electronics O2 Xda IQ – the smartphone with an above-average IQ opinions and reviews

O2 Xda IQ – the smartphone with an above-average IQ

The O2 XDA IQ can be likened to a teenager with an identity crisis but talented nonetheless. This handset has been previously been marketed with the name Qtek 8310; before that it was known as the HTC Tornado. But as the famous quote tells us “What’s in a name?”, let’s look at the entity that bears the name/s.

For those in a hurry, a very brief review would recommend “buy it” for its in-built Wi-Fi adaptor, quad-band connectivity and the expandable miniSD slot.

But as you are required to put down approx. Ł300 for the handset, it makes sense to put it under a microscope. The Xda IQ may not be the only Wi-Fi-enabled phone in the market, but then it has Windows Mobile 5 operating system which offers the Direct Push technology to deliver emails to you in real time.

You can synch the handset with your desktop or notebook. For Web browsing, you have the GPRS or Wi-Fi connection. For making calls across the world, you have quad-band capability. Users would know that mobile service providers using the GSM technology, operate on one of four frequency bands. A handset that works for voice calls in Europe may not work in another place such as Asia or the US. But the IQ’s quad-band takes away that problem.

Business executives would welcome the package of applications such as the Push email, MSN Messenger, Hotmail and Exchange 2003 SP2.

A mini version of Windows Media Player is also bundled in for entertainment. Songs, videos and podcasts can be downloaded with reasonable speed, to be saved and watched later on the IQ.

The biggest plus in the Xda IQ is its improved battery life. The Bluetooth, Infrared, Wireless LAN, Mini-USB and Mini SD card slot ensure the user has absolute connectivity with/without wires

Among the flaws, the most bothersome was its camera. This 1.3 megapixel camera is not accompanied with a flash or a photo light. As a result, the images are no better than you would get from any ordinary cameraphone. Then, most people also have an issue about the IQ’s joystick: very frequently it is clicked wrongly because of its shape/design. The feature definitely calls for some improvement because navigating through this multi-feature smartphone requires several clicks and nudges.