While the Motorola Cliq 2 looks like a great phone, it barely got attention during its CES debut. That's understandable, considering it was on the floor with dual-core smartphones and 4-inch behemoths. This time, though, we get to inspect it up close.
Physically, it bears the same basic shape and form factor as the original Cliq. It does appear slimmer because of the sleeker design and it looks just a tad more professional. Do note that it's quite hefty at 6.17 ounces -- a quality you'll probably have to expect with many of this year's releases.
Display is an ample 3.7-inches (854 x 480 resolution) with excellent color, sharpness and touch responsiveness. We love the crazy-looking slide-out landscape QWERTY keyboard. More than the spider web appearance, the large keys and rubbery feel actually make for very comfortable typing.
As a phone, the Motorola Cliq 2 makes for clean and clear calls. Audio on both ends were very good, albeit nothing exceptional. It can probably use an extra level of volume for talking in noisy places, though. Speakerphone is better than average, while the battery is rated for close to 8 hours of talk time.
Android 2.2 Froyo is the build of choice and it has all the usual features you've come to expect. Like Motorola's other releases, it has Motoblur over the Android installation and that could be a good thing or a bad thing depending on your preferences.
The Cliq 2 has all the typical smartphone stuff on board: calling options, basic and advanced messaging, an organizer, aGPS, Bluetooth, WiFi and a heaping of preloaded apps. It runs on T-Mobile's old 3G network (not the HSPA+ variety), where speeds are actually pretty decent. A 1GHz processor powers the action, allowing it to breeze through all functions without lag.
A few capabilities not available in all smartphones are thrown in, as well. It can work as a 3G hotspot and even allows Wi-Fi calling; there's also a better Task Manager (necessary, since Froyo disabled third-party app killers) onboard; a dedicated file manager; and a DLNA app for streaming media over WiFi.
It uses the standard Android media player, so don't expect any improvements on that end. The 5.0 megapixel camera does take above average snaps -- even indoors where a flash is needed.
Overall, the Motorola Cliq 2 is an excellent phone. If you can live with the heft, the keyboard is one of the best in the business, while the rest of the device performs at a notably premium level.
