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Review: Motorola Photon Q for Sprint

Form Basics Extras Wrap-Up Comments 18

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Apps

The Photon ships with a less-than-average number of apps at 38 installed out of the box. Some can be deleted, some cannot; either way, there's plenty of room for owners to install their own apps. None of those preinstalled really stand out as spectacular. Sprint specifically left off most of its own, branded apps, which can be downloaded from the Sprint Zone if you so wish.

Browse

The Photon includes the stock Android browser. The controls are easy enough to use and the browser does a fine job of rendering both full HTML and mobile-optimized web sites. Browsing over Sprint's 3G network was mostly decent, though I noticed sites took a while to load from time to time. As I've noted in other reviews, Google's Chrome browser is a better option. It doesn't seem much faster, but the tools and features are far superior to the stock Android browser.

Bluetooth

The Photon supports a number of Bluetooth profiles, including those that allow you to connect to mono and stereo headsets, other phones, PCs, cars, and so on. It paired with each device without issue and had no trouble communicating with other gear. Phone calls sent to Bluetooth headsets had pretty crummy quality; ditto with those sent to my car system. Music sounded OK when passed through stereo Bluetooth speakers.

Clock

If you're in a hurry to check the time, a quite press of the power key lights up the Photon Q's display, making the large digital clock visible. The clock is white, so choose your wallpaper carefully. The behavior of the lock screen clock can't be adjusted, but of course there are myriad clock widgets for the home screen panels.

GPS

The Photon includes Google Maps, Navigation, and Latitude. You know the drill here. Google Maps is great for a free service, with cool features such as offline use and 3D maps. Sprint's service, which is available for free, can be downloaded from the Sprint Zone if you really want to use it.

Next page: Wrap-Up

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Motorola Fully Reveals the Photon Q

Jul 26, 2012
On the heels of being out by Sprint CEO Dan Hesse, Motorola today provided more details about the Photon Q. The Photon Q is a sideways slider with touch screen and full QWERTY keyboard for messaging.

C Spire Wireless Launches LTE in 4 Miss. Markets

Sep 9, 2012
C Spire Wireless today announced that its LTE 4G network is now available for the first time in several markets in Mississippi. C Spire said that residents of McComb, Brookhaven, Meridian, and Greenville, Miss., are the first who have access to its LTE 4G network.

Sprint Pushing Jelly Bean to Motorola Photon Q

Apr 25, 2013
Sprint today indicated via its user forums that the Android 4.1 Jelly Bean update is now ready for the Motorola Photon Q. The system update adds a wide range of new features to the Photon Q, including Google Now, Voice Search improvements, bug fixes, and camera enhancements.

Motorola Updates List of Devices to Receive Jelly Bean

Dec 7, 2012
Motorola recently revised the customer support page that lists which smartphones will receive updated versions of Android and approximately when those updates will arrive. The RAZR M, RAZR HD, and MAXX HD have all received Jelly Bean.

Motorola Talks Jelly Bean Updates for Its U.S. Devices

Oct 20, 2012
Motorola has updated the list of devices that will receive updated versions of Android and is revealing for the first time those slated to get Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. The Droid RAZR M, RAZR HD, and MAXX HD are all schedule to receive the Jelly Bean update before the end of the year.

Motorola Photon Q

4.3" display 540 x 960 pixels
Snapdragon processor 1 GB RAM
1,785 mAh battery
Memory Card Slot, Hardware Text Keyboard, Headphone Jack (3.5mm), NFC

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