Motorola Atrix 4G Review - First Look - Hands on Experience of the World's Most Powerful Smartphone from CES 2011!

Motorola Atrix 4G Review - First Look - Hands on Experience of the World's Most Powerful Smartphone from CES 2011!
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Motorola has made quite the comeback with smartphones with the introduction of the Motorola Droid 2 Global and Motorola Droid Pro. Motorola continued the trend as the Motorola Atrix 4G was the breakout smartphone from Motorola at the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show. Breaking ground in January, the Motorola Atrix 4G is the 4G smartphone that is set to break the mold. The Motorola Atrix 4G is set to debut on AT&T’s network in 2011 and is among the first wave of 4G phones on AT&T. The Motorola Atrix 4G features a dock that will allow you to connect to a laptop and another dock to allow you to connect to HD devices. Deemed as the “world’s most powerful smartphone”, the Motorola Atrix 4G is definitely shaped to be game changer.

Motorola Atrix 4G Specifications:

  • Dimensions: 4.64 x 2.50 x 0.43 inches (117.75 x 63.5 x 10.95 mm)
  • Weight: 4.76 oz (135 g)
  • Display: 4.0 inch capacitive touchscreen display, 960 by 540 pixels
  • Memory: 16 GB + 32 GB MicroSD
  • OS: Android OS 2.2
  • Processor: Nvidia Tegra 2 dual-core processor each running 1 GHz
  • Camera: 5 megapixel camera, front facing VGA camera
  • Connectivity: GSM 850, 900, 1800, 1900 / UMTS 850, 1900, 2100
  • Data: EDGE, HSPA+
  • Bluetooth: Bluetooth 2.1, Stereo Bluetooth
  • GPS: GPS with A-GPS
  • Battery: Li-Ion 1930 mAh

Design and Display (4 out of 5)

Motorola Atrix 4G Review

The Motorola Atrix 4G has a familiar candy bar design, dominated by a 4 inch capacitive touchscreen display, running qHD resolution. That means the resolution on the Motorola Atrix 4G is 960 by 540 pixels. The images come out beautifully and the viewing angle is decent, though Samsung’s Super AMOLED Plus screen does have a slightly larger viewing angle. Above the beautiful 4 inch display is a front facing camera for video chatting.

Below the 4 inch display are the familiar 4 Android shortcut keys for menu, home, back and search. Along the left edge resides the microUSB and micro HDMI slot. On the other side resides the volume rocker, and disappointingly no camera key. Along the top of the Motorola Atrix 4G is the 3.5 mm headphone jack and power / lock key. The power / lock key also acts a fingerprint sensor, the first of its kind for an Android smartphone. Rounding out the back of the phone is the 5 megapixel camera with dual LED flash.

Overall the Motorola Atrix 4G is well designed and feels sturdy in hand. The 4 inch touchscreen display is vibrant and offers a decent viewing angle.

Hardware and Software (5 out of 5)

The hardware and software is where the Motorola Atrix 4G really shines above the competition. Currently the Atrix is set to have dual core processors, and is preloaded with Android 2.2 (Froyo), along with Motorola’s proprietary overlay, MotoBLUR. The Motorola Atrix 4G is also equipped with one of the largest batteries to be found on a smartphone, a 1930 mAh battery. It will be interesting to see how long the Atrix 4G will run for with the dual core processors. Overall the Motorola Atrix 4G, as it was advertised at CES 2011, has the hardware and software to be called the “world’s most powerful smartphone.”

User Interface (5 out of 5)

The Motorola Atrix 4G has the familiar Android interface along with their proprietary MotoBLUR additions. Similar to the recently released Motorola Cliq 2, and Motorola Droid Pro, this version of MotoBLUR is actually much less intrusive. As it is a touchscreen interface, it’s very easy to learn and pick up for new users, and for older users there’s very little need to get used to the interface. The response time is faster thanks to the dual core processors.

The biggest difference that the Motorola Atrix 4G brings is the fact that it can practically change into a Linux powered laptop that can run Flash and Firefox. The laptop dock literally changes the smartphone into a laptop that can be used just like a regular computer. It boots up extremely fast and adds another layer of usability. Also, while using the computer, the dock actually charges the Atrix 4G, meaning that once you’re finished with your session, you’re not left with a dead smartphone.

The HD dock is also another amazing addition to usability. Simply use the HD dock to connect the Motorola Atrix 4G to an HD device. The interface loads to a different screen, allowing you to play music, view files and use the Atrix 4G on your HD device, such as an HD monitor or HDTV.

Overall the user interface on the Motorola Atrix 4G, is an amazing experience and really takes smartphones to a whole new level of usability.

Features (5 out of 5)

The Motorola Atrix 4G is loaded with features never before seen with an Android powered

Motorola Atrix 4G - Connect to Laptop!

handset, in addition to the usual features of Android. It comes with navigational apps, media players, games and of course the Android Market, allowing you access to over 100,000+ more applications and games. Like the newer released Motorola phones such as the Motorola Droid Pro, the Motorola Atrix 4G also has remote wipe capabilities. It was briefly touched upon, but the power / lock button is actually a fingerprint scanner. This means you no longer need a digit pincode or a secret puzzle to solve, simply swipe your finger and the phone wakes up. It will be interesting to see how well it works in public.

The biggest feature is of course the Motorola Atrix 4G’s ability to dock into different pods and expand upon its abilities. The extremely light and thin Motorola laptop boots quickly and the connection to the Atrix works well. It actually works extremely well for travelers, simply pack your extremely light and thin laptop and carry your information in your smartphone. The laptop dock also acts as a recharge station. The HD dock is also a great addition, you can watch your videos on a TV, and for travelers staying at a hotel, it’s a great way to bring your media station. Overall the features, once again, show that the Motorola Atrix 4G is the “world’s most powerful smartphone”, at least for now.

The Final Verdict (5 out of 5)

The Motorola Atrix 4G is shaping up to be a revolutionary smartphone and is definitely an ‘Excellent’ rated smartphone. Though no official dates have been announced of its release or pricing, it is rumored to be released on March 1. From the hands on experience at the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show, the Motorola Atrix 4G has shown that it is a beast of a phone with some extremely unique features. It seems the highly competitive U.S. smartphone market has just been met with another new powerful addition.