Our Motorola Pro+ review

[howard]

Here’s the Motorola Pro+. It’s a 14.4Mbps HSPA+, Android 2.3 phone with a full QWERTY keyboard, 3.1” VGA display, 5MP camera, 4GB storage (2GB available), 512MB and a 1Ghz processor. It's currently available on Bell Mobility. The Pro+ is like the result of a wild night between a Blackberry Bold and an Android phone. it's got its daddy's keyboard its mommy’s personality. I’d name the unholy offspring the Droid Bold.




The first thing I noticed when I picked up the Pro+, is that it fits nicely in my hands. It’s not too thin and it’s actually narrow enough that I can use it with just one hand.




The back cover is plastic with an interesting texture on it.



It actually makes the Pro+ grippier so it won’t accidentally slip out of your hand.




The keyboard is a very convincing knock-off of the Blackberry Bold 9900. The biggest difference is that the Pro’s keyboard is narrower than the Bold’s. Other differences are that frets (the angle) on the Pro’s keys are steeper (probably because the keys are narrower), the number keys are arranged across the top, some of the symbols are moved around and the bottom row is slightly different.




As an occasional Blackberry user, the Pro’s keyboard is such a good copy that I’m constantly trying to use the trackpad along with the send/end and menu keys. I’m still extremely annoyed that pressing the search button doesn’t turn on the display.


While I love the Bold’s keyboard, I wasn’t that crazy about the Pro+’s. It was too narrow for my tastes plus keys are quite stiff. What annoyed me most about the keyboard is that the menu keys are directly above them. This in and of itself isn’t a bad thing but the menu keys are touch sensitive so I found myself accidentally pressing them a lot. Motorola, if you’re going to copy the Bold’s keyboard copy the physical menu buttons too please.


Using the Pro also makes me appreciate that Blackberries come with trackpads. When you’re banging away on a physical keyboard, sometimes you want to have to move your fingers all the way to the screen. This is especially noticeable when you’re positioning the cursor.


At 640x480, the display has the same resolution as the Bold but it’s turned on its side. It makes for an odd looking device but it’s for the best since Android generally works best in portrait mode.


The screen doesn’t have outstanding viewing angles but it looks fine and works well both indoors and out. The 640x480 resolution is uncommon so some apps may not work without some tweaking. When you go to settings -> applications -> manage applications and then choose an app there’s a ‘display settings’ option which allows you to ‘full screen’ or ‘zoom to fill screen’.



Volume buttons



MicroUSB port.




power button, headphone jack


The main menu is similar to the default Android one all the programs show up in one giant scrollable screen instead of being paginated like on Motorola’s other Android phones.


By default Android supports certain web services like Google (Picasa, YouTube), Exchange, POP3 and IMAP, etc. In addition to those services, out-of-the-box Motorola adds support for Facebook, Flickr, LastFM, LinkedIn, Photobucket, Twitter, Windows Live Hotmail and Yahoo! Mail.


The information you enter here is used by many of the built-in Motorola apps including the Gallery, Social media apps, that sort of thing.


The Gallery app has a lot of functionality. Besides allowing you to view pictures stored on the phone and your Picassa galleries, you can also view your friend’s Facebook galleries, Youtube, Photobucket and Flickr. The default view is of your friend’s new pictures.


The calendar app has a feature where you can add information for a conference call. When you view the appointment you can tap the number to call it.


Motorola includes Citrix receiver. I don’t use it but I think it’s a remote access application.


There’s GoToMeeting web conferencing software pre-installed. I didn’t try it.


You can print using the MOTOPRINT application. It allows you to print to network connected laser and inkjet printers. There’s also a utility you can download which lets you print to a printer that is connected to your PC.


The camera can take decent 5mp pictures but the auto-focus speed is extremely slow. Indoors, it’s a little more dependant on the flash than I’d like to see. It also tends to shoot with slow shutter speeds so make sure you hold it really steady.


The camcorder can record 720p video. It works okay and does a decent job recording audio.


There’s a neat Phone Portal software which allows you to manage the Pro+ from a computer that is connected to the same WiFi network.


You can create, view and edit MS Office documents using Phone Portal.


I found that the Pro+ didn’t like connecting to my WiFi network. Whenever I got home it wouldn’t connect automatically, I’d have to go to the settings to tell it to try again. I’m not sure if it’s my WiFi or if it’s just the Pro. For what it’s worth, I don’t have problems with any of my other devices.


Now let’s talk performance:


SunSpider


The Pro+ scores around 3130.9 in SunSpider which virtually identical to the Sony Ericsson Xperia Ray - a device with the same processor.


While I have benchmark results for the Pro+ in Vellamo, Basemark and GL Benchmark there’s no point making a big deal about them because the Pro+’s display is pretty unique. Off the top of my head, I can’t think of any other recent Android phones with a 480x640 display.


Antutu


RAM
Pro+: 317
Xperia Ray: 332


CPU integer
Pro+: 680
Xperia Ray: 642


CPU floating-point
Pro+: 294
Xperia Ray: 290


2D graphics
Pro+: 318
Xperia Ray: 313


3D graphics
Pro+: 1172
Xperia Ray: 927


Database IO
Pro+: 330
Xperia Ray: 400


SD card write
Pro+: 55
Xperia Ray: 50


SD card read
Pro+: 190
Xperia Ray: 101


The Pro+’s RAM score is about 5% higher while CPU integer score is about 5% lower. The graphics scores aren’t really comparable because the Ray has a higher resolution display. Interestingly the Database IO score is about 20% higher on the Ray.


There are 4GB of storage of which a measly 1.3GB is avaialable. If you plan on storing anything on the Pro+, run out and buy a microSDHC card. I copied a 400MB video file to and from the built-in storage and observed speeds of 3.6MB/s and 21.5MB/s. While the read speeds are good, the write speeds are pretty awful.


The built-in speaker has slightly above average volume.


Both incoming and outgoing sound quality are excellent


Since the Pro+ is positioned as a device for business users, I’m a little puzzled that it’s not compatible with Motorola’s lapdock accessory. There isn’t even a micro HDMI so you can run a projector from the Pro+.


There aren’t a lot of devices like the Pro+ right now. The Blackberry Bold 9900 is a competitor but it runs a totally different Operating system. The LG Gossip Pro is an Android phone with an identical form factor but it’s specs are much lower. To me, the closest Android phone to the Pro+ would be the Sony Ericsson Xperia Pro. They’re both QWERTY devices that cost $350 and both have the same processor so they offer similar levels of performance.



I still need to test the battery life. I'll update this section in a few days.


The Sony has a slide out landscape keyboard with a higher resolution display and camera.


Both are a nice step-up from an entry level devices, so it’s a matter for preference. Do you want a keyboard that’s always out and don’t mind a smaller display or do you want a bigger display with a better keyboard and don’t mind having to pop the keyboard out. To me, the Sony gets the edge because it’s display works better with more Android apps.

[HC - NO "i"]

Fellow HC,

Thanks for your review.

[Zaki67]

any updates on the Battery life?

[ToniCipriani]

The phone disappeared from Bell's lineup. I wonder if there would be some clearance pricing on it...

[WorldIRC]

It's $0 on 3 year voice only pricing right now.
Also, Bell just released a firmware update today. I've sold tonnes of these to my EPP clients.

[ToniCipriani]

And my guess is no change to the no-contract price?

[mihaelb]

A few weeks ago it was free with a voice-only plan on a 3 yr contract.

Had to return it though, because its bluetooth would not connect to my Mercedes B200 (stock) stereo. A replacement Pro+ did the same, so it's something to do with the phone (other devices connect fine to that radio).

[WorldIRC]

And my guess is no change to the no-contract price?

Nope. MSRP rarely changes.

[ToniCipriani]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (Linux; webOS/2.2.4; U; en-US) AppleWebKit/534.6 (KHTML, like Gecko) webOSBrowser/221.56 Safari/534.6 Pre/3.0)

Was hoping for some deal like the Desire Z free on one year or it showing up in prepaid boxes... Oh well.

[WorldIRC]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (Linux; webOS/2.2.4; U; en-US) AppleWebKit/534.6 (KHTML, like Gecko) webOSBrowser/221.56 Safari/534.6 Pre/3.0)

Was hoping for some deal like the Desire Z free on one year or it showing up in prepaid boxes... Oh well.

Desire Z is end of life...unless you can find a store with one, good luck.

[ToniCipriani]

Now that the Pro 4G is EOL as well... think I can find one for one year free?

[WorldIRC]

Now that the Pro 4G is EOL as well... think I can find one for one year free?

Nope. They are $0 on a 3 year voice only. Now that it has gone EOL, it is unlikely the plan will change again. Prices generally do not change once they've received EOL status. These phones will still sell themselves out at $0 on a 36 month voice.

[scubafan]

I had a couple of questions. Easy one first, I use a Treo Pro now and use the 5way a LOT to move the cursor. I saw someone else comment in a review they missed being able to do this too. SO, how much does this affect using this phone?

I'll make the other question a separate post since it's long...

[scubafan]

I was reading the review for the Motorola PRO+, which I'm interested in. I'm hesitating because of privacy concerns. The review here said "The information you enter here is used by many of the built-in Motorola apps including the Gallery, Social media apps, that sort of thing.
The Gallery app has a lot of functionality. Besides allowing you to view pictures stored on the phone and your Picassa galleries, you can also view your friend’s Facebook galleries, Youtube, Photobucket and Flickr. The default view is of your friend’s new pictures.
The calendar app has a feature where you can add information for a conference call. When you view the appointment you can tap the number to call it."
Is there any way to use an Android phone WITHOUT giving all my personal information away to Google?? Even with my current Palm Treo Pro I've run into privacy issues! When I used google maps a while back, it said I needed an update. To do so it deleted my original copy and the new one will NOT work unless I allow it to give google my location at ALL times!

I understand google maps needing to know where I am to give me directions, but can I disable latitude and still use the maps/directions? I have ZERO interest in being someone that tells the world where I am and what I'm doing minute by minute. Heck, I don't use Gmail or ANY social media now, why would I start??

I use Outlook for my contacts, calendar, etc. Will I be able to sync my phone to Outlook?? I do NOT want to use an online calendar...

In addition, I don't want to be forced to give google my real name to add to the database they now build across SO many platforms. More articles out say they mine all your texts and voice calls to get more "personalization" data. Many apps seem to give GPS data out even when you do NOT give permission as well.

All I want is to be able to use an OS more modern than the Win mobile 6.1 so I can use the gasbuddy app! Am I doomed to be stuck unless I want to give my life away to google???

The main reason I want to switch is so that I can get access to more of the USEFUL apps like Gasbuddy or Flightwatch. The concern is, with Google being behind Android I worry that my personal data will be totally compromised! As an example, when I tried to update the Google maps on my phone NOW, it first deleted the working copy I had and wouldn't allow the new one to install unless I agreed to a total lack of privacy! It wanted to stay on, connect my private cell number with ANY form of marketing and allow all my travels to be used for marketing as well. I DEEPLY resented that, so now I'm without the use of an app that was preinstalled WITHOUT me having to accept a "lack-of-privacy" policy that says: I consent to the collection, use, sharing and transfer of my data including voice and location data. In addition I have to agree to their mobile privacy terms (which I'm not allowed to post here) before I can use it.
It also says: However, if you use an Android-powered device, Google will associate your device id with your Google Account in order to provide services, such as sync functionality for your Google email and contacts.

We record your phone number. We record your phone number when you send it to us; ask us to remember it; or make a call or send a text message or SMS to or from Google. If you ask us to remember your phone number, we will associate your phone number with your Google Account, or, if you do not have a Google Account, with some other similar account ID. We often generate this account ID based on your device and hardware IDs, so if you change your device or hardware, you will have to re-associate this new device or hardware with your account before we can authenticate you.So, what are my options? I do NOT use Gmail, and didn't like that it also says it will keep track of all my contacts. That means whether THEY like it or not, Google now knows everything about them too...

Has anyone here explored these concerns?

[ToniCipriani]

Went to the Source at Eaton near Dundas, the only store that still has this phone on display. Guy argued that it wasn't EOL with me.

Then told me for upgrades min 2 year contract. Guess that means I'm left with the last option to call retentions, and if they don't give me something good I'm heading out the door.