Motorola DEXT MB220 smartphone

Photo: Enrique Dans from Madrid, Spain via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)

Motorola

Motorola DEXT MB220

October 2009 6/10 Rating Updated
In brief: The Motorola DEXT MB220, also known as the Motorola CLIQ, was one of Motorola's pioneering Android smartphones, launched in October 2009. It featured a distinctive side-sliding physical QWERTY keyboard and introduced the MOTOBLUR user interface, which aimed to deeply integrate social networking into the phone's experience.
Display3.1-inch TFT, 320x480 pixels
ChipsetQualcomm MSM7201A
Main Camera5 MP with autofocus
BatteryRemovable 1420 mAh Li-Ion
Starting from $6,306

💰 Motorola DEXT MB220 Price

The Motorola DEXT MB220 lowest price is $6,306, based on current retailer listings.

📌 Full Specifications

Display

TypeTFT capacitive touchscreen, 256K colors (65K effective)
Size3.1 inches
Resolution320 x 480 pixels
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass (on some variants)

Platform

OSAndroid 1.5 (Cupcake), upgradable to 2.1 (Eclair) for some variants
ChipsetQualcomm MSM7201A
CPU528 MHz ARM 11
GPUAdreno 130

Memory

Card slotmicroSDHC (dedicated slot)
Internal1GB storage, 256MB RAM

Main Camera

Single5 MP, autofocus
FeaturesGeo-tagging
Video240p

Selfie Camera

SingleNo

Battery

TypeRemovable Li-Ion 1420 mAh
Talk timeUp to 6 h
Stand-byUp to 320 h

Body

Dimensions114 x 58 x 15.6 mm (4.49 x 2.28 x 0.61 in)
Weight163 g (5.75 oz)
KeyboardSide-sliding QWERTY keyboard
SIMMini-SIM

Comms

WLANWi-Fi 802.11 b/g
Bluetooth2.1, A2DP
PositioningGPS
RadioNo FM Radio
USBmicroUSB 2.0

Launch

AnnouncedSeptember 10, 2009
StatusDiscontinued
Release DateOctober 2009

⚖ Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Excellent physical QWERTY keyboard for typing
  • Innovative MOTOBLUR social networking integration
  • Decent 5MP camera with autofocus for its era
  • Capacitive touchscreen offered a good user experience
  • Includes a standard 3.5mm headphone jack

Cons

  • Often experienced sluggish performance, especially with multiple widgets
  • Design was considered unappealing by some reviewers
  • Lacked multi-touch display capabilities
  • Limited internal storage of 1GB
  • Ran on an outdated Android 1.5 (Cupcake) with limited upgrade options
  • User reviews mentioned poor battery backup
★ Our Verdict

The Motorola DEXT MB220 was a pioneering Android device with a strong physical keyboard and innovative social features for its time, but its performance could be sluggish, and the design was not universally praised.

The Motorola DEXT MB220 is a vintage smartphone from 2009, primarily of interest to collectors or those seeking a nostalgic experience. It runs on an outdated version of Android (1.5 Cupcake, with limited upgrades), meaning it will not support modern apps or services. Performance will be very slow by today's standards, and the camera quality is basic. Battery life will also be significantly degraded on any surviving units. If you're looking for a functional smartphone for daily use, this model is not suitable. However, for historical appreciation or as a display piece, it represents an important step in Android's early development and Motorola's re-entry into the smartphone market. Expect to pay very little for a used unit, but be aware of its severe limitations.

Reviewed by the infozme.com Editorial Team — see how we research & rate phones.

📦 In The Box & Warranty

  • Not specified, but typically included charger
  • USB cable
  • Headphones

Standard manufacturer's warranty at the time of purchase, typically one year.

❓ Questions & Answers

What is the Motorola DEXT MB220?

The Motorola DEXT MB220, also known as the Motorola CLIQ, was one of Motorola's first Android smartphones, launched in October 2009, notable for its physical QWERTY keyboard and MOTOBLUR social integration.

When was the Motorola DEXT MB220 released?

The Motorola DEXT MB220 was announced in September 2009 and officially released in October 2009.

What operating system does the Motorola DEXT MB220 run?

It originally ran on Android 1.5 (Cupcake), with some variants being upgradable to Android 2.1 (Eclair).

Does the Motorola DEXT MB220 have a physical keyboard?

Yes, a key feature of the Motorola DEXT MB220 is its side-sliding physical QWERTY keyboard, which was popular for quick typing.

Is the Motorola DEXT MB220 still usable today?

While it might still power on, the Motorola DEXT MB220 runs on a very old version of Android and cannot support modern applications or services, making it unsuitable for daily use. It's primarily a collector's item.

What was MOTOBLUR on the Motorola DEXT MB220?

MOTOBLUR was Motorola's custom user interface layered over Android, designed to integrate social networking feeds and contacts into a unified experience, which was a significant selling point for the DEXT.