There is a lot of talk flying around about the new Android device from Motorola: The Moto Kobe, also known as the MB520. We know that the release is likely to happen this year. We also know the Kobe is a midrange mobile handset and will line up in the Motorola hierarchy somewhere behind the Droid X and Droid 2.
Specs Confirmed
The Motorola Kobe unit, also known as Diablo in some circles, will have Android 2.1 with Blur, although an upgrade to 2.2 is rumored to be available over the air. (Sorry, forgot we were dealing only with confirmed here.)
It won’t be a competitor for the Droid X, but will please the midrange user with impressive power and features.
Specs Rumored
This section will be much longer than the confirmed list was, with plenty of talk flying around about the Moto Kobe and comparatively little said by Moto themselves.
Apparently this phone will have a 3.5” display screen and an 800 MHz CPU. It will also have 2GB of internal storage and 512MB of RAM.
What stands out the most is the camera – a 3 megapixel unit with no flash, which doesn’t hold up to any of the high end smartphones with twice the megapixels, dual flash and even HD video. The Kobe may be midrange, but some things are becoming almost expected.
The PowerVR GPU on the Moto Kobe will be similar to the Droid X and Droid 2, but even so the unit will browse, receive and complete tasks slower.
Motorola Tries Again
After the poor showing and nearly hypocritical setup of the Motorola Backflip earlier this year (the unit didn’t allow non-market apps after the CEO of AT&T specifically remarked on how Android needed to be truly ‘open’), this handset is a step in the right direction.
According to specs, it has all the capabilities to deliver real value to users, assuming AT&T hasn’t locked out anything and, of course, assuming that the rumors are true. How can we be sure that the Moto Kobe will live up to expectations and bring the AT&T/Motorola partnership back onto level ground again? They have to, that’s why.
Pictures are leaking out onto various tech blogs. Shaky, blurry and somewhat indistinct, these photos are enough to make some educated guesses about the new Motorola offering.
This midrange phone should be a good value and deliver the dependability of Motorola. At least that’s the rumor.
Will you buy the Moto Kobe? Do you think it will help redeem Motorola in the Android space? Let us know by leaving a comment below!
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I think Motorola has a long way to go to redeem itself, and it will probably take a few more winning phones to do so. Like you said, though, it’s certainly a step in the right direction.
I think “Diablo” is a more exciting name than “Kobe”–it probably would get more attention, too!