Motorola DEXT MB220 > Reviews (3)

In terms of the Motorola Dext's functions and features, it is a definite contender in the world of smartphones. But is it really better than a Blackberry, and is it even capable of dethroning an iPhone?

The short answer is Yes, but lets not be too hasty! Firstly, lets talk about the looks. It's not as pretty or as lightweight as an iPhone, but a strong and durable sliding motion with a metal backing can rival any Blackberry. My one has been dropped several times now and still I can't see a scratch.

The now standard features such as a camera (5mp), video, etc, are all excellent, although there isn't a flash. But it's the smartphone features which really makes the phone stand out.

First of all, there's MotoBlur. This integrates all your social networking sites such as twitter and facebook with your phone, so it's always readily available. The android software is just as brilliant, allowing news feeds and various widgets to be placed around the phone's homepages. Almost everything on the Motorola Dext's screen is customisable.

The android market also offers thousands of apps, most of which are free. Ok, it doesn't yet rival the iphone store, but it is still growing and shouldn't be underestimated.

I would say the best surprise was the integration of all my facebook contacts with my phone book, which was processed automatically. This means that everyone you know has their pictures, statuses, email, birthday and number all under one place. The voice recognition software was also quite remarkable, if not a bit gimmicky.

It's also great value for money. My contract gets me 900 minutes, free sat nav, unlimited texts, 500mb of internet, free Motorola Dext, and all for 30 pounds a month. Ok, the free sat nav isn't great and it does tie you in for 24months, but this deal considerably outweighs any iPhone contract in terms of value. It's also cheaper to insure too.

Overall, the Motorola Dext is an understated, surprising and powerful smartphone, which can defeat any Blackberry. As for the iPhone, I still think it's better, hence why I got one, but it simply can't compete in terms of reputation or brand image. So ultimately it comes down to individual preference. If you're image conscious or materialistic then buy an iPhone, but if you want to cut through the clutter with something that's better in almost every functional way, then the Motorola Dext won't disappoint.