Motorola Backflip photos show off its weird form factor

17 December, 2009

The Motorola Backflip (it's also known as Enzo) is a first for AT&T - it's an Android phone. It's not official yet, but it's a very interesting phone in that it was designed by someone completely lacking spatial awareness.

First things first. The Motorola Backflip is a rather appropriate name as you're about to find out. Spec-wise it's almost identical to the Motorola CLIQ (or Motorola DEXT MB220 as it is known outside the States).

Motorola Backflip (Enzo) photo Motorola Backflip (Enzo) photo Motorola Backflip (Enzo) photo
Motorola Backflip (Enzo)

This means typical Android device and typical specs - 3.1" HVGA display, 528MHz CPU, 256MB RAM/512MB ROM, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS. The software is said to be Android 1.5 with Motoblur and lack all Google apps except Google Maps. The Android Market is included though.

AT&T have taken their time to include their own customizations - Yahoo! Search (say what?), AT&T Nav, AT&T Music and AT&T Mobile App store. Anyhow, word is that the Motorola Backflip is thinner, slightly smaller and lighter than the T-Mobile G1 (or HTC Dream).

Motorola Backflip (Enzo) photo Motorola Backflip (Enzo) photo Motorola Backflip (Enzo) photo
AT&T left their mark on the Motorola Backflip

The Motorola Backflip sports a 5-megapixel camera with autofocus and LED flash but, uh, there's a problem - the placement. We mentioned the weird form factor, right? Well, sit down because your head will start spinning.

If you've looked at the photos you're probably feeling something is off - how come you can see the keyboard in that one photo but not the screen? Well, it's called "Motorola Backflip" for a reason. The keyboard is on the back on the device, while the display is on the front.

When you fold the Motorola Backflip open, things start to look normal, good even - that's one roomy 4-row QWERTY - but putting the keyboard on the back where it's always exposed is not exactly a good idea. And where's the camera - on the keyboard, of course. Where else?

Motorola Backflip (Enzo) photo Motorola Backflip (Enzo) photo Motorola Backflip (Enzo) photo
That's some bad camera placement • the touchpad • the Backflip still runs Android 1.5

Oh, and that's not all that's strange about the Motorola Backflip - there's a touchpad on the back of the screen, accessible when the phone is open. Apparently, it can be used for scrolling. It's not like the phone has a 3.1" touchscreen or anything. Weird.

One last bit of weirdness before we go - the (admittedly rumored) specs list the device as quad-band GSM/EDGE and quint-band 3G. That is 5 bands in a row - 850/900/1700/1900/2100MHz. Of course, it could just be a mistake. There's no guarantee that the Motorola Backflip will have global 3G support (but if it does, we'd need a better name for it).

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Reader comments

  • 100 Moto
  • 20 Dec 2009
  • u{N

I speculate certain almighty brand / I ? music brand has been paying various forums / websites / stores to promote their products...by giving $, of course, and make sure to "demote" products from other brands.

  • Motofan
  • 19 Dec 2009
  • Td2

If you're obsessed with plainness and hackneyed designs, you can always go for the el cheapo 30-dollar mobile phones. This inventive mobile phone is clearly not for you.

  • Anonymous
  • 19 Dec 2009
  • Td2

You don't buy a phone for its camera, the same way as you don't buy a car for its cigarette lighter.

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