Review of the Motorola Rival QWERTY slider phone for Verizon

Motorola A455 Rival

Motorola A455 Rival

Motorola A455 Rival

The Motorola A455 Rival is a compact QWERTY device that provides users with an abundance of features that won't break the bank.

As the name might imply, the phone is geared to compete with the likes of LG's enV3 and Samsung's Alias 2. I find it more useful to look at this device on its own, though, as it seems likely to fall into the hands of completely different users. At its basic level, the Rival features an external display that allows users to make calls using a touchscreen and a full QWERTY keypad when the phone is slid open. The phone is targeted to a youthful audience but is suitable for anyone looking for a phone in its category.

Physical Aspects

The Motorola Rival is a slider phone with touchscreen capability and a full QWERTY keyboard. The device is available in either silver or purple. The model I reviewed was the purple model (although I personally prefer silver) and it is a sharp looking device with a compact form factor at 97mm x 51mm x 18mm (3.82in x 2.01in x 0.71in) that felt light in my pocket at 125g (4.41oz).

The touchscreen is not full featured and is only used to dial numbers and use the two corner softkey spots that are indicated by white lights. In order to bring up the numbers, however, you have to hit the dedicated dial pad key above the send button. The buttons respond with faint vibrations and I found that input was completely accurate. Other than that, the four-way d-pad and center button control most of the phone's functions, apart from those making use of the QWERTY keyboard inside.

While the phone is feature rich, my initial impressions with build quality were less than impressive and I wonder how the phone would stand up to average abuse. It feels rather plasticky and is not snug when closed, which bothered me.

The 2.2-inch 65K color TFT (176 x 220 pixel) display is viewed in portrait mode when you slide the phone open. I think the display is average in quality, but far from stellar as pictures aren't perfectly clear and some items can appear pixilated.

As I said, the front of the phone features the touchscreen with two touch keys, send and end keys, a back key, dial pad key, and the d-pad and its center select button. The right side of the device has a camera key, a voice key for using voice dialing or voice recording, and a lock key that activates the device lock. The left side has a dedicated speakerphone button and volume keys. The Rival uses micro-USB for charging and USB connectivity, which I really like. Furthermore, as this device is geared for teens who may use the music functionality, it has a 3.5mm headphone jack that is sure to please.