Motorola Flipout

Fun phone for Facebookers

You can reduce the number of widgets you display or move them to other panels, but MotoBlur is a big part of this phone so it’s best to keep them together. You can configure these “Happenings”, as Motorola calls them, but even so, it’s a busy screen.

Don't expect much from the Flipout's 3.1Mp camera

There’s only one camera on the Flipout, so no video calling then. The one on the back is only 3.1Mp with no flash, so image quality is far from outstanding but will do for snapping friends to include in an email but not much more.

Motorola-specific widgets you can add to the screen include on/off toggle buttons for Wi-Fi - 802.11n, no less - GPS and aeroplane mode. Music playback is often poor on mobile phones but at least Motorola has included a 3.5mm headphone jack so you can pick your own cans. There’s also a second microphone on the Flipout which measures ambient noise and subtracts it from the sound picked up from the main mic, ensuring better call quality for the person you’re talking to.

As well as configuring each screen to your satisfaction, you can personalise the phone by swapping the back cover – I tested a handset with a pleasant orange back, though you can also choose from a fetching lime green and deep maroon.

Verdict

The Flipout is an original and strikingly different phone with a pleasingly small form-factor and enjoyable swing-out screen. The display isn’t high resolution and can appear cramped. The processor occasionally makes the phone seem slow. But for all its faults, it manages to be tiny without compromising too often. It’s a cool little phone which looks good and is fun to use. ®

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