Modu 1 Review: Design and User Interface of the World's Smallest Phone

Modu 1 Review: Design and User Interface of the World's Smallest Phone
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Modu 1

The Modu 1 is getting a lot of publicity these days for being the lightest, smallest mobile phone in the world. The phone is named from “modular” as a way for the Israeli manufacturer to emphasize the functionality, capabilities and lightweight construction of the Modu 1.

Design (5 out of 5)

Modu 1

The Modu 1, or simply the Modu, is most popular for its small construction. The Guinness Book of World Records in fact has stated that it is the record holder in terms of weight and size, all the more adding hype to what is considered the smallest mobile phone ever made.

The device is basically the size of a credit card. It measures 72 mm in length, 37.6 mm in width and 7.8 mm thick. The Modu is very lightweight having a weight of 43 grams- which already includes the battery, casing, and jacket. The compact nature of the Modu means it can be slipped in to almost any bag or pocket. Its OLED screen is measured at 1.3 inches diagonally.

While the Modu is very small, it can also be very stylish. Different companies such as Universal Music are now in the process of making modu jackets for the Modu to transform it into a more stylish and dynamic looking phone. Given the compact form and simplicity of the phone, initial reviews indicate that companies are finding it easier to produce more sophisticated jackets that will give a unique and interesting appearance to a Modu device. These Modu jackets can even provide additional features to the Modu such as MP4 players and cameras.

User Interface (4 out of 5)

The Modu has a keypad featuring 7 keys that perform numerous functions. In making a call, users simply have to press on the Green key that will result in the display of the virtual numeric keypad. Navigation between the numbers is done using various keys such as left, right, down and up. When composing text messages, users have to select Messages from the home screen and then choose Type message. The center key is tapped to display the virtual keypad, with the Red key or clear key for erasing a letter. The Green Key is used as the “Okay” button for sending the message.

One of the primary concerns about the tiny size of the Modu is the difficulty in navigating the phone. While the minimalist look of the 7-key keypad is great, users may have to get used to working with the virtual keyboard.

Features (4 out of 5)

Modu 1

The Modu may be the smallest but it is rich in features. In has Bluetooth 1.2 connectivity as well as a micro USB connection for charging and syncing with a computer. It supports T9 predictive text in text messaging while for multimedia messaging, it is capable of supporting images in various formats such as JPEG, GIF, BMP, PNG, and WBMP. Its music player also supports MP3 and MIDI files. Voice call features integrated hands free speaker, speed dialing and listing for missed, received calls and dialed numbers.

The phone can also be synchronized with Microsoft Outlook for backing up phone and media files. It also has a phone book, alarm clock, calendar, and picture gallery.

The Modu does not have a camera, although its night Modu jacket has a 3.2 megapixel camera with LED flash. The sports jacket meanwhile comes with a pedometer. The phone also has an internal memory of 2GB.

Performance (4 out of 5)

The Modu won’t disappoint in terms of performance either despite its features clearly paling in comparison with other modern handsets packed with high megapixel cameras, GPS devices and high definition video recording.

Call quality using the phone is excellent although users will have to get used to handling the phone and placing it near their ears, given the tiny size of the device. It can play good quality audio thanks to its MP3 file support, while the images displayed on the screen are pretty impressive as well. The 2GB onboard storage is quite large compared to what many mobile phone experts had anticipated. The micro USB connector and Bluetooth connectivity also make it easier to transfer files to the computer.

Verdict (4 out of 5)

Essentially, the Modu is a basic phone which happens to be in a very small frame. The phone gets an upgrade in terms of functionality when attached with the Modu jacket, giving the Modu more features like MP4 players, cameras, and digital photo frames. Expect more manufacturers to come up with more innovative Modu jackets in case the Modu hits it big in the market.

The Modu should appeal to those who want a really compact and lightweight mobile phone. It does have a good number of features that should appeal to most mobile phone users, but for those who prefer more advanced functions, the Modu may not be the most ideal or recommended of handsets.