Read This Review From Someone In The Industry!
Written: Oct 12 '03 (Updated Oct 12 '03)
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Pros: Styling, Battery Life, Features, Price
Cons: Earpiece Volume Low Compared To Other Models, Relatively Small Display
The Bottom Line: Affordable Handset That Offers A Wide Feature Set Along With Durability And Attractive Styling. One Of The Best In Its Price Range.
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| jonwes's Full Review: Motorola 120e Mobile Cell Phone |
I'd like to begin by mentioning that I have been a Verizon Wireless corporate accounts representative for almost seven years now. Needless to say, I've seen a GREAT deal of handsets come and go during that time period. Some good, some bad, and everything in between. I've enjoyed seeing the evolution of the wireless phone over the past few years, as every new generation builds upon itself and offers more to the consumer. The newer Motorola v120e offers a lot of bang for the buck. Read on to see what makes this phone a worthwhile purchase!
Specs
1X - Tri-Mode - CDMA With Optional Accessories
Interchangeable SoftWraps
Voice dialing and feature recall
Speed dial and one touch dialing
Internet browser
E911 capable
Full Two-way text messaging
Predictive text
Personal Information Manager calculator, date book, message center and phonebook
Phonebook stores up to 500 names and numbers with multiple listings per name
37 preprogrammed and 32 customizable alerts plus
5 vibracall alerts
5 new games (New feature from previous v120c)
2.5mm headset jack
Supports TTY and HATIS
1 year limited warranty
Meets FCC SAR limit. Manufacturer's highest FCC reported SAR 1.59 at ear, 0.69 on body. Actual SAR may vary.
Dimensions:
5.0" High x 1.7" Wide x 1.1" Deep
Battery Life:
Standby Time - Up to 250 Hours
Talk Time - Roughly 3 1/2 Hours
Weight - 4.5 Ounces
The size and weight of the v120e is relatively average in the marketplace. It's a good size for those that don't want a phone that is too big or too small; I'd say just about right for most. For those that are unfamiliar, the "1X" capability within this handset allows for high speed data connectivity (specific pricing plan and mobile office kit required).
Appearance
The styling of the v120e is very similar to its predecessor, the v120c. The most noticable difference being the silver housing and the blue backlighting on the "e" model. It has an attractive appearance that most will find to be appealing. The antenna on this newer handset is what is referred to as "non-retractable". This is a big advantage for those who have broken their antennas on previous Motorola models. This was a common problem with the StarTac, v60i, v60c, and the v120c. The caveat to the shorter antenna length can potentially be slightly diminished signal strength in weak areas, but the pluses outweigh the minuses here for those that are hard on their phones (construction workers, etc.)
Some may find the display to be a little too small for readability while driving or taking a quick glance at the handset. This is one of the primary complaints I receive from my customers regarding this model. For those whose eyes are a farcry from 20/20, you may want to look into the LG VX-4400, which I have also written a review on. It has some of the largest digits on its screen of any phone out there and with plenty of contrast (white background with black numerals). For everyone else, the v120e should be fine.
Some refer to this phone as the "peanut" phone, due to its shape. It has minor indentations on each side of the housing, which allows for a better grip. A definite plus for those who might be wearing work gloves while using the phone or those who are just plain accident prone.
Performance
I have, for the most part, been a big fan of Motorola products ever since I entered the industry seven years ago. They tend to be durable, stylish, and good performers. The v120e would fit this profile in just about every respect. I usually recommend this phone to my business customers who want a low cost option with a full feature set and a phone that is durable enough to withstand the punishment that their field employees will be putting them through. With voice activated dialing, a 500 name phone book, mobile web capability, text messaging capability, vibra-call, 37 different ringers, and 5 included games (previously not included on the v120c); this phone has all of the essentials. Okay, games aren't really essential, but they're a great way to pass time while waiting for a take-out order! Given how many people ask the question, "Will playing games on my phone run up my bill?"; I'd like to let everyone know that they do not use airtime minutes. Some phones differ in this respect, but with the five included with the v120e, you're fine.
After being in the business sales department for seven years, I feel more confident putting a Motorola or Samsung in the hands of people that are going to be hard on their phones than just about any other model we offer. If durability is of the utmost concern to you, then I would steer you in the above mentioned direction. You should also recognize that as phones get smaller, the propensity for damage upon impact increases greatly. For example, the v60i would have less chance of surviving a significant drop in my opinion than the v120e. The v60i was a compact flip phone we offered for a couple of years.
The v120e does well in terms of signal strength. I switched a good friend of mine from an early Kyocera model to the v120, and he was then able to make calls from his house, where he wasn't able to previously. I should forewarn that if you are going to be going into weak areas on any type of regular basis, and your phone is extremely important to you, then you may want to consider a handset with a retractable antenna, such as the Kyocera 2325. The average user should be fine either way, so I wouldn't allow this attribute to dictate your decision.
The battery life rates rather well on the v120e, particularly when it comes to standby time. At up to 250 hours, this handset clocks in quite a bit higher than most others in the marketplace. This can be a real asset for those that leave their phones on 24/7, as I do. You never want to be caught in a precarious situation with a dead battery, such as sitting on the side of the road with a flat tire. A cell phone with a dead battery will be about as much use to you as a brick at that point.
I'd like to mention one additional complaint that I hear relatively often about the v120 series, which is the volume of the earpiece. I have received a number of complaints from users that they have a hard time hearing while driving. Again, this will vary from individual to individual, so you should really try the phone out for yourself before making any decisions. Quite a few Verizon Wireless retail stores have active handsets that allow you to make a test call prior to purchase. If not, you always have the 15 day "Worry Free Guarantee" to bring the phone back in the event that you don't like it and subsequently switch to another model.
Conclusion
I like the Motorola v120e and encourage people to purchase it on a regular basis. It is priced well, particularly for the number of features included. I don't know that it is necessarily worth upgrading to if you have the former v120c, but it would definitely be a good contender for anyone looking at the v120 series for the first time. I would strongly recommend that you decide what features/attributes are most important to you in a wireless phone and then use this review to help you determine if the v120e is a good match to meet your needs!
Headsets
Although some states already restrict drivers from using their phones while on the road, most do not. Regardless of the law, it just makes sense to be smart. I use a headset for 90% of my calling due to convenience, safety, and to minimize my exposure to RF radiation, since I am on the phone 5-6 hours per day (I'm not the average user by any means!). I personally use the Plantronics M175 headset, which is about the best headset I've used yet. You can read my review by clicking on the following link:Plantronics M175.
Recommended:
Yes
Recommended for: Adventurous Technophiles - Tough and Durable
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jonwes
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Location: Los Angeles, California
Reviews written: 55
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