Unveiling Motorola MOTO MT716 Specs Prices Pros & Cons

Overview and Design

The Motorola MOTO MT716 is a distinctive mobile device that was released towards the end of 2010. Featuring a design that integrates both a touchscreen and a physical QWERTY keyboard, it provides a versatile approach to mobile communication. The dimensions of the device are 110 x 59.9 x 17.2 mm, and it weighs 182 grams, making it quite robust for its time. The mini-SIM slot adds to its slightly bulkier form factor given its dual input methods. Its design is primarily aimed at providing both ease of typing and touchscreen navigation.

Display

The Motorola MOTO MT716 comes equipped with a 3.7-inch TFT display. While not the most advanced screen technology by today’s standards, the display provides a resolution of 480 x 854 pixels, achieving a pixel density of approximately 265 ppi. This resolution was decent for its time, rendering images and text with adequate clarity and sharpness for most everyday uses.

Platform and Performance

Powered by a 600 MHz Cortex-A8 processor, the MT716 was built on the TI OMAP 3430 chipset. This configuration was well-suited for handling the basic needs of the Android-based OPhone 2.0 operating system, allowing users to navigate the interface smoothly under most conditions. However, demanding applications or multitasking could strain the performance given the era's hardware limitations. Moreover, the PowerVR SGX530 GPU provided sufficient graphical support for the available applications and gaming at the time, albeit limited compared to contemporary standards.

Memory and Storage

The MT716 was fitted with 512MB of RAM, working in tandem with 512MB of internal storage. While the internal memory might seem limited by today’s standards, it was relatively standard for smartphones at that time. Users could expand their device storage via the dedicated microSDHC slot, allowing for increased capacity which could support media files, apps, and other data storage needs.

Camera Features

The device is equipped with an 8 MP main camera, which includes autofocus and a dual-LED flash. This camera setup enabled users to capture quite detailed images in various lighting conditions. Video recording was possible at 720p@24fps, which was considered good quality during the period of the MT716's release. Additionally, there is a front-facing VGA camera aimed primarily for video calling, a feature just starting to become popular at the time.

Connectivity and Communication

The MOTO MT716 supports GSM technology and can operate on various 2G bands (850/900/1800/1900) and 3G bands (TD-SCDMA). This connectivity allows for decent browsing speeds with support for HSUPA. The phone includes Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, ensuring wireless connectivity in areas with Wi-Fi coverage. Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP provided wireless file sharing and audio streaming capabilities. GPS and A-GPS were available for navigation, which was increasingly utilized for location-based services.

Sound and Multimedia

The device was equipped with a 3.5mm audio jack, offering users the ability to connect any standard headphone or audio device for music and calls. The loudspeaker feature ensured clear audio output for calls and media without requiring headphones. Additionally, the device included a stereo FM radio with RDS, amplifying its multimedia capabilities.

Battery Life

Featuring a removable Li-Po 1380 mAh battery, the MT716 provided fairly sufficient battery life, with the device capable of achieving up to 250 hours of stand-by time, and up to 7 hours of talk time. These measures reflect the energy consumption optimizations inherent in the simpler, less energy-demanding hardware configurations of the time.

Additional Features and Sensors

The phone was equipped with multiple sensors including an accelerometer, proximity sensor, and compass. These sensors added to the interactive nature of the device, enabling responsive and context-aware applications. On the software side, the presence of an HTML browser with Adobe Flash Lite support allowed users to enjoy a broader range of web content than text-only browsers.

Market Position and Conclusion

Marketed at approximately 180 EUR during its release, the MOTO MT716 was positioned as a mid-tier device. It offered a compelling suite of features for professionals and tech enthusiasts interested in a device that integrates traditional and modern input methods. Today, while the MT716 is discontinued and technological advances have far surpassed it, reflecting on such devices provides insight into the mobile evolution during the early 2010s. The combination of hardware and software features provided by Motorola in the MT716 presented a balanced device that catered to both business and personal needs.