Unveiling the Motorola XT701 Specs Pricing & Insights

Introduction to the Motorola XT701

The Motorola XT701, a smartphone released in May 2010, is a combination of innovative design and noteworthy technological features for its time. Though the device has been discontinued, its specs still provide a substantial understanding of the early days of Android smartphones, offering insights to enthusiasts and tech historians alike.

Network Capabilities

The XT701 supports both GSM and HSPA technologies, making it versatile in terms of connectivity options available during its release period. For 2G bands, it supports GSM 850, 900, 1800, and 1900. In terms of 3G connectivity, the device supports HSDPA on the 850, 1900, and 2100 bands, and its speed reaches up to 10.2 Mbps for download and 5.76 Mbps for upload. This connectivity underscores a reasonably swift internet browsing, email exchange, and essential online activities that were prevalent at that time.

Design and Build

The Motorola XT701 boasts dimensions of 116 x 60.9 x 10.9 mm, which allowed for a slim profile by the era standards. Its weight of 140 grams ensures it was reasonably comfortable to hold and use as a daily driver. The device supports a Mini-SIM, a standard in those days before the widespread adoption of the micro and nano SIM formats. Its overall design maintains a functionality-oriented aesthetic, which was typical of early smartphones.

Display Features

The XT701 is equipped with a 3.7-inch TFT display, which offers a resolution of 480 x 854 pixels translating to a pixel density of approximately 265 pixels per inch. This pixel density ensured that the visuals were clear and crisp, allowing users to enjoy multimedia content and perform tasks with relative ease. However, the screen-to-body ratio was about 53.4%, indicating that there was a significant bezel surrounding the screen, a common trait in phones from this period.

Hardware and Performance

The device is powered by a TI OMAP 3430 chipset and a 600 MHz Cortex-A8 CPU. Coupled with the PowerVR SGX530 GPU, this combination facilitated basic smartphone functionalities such as web browsing, media playback, and running early Android applications. With 512MB of internal storage, expandable via a microSDHC slot, and 256MB RAM, the phone provided users with essential memory options for storing files and apps, though multitasking was somewhat limited by today's standards.

Camera Capabilities

The rear camera of the XT701 is a single 5 MP sensor with autofocus capabilities, complemented by a xenon flash, which was relatively advanced for its time, especially in low-light conditions. It supported video recording at 480p@24fps, allowing users to capture moments with decent quality for the era. However, the device lacked a front-facing camera, a feature that was yet to become the norm.

Sound and Audio Options

This smartphone supports stereo speakers, providing high-quality sound output for calls and media playback. It also includes a 3.5mm audio jack, allowing users to connect traditional headphones and external audio devices effortlessly. The presence of a stereo FM radio with RDS further enhanced its media capabilities, catering to users' entertainment needs without additional data costs.

Connectivity and Communication

In terms of connectivity, the XT701 includes Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g for internet access through wireless networks and Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP for wireless sharing of media and files. For navigation, it supports GPS and A-GPS, ensuring reliable positioning services. A microUSB 2.0 port is provided for charging and data transfer, which was a common standard at the time.

Software and Sensors

The phone operates on Android OS version 2.0 (Eclair), an early version of Android that laid the foundation for the OS's future developments. It includes basic sensors such as an accelerometer, proximity sensor, and a compass, which enhance the user experience through features like screen auto-rotation and navigation applications. The browser supports HTML browsing, allowing users access to a wide range of websites on the go.

Battery Life

The device is powered by a removable Li-Po 1420 mAh battery, with an expected standby time of up to 300 hours and talk time of around 4.5 hours. While it might seem limited compared to modern standards, this battery performance was relatively typical for smartphones at the time, bearing in mind the less demanding hardware and software requirements.

Miscellaneous Features and Pricing

Originally available in black, the Motorola XT701 maintained a classic, sleek appearance. The specific absorption rate (SAR) for the device measures 1.02 W/kg for the head and 1.23 W/kg for the body, aligning with safety norms. At the time of its release, the phone was priced at approximately 230 EUR, positioning it as a mid-range smartphone offering.

Conclusion

Though now discontinued, the Motorola XT701 stands out as an essential model that captured the spirit of early smartphone evolution. With its robust camera for its time, basic multimedia capabilities, and core Android features, it paved the way for future advancements in the sector. This device is an insightful look into the past for technology aficionados and serves as a benchmark for assessing the course of smartphone development over the past decade.