Motorola FlipOut Unveiling Specs Price Pros & Cons

Design and Build

The Motorola FlipOut comes in an unconventional square design that sets it apart from the typical rectangular smartphones of its time. With dimensions of 67 x 67 x 17 mm and a weight of 120 g, the device is noticeably compact, almost like carrying a small wallet in your pocket. The build is sturdy, and the materials used give it a slightly premium touch while maintaining its playful and youthful allure.

Display

The FlipOut features a 2.8-inch TFT display with a resolution of 320 x 240 pixels. Although the display might seem small by contemporary standards, it was fairly adequate for its time, providing vibrant colors and reasonable clarity with a density of 143 pixels per inch. This screen, while limited in size, was sufficient for basic smartphone operations, including navigation, messaging, and casual web browsing.

Keyboard

A standout feature of the FlipOut is its physical QWERTY keyboard, which slides out with a distinct snapping mechanism. This keyboard catered to users who preferred tactile feedback over touchscreen typing, offering a more traditional text input method. Despite the device's small size, the keys were designed to maximize usability, allowing for relatively comfortable typing.

Platform and Performance

Running on Android 2.1 Eclair, the Motorola FlipOut is powered by a 600 MHz Cortex-A8 CPU from the TI OMAP 3410 chipset, complemented by the PowerVR SGX530 GPU. This hardware provided a moderate performance level for its time, enabling multitasking and supporting a wide array of applications available on Android’s then-burgeoning app store. While it wasn't the most powerful device on the market, it was capable of handling day-to-day tasks efficiently.

Memory and Storage

Outfitted with 512MB of RAM and 512MB of internal storage, the FlipOut offered expandable storage via a dedicated microSDHC slot, with a 2 GB card included. This feature was quite useful for users needing additional space for media files and apps, considering the limited flash storage that came built-in. Memory management was adequate for the applications and multimedia of its time, though heavy users might find it necessary to expand the capability with an external card.

Camera Capabilities

The device sports a 3.15 MP rear camera capable of capturing still photos and video recording at CIF@26-30fps. While camera performance was not its selling point, the FlipOut did provide a basic level of functionality for casual photography and video recording, suitable for sharing quick snapshots on social media platforms.

Network and Connectivity

The FlipOut supports GSM/HSPA technology, with 2G and 3G network bands ensuring adequate connectivity in various regions. The internet speeds, at HSPA 7.2/2 Mbps, were sufficient for browsing and streaming services available at the time. For local connectivity, it includes Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP, GPS with A-GPS, and a USB 2.0 port, delivering a comprehensive suite of connectivity options for users.

Battery Life

Equipped with a removable 1130 mAh Li-Ion battery, the FlipOut offered up to 365 hours of standby time on 2G and about 380 hours on 3G, while providing talk time of up to 6 hours on 2G and 4.5 hours on 3G. This ensured users a decent battery life, aligning well with the typical usage patterns at its release time. The removable nature of the battery also allowed for easy replacement, enhancing its longevity.

Sound and Multimedia

The device incorporates a loudspeaker and a 3.5mm headphone jack, providing standard sound output functionality. It was also equipped with a stereo FM radio with RDS, adding to its multimedia capabilities. While the speaker quality was average, it sufficed for clear voice calls and listening to music or the radio.

Sensors and Additional Features

The FlipOut included essential sensors such as an accelerometer, proximity sensor, and compass, enabling basic interaction enhancements and user convenience. The device’s browser supported WAP 2.0/xHTML and HTML, making mobile internet browsing possible, albeit with limitations given the era’s technological constraints.

Colors and Aesthetic Appeal

The FlipOut came in a variety of colors, including White, Fairway Green, Poppy Red, Raspberry Crush, Brilliant Blue, Licorice, and Saffron. This wide array allowed users to pick a device that best suited their personality and style preferences, contributing to its appeal among younger demographics.

Market Position and Legacy

Announced and released in June 2010, the Motorola FlipOut was designed to cater to a niche market segment that valued unique design and physical keyboards. Despite being discontinued, its legacy is remembered fondly by many as a novel experiment in mobile design during an era of rapidly evolving smartphone technologies.

Conclusion

In retrospect, the Motorola FlipOut may not have brought groundbreaking innovations in terms of technology, but it certainly captured attention with its distinctive concept and colorful approach. It served as a reminder that diversity in design can coexist with functionality, offering an intriguing alternative to the norm that, while not universally appealing, certainly had its fans.