TV with DVR & Internet: $89.90/moMotorola i776 - silver (Sprint)
Manufacturer: Motorola Part number: i776
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Accessories
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- Though its volume could be just a bit louder, the Motorola i776 is a decent Nextel phone. Just don't buy it for its camera.
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Where to buy
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CNET editors' review
Motorola i776 - silver (Sprint) price range: $79.99
- Reviewed by: Kent German
- Reviewed on: 12/03/2008
The good: The Motorola i776 offers satisfying call quality and the full slate of Nextel features in a compact, easy-to-use design.
The bad: The Motorola i776's volume level is rather low and its camera is low grade.
The bottom line: Though its volume could be just a bit louder, the Motorola i776 is a decent Nextel phone. Just don't buy it for its camera.
At the fall CTIA show in September, Sprint assured us that it was not forgetting its Nextel fans. The carrier promised that by the end of the year it would release four iDEN-only phones for the push-to-talk-loving masses. We've already reviewed the Motorola i365, we're still waiting for the already announced Motorola i576, and we know that an iDEN BlackBerry is on the way. That leaves the new Motorola i776 as the final model in the quarter. Offering an attractive silver-and-burgundy design, the i776 offers all the usual Nextel refinements even if it's not encased in rubber. As with many previous Nextel handsets, the displays aren't the sharpest around, but the i776 remains an easy-to-use phone with decent performance.
Design
On one hand, the Motorola i776 has the same extendable antenna and tiny external display that you'd find on almost any other Nextel handset. But on the other hand, it strikes new design ground by sporting a slick surface and a silver-and-burgundy design. It's also compact (3.39 inches tall by 1.8 inches wide by 0.8 inch thick) as Nextel phones go and relatively lightweight (3.56 ounces).Of course, the trade-off is that the i776 lacks the rubber sidings that are a Nextel trademark. But even so, it manages to have a nice feeling in the hand.
The i776's display is small and rectangular. Though we're used to such a display from Nextel, it doesn't mean that we approve of it. It shows the date, time, battery life, signal strength, and numeric caller ID, but the onscreen text is tiny. Also, while it supports 64,000 colors (96x40 pixels) it won't work as a viewfinder for the camera and it won't support photo caller ID. Two indicator lights for the Bluetooth feature and new messages sit above the display. They're almost invisible when unlit. The camera lens sits at the top of the phone minus a flash and a self-portrait mirror.
On the right spine you'll find a volume rocker and the push-to-talk button. On the top of the phone are the speakerphone key and a button for sending calls to voice mail and accessing the recent calls list when the phone is closed.
The i776's internal display measures 1.75 inches and supports 64,000 colors (480x240 pixels). Like most Nextel displays, it is rather small and it isn't the highest resolution. As such, graphics and photos weren't very sharp. You can change the font size and the backlighting time only. The menus are intuitive and come in list and icon views. Like on other Nextel phones, both menu views require you to scroll through multiple pages.
The keypad and controls are spacious but also relatively flush; we could dial and text quickly and comfortably. In the navigation array there are a four-way toggle with a central OK button, two soft keys, a dedicated menu control, a camera shortcut, and the Talk and End/power keys. The toggle also doubles as a shortcut to four user-defined functions.
Features
The i776 has a 600-contact phone book with room in each entry for seven phone numbers, an e-mail address, an IP address, and a Direct Connect number. Contacts can be organized further into a variety of groups, for regular or push-to-talk calls, and you can pair contacts with one of 22 polyphonic ringtones. Other features include a vibrate mode, text and multimedia messaging, a calendar, a voice recorder, a speakerphone, a notepad, call timers, Bluetooth, voice dialing, and call forwarding.
The i776 offers the full set of Nextel Direct Connect PTT services. International Direct Connect connects you with PTT users in other countries; Group Connect enables you to chat with up to 20 others via PTT at once; and Direct Talk gives you out-of-network PTT-chat capabilities with another Direct Talk handset within a range of up to 6 miles. You'll also find NextMail, which sends voice messages to any e-mail address, and Direct Send, which transmits your contact information to other compatible phones.
An especially nifty feature is Nextel's second line service, which allows you to add a second line to the phone with a different phone number. It's perfect for users who want separate digits for personal and business use. Nextel was one of the first U.S. carriers to offer the functionality. It will cost extra, of course, but you can have separate ringtones, separate billing statements, and even phone numbers with different area codes.
The i776's VGA camera takes pictures in five resolutions, from 640x480 down to 160x128. Other editing options include two quality settings, two shutter sounds, and a self-timer. The camera doesn't offer a flash but it does have a low-light setting. The i776 does not record video. Photo quality was poor, even for a VGA camera. There was a lot of image noise and colors were washed out. The i776 has about 6MB of shared internal; a handy meter tells you how much room you have left.
You can personalize the i776 with a variety of wallpaper, themes, and alert sounds. You can download more options and more ringtones with the wireless Web browser. You get a fair choice of Java (J2ME) applications, including a Nascar Sprint Cup game, Alarm Clock Plus, Calculator Suite, Sprint Mobile e-mail, and a TeleNav 3.8 subscription-based navigation service that takes advantage of the i776's GPS support.
Performance
We tested the dual-band (iDEN 800/900) Motorola i776 using Sprint Nextel's service. Call quality was satisfying overall. The signal was strong in and out of buildings and we didn't encounter any static or interference. During calls, voices sounded natural but the volume was rather soft. Indeed, when we were talking in noisy environments we had some trouble hearing.
On their end, callers said we sounded fine. They didn't report any significant problems aside from a little background noise. Speakerphone calls were relatively clear, but here again the volume was too low.
The i776 has a rated battery life of 3.1 hours talk time. We had a talk time of 4 hours and 5 minutes in our tests. According to FCC radiation tests, the i776 has a digital SAR of 1.45 watts per kilogram.
User reviews
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Sleek, rugged and user-friendly
by ryan_bane on November 11, 2008
Pros: The phone is lightweight, the controls are intuitive and the screen is larger than it looked in the photo I saw on Sprint's web site. I work in a jail and have had no problems with reception while at work. My last phone frustrated me immensely.
Cons: The camera could have been better, VGA is almost unacceptable on phone cameras these days. I also wish it had video capability, which it lacks. Lastly, more color options would have been a plus.
Summary: A very good upgrade for me, I'm happy with the phone and would have no reservations in recommending it.
Summary: A very good upgrade for me, I'm happy with the phone and would have no reservations in recommending it.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Not a Mil-spec phone easy to break
by douglindsey on December 3, 2009
Pros: Good Flip Phone and User Apps
Cons: Slow Messaging old timey browser
Summary: Yet Again I tried to get away from my I365 with no success. The I365 is probally the last of the tough phones exluding the R765 which is a bit ...
Summary: Yet Again I tried to get away from my I365 with no success. The I365 is probally the last of the tough phones exluding the R765 which is a bit pricey for some The i776 is cool looking but come on. Its certainly designed for cheap entry into the boost realm. I have a signal with Nextel when my boost freinds standing next to me gets none.
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The windows me of cell phones
by eareed33 on August 4, 2009
Pros: great paper weight
Cons: dropped calls, end key just stopped working, having to reset connectivity constantly, random restarts.
Summary: motorola should recall and apologize! the firestone tire of cell phones!
Summary: motorola should recall and apologize! the firestone tire of cell phones!
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Average phone with terrible battery
by terrix on July 27, 2009
Pros: Its a phone
Cons: Same functionality as other prepaid phones but costs $100 compared to $50 prepaid service flip phones
No battery life, constantly needing recharging
Camera so bad not even worth bothering withSummary: For $100 I expect a basic phone at least as good as the LG flip phone I owned before it that cost me $50-$60 new for Tracfone and Net10. ...
Summary: For $100 I expect a basic phone at least as good as the LG flip phone I owned before it that cost me $50-$60 new for Tracfone and Net10. This phone's battery drains so fast as to not be reliable to where half the time I have it on me its dead and I can't be contacted. $50 Boost Mobile unlimited plan is pretty useless when you have this phone. My girlfriend has the same phone and the battery is a bit better on hers but not by much she still ends up having to charge it once a day or else it goes dead.
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Good phone for IDEN use
by red_foxx15 on May 31, 2009
Pros: -Boost mobile phone with shell design.
-Color screen for displaying on the front of the phone.
-Individual lights for bluetooth and messages.
-Has bluetooth.
-Has PTT
-PPT feature works with a bluetooth headsetCons: The typical Motorola ixxx phone operating system.
Summary: I use this phone for both work and play. The Push To Talk makes communicating quick easy without having to do texting or wasting minutes. The fact that i can ...
Summary: I use this phone for both work and play. The Push To Talk makes communicating quick easy without having to do texting or wasting minutes. The fact that i can toss on a bluetooth ear peice and be able to hear easily what is being said (via a call or PTT) is another great feature. While this phone is out of date when compaired to other phones available on other networks, i find the bluetooth abilities on this phone to surpass that of phones such as the T-Mobile G1.
It may not be the fanciest phone on the market but it definately gets done what needs to be done while throwing in a little bit of style -
Good enough. Works great with Boost!!!
by thousandmph on May 3, 2009
Pros: - This phone works. You dial a number, talk to the person and hang up - love it!
- It's compact and despite the antenna it fits in your pocket easily.
- Nice bright ring tones that sounds like a phone.
- Strong signal reception!Cons: - The buttons are too flat, it takes a little getting used to.
- The camera.
- A couple of dropped calls, but not as bad as Verizon...
- Battery life. Not the greatest, but I have a car charger, so no big deal.Summary: I bought this phone about a week ago with the Boost Unlimited plan ($50/month).
Prior to the purchase I considered a few other options like a plan with AT&#...Summary: I bought this phone about a week ago with the Boost Unlimited plan ($50/month).
Prior to the purchase I considered a few other options like a plan with AT&T and T-Mobile. I would have bought a fancier phone like the Blackberry or the Nokia e71, but my considerations were about how much time I spend outside the country.
Just think about it. If you have a schedule like mine, you probably don't like paying for things you don't get to use for weeks at a time...
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This phone is outdated - yes. But although the features are not up to modern standards I can still check my emails, make regular, clear phone calls, send text messages and use the walkie talkie function - and all that I can do 24/7 without worrying about the bill.
I'm also excited about the GPS function - granted it's not a Garmin or a TomTom it actually works and you can use it all you want for an additional $10/month.
And the design is functional - a great trade! -
Ok phone i guess
by guyson28 on March 4, 2009
Pros: It has many features but is a pain to navigate and the user guide could be more lamuns terms to me
Cons: Is it just me or does there seem to be NO WAY to have text messages and other incoming alerts vibrate as well as an audiable alert at the same time?!?! I can have it ring and Vibe but of course not simotainiously,it vibs,then rings. bug anyone else?
Summary: Its a good phone though besides the minor things that bug me but ive had cheaper phones that will do more, little over priced plain and just so so , shop ...
Summary: Its a good phone though besides the minor things that bug me but ive had cheaper phones that will do more, little over priced plain and just so so , shop around buy somethin diffrent lol!
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Great phone, that is small and compact.
by frannyzoey on February 17, 2009
Pros: Small enough to fit in pocket, voice dialing, outside panel display. The sound quality was great, unlike a lot of reviews I've read that said the sound was low. And the battery life is extra long which is another plus.
Cons: The only bad thing about this phone is that I'm used to the rubber grips and this one doesn't have it. The camera is not that great, then again I have yet to see a camera phone that takes GREAT pictures. I like is that you can use voice dialing.
Summary: Overall this is a great phone that is stylish and small enough to go in your pocket unlike the normal big and bulky phones that Nextel makes. And the volume ...
Summary: Overall this is a great phone that is stylish and small enough to go in your pocket unlike the normal big and bulky phones that Nextel makes. And the volume on it is great, actually it's louder than my old i530. And if you're looking for a phone with a long battery life, this is a great phone to get.
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Nice phone, low earpiece volume, web is so-so
by kuzman05 on January 27, 2009
Pros: push to talk, speakerphone, light, seems durable
Cons: outdated look, it cant receive more then 1 contact via bluetooth from another phone (my BB 8100 pearl can send entire phone book but this phone just will not receive more then initial entry)
Summary: economical, ok looking, PTT phone
definitely not your blackberry or iphoneSummary: economical, ok looking, PTT phone
definitely not your blackberry or iphone -
Nice looking phone, not user friendly, and not rugged!
by kpeder on December 12, 2008
Pros: Small profile, interesting color, great phone reception
Cons: Bad camera resolution, poor tech design, difficult to navigate, not user friendly out of the box (unless you read the 2" thick manual), not rugged or sturdy in hand.
Summary: I consider myself very technically proficient. And in the past, I have not had sympathy for people who could not operate their cell phones. That was until I purchased this ...
Summary: I consider myself very technically proficient. And in the past, I have not had sympathy for people who could not operate their cell phones. That was until I purchased this phone. I have owned this phone for over a month, I have read the manual and still this phone is a pain in the tush. The battery cover to the phone has fallen off in the street somewhere, and my phone was in my holster at the time. People have texted me and I try to respond, then the message I am reading just disappears, forcing me to find it and then go through a lengthy process just to respond. Adding contacts are a pain, and the hands free voice activated feature is a joke. It doesn't recognize my voice and if I don't say the contact name PERFECTLY each time, I never get the right contact that I am asking for. Connecting to the Bluetooth wireless earpiece is fine, but if it drops while you are driving - forget about re-connecting it on the fly. You will have to start all over again and have the phone search for the device. Battery life is fine, but sometimes it doesn't recognize the home or car charger and says "device not acceptable" and these are both factory chargers from Motorola. I have been very unhappy with my choice of cell phone, but now I am stuck with it. The only good part to this for me, was that I was smart enough to buy the cell phone insurance coverage from Sprint. I have already taken it to the Sprint repair office and they fixed some of the issues. Maybe I just got a bad phone, or maybe Motorola messed up - who knows. Read as many reviews as you can regarding this phone before you decide to buy and think seriously about the insurance. Especially, if you get roped into a 2 year contract with Sprint. Good Luck.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Motorola
- Part number: i776
- Description: The Motorola i776 is the slimmest handset to combine Motorola's iDEN technology, a VGA camera, Bluetooth wireless technology and MOTOtalk in a flip form factor, providing dependable communication at the touch of a button. A robust push-to-talk offering is now available in an affordable slim stylish package with premium finishes.
General
- Product Type Cellular phone With digital camera
- Service Provider Sprint Nextel
- Width 1.8 in
- Depth 0.8 in
- Height 3.4 in
- Weight 3.5 oz
- Body Color Silver
Cellular
- Technology iDEN
- Band iDEN 800/900 (Dual Band)
- Phone Design Folder type phone
- Antenna External
- Vibrating Alert Yes
- Polyphonic Ringer Yes
- Call Timer Yes
- Voice Recorder Yes
- Caller ID Yes
- Speakerphone Yes
- Wireless Interface Bluetooth
- Additional Features Speakerphone, GPS, Voice activated dialing
Messaging & Data Services
- Short Messaging Service (SMS) Yes
- Internet Browser Yes
- JAVA applications Yes
- Messaging / Data Features Text messages, Multimedia messages (MMS), E-Mail
Multimedia Features
- Downloadable Content Ring tones, Games, Wallpaper, Applications
Digital Camera
- Sensor Resolution 0.3 megapixels
Display
- Type LCD display
- Technology TFT
- Color Support Color
- Color Depth 18-bit (262000 Colors)
Display (2nd)
- Type LCD display - Color
Power
- Type Power adapter
Battery
- Technology - Lithium ion
- Talk Time Up to 205 min
Accessories
- Motorola S9 Bluetooth Active Headphones (red) (32363768)38.99 - 45.99
- Motorola H700 Bluetooth headset (Silver) (31629880)29.99 - 49.99
- Motorola H375 (black) (32735374)16.90 - 45.00
- Jabra BT8010 Stereo/Mono Bluetooth Headset (32327768)18.99
- LG Bluetooth Stereo Headset HBS-200 (32559289)20.00 - 24.99
Manufacturer info
- Motorola
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Motorola products on Shopper.com
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- Website: http://www.motorola.com/
- Address:
600 N. Highway 45, Libertyville, IL 60048 - Phone: 847/576-5000
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