Motorola CHARM Specs Pricing Pros & Cons Unveiled

Network Capabilities

The Motorola CHARM was designed to operate within GSM and HSPA network technologies, offering a reliable mobile experience for users. It covered a wide range of 2G bands including GSM 850, 900, 1800, and 1900, ensuring it could be used in various geographical areas around the globe. For 3G, it supported HSDPA bands 1700 and 2100, providing faster internet speeds and improved connectivity for users. The device offered HSPA speeds up to 3.6/2 Mbps, which was fairly competitive at the time of its release.

Launch Details

The Motorola CHARM was officially announced in July 2010 and subsequently released in August of the same year. Its production was eventually discontinued, making it a sought-after collectible for many mobile technology enthusiasts. During its active years, it was considered a pioneering device with practical features tailored to the evolving demands of mobile users.

Design and Body

This device featured a compact design with dimensions of 98.4 x 67.2 x 11.4 mm and a weight of just 110 grams, making it highly portable and comfortable to carry. The body housed a QWERTY keyboard, a feature particularly designed for users comfortable with physical keys over touchscreen input. This design choice was well-received by individuals who frequently texted or sent emails. The CHARM used a Mini-SIM and had a classic, reliable design that appealed to a wide range of personal preferences.

Display Characteristics

The Motorola CHARM came with a 2.8-inch TFT display, which supported 256 thousand colors, providing a vibrant viewing experience. The resolution was set at 320 x 240 pixels with a 4:3 display ratio and a pixel density of approximately 143 ppi, which was adequate for viewing photos, browsing the web, and reading texts. Importantly, the screen was protected with Corning Gorilla Glass, offering robust protection against scratches and fall damage, further enhancing the device's durability.

Platform and Performance

Running on Android 2.1 Eclair, the CHARM was backed by the TI OMAP 3410 chipset. The hardware comprised a 600 MHz Cortex-A8 CPU and a PowerVR SGX530 GPU, ensuring smooth performance for most applications available at the time. While it may not compare to modern smartphone processing capabilities, these specifications were quite standard and effective for the intended functionality, including basic gaming, browsing, and multimedia consumption.

Memory and Storage

The device offered 512 MB of RAM, which met the demands of running multiple applications with reasonable efficiency. The internal storage also capped at 512 MB, but it came with a microSDHC slot, allowing expansion and accommodating more user data, applications, and media. This expandability was a critical feature that appealed to users needing more storage flexibility.

Camera Details

Equipped with a 3.15 MP main camera, the Motorola CHARM could capture decent photographs and video clips at 24fps. Although it might not cater to modern standards, for the period, it was a functional camera adequate for casual photography and social media sharing. The absence of a dedicated selfie camera was typical at that time, as front-facing cameras were not yet a universal feature.

Audio and Connectivity

The Motorola CHARM included a loudspeaker and a 3.5mm headphone jack, providing versatility in audio options for users who preferred listening to music or radio on the go. Connectivity options featured comprehensive wireless capabilities with Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP, and microUSB 2.0. Additionally, the device had GPS and A-GPS support, enhancing its navigation functionalities. It also had stereo FM radio with RDS, a popular feature allowing users access to broadcasted content.

Battery and Power Management

This model included a removable Li-Ion 1130 mAh battery, allowing users to replace it when needed easily. The battery life offered up to 267 hours of standby time in 2G and up to 334 hours in 3G, with talk times of up to 6 hours 45 minutes and 5 hours, respectively. This ensured the device could last through the day under moderate use, which was sufficient for many users.

Additional Features

Standard sensors like the accelerometer, proximity sensor, and compass enhanced the device's capability to run various applications efficiently. It also supported HTML browsing, allowing users access to a simplified internet experience on-the-go.

Miscellaneous

The CHARM was available in two attractive colors: Golden Bronze and Cabernet. Its SAR values were reported to be 1.43 W/kg for the head and 1.53 W/kg for the body. At the time of release, it was priced at approximately 150 EUR, positioning it as an affordable option within its segment.