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An Android phone for social butterflies
Pros
- Good QWERTY keyboard
- Reliable call quality
- Interface emphasizes social networking
Cons
- Software can be sluggish and confusing
- Camera lacks flash
- Short battery life
- Keyboard slider feels loose
The Motorola Cliq for T-Mobile is one of a number of new Motorola devices that work with Google's Android operating system. Reviewers point out that the switch to Android represents a risky move for the struggling phone maker, but, as Engadget.com's Chris Ziegler puts it, it's "a gamble Motorola's painfully aware that it needs to take." While the Motorola Cliq uses an aging version of that OS -- Android 1.5 -- that can't be upgraded, it stands out from other Android-based handsets from the manufacturer, like the Motorola Droid (*Est. $150 with contract), by employing the MotoBlur user interface. MotoBlur allows Cliq users to get all their emails and other social networking functions, such as Facebook and Twitter updates, on one screen in real time.
Reviewers are divided on the merits of MotoBlur: some find it confusing and muddled, while others find it useful and convenient. Most agree that it's more attractive to social networking addicts than to average phone users. Call quality and reception are generally praised, though some testers remain unimpressed. The Motorola Cliq gets mixed reviews for its overall design too. Even those reviewers who like the phone's heft admit that the Cliq is unusually bulky and heavy: it measures nearly 5 inches long and more than a half-inch thick and weighs about 6 ounces. At the same time, the screen is relatively small, at 3.1 inches. A number of reviewers say the display looks cramped, and that touch-screen controls can be hard to use. Most like the slide-out QWERTY keyboard, but a few reviewers note that the sliding mechanism is disconcertingly loose.
Though the Cliq boasts a 5-megapixel camera, its performance is hampered by a lack of common features like a flash or self-portrait mirror. Also, reviewers point out that the Cliq's 528 MHz processor is somewhat underpowered, making it generally sluggish across multiple applications. And the MotoBlur interface drains the Cliq's battery relatively quickly, making daily recharges necessary even for casual callers.
The Motorola Cliq gets good coverage from a wide variety of review sources. General-interest tech sites such as CNET and PCMag.com take a look at the phone, and it also gets thorough evaluations from cellphone specialists at InfoSyncWorld.com and MobileBurn.com. Blog-style reviews at sites like Gizmodo.com, Engadget.com, BoyGeniusReport.com and DigitalTrends.com all offer differing, subjective perspectives on the Cliq.
Our Sources
1. CNET
Kent German at CNET gives the Motorola Cliq four stars out of five, the same as the average of the few dozen user comments posted underneath his review. The design is praised, with German calling the Cliq's keyboard one of the best he's seen. But the phone is lacking in other features, such as a flash for its camera, and the MotoBlur user interface can be confusing. German feels call quality isn't the best either.
Review: Motorola Cliq -- Titanium, Kent German, Oct. 14, 2009
2. PCMag.com
The Motorola Cliq earns an Editors' Choice award at PCMag.com, an honor the Motorola Droid shares. Reviewer Lendino calls Motorola's first Android phone a "stellar device for the socially inclined." His only complaints are that the screen could be bigger and some of the widgets were buggy in his tests.
Review: Motorola CLIQ (T-Mobile), Jamie Lendino, Oct. 15, 2009
InfoSyncWorld.com's Philip Berne recommends the Motorola Cliq for social networkers, but mentions a number of problems that will be drawbacks for some. Berne says the Cliq's sliding halves don't fit together well, the camera is troublesome and multimedia playback on the Android OS remains a letdown. Call quality, messaging and web browsing, on the other hand, are all praised.
Review: Motorola Cliq Review, Philip Berne, Oct. 15, 2009
Michael Oryl at MobileBurn.com gives the Motorola Cliq a Highly Recommended designation. For him, the networking and messaging features are a highlight of the phone, plus its well-designed keyboard. While call quality and battery life aren't the best he's seen, Oryl says that both are better than other T-Mobile devices, and reception is good. Oryl finds the camera mediocre, and provides a number of samples taken with the Cliq following his review.
Review: Motorola Cliq Review, Michael Oryl, Oct. 14, 2009
5. Gizmodo.com
Blogger Jason Chen likes the MotoBlur interface on the whole -- there's a list of "nice touches" that far outweighs the bad -- but he notes that the constant updating is a drain on the battery. The keyboard is good, as are other hardware features, with the exception of the slider mechanism.
Review: Motorola Cliq Review, Jason Chen, Oct. 14, 2009
6. Engadget.com
Chris Ziegler concludes that, while the phone is competitive with other Android phones, the Cliq doesn't have enough going for it in the long run. The screen is small, and Ziegler isn't impressed with the keyboard. He finds the Cliq's reception not as good as he'd hoped. Battery life isn't the best either, and Ziegler notes that the battery runs out without warning.
Review: Motorola Cliq Review, Chris Ziegler, Oct. 14, 2009
The reviewer at BoyGeniusReport.com, evaluating a pre-production unit, expresses dismay at the Cliq's software and hopes it's not the final version. Call quality is described as good, but the battery life is very short. Editors aren't impressed with the social networking integration, and find the Cliq's keyboard generally unresponsive.
Review: Motorola Cliq Preview, "Boy Genius", Sept. 25, 2009
The Motorola Cliq gets an Editors' Choice award in this somewhat cursory review. Editor Stewart Wolpin finds the MotoBlur interface takes some time to get used to, but is worth the effort. He reports good battery life, though not on 3G networks, and call audio is close to landline-quality. He also finds the Cliq rather heavy and bulky.
Review: Motorola Cliq, Stewart Wolpin, Oct. 22, 2009