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Prepaid flip phone with push-to-talk functionality
- Compact design
- Good call quality
- VGA camera
- Push-to-talk support
- Low volume level
- Slow and limited network connectivity
- Camera quality is mediocre
- Clunky navigation interface
The Motorola i776 is one of two flip phones available in Boost Mobile's prepaid lineup. While it shares a clamshell design like the high-end Motorola Stature i9 (*est. 250), the i776 is no rival for the Stature i9's sleek features and multimedia functionality. At the same time, the i776 is a step up from Boost's candy bar phones, with the addition of a VGA camera separating it from the pack. However, the one feature that sets the i776 apart is also its greatest liability, as experts and users unanimously agree the camera is less than stellar, with no flash, self-portrait mirror or video capture capabilities. As Kent German of CNET cautions, "don't buy the i776 for its camera." The i776 is otherwise considered a well-built, compact phone with great call quality and nice features. The i776w model is different only in color - it's purple and white, while the i776 is brown with metallic tones.
Size-wise, the i776 is more pocket-friendly than the Stature i9, although it does have an external stub antenna. At 3.4 inches by 1.8 inches by 0.8 inches, it is about three-fourths an inch shorter and a quarter-inch narrower but slightly thicker, and it is lighter by more than half an ounce. Its 128-by-160-pixel display is no match for the Stature i9's gorgeous 320-by-240-pixel screen, yet it bests the standard 130-by-130-pixel size of the candy bar devices. The keypad and controls are roomy with flush keys and predictive text entry. On the communication front, call quality is a strong point, although German notes that the volume level is low. Push-to-talk capability is standard as with other Boost handsets, supported by the older iDEN network. Besides being slower than the high-speed 3G network for data transfers, the iDEN network coverage does not extend to rural areas, and some users complain about poor reception as well as dropped or fading calls.
The Motorola i776 also features a voice-activated speakerphone, 2.5 mm headphone jack, Bluetooth, GPS, text and multimedia messaging, a 600-entry phone book and about 6 MB of shared internal memory. As is the norm with Boost devices, experts and users say the i776 suffers from a clunky navigation interface and limited WAP browser for downloading games, wallpaper and ringtones. Yet even with these limitations, the i766 still delivers the goods for anyone wanting a reliable, pocket-sized walkie-talkie flip phone.
With the exception of CNET, major cell phone review sources have yet to test and evaluate the Motorola i776. Rounding out our sources are user reviews from CNET and PhoneScoop.com, which can sometimes help to reveal common experiences with extended use that professional reviewers can miss.
Our Sources
1. CNET
German says the Motorola i776 offers satisfying call quality with push-to-talk features in a compact, easy-to-use design. He cautions, however, not to buy the phone for its camera, which lacks a flash or self-portrait mode.
Review: Motorola i776 -- Silver (Sprint), Kent German, Dec. 3, 2008
2. CNET
Nearly a dozen users agree that the i776 is a sleek, rugged and user-friendly flip phone with great call quality and the added benefit of push to talk. They are equally unanimous in noting the poor camera quality and painful navigation.
Review: Motorola i776 -- Silver (Sprint), Contributors to CNET
While only a few users post comments about their experience with the Motorola i776, they unanimously agree that the phone is well-built, compact and practical with great call quality. Drawbacks include its dated iDEN network support, mediocre camera with grainy photos, and laborious user interface.
Review: Motorola i776
