The Mobile Phone Saving Network

Motorola PEBL U6

Wireless/Mobile Phone/Cell Phone

Rated 4.5 out of 5

Motorola's PEBL U6 is the second model in Motorola's high-end "four-letter word" line, following the super-popular RAZR V3. The PEBL takes some of the same materials and technologies used in the RAZR and packages them into a completely different kind of clamshell handset. While the RAZR is all about thin, sharp angles, the PEBL is more about design, making use of soft curves and smooth lines throughout.

Click here to get a 3-D \ view of the Motorola PEBL.

Screen shots from the PEBL.

The graphite black finish on the smooth, rounded exterior of the PEBL U6 manages to very glossy while still having a visual texture to it. The effect is very cool in person, but the downside is that the phone is an absolute magnet for finger prints. But that's just the cost of high fashion, isn't it?

The PEBL's biggest claim to fame is perhaps not its shape and look, but its unique opening mechanism. A series of custom hinges, a dampening device, and some magnets allow the PEBL U6 to be opened up one-handed in a very smooth, elegant manner. When holding the device, you simply use your thumb to pull the top cover towards the bottom of the device a bit, which releases the magnetic latch that keeps the spring-loaded opening mechanism at bay. At that point you simply move your thumb out of the way and let the spring do its job. The motion is smooth and slow enough not to cause the device to become unbalanced.

Once open, the PEBL's unusual keypad is ready for use. The directional controller and its center select button are very typical of mobile phones, but the rest of the keypad builds on some of the design elements we saw in the RAZR's keypad. The PEBL's keypad and softkeys are completely flat. The actual buttons are hidden behind a single sheet of metal that has a bit of give to it, allowing finger pressure to make its way to the switches underneath. Thin strips of translucent material let light filter in from behind, just as they do on the RAZR's keypad. The net result is a very distinct-looking keypad that probably sacrifices a bit too much in the name of fashion. Individual keys are simply much easier to find and press, even if they don't look nearly as sharp.

The inner workings of the PEBL U6 seem to be stock Motorola. The handset comes in two variations, each of which supports three GSM frequency bands and EDGE data. The North American version supports the 850, 900, 1800, and 1900 Mhz bands. The internal display is a 262k-color unit with a pixel resolution of 176x220. The battery should be good for over 6 and a half hours of talk time, or up to as long as 10 days of standby time according to Motorola. Bluetooth support more than makes up for a lack of infrared connectivity. The only aspect that seems a bit dated is the PEBL's VGA camera. For a high-end handset like the PEBL, you certainly would expect more resolution in the camera, but at least it's capable of recording MPEG4 video clips.

Other highlights include 5 MB of internal storage that can be used for MP3 or MIDI ringtones, photos and video clips, and downloaded Java games and applications. The addition of speaker-independent voice dialing and voice commands is welcome, and the PEBL's relatively low weight of 3.7 ounces (110 g) makes it quite pocketable.

Pros:

Unique design
Automatic opening mechanism
Bluetooth

Cons:

Low-resolution camera
Difficult keypad

Motorola's PEBL U6 is a unique handset. Where it goes, stares and longing gazes will follow. It might not have the full range of high-end features inside, but for the see-and-be-seen crowd, it probably has everything to get the job done.

--Reviewed by Michael Oryl, editor in chief of www.MobileBurn.com

Features of Motorola PEBL U6:

class 2 bluetooth technology - connect to pcs, headsets and other devices wirelessly via bluetooth®
integrated digital vga camera with 4 x digital zoom and light
speaker independent speech recognition
unlocked for use with your existing gsm 850 mhz, gsm 1800 mhz, gsm 900 mhz or gsm 1900 mhz service provider and sim card. note: this phone does not come with service or a sim card.
unlocked phones
video capture and playback

Reviews:

Nice phone, could have been better

Rating: 4

This phone is a delight to hold and a pleasure to feel. It's unusual shape makes it stand out from other phones. Very STYLISH !

But, has very limited in built memory of 5 MB which can not be extended. Camera quality is not much to talk about. It weighs much more than Razr V3.

It takes some time to get used to the flip mechanism and there is a real danger of phone falling off your hand when you try it for the first few times.

--Hubba Hubba! Style, Substance & Sweep... It's One Heck of a Phone

Rating: 4

Hmmm? What can I say about the phone that everyone seems to want?

The Motorola PEBL phone itself, is indubitably eye-catching. It offers exceptional operation & premium features.

The PEBL is one of the most charming phones. Shaped like a river stone, it's attired in basic black & is nicely accessorized by a shiny metal hinge. I especially liked the oval shape, the rounded edges, and the rubbery textured feel of the casing is pretty nifty. It's very compact (3.4" x 1.9" x 0.8"; 3.8 ounces), and it has weight when it's in your hand.

As for features... The phone book holds 1,000 contacts, each of which can take six phone numbers, an e-mail address, a postal address, and a birth date. I like that you can place photos with contacts for caller ID that are viewed on the internal screen. Contacts can be assigned one of 12 polyphonic or MP3's. I also appreciate the camera, vibrate mode, a one-minute voice recorder, voice dialing, calculator, calendar, alarm clock, text & multimedia messaging, PC syncing (my favorite!!), instant messaging ( with Yahoo, AOL, and/or ICQ), and a Web browser. You can personalize the PEBL with a variety of wallpapers, themes, menu styles, color skins, screensavers, and message tones. You can always download more depending on your service provider.

Ok, now the bad. The PEBL has a low-resolution camera (whaaa), and a strange magnetic flip that is awkward to open with your thumb. The flip opens when dropped and can demagnetize credit cards.

Would I buy the PEBL again? Yes. Would I recommend it to others? Sure. Who couldn't say 'yes' to such a looker?!!?!

It's all about how it feels in your hand

Rating: 5

It didn't take me very long to pick out this phone from the lineup at the store; it just looks and feels totally differnt from all of the other phones. Yes, I love all of the features, but really, I love how it feels. My previous phones feel so cheap now compared to this. It's solid; it firmly flips up and confidently closes with a snap. The black, exterior coating is unlike anything I have ever felt before. It reminds me of a rubber coating, but is much more solid, as it turns out, the coating is actually paint. Imaging a cross between a rubber coating and a car finish.

Looks cool... but not much else.

Rating: 3

With the unique design, seems like this could have been a really cool phone, but some of the problems I experience, make it fall short.

GOOD

Looks damn cool and not many people have it.
The automatic flip open looks cool and is convienent. I really like this option.
Fits easily in your pocket.
Rubberish coating makes it easy to grip.
Lazor etched keypad doesn't wear out.

Uh... not much else for me!

BAD

The action of sliding the top down causes physical wear and tear on the phone. I've only had the phone a few months and am not someone with the phone glued to my head; however, the metallic coating over the bottom directional button is already worn off from rubbing against the screen. The screen has a permanent imprint of the directional pad on the screen from the sliding as well as a quarter inch scratch caused my the screen sliding over the center directional button.

Not sure if this is related or not to the above problem, but I'm slowly loosing the bottom of the screen. Not the physical screen itself, but the image. It's tricky to describe but it reminds me of when you scan a picture and abruptly pull the picture from the scanner right at the end. Right now, I've lost 2/8" inch of visibilty on the bottom of the screen.

As someone else mentioned, the automatic opening works by pulling down the top with your thumb and then letting go. Essentially, the phone pops open while it's resting on your hand. For a moment, you are not really holding the phone at all. More the once, the phone has popped out of my hand when opening.

Impossible to read the screen in sunlight.

It is difficult to read time accurately on the analog clock. There is no option to change it to digital.

Camera quality is poor.

When my bluetooth headset is enabled, I cannot change the ringer or ringer volume.

I cannot get the phone to send text messages. I had the same problem with my Razor.

If this where a $100 phone, no problems. But for this price... not worth it. You're really just spending your money on the cool look and flippy thing.

By Motorola