Motorola Atrix is a concentrate of power and features latest Cree, in a refined design, which made him unquestionably one of the top models in range of Android smartphones. Portable dock is a very attractive, but expensive feature. Here is the test of the Atrix Motorola
Motorola Atrix is a smartphone running Android 2.2 with a double-hearts (nVidia Tegra 2) processor, a 4 screen inches qHD (960 x 540 pixels), and two goals (5 megapixel rear and VGA on the front). But it is not everything.
What stands out the Motorola Atrix of competition, it is his “lapdock” (contraction of “laptop” – laptop – and “dock” – Basic – English). Sign the Atrix Motorola at its base and you get a real ultra-fine netbook powered by smartphone. You thus always have the content of your smartphone while you get with a PC interface on the lapdock screen.
The possibility of plugger Atrix to this database to transform all in a netbook is undoubtedly an asset. But even without that, the Atrix excels as a “simple” smartphone, taken by a latest-generation dual-core processor. It is this aspect that will be developed in this test the Motorola Atrix.
Taken in hand and design
Motorola Atrix finishing is good and with its 135 grams on the balance he is rather light. His fine body of 117.75 x 63.5 x 10.95 mm allows the sliding easily into a pocket. The round and curved edges make it comfortable to take charge. However, compared to other recent products such as the Motorola Droid X and Cliq 2, the Atrix does not give the same sensation “high end”. It is a device very well built, but it lacks some refinements as a soft surface to touch back to become the Rolls-Royce of the mobile world.
This new Motorola follows the trend of greater than 3.5-inch screens to offer the user a touch screen of 4 inches with a resolution of 960 x 540 pixels. The resolution is therefore almost similar to that of the iPhone 4 (960 x 640), but for a larger display. Rendering, whether it is as much text as images, is therefore less smooth, a little more rasterized. Nevertheless the screen is very bright and precise. In addition, it remains legible in full sun.
The Atrix touch screen is very reactive, both in its common use in failover mode portrait to landscape. And the dual-core processor nVidia Tegra 2, navigation is much faster than with any other recent smartphone.
Under the screen is the usual shortcuts Android: menu, home, back, and research. A button for adjusting the volume is located on the right side, while the left edge hosts a Micro-USB port and a micro-HDMI port. The camera and dual flash led are on the rear face of the device, as the top power/lock button at the centre. It is a somewhat awkward position, but the button can be doubled with a fingerprint for safety scanner.
User interface
Motorola Atrix runs on Android 2.2 with Motoblur, the home interface. If the wrapper does us was not really satisfied at its launch, constructor has made efforts and made clear its user interface. The first setting of the smartphone, a Motoblur registration is required. Once the account created the Atrix proposes to import its contacts, messages, and calendar.
Seven welcome screens appear so customizable widgets and shortcuts, such as a media, a météo… widget player
For more information about Motoblur, you can read our test of the Motorola dexterity Motoblur.
Features and performance
The dual-core processor is undoubtedly the highlight of this smartphone. NVidia Tegra 2 is his reputation for racing beast (see benchmark) and makes it all very fluid user experience. Compared to the HTC Inspire 4 G (with a near a HTC Desire HD configuration), the difference in overall performance is not nor significant, but it is notable. The loading of applications and general navigation is faster and the games are more fluid.
The Atrix, based on WebKit browser supports Flash technology. A test performed on a CNET TV video showed that the smartphone was able to play the video without any concern, unlike HTC Inspire who was unable to play the clip.
The nVidia Tegra 2 processor allows you to save videos 1080p (Full HD) and the lira through the HDMI port on an external monitor. However, this feature is not available at launch. It now simply the 720 p, reading and recording.
5-Megapixel camera offers a dual LED flash, an auto-focus and digital zoom. A few editing options are proposed in the application of the camera: alternative scenes, effects, but not ISO settings or white balance. It is therefore in the very basic. The quality of the photos is correct, such as videos. The camera on the front is all that there is more classical, with a VGA (640 x 480) resolution.
The 16 GB of internal memory of Motorola Atrix can be extended with up to 32 GB SD card. The Media Player supports all formats of the most used files (MP3, AAC, H.264, WMV, DivX…).
The HDMI port to view the contents of the smartphone directly on his TV, the Atrix acting then remote control.
The lithium ion 1930mAh battery is awake the smartphone between 7 and 10 hours in condition of continuous appeal. 9 Hours of communication announced by Motorola are therefore met.This places the Atrix at the top of the table regarding the autonomy.
Lapdock
The curiosity of the Atrix Motorola, is its lapdock. Once the smartphone is connected to this accessory, you can enjoy a full keyboard and a screen of 11.5 inches (1366 x 768 pixels). In short you have a true netbook. The content of the Atrix remains visible through a window on the screen. You can “manipulate” the smartphone with the trackpad. Motorola has developed a software part that enables to benefit from an experience similar to Windows on its netbook – for example Firefox is integrated by default.
The lapdock is drawn very well and is both end and solid. Keyboard reminiscent of the MacBook Air while the screen is bright. Two USB ports located on the side and battery powered across for about 8 hours. Note that the Atrix recharges when it is connected to its base.
The Atrix association more Lapdock works well. Intelligently and properly executed, the entire allows to broaden the scope of the possibilities of the smartphone and provides a very good netbook.
Price
All this at a price. With the United States, must subscribe for 2 years at AT & T and pay 499 dollars to have the Atrix couple and lapdock. The only smartphone cost him $ 199 with a two year contract. To acquire it naked must be shed to $ 599. Prices in euros have not yet been disclosed.
In the end, the Motorola Atrix proves be a very good choice if you are looking for a top smartphone range. Its powerful Tegra 2 processor makes all the difference, without any autonomy patisse, and coupled with the lapdock there is a real netbook very well built. To the radius of the disappointments, having to remain stationed in Motoblur could alienating some, and lacks some refinements to actually ask as a mobile very high range. Remains to know at what price it will be proposed in France to agree whether or not a good case…
More : processor dual-core, screen qHD (960 x 540), good finish, 5-megapixel front camera camera
Less : not recording Full HD (1080p), unable to install applications that are not of the House (Motoblur) shop
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