Motorola KRZR K3 review: New party star

Another sleek Motorola clamshell is hitting the market. The lavish design is key again, functionality gets to the next level.

Motorola KRZR K3

Key features

• Stylish looks
• High-quality materials
• Solid construction
• Two good displays
• 2 megapixel camera
• Multi-item phonebook for 2000 contacts
• UMTS support including video calls and HSDPA
• 50 MB of internal memory plus microSD memory slot
• External music player controls
• Bluetooth with A2DP profile
• MiniUSB connector and USB Mass Storage mode
• GPRS and EDGE Class 10

Main disadvantages

• Front plate susceptible to fingerprints
• Little awkward tactile orientation on the keypad
• No flash or auto-focus in the camera application
• Captures video in QCIF (176 x 144 pixels) resolution
• Missed events can only be checked after the phone has been unlocked
• No Notes application
• No setup of active alarm days; just alarm hour
• SMS delivery notification cannot be permanently set up
• No FM radio
• No calls filter or in-call voice recorder

There is no doubt that the RAZR V3 by Motorola has become an icon. Success was huge as regards design, so Motorola keeps on trying to replicate it in new models. A compact bunch of models, pretty similar to the RAZR in appearance, comes under the KRZR label. The firstborn was named KRZR K1. Today we are featuring its successor: the KRZR K3. It brings a number of innovations, but continues to suffer from some of the inherited weaknesses that get passed down the Motorola family.

Design comes first

The first KRZR made a name for itself with its cool design. A blue-bodied flashy handset, dazzling and captivating. The new KRZR K3 goes even further, leaving no doubt that design is all that matters here. The phone does look sharp and will not go unnoticed, not even in the most exclusive surroundings. The great first impression the phone makes, is enhanced by the high quality materials used on its bodywork. Steel and glass dominate. The phone's body is especially solid: no wobbling or creaky sounds, a true creation of Motorola's craftsmanship.

The phone in hand • size comparison to a credit card • the shiny surface reflects everything

The phone has the following dimensions 103 x 42 x 16 mm - it is quite taller than other models of similar construction, which is good. The elongated silhouette gives an edge and a sense of importance to the KRZR's image. The phone weighs 110 g due to the significant amount of steel used on its body.

The new KRZR has brilliant design • external display • the lens of the integrated camera

A black background covering glass on the front plate protects both the external display and the lens of the 2-megapixel camera. There is a fine grill a few millimeters beneath the external display, which is an interesting element, but its purpose remains mystery to us.

The elegant silhouette of the phone reinforces its exclusivity • Motorola KRZR is 16 mm thick

The rest of the front plate is dominated by silver-blue steel surface. Unfortunately, all glossy areas, including the covering glass on the front side of the phone, are extremely prone to fingerprints. Constant cleaning is the only remedy.

The left side features three keys and a miniUSB connector • on the right there's only one - the camera release button

Sides are covered with black plastic material and feature a few buttons. The camera release button is situated on the right, while the dual volume control key and the "smart key" are on the left. The left side also features a miniUSB connector hidden under a plastic cap, in which you can plug a charger, data cable or earphones.

The classic "chin" is here again • the golf ball surface at the sides

Let us also mention the eccentric jut at the base of the body, the so called "chin" - a typical element of all Motorola clamshells. Etched on its front is the manufacturer's logo; the dimple-patterned surface of its sides is a nice touch adding to the phone's exclusivity.

Trademark surface on the back

Motorola KRZR K3 battery lies beneath a wide cover on the back removable through a special release key. The Li-Ion battery has a capacity of 910 mAh. It is said to provide about 340 hours of stand-by or 180 minutes of talk time. Next to the battery you will see two slots one above the other - the first one is for the SIM card, the upper one is for a microSD memory card. We used a 1GB memory card during the tests of MotoKrzr K3 and we met no difficulties at all. The rest of the back plate is dedicated to the loud speaker.

The battery cover opens by a special release button • loudspeaker • removing the battery • SIM card and microSD card slots

The entire back panel of the phone, including the battery cover, features the Motorola-patented Soft-touch finish, which prevents the phone from slipping on flat surfaces. It looks like steel, but feels like rubber.

Motorola KRZR K3 in full size • opening angle is wide enough

A tiny spring locks the folding part of the phone to its final position, and makes for a smooth opening and closing. Motorola KRZR K3 opens easily with a single hand too. The joint wobbles a bit, nothing we couldn't live with, given we tested a pre-sales piece. Hopefully the release version won't have this flaw. The wrist band eyelet is on the right side of the device.

The joint of the tested piece is not very solid • the wristband eyelet is palced on the right