One of the newest models to arrive is the Motorola XT5. This is another mid-range phone that stacks up against the HTC Legend with its 3.2-inch/320×480-pixel capacitive screen and 600MHz Qualcomm MSM7227 processor.

But unlike the Sony Ercisson Xperia X8, the XT5 features Google’s Android 2.1  operating system and in this respect is a much closer alternative to the HTC Legend.

It comes with the Android Market app so you get access to over 100,000 apps as well as the usual Google apps built in (Maps, Gmail etc). It features all the usual sensors too, so proximity, light, magnetometer (digital compass) and accelerometer (G-sensor).

What’s impressive is the fact that this phone is going in Australia for $399 prepaid at Dick Smith stores. Given the Legend was selling in Australia for around the $550 mark. It’s a definite move in the right direction.

The only phone that’s likely to come close in terms of a similar combination of screen, CPU, features and operating system for this price is the upcoming LG Optimus One, expected to sell for $349 in Australia through Optus resellers. The Optimus One will include Froyo (Android 2.2).

Model Motorola XT5
Operating system Google Android 2.1
Screen technology
- Size (inches) 3.2
- Resolution (pixels) 320×480
- touchscreen type Capacitive
Processor 600MHz Qualcomm MSM7227
RAM/ROM (MB) NS/512MB
Expansion slot MicroSD (up to 32GB)
Internal storage None
Wireless data connectivity
3G (Mbps) HSDPA ( up to 7.2Mbps)
GPRS (Kbps) Class-12
EDGE (Kbps) Class-12
Wi-Fi standard 802.11g
Bluetooth standard 2.0+EDR
Camera technology
- image sensor 5
- video recording resolution/fps NS
Codec support
- audio MP3, WAV, AAC
- video H.263, H.264, MPEG-4 SP, DivX
Power technology
- Battery type/capacity 1270mAh Lithium-ion
- Runtime – WCDMA (talk/standby) 5.7hrs/319hrs
- Runtime – GSM (talk/standby) 6.5hrs/230hrs
Network coverage
HSPA/WCDMA 850/1900/2100MHz
GSM 850/900/1800/1900MHz
Features included
- tethering NS
- GPS Yes
- G-sensor Yes
- Digital compass Yes
- Proximity sensor Yes
- Light sensor Yes
- FM radio NS
Weight & dimensions
- weight (grams) 143
- size (w x h x d – mm) 115x57x13