM 11 CPU and Adreno 130 GPU. Despite being considered mid-range even during its release, these specs allowed for sufficient performance for most basic smartphone tasks at the time. The device featured 512MB of internal storage and 256MB of RAM, which could be expanded using a microSDHC card, with a 2 GB card included.

Operating System and User Interface

The Motorola BACKFLIP was initially released with Android 1.5 (Cupcake) but was upgradable to Android 2.1 (Eclair) in the USA. The device featured Motoblur, Motorola’s customized user interface, which emphasized social media integration, allowing users to easily stay updated with their social networks.

Camera and Multimedia

The BACKFLIP was equipped with a 5 MP rear camera featuring autofocus and an LED flash, capable of shooting video at CIF quality at 30fps. Though the camera performance was modest by today’s standards, it was quite competitive at the time of release. For audio, the device had stereo loudspeakers and a 3.5mm headphone jack, providing users with flexible listening options.

Connectivity

Connectivity features on the BACKFLIP included Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP, and GPS with A-GPS for navigation. The device did not come with a radio but included a microUSB 2.0 port for charging and data transfer. This suite of connectivity options was standard for smartphones of its time.

Battery Life

The device was powered by a removable Li-Ion 1400 mAh battery, which provided up to 315 hours of standby time and up to 6 hours of talk time. While these figures might seem modest by today's standards, they were typical for devices of that era.

Network and Communication

The BACKFLIP supported GSM and HSPA technology, covering a wide range of 2G and 3G bands, making it a versatile option for global travelers. Internet speeds could reach up to HSDPA 7.2 Mbps, providing better browsing speeds compared to earlier devices.

Additional Features

The phone was equipped with several sensors, including an accelerometer, proximity sensor, and compass, adding to the phone’s usability and functionality. The addition of HTML browsing meant users could enjoy a more complete web experience compared to non-smartphone devices.

Pricing and Availability

At launch, the Motorola BACKFLIP was priced at approximately 150 EUR, making it a competitive option within the mid-range smartphone market segment. However, the phone was eventually discontinued, marking an end to its production and availability.

Conclusion

Despite its discontinuation, the Motorola BACKFLIP remains a noteworthy device in the history of mobile phones due to its unique design and early adoption of Android OS. It showcased innovation with its reverse-flip keyboard and highlighted Motorola's efforts to distinguish itself in a fast-paced industry. While not without its limitations, the BACKFLIP laid groundwork for future advancements in mobile device design and functionality.