Note: We may earn commissions (at no cost to you) if you buy through links on our site. Learn more.
NOTE: This model is discontinued and may no longer be available to purchase new. See the latest cell phones or compare used prices.

Motorola Photon 4G review

8.1/10 AVG.
RATING
Compare Compare  
Compare Compare  

Motorola Photon 4G
Motorola Photon 4G
Motorola Photon 4G
Motorola Photon 4G
Motorola Photon 4G
...


8.1/10
Informr score
The Motorola Photon 4G currently has an Informr score of 8.1 out of 10. This score is based on our evaluation of 20 sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

The Motorola Photon 4G is one of US Cellular’s best mobile phone offerings to date, offering many great hardware and software features. But when compared to other phones from the competition, just how good is the Photon 4G in terms of overall usage and user experience?

Well, imagine your first time using a smartphone with a screen that’s larger than your palm. Oh, you’ve never been able to experience that before? Then that’s the perfect excuse to get your hands on this one. It features a 4.3-inch qHD touchscreen display, an 8MP camera, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and support for 4G wireless networks. There’s a 1GHz processor and 1GB RAM onboard, which should make navigating menus and using apps mostly trouble-free. And speaking of apps, it supports all kinds of software products that are designed to work with Android version 2.3.

Back to the hardware side of things, this Motorola also comes with microUSB and HDMI-out ports, which makes it useful for applications that involve the use of stand-alone computers or computer peripherals. And when not connected to any such things, it lends itself to a variety of mobile Internet related uses, including mobile Web browsing thanks to its support for EV-DO Rev. A, HSDPA, and LTE.

Battery life is one of its weak points, as it only comes with a 1700 mAh capacity unit, possibly the best thing they could fit in its 12mm thin casing. It certainly has a lot of features that could be put to good use, only don’t expect more than one full day’s worth of usage without interruptions for charging.

Need to Know: Motorola Photon 4G

1. Support for a wide range of mobile networks ensures fast and reliably mobile data connections wherever there is network coverage. (The Good)

2. Inclusion of kickstand allows for comfortable usage on the go. (The Good)

3. Default operating system is seriously outdated and limiting considering the kind of specs it is packing. (The Bad)

4. Relatively low-capacity battery unit gives disappointing battery life, especially for users who constantly use 4G. (The Bad)


Android
Operating system
Operating system
Android
1 GHz
Processor
Processor
1 GHz
4.3"
Screen Size
Screen Size
4.3"
8+ MP
Camera
Camera
8+ MP
1700 mAh
Battery


What the Critics Are Saying...


Cnet
Cnet

Just like its Verizon relative the Droid 4, the Motorola Photon Q 4G LTE provides one of the best Android smartphone typing experiences available. Other benefits are its modern Snapdragon S4 processing, bright and colorful screen, and Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich software. Unless you're committed...

- Brian Bennett, Cnet
Good Housekeeping
Good Housekeeping

The Motorola Photon 4G was simple to navigate and type on, and very comfortable and easy to hold. The phone boasts great call quality, and you can sit back and enjoy movies on the brilliant 4.3-inch qHD display with a convenient kickstand built in. It has webtop capabilities, meaning you can enhance...

- Good Housekeeping team, Good Housekeeping
Top Ten Reviews
Top Ten Reviews

If you're looking for a phone with a large amount of talk time, a good camera and access to the 4G network, the Motorola Photon 4G will give you what you're looking for. It has a kickstand so you can lean back while you're watching movies or video chatting. It runs on the Android 2.3 Gingerbread and...

- Top Ten Reviews Team, Top Ten Reviews
Android Community
Android Community

This is a no-brainer for those that have some loyalty to the U.S. Cellular brand and want the nicest Android device they carry right this moment. If given the choice between this device and the PHOTON 4G, I’d take this one any day of the week. The WiMAX network the PHOTON is working with does...

- Chris Burns, Android Community
Digital Trends
Digital Trends

The Motorola Photon 4G offers dual-core power and 4G speed, but still suffers from Motorola’s notoriously bad display technology.

- Jeffrey Van Camp, Digital Trends


Prices (Where to Buy)




Common Questions


We've got you covered! Download a free PDF copy of the Motorola Photon 4G user manual here.


Motorola backs up the Photon 4G with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.


If your Photon 4G has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact Motorola support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find Motorola's contact information here. If your phone is off warranty and needs repair for a physical problem such as a broken screen or bad battery, you should visit an authorized service centre or a local phone repair shop. You can also connect with others in The Informr Community Forum to find and share answers to questions.



Ask the Community



Resources


Manuals / User Guides Helpful Links Share / Embed

Maybe one of your friends will find this review helpful? Please help us spread the word.


Quick view

Screen Size
4.3"

The Motorola Photon 4G's screen size is 4.3 inches with x pixels resolution.

Processor
1 GHz

There is a Qualcomm Tegra Dual-Core 1 GHz processor (CPU).

OS

The phone runs on proprietary operating system firmware.

Camera
8+ MP

You can take photos or capture video with the phone's onboard 8+ MP camera.

There is also a secondary front facing camera useful for video chat and self portraits.

Storage
16 GB

Internal memory is 16 GB. An external, MicroSD (up to 32 GB) expansion slot is available for increased storage capacity.

Battery
1700mAh

The phone is powered by a Lithium Polymer (Li-Pol), 1700 mAh battery. Motorola's performance ratings are 8.5 days standby time, 600 minutes.

Photon 4G Specs

Overview
Release Date July 10, 2011
Regions Available USA
Operating System No

Compare Android Smartphones

Processor Qualcomm Tegra Dual-Core 1 GHz
Internal Storage 16 GB
RAM 1 GB
Hearing Aid Compatible No
TTY/TDD No
Noise Cancellation Yes
SAR Head: 0.93 W/kg
Body: 0.91 W/kg
Manufacturer Warranty 1 Year
Accessories Included AC Charger, Manual, Standard Battery
Cellular
Networks
EDGE, EV-DO Rev. A, HSDPA, LTE
Mobile / Cellular Data
4G/LTE
Push-to-talk (PTT) No
Wi-Fi Calling No
Voice over LTE (VoLTE) No
SIM card size
Yes
Dual SIM No
Connectivity
USB Micro-USB 2.0
USB OTG Support No
GPS Type A-GPS
Infrared No
Bluetooth 2.1
Bluetooth Profiles A2DP
Bluetooth Audio Codecs SBC
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/e/g/n
Mobile Hotspot No
Memory Expansion Slot Yes
Expansion Slot Info MicroSD (up to 32 GB)
NFC No
Data Tethering Compatibility Yes
Camera
Main Camera
Resolution / Aperture
8+ Megapixels
Zoom
Yes
Flash
Yes (Dual LED)
Additional Rear Camera Info
Auto focus, Effects, Multi-shot, Panorama
Video Recording Formats
H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4, WMV, XviD
Video Recording Parameters
HD (1280 x 720 pixels), 30 fps
Front Camera
Resolution / Aperture
Additional Front Camera Info
VGA
Video Recording Parameters
Display / Screen
Type Color
Technology LCD (TFT)
Colors 16.7 million
Resolution x pixels
Pixel Density Unknown
Size 4.3 inches
Secondary Display No
Sensors Ambient Light, Proximity, Motion / Accelerometer, Digital Compass
Multi-Touch No
Fingerprint-Resistant Coating No
Additional Display Features -
Power & Battery
Battery Type Lithium Polymer (Li-Pol)
Battery Capacity 1700 mAh
Removable Battery Yes
Wireless Charging
Fast Charging No
Video Playback Time Unknown
Internet Use (Wi-Fi) Unknown
Internet Use (Cellular) Unknown
Talk Time Up to 600 minutes
Standby Time Up to 8.5 days
Mixed Usage
Physical Characteristics
Design Type Bar
Colors Black
Dimensions [H x W x D] 12.7 x 6.7 x 1.2 cm (5 x 2.6 x 0.5 in)
Weight 158 grams
Water Resistant / Waterproof Unknown
Rugged design No
IP Rating No
Headset Jack 3.5mm
External Speakers No
Input / Navigation
Sleep / Wake Key No
Home Key No
Input / Keyboard Type Touchscreen
Navigation Type Touchscreen
External Volume Control Yes
Fingerprint Sensor No
More
Additional Information Messaging: SMS, MMS, Google Talk
ROM: 2GB
Multi-Use Smart Phone / PDA: Yes
Graphics: Yes
Themes: Yes
Backlit Illumination: Yes
Zoom / Magnification: Yes
Predictive Text Entry: Yes
Voicemail Key: Yes
Keypad/Screen Lock: Yes
Multiple Numbers Per Contact: Email address, Other fields
Voice Activated Dialing: Yes
Photo Caller ID: Yes
Web Browser: Yes
Email Client: Yes
Email Protocols: POP3, IMAP
WiMAX: Yes
PC Synchronization: OTA
TV Out Info: HDMI
DLNA Support: Yes
Audio Formats: MP3, eAAC, AAC+, AAC, AMR-WB, AMR, WMA, WAV
Video Playback Formats: H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4, WMV, XviD
Streaming Video: Yes
Custom Ringtones: No
Vibration Alert: Yes
Downloadable Ringtones: Yes
Ringer ID: Yes
Speakerphone: Yes
Haptic Feedback: Yes
Data Tethering: Yes
Radio: Yes (FM)
Viewable document types: DOC, PDF, PPT, XLS
Games: Yes
Apps: Yes
Included Software / Apps: -
To-Do / Task List, Calendar, World Clock, Alarm, Timer, Calculator, Maps, Voice Memos / Recorder

Other Names (AKA): Motorola Electrify, Motorola MB855
Related Links Manual (PDF)
Motorola Photon 4G Reviews
Where to buy Motorola Photon 4G
Suggest a correction