Motorola W490 Cell Phone is Stylish & Loaded with Features

The Motorola W490 Cell Phone is very similar to the RAZR, its predecessor, in both style and function. Like its cousin, it has a sleek, sexy design. It is loaded with features, which makes it a bit pricier than more basic cell phones. Overall, it is affordable and function, two desirable traits in cell phones. In some ways it outshines the competition, but in other areas, it cannot compete. Before buying a W490, let me familiarize you with this phone's strengths and weaknesses.

Cost and Warranty

T-mobile offers the W490 to new customers for about $65. As I had just upgraded to a Nokia 6133 seven months prior, which I accidentally placed on a hot burner while cooking dinner, I wasn't entitled to much of a discount. I therefore paid about $118 for my W490. I enjoyed it for about a month before my toddler threw it into the toilet. The warranty doesn't cover water damage, so I had to buy another W490 from T-mobile for the same price. This time I bought a shield to go over it and ponied up the cash for insurance!

Exterior Design

The Motorola W490 Cell Phone looks much like the original RAZR. It is sleek and shiny, flat, and flips open. It comes in several colors, such as black, silver, and purple. To my great disappointment it is not available in pink. The W490 can be distinguished from the RAZR easily because it is thicker yet leaner, whereas the RAZR was flat and wide. Otherwise it looks about the same.

Interior Design

The W490 has the same keypad as the RAZR, flat, which makes my fingers slip around. The keypad has two new keys, a back button and a web button. I am not used to them yet; usually cell phones just have four buttons up there, besides the arrows and center select button. They mix me up sometimes. The screen doesn't seem to attract grease as much as the old RAZRs did, and the colors are bright and brilliant. Pictures show up quite clear.

Durability

The W490 seems reasonably durable, especially protected by the shield. Don't drop it in any water, because that voids the warranty.

Ease of Use