Overview of Motorola BRAVO MB520
The Motorola BRAVO MB520 is a smartphone that was introduced in late 2010. It aimed to provide a balance between performance and cost, offering features that met the basic needs of users at the time. This phone is particularly notable for its time due to its integration of Android OS and functional design.
Design and Build
The BRAVO MB520 comes with dimensions of 109.5 x 63 x 13.3 mm, weighing 122 grams. The compact design was appreciated by users who preferred smaller devices. The phone is built with a classic candy bar style and has a robust yet sleek black finish. Its solid construction gives it a sturdy feel without compromising on aesthetics. The use of mini-SIM was quite common at the time of its release.
Display
The smartphone sports a 3.7-inch TFT display with a resolution of 480 x 854 pixels. The display has a 16:9 ratio and a density of approximately 265 ppi, which was decent for multimedia consumption at that time. The screen occupies about 54.7% of the front surface of the phone, providing a tangible viewing area for videos and applications.
Performance and Hardware
Under the hood, the BRAVO MB520 is powered by the TI OMAP 3610 chipset, featuring an 800 MHz Cortex-A8 CPU and a PowerVR SGX530 GPU. This combination ensures that the device could handle basic applications and functions smoothly. For storage, it comes with 2GB of internal storage and 512MB of RAM. Additionally, it supports microSDHC cards, which was a staple feature for extending storage.
Camera
The device is equipped with a single 3.15 MP rear camera. While modest by today’s standards, it was adequate for casual photography in well-lit environments. The BRAVO MB520 can record video at CIF resolution at 30fps. However, it lacks a front-facing camera, which was not uncommon for smartphones from this period.
Battery Life
The smartphone is powered by a removable Li-Ion 1540 mAh battery. This capacity allows for stand-by time of up to 240 hours and a talk time of approximately 6 hours and 50 minutes. These figures reflect a reasonable battery life for a device of its era, enabling a full day of moderate use on a single charge.
Connectivity
In terms of connectivity, the BRAVO MB520 supports Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n with DLNA, Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP, GPS, and A-GPS for navigation. It also features a stereo FM radio with RDS and a microUSB 2.0 port for charging and data transfer. The phone was versatile enough to handle basic connectivity needs effectively, including GSM and HSPA network technologies.
Software
Motorola BRAVO MB520 originally ran on Android 2.1 (Eclair) but was upgradable to Android 2.2 (Froyo). This allowed users access to an extensive library of applications through the Android Market. The presence of HTML and Adobe Flash Lite support in the browser made it capable of accessing multimedia content on the web.
Additional Features
The phone is equipped with sensors such as an accelerometer, proximity sensor, and compass, enhancing user interaction with supported applications. The device includes a 3.5mm headphone jack, providing users with an easy way to connect their headphones for music and calls alike.
Market Position and Conclusion
At its launch, the Motorola BRAVO MB520 was priced at approximately 150 EUR, situating it in the mid-range sector of the smartphone market. It catered to users who required a solid, reliable device for basic smartphone tasks without the premium price tag of high-end models. Although discontinued, it remains a part of Motorola's rich history of mobile device development.
In retrospect, the Motorola BRAVO MB520 is remembered for its practicality and reliability, attributes that resonated well with its audience at the time. Its journey from inception to discontinuation reflects a significant phase in the evolution of smartphones, particularly in making Android more accessible to a broader audience.
Key Features of Motorola BRAVO MB520
- Supports GSM / HSPA technology with 2G and 3G bands.
- 3.7-inch TFT display with 480 x 854 pixels resolution, offering a ~265 ppi density.
- Powered by Android 2.1 (Eclair), upgradeable to 2.2 (Froyo).
- Equipped with a TI OMAP 3610 chipset and 800 MHz Cortex-A8 CPU.
- 3.15 MP main camera with autofocus and CIF@30fps video recording.
- Expandable storage with a microSDHC card slot, 2 GB included.
- Connectivity features include Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, DLNA, Bluetooth 2.1, and GPS.
- Includes a removable 1540 mAh battery, providing stand-by time up to 240 hours.
- Lightweight design with a weight of 122 g and dimensions of 109.5 x 63 x 13.3 mm.
- FM radio with RDS and 3.5mm audio jack for enhanced audio experience.
- Equipped with sensors: Accelerometer, proximity, and compass.
Motorola BRAVO MB520 Drawbacks
- Limited network compatibility with only GSM/HSPA technologies, lacking 4G and 5G support.
- Uses an outdated Android 2.1 (Eclair) operating system, with an upgrade only available to 2.2 (Froyo).
- Low processing power with an 800 MHz Cortex-A8 CPU.
- Limited internal storage of 2GB and only 512MB RAM may impact performance and app usage.
- Basic camera capabilities with a single 3.15 MP main camera and no front-facing selfie camera.
- Low-resolution video recording at CIF@30fps.
- Small battery capacity of 1540 mAh, which may fall short in providing sufficient usage time.
- Comparatively heavy SAR rating, particularly 1.59 W/kg (head).
- Discontinued model, limiting support and service options.
- Relatively low screen-to-body ratio of approximately 54.7%.
