Unveiling the Motorola Milestone XT883 Specs Pricing & ProsCons

Overview

The Motorola Milestone XT883 was a formidable Android smartphone launched in mid-2011. It garnered attention due to its robust feature set, enhanced multimedia capabilities, and a physical QWERTY keyboard that appealed to users who preferred tactile feedback while typing. The device was announced in June 2011 and released in the third quarter of the same year before it was eventually discontinued. Despite its discontinuation, the Milestone XT883 remains a symbol of Motorola's commitment to innovation during the early 2010s.

Network and Connectivity

The Motorola Milestone XT883 boasted comprehensive connectivity options. It supported GSM and CDMA networks, making it versatile in terms of network compatibility. The phone operated on 2G GSM bands 850, 900, 1800, and 1900; 3G HSDPA bands 850, 1900, and 2100. Its data speeds were commendable at the time, offering HSPA and EV-DO Rev.A up to 3.1 Mbps, which catered well to both multimedia downloads and browsing needs.

Design and Build

Physically, the Milestone XT883 was defined by its dimensions of 123.3 x 64.1 x 12.9 mm and a weight of 184 grams, making it a solid yet portable device. The inclusion of a side-sliding full QWERTY keyboard was a distinctive feature, providing users with an alternative to the touchscreen for typing. The device used a Mini-SIM and came in a classic black color, exuding a professional and understated aesthetic.

Display

The smartphone featured a 4.0-inch TFT display with a resolution of 540 x 960 pixels, achieving a pixel density of approximately 275 ppi. This provided vibrant visuals and decent clarity for multimedia consumption, from viewing images to watching videos.

Platform and Performance

Running on Android 2.3 (Gingerbread), the Motorola Milestone XT883 was powered by the TI OMAP 4430 chipset. Its dual-core 1.0 GHz Cortex-A9 processor combined with the PowerVR SGX540 GPU facilitated smooth operation for a majority of applications available at the time. The phone also came with 512MB of RAM, which was quite standard for devices during that era.

Storage

The device included 16GB of internal storage, providing ample space for applications, photos, and videos. Moreover, the presence of a dedicated microSDHC card slot allowed for storage expansion, which was a crucial feature for users who required additional storage for their data-intensive usage.

Camera

The Milestone XT883 was equipped with a capable 8 MP autofocus rear camera, complete with an LED flash to assist in low light conditions. It offered video recording capabilities of 1080p at 30 fps, ensuring high-quality video capture. While it had a VGA front camera, which offered basic functionality for selfies and video calls, it was a secondary aspect compared to the rear setup.

Audio and Multimedia

The phone came with a built-in loudspeaker and a 3.5mm headphone jack, which was standard for phones of that era, offering flexibility for audio consumption whether via wired earphones or the external speaker.

Communication Features

For wireless connectivity, the device supported Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g and could function as a mobile hotspot. Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP and EDR allowed for easy pairing with other devices, such as wireless headphones or in-car systems. The GPS module supported by A-GPS enabled efficient navigation, enhancing the phone's utility as a travel companion.

Sensors and Additional Features

The Milestone XT883 was embedded with an array of sensors including an accelerometer, proximity sensor, and compass. These sensors facilitated a variety of applications ranging from gaming to navigation and screen orientation adjustments.

Battery Life

Powered by a removable Li-Ion 1500 mAh battery, the device offered a standby time of up to 165 hours and a talk time of up to 4 hours and 40 minutes. While the battery capacity might not seem impressive by contemporary standards, it provided adequate longevity for the operations of smartphones back in its era.

Market and Reception

Upon release, the Motorola Milestone XT883 was priced at approximately 230 EUR, a competitive pricing for its feature set. The physical keyboard, robust network capabilities, and the overall responsive performance were often highlighted in positive reviews. However, as the smartphone market evolved with devices offering larger screens, more powerful hardware, and newer software versions, the Milestone XT883 gradually phased out, giving way to newer models with advanced specifications.

Legacy

Motorola's Milestone XT883 remains noteworthy for its attempt to blend modern smartphone functionalities with traditional design elements like the physical keyboard. As smartphone trends have drastically shifted towards virtual interfaces and larger screen real estate, the XT883 stands as a testament to a time when phones were trying to bridge the gap between old and new forms of interaction. Even though it is now discontinued, it still holds a place in the history of mobile phone development.