Motorola ThinkPhone – for thinking people (smartphone review)

The Motorola ThinkPhone is its first collaboration with parent Lenovo to produce a business-oriented phone that can live up to the ThinkPad legacy – toughness, reliability, great performance and value.

Well, Motorola has nailed it with the Motorola ThinkPhone. MIL-STD-810H/IP68 construction, Aramid Kevlar back, and aircraft aluminium frame over:

  • 6.6” 2400 x 1080, 144Hz HDR10 P-OLED.
  • Qualcomm SD8+ Gen 1 flagship processor.
  • 8/256GB.
  • Wi-Fi 6E/BT 5.3/NFC/Dual GPS.
  • Excellent 50+13+2 rear camera and 32MP selfie.
  • 5000mAH battery with 68W charger inbox and 15W Qi wireless.
  • Dolby Atmos decode stereo speakers.
  • UBS-C 3.1 Gen 1 with alt DP for ‘Ready For’ and wireless/cabled USB-C to HDMI monitor or TV.
  • Lenovo security, including ThinkShield for Mobile and Moto KeySafe.
  • 2+3+3 year Warranty/OS upgrades/security patches.

It is precisely the phone that any flagship user needs. The good news is that it costs $999 – better value than far lesser-configured flagships from other brands.

Motorola quickly points out that some Edge phones have 200MP cameras or faster charging. Not to mention its amazing Razr flip phone. This is the phone that Lenovo will sell to business clients, along with a ThinkPad. But it is the phone you should seriously consider as the best, most fully featured phone for less than $1000.

It is also the phone that just may elevate Motorola to #3 in the Australian smartphone market.

Australian Review: Motorola ThinkPhone, 8/256, 5G, dual sim, Model XT2309-2

WebsiteProduct Page
Price$999
ColoursCarbon Black
FromLenovo Online, JB Hi-Fi and other approved retailers *
Warranty12-months ACL
Made inChina
CompanyOwned by Lenovo (Est 1984) – a multinational technology company with its primary operational headquarters in Beijing and Morrisville, North Carolina. It is the world’s largest PC maker, and it purchased Motorola Mobility from Google in 2014. Most of Lenovo’s smartphone business is now under the Motorola brand, with grand plans to become a ‘top five’ smartphone maker.
MoreOther CyberShack Motorola news and reviews

Deep-Dive review format

It is now in two parts – a summary (the first part) and a separate 300+ line database-driven spec, including over 70 tests to back up the findings. It also helps us compare different phones and features.

We use Fail (below expectations), Pass (meets expectations) and Exceed (surpasses expectations or is the class leader) against many of the items below. We occasionally give a Pass(able) rating that is not as good as it should be and a Pass ‘+’ rating to show it is good but does not quite make it to Exceed. You can click on most images for an enlargement.

* Grey market – no Australian warranty, and 5G won’t work

We strongly advise you to buy a genuine model with Australian firmware. It is easy to identify the Australian version – under Settings, About Phone, and Regulatory Labels, there is an Australian R-NZ C-tick mark. There is also an R-NZ C-Tick on the box. They use unique Australian 5G sub-6Ghz and 5G low-band frequencies, requiring local activation first. Read Don’t buy a grey market phone (guide).

First Impression – Exceed

It won me with the Aramid Kevlar back and subtle Motorola ThinkPhone branding. It looks tough (will it withstand a bullet? Someone will be insane enough to try) yet elegant enough. As I delved into the specs, I was blown away by IP68, MIL-STD-180H, Gorilla Glass Victus and way more goodies than I felt possible at the price. Moto nailed the balance between ‘must have’ and ‘nice to have but never use it’.

In deference IBM/Lenovo ThinkPad, there is a programable, ribbed, one-or-two-press, RED button (just like the ThinkPad) on the left side case. A single click can launch any app, play/pause music, and open the voice or screen recorder. A double click launches ‘Ready For’ or other actions. Clever.

Motorola’s ‘Ready For’ App also allows it to be used as a webcam, transfer data to a PC via drag and drop, and other features.

Screen – 6.6” 10-bit, very bright, 144Hz pOLED – Exceed

This is a glorious 2400 x 1080, 402ppi, HDR10+, pOLED screen – 10-bit/1.07 billion colours, 100% sRGB and full DCI-P3 colour gamut, and up to 144Hz refresh/360Hz touch in game mode.

This is a bright screen, 500nits typical, and up to 1200 peak (for HDR10+); it is great in direct sunlight.

And it is a billion times more colourful, whereas many flagships (looking at you, Samsung) only have 8-bit, 16 million colours.

Processor – Qualcomm SD8+ Gen 1 – Exceed

It is the fastest 2022 Android flagship processor, perfect for games and heavy use. It is also one of the hotter ones when pushed. Interestingly Moto has tuned this processor to deliver far higher speeds than the Edge 30 Ultra/Razr 2022 – Geekbench single multi-core scores of 1775/4636 versus 1320/4381.

Moto has kept throttling down to a respectable 17%, and the CPU temperature under 50°. It has reduced the overall GIPS (gigabillion instructions per second) by about 10% (compared to other SD8+/Gen 1 GIPS), so it is pretty stable and even with throttling.

It has 8GB RAM and 256GB (214GB free) of UFS 3.1 storage achieving very fast sequential read/write of 2060/693MBps – most other phones are flat out getting 1000MBps read times.

But the real advantage of this phone (and most Motorola Edge 30 models) is the USB-C 3.1 Gen 1 5Gbps port. It allows you to record up to 4K video directly to an external SSD (mountable) at 1280/180MBps – very fast. The port also supports USB-C to HDMI (or DP) monitors (more in the ‘Ready For’ section).

Comms – Wi-Fi 6E, BT 5.3, NFC, Dual GPS – Exceed

Wi-Fi 6E requires a 6E router – read Netgear Orbi RBKE963 Quad-band Wi-Fi 6E AX 11000 mesh. This has an additional 6GHz band that is faster and almost uncontested. The maximum speed on this band (2×2 HE 160Mhz) is 2401Mbps.

However, it did not achieve this, getting from 1441-1921Mbps. We suspect it needs a firmware update for Australian Wi-Fi 6E channels (different from most countries). By comparison, the Edge 30 Ultra and Razr 2022 get 2401Mbps. Interestingly if you turn the 6GHz band off and use Wi-Fi 6, it achieves the maximum 1200Mbps speed on the 5GHz band.

  • BT 5.3 supports Google Fast Pair and multi-point devices.
  • Dual-band GPS was accurate to within 3 metres.
  • NFC is excellent; the OS allows fingerprint ID to authorise a payment.

Ready for – Exceed

Special mention must be made of the complete audio/video/data/charge USB-C 3.1 Gen 1 5Gbps port. That means alt DP 1.4 for USB-C to HDMI (or DP) cable for a 4K TV, full Ready For Moto/Android Desktop and screen mirroring. As a power user, I want this! Most smartphones, even flagships, have USB-C 2.0 480Mbps ports. It also supports ‘Ready For’ over Wi-Fi.

LTE and 5G – Good for city/suburbs, regional cities, and rural use – Pass+

It has eight antennas with excellent picowatt signal strength and finds the four nearest Telco towers. It should be great anywhere there is a 4G/5G signal. It also has 2/3G world bands for international use.

Most importantly, it has VoLTE, Wi-Fi calling, dual SIMs (no eSIM) and dual ringtones, which many flagships do not.

Battery – 5000W and 68W 53-minute charge – Exceed

The battery will last two days of typical use, and heavy users will get somewhere up to a day. But that is not an issue with a 68W charger filling from 0-100% in 53 minutes. It also has 15W Qi Wireless charge, and when using a compatible Belkin Boost Up charger, it will fill in 2.5 hours. If you get stuck and can only access 5V/2A/10W chargers, it takes about 4 hours. The following tests are on Adaptive screen mode.

  • Video loop (1080, 50% volume/brightness) 24+ hours
  • PC Mark Battery test (typical use) 16 hours and 25 minutes
  • Accubattery 18 hours
  • GFX Bench T-Rex (games) 7.66 hours
  • Drain full load: 4 hours and 30 minutes
  • 68W charge: 53 minutes
  • 15W Qi charge: 1.5 hours
  • 10W charge: 4 hours

Unlike Samsung, Motorola includes the charger inbox.

Sound – Dolby Atmos downmix to two speakers – Pass

It is stereo 2.0 with a top earpiece with a distinct volume bias to the bottom down-firing speaker. Overall it is pretty ‘listenable’ and has USB-C buds as well.

  • Maximum volume: 82dB (good)
  • BT: 5.3 with SBC, AAC, Qualcomm aptX codecs (HD, Adaptive, TWS) and LDHC.
  • Hands-free: Two mics offer decent noise reduction, and speaker volume levels are quite good and clear.
  • Excellent left-right separation, although a noticeable bias to the bottom speaker
  • DA content widens the sound stage past the phone but does not add 3D Spatial height. The DA EQ has Automatic and pre-sets, including a fully customisable one.
  • It is primarily Bright Vocal (bass recessed, mid/treble boosted) with a bit of high-bass, but the unexplained dip at 500Hz and the somewhat choppy frequency response could use work. It is firmware fixable.

Build – Solid as brick – Exceed

It is not a small phone at 158.76 x 74.38 x 8.26mm x 189g, but it’s a good 30-40g lighter than most similar screen-size flagships. It has a solid aircraft aluminium frame, Gorilla Glass Victus and an Aramid Kevlar back. Add to that MIL-STD-810H (it will withstand a fall from 1.3m and much more). With IP68 and it is a winner.

Add Motorola’s 2-year warranty (which is ahead of Samsung by one year), and this is a keeper that will withstand heavy use.

Motorola ThinkPhone

OS – Android 13 – Pass+

It will get Android 14, 15 and 16, three years of monthly Security patches and a further year of bi-monthly patches. This is unbeatable and means you can plan to have this phone for 3-5 years without issue.

It has almost pure Android with a very light My UX 3.0 user experience that is more about adding value via Moto actions and the camera app. No Motorola account is required. It adds:

  • Personalise: Styles, Wallpapers, Layout
  • Display: Peek Display, Attentive Display
  • Gestures: Power Touch, Quick Capture, Fast Flashlight, Three-finger screenshot, Pick up to silence, Screenshot toolkit, Media controls
  • Play: Games, Media controls, Dolby Atmos

Having used Samsung’s OneUI and Motorola’s My UX, I appreciate the cleaner My UX and its less intrusiveness.

Android Enterprise certified and ThinkShield for Mobile – Not Tested

ThinkShield for Mobile is more for enterprise use. Here is the link that will explain it but take note of Moto Threat Defence (malware protection) and Moto Safe (prevents data loss and unauthorised access). I like the secure folder and Moto KeySafe that stores pins, passwords, and cryptographic keys, in a tamper-resistant safe.

Consumers can use some of the features.

Interoperability with Windows ThinkPad (well, any Windows device) – not tested

It has a Think 2 Think capability that syncs the smartphone to a PC.

  • Instant Connect: Phone and PC seamlessly discover when nearby and connect over Wi-Fi.
  • Unified Clipboard: Seamlessly transfer copied text or recent photos, scanned documents and videos between devices by pasting into any app on the destination device.
  • Unified Notifications: Phone notifications instantly appear on the Windows Action Centre. Clicking a notification auto-launches the corresponding phone app on the PC’s screen.
  • File Drop: Easily drag and drop files between Motorola ThinkPhone and PC.
  • App Streaming: Open any Android application directly on a PC.
  • Advanced Webcam: Take advantage of the powerful Motorola ThinkPhone cameras and AI capabilities, seamlessly using it as your webcam for all your video calls.
  • Instant Hotspot: Connect to the internet through one click, directly from the PC, to leverage the Motorola ThinkPhone’s 5G connectivity.

Motorola ThinkPhone Camera

Every other aspect of the Motorola ThinkPhone is close to 10/10, but the camera is ordinary, decent, and enough for your needs. Perhaps we have been spoilt with 200MP snappers and AI that shows you an image it thinks you want to see.

Note that it was a windy, overcast day, and these photos would show a bit more dynamic range under better light.

Comments

  • 1X Day Primary sensor: the colours are accurate. Good details in the background, shadows, and highlights.
  • 4X Day Primary sensor: Good colour and details – particularly good background with little noise.
  • 8X Day: Primary sensor: Pushing its limits with a noisy background – still pretty good.
  • Ultra-wide: 13MP sensor: Slightly muted colour and details. You can tell it is a different sensor from the primary.
  • Macro 13MP sensor: excellent details and colours and not as critical about 4cm focus distance.
  • Indoor office light: Slightly muted colours and good details.
  • Bokeh Depth: Better colour (AI processing), good detail and excellent bokeh background. This uses the 2MP sensor for depth.
  • Dark <40 lumens: The standard mode (not night mode) is quite decent, picking up details from the screen.
  • Night mode: Brightens the scene but blows out details – needs work.
  • Selfie: The 32MP (bins to 8MP) has natural skin tones, good detail and a range of filters to enhance any image.
  • Video (we are not video experts):
    • Primary sensor: You can shoot at 4K@30fps with OIS (1080p 60/30fps with OIS and EIS), and the day/office light results are very good.
    • Ultrawide sensor: You can shoot 4K@30fps with no OIS and 1080p@60/30fps with EIS.
    • Selfie: 4K@30fps with EIS.
    • Overall, video is good but lacks dynamic range, especially in low light.

CyberShack’s view – Motorola Thinkphone is unique and special

Motorola ThinkPhone has a lot to live up to – and it does! It is marketed as a business phone, but consumers should look at it too, as it offers so much for comparatively little.

Its main competition is the Moto Edge 30 Ultra which uses the same processor, 12GB of RAM, and a 200MP main camera. It does not have IP68 or MIL-STD-810H.

It is an unusual time as 2022 models are on runout pricing. In my opinion, it has superior specs/value to

  • Google Pixel 7 128/256GB $799/929
  • Google Pixel 7 Pro 128GB $1299
  • Any of the Samsung S22/22+
  • Any of the new Samsung Galaxy S23/+ from $1349
  • OPPO Find X5 $1199, although this is a damned good phone

Rating Explanation

  • Features: 95 – it has the right balance of features and price and lacks nothing compared to phones costing 20-50% more.
  • Value: 95 – at $999, it’s the class leader in every respect. Frankly, the price is a bargain.
  • Performance: 90 – Great performance from the 2022 Flagship processor – only slightly beaten by the 2023 SD8+ Gen 2.
  • Ease of Use: 95 – Pure Android, light My UX overlay adding value and ThinkShield. It is easy to use, and the 2+3+3 years warranty/OS Upgrades/Security patches are a bonus. Add 68W 53-minute charging, and its one of the easiest phones to own and use
  • Design: 90 – Business-like and extremely well mad. Durable, Gorilla Glass Victus, Aluminium frame and Aramid Kevlar fibre back makes this a keeper.

Reviewers Final Comment

A unique business-oriented phone that will appeal to consumers as well. It is the phone I would buy (under $1000).

CyberShack Smartphone comparison v 1.7 (E&OE)

Motorola ThinkPhone XT2039-2

BrandMotorola
ModelMotorola ThinkPhone
Model NumberXT2039-2
Price Base8/256
   Price base999
Warranty months24-months ACL
 TierEntry-level price for Flagship
WebsiteWestern Europe
FromLenovo online and selected retailers
Country of OriginChina
CompanyOwned by Lenovo (Est 1984) – a multinational technology company with its primary operational headquarters in Beijing and Morrisville, North Carolina. It is the world’s largest PC maker. It purchased Motorola Mobility from Google in 2014. Most of Lenovo’s smartphone business is now under the Motorola brand, with grand plans to become a ‘top five’ smartphone maker.
MoreCyberShack Motorola News and Reviews
Test date20-29/3/2023
Ambient temp20-28°
Release45015
Other models not for Australia (Don’t buy)There will be variants for China and different global regions. TBA

Screen

Size6.6″
TypepOLED
Flat, Curve, 2D, 3DFlat with centre O-hole
Resolution2400 x 1080
PPI402
Ratio20:9
Screen to Body %87.8
Colours bits10-bit/1.07 billion colours
Refresh Hz, adaptive.Auto ranges up to 120Hz or select 60/90/120/140Hz
Response 120HzMax touch rate 360Hz
Nits typical test500 (tested 502)
Nits max, testPeak Brightness 1200 (tested 1184)
ContrastInfinite
sRGBNatural – 100% (Tested 98%)
DCI-P3
Rec.2020 or otherNatural and saturated plus temperature adjustment
Delta E (<4 is excellent)1.4
HDR LevelCapable of HDR10+ playback scaled to screen capability
SDR UpscaleNo
Blue Light ControlYes
PWM if known175Hz – can be eliminated by the ‘prevent flickering’ option (DC dimming)
Daylight readableYes
Always on DisplayYes
Edge displayNo
AccessibilityAll Android 13 features
DRML1 for FHD HDR
Gaming<1m GTG
Up to 360Hz touch
 Snapdragon Elite Gaming features include:
 Variable Rate Shading for faster graphics performance.
 Qualcomm Game Quick Touch increases display responsiveness.
Updatable drivers deliver the latest graphics and performance improvements in real-time.
Screen protectionGorilla Glass Victus
CommentExcellent 10-bit, 1.07 billion colour screen with far greater subtleties in colour than the 8-bit Samsung S23/+/Ultra.

Processor

Brand, Model
Qualcomm SD8+ Gen 1
nm4
CoresOcta-core (1×3.19GHz + 3 x 2.75GHz + 4 x 1.80GHz
ModemX65
AI TOPS27
Geekbench 5 Single-core1775
Geekbench 5 multi-core4636
LikeFastest 2022 processor and well-tuned to achieve speeds well above other SDD8+ Gen 1
GPUAdreno 730
GPU Test
Open CL4893
LikeCloser to Exynos 2100
Vulcan7430
RAM, type8GB LPDDR5
Storage, free, type256GB UFS 3.1 (214GB Free)
micro-SDNo
CPDT internal seq. Read MBps2060
CPDT internal seq. write MBps693
CPDT microSD read, write MBpsN/A
CPDT external (mountable?) MBps1280/180 mountable – excellent and reflects USB-C 3.1 Gen 1 5Gbps interface
CommentFast and externally mountable SSD storage means videographers can use this.
Throttle test
Max GIPS290853
Average GIPS260022
Minimum GIPS228610
% Throttle17% drop in 15 minutes
CPU Temp50°
CommentMost SD8+ Gen 1 run hot, and the glass slab is best suited to keeping it cooler. The drop is acceptable to gamers and power users, but we recommend not using a case with heavy loads.

Comms

Wi-Fi Type, modelWi-Fi 6E QCA6490 HE160
Test 2m -dBm, Mbps6GHz -31/1441-1921 (should be 2400)
Test 5m-48/1441 (should be 2400)
Test 10m-53/1253
BT Type5.3
GPS single, dualDual <3m accuracy
USB typeUSB-C 3.1 Gen 1 5Gbps Display Port 1.4
ALT DP, DeX, Ready ForDP 1.4 for Miracast audio, video screen mirror, Moto ReadyFor – 4K wireless and wired
NFCYes
Ultra-widebandNo
Sensors
   AccelerometerYes combo
   GyroYes combo
   e-CompassYes
   Barometer
   Gravity
   Pedometer
   Ambient lightYes
   Hall sensor
   ProximityYes
   OtherSAR Sensor and Sensor Hub
CommentWi-Fi 6E (6GHz) speeds were off, and I suspect this needs AU frequency-specific modifications. Wi-Fi 6 5Ghz was rock solid at 1200Mbps to 10 metres (maximum).

LTE and 5G

SIMDual Sim
   ActiveBoth are 5G capable and active except when one is in use.
Ring tone single, dualDual ring tones – excellent
VoLTECarrier dependent
Wi-Fi callingCarrier dependent
4G BandsB1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/13/17/18/19/20/25/26/ 28/32/34/38/39/40/41/42/43/48/66
CommentAll Australian and most world bands
5G sub-6Ghzn1/2/3/5/7/8/20/28/38/40/41/66/77/78
CommentAll Australian 5G sub-6 and low bands
mmWaveNo
Test Boost Mobile, Telstra
   UL, DL, ms74.7/32.4/24ms
   Tower 1 -dBm, fW or pW-84/2.5-6pW
   Tower 2-85/2.5-3.2pW
   Tower 3-90/1-2.5pW
   Tower 4-93/501fW to 1Pw
CommentIt has eight antennae and gives excellent signal strength seeing four towers. Overall it should be a good city, suburbs and regional use phone.

Battery

mAh5000
Charger, type, supplied68W 5V/3A/15W  9V/3A/27W 15V/3A/45W 20V/3.4A/68W and 11/6.2A/68.2W with 5W cable.
 PD, QC level68W capable with USB-C PD charger and 5A capable cable
Qi, wattage15W
Reverse Qi or cable
Test (60Hz or adaptive screen)Adaptive mode screen
   Charge % 30mins0.68
   Charge 0-100%53 minutes
   Charge Qi, W
Using Belkin Boost Charge 15W fast wireless charge
As fast as 2.5 hours with 15W compatible charger like Belkin Boost Up.
   Charge 5V, 2AApprox 4 hours
   Video loop 50%, aeroplane24+ hours
   PC Mark 3 battery16 hours 25 minutes
   GFX Bench Manhattan batteryWould not run (seems to be an SD8 Gen 1 issue)
   GFX Bench T-Rex459.6 minutes (7.66 hours) 6704 frames
   Drain 100-0% full load screen on4 hours 30 minutes
   mA full load2000-2260mA
   mA Watt idle Screen on280-300mA
   Estimate loss at max refreshProbably about 20% less battery
   Estimate typical useMotorola claims up to 36 hours. The video loop is over 24 hours, making it one of the longest-lasting batteries tested in 2022/2023. Heavy users should count on a daily top-up (at 53 minutes, who cares), but typical users will see two days.
CommentThis is a power user’s phone with a 53-minute recharge (with the 68W adapter) and a 15W Qi charge. Hard to beat.

Sound

SpeakersTop forward, up-firing and bottom down-firing stereo.
TuningNo
AMPQualcomm Aqusitic sound
Dolby Atmos decodeDolby Atmos decode to 2.0 speakers.
Hi-ResN/A
3.5mmNo
BT CodecsSBC, AAC, aptX (and variants), LDAC
MultipointCan connect to two devices
Dolby Atmos (DA)Yes – auto, movie, music, voice and games mode
EQDA pre-sets and custom mode EQ
MicsDual with noise cancelling
Test dB – all on EQ flat DA off
   Volume max82
   Media (music)75
   Ring82
   Alarm80
   Notifications72
   Earpiece60
   Hands-freeDecent noise reduction and volume levels were quite good and clear.
   BT headphonesExcellent left-right separation and DA makes quite a difference with DA content.

Sound quality

Deep Bass 20-40HzNil
Middle Bass 40-100HzNil
High Bass 100-200Hz
Low Mid 200-400HzStill building to 400Hz.
Mid 4000-1000HzDip at 500Hz but flat
High-Mid 1-2kHzFlatish
Low Treble 2-4kHzFlatish
Mid Treble 4-6kHzFlatish
High Treble 6-10kHzSteep decline to 20kHz
Dog Whistle 10-20kHzSteep decline to 20kHz
Sound Signature typeIt is mostly Bright Vocal (bass recessed, mid/treble boosted), but the unexplained dip at 500Hz and the somewhat choppy frequency response could use work. It is firmware fixable. At first, we suspected Moto’s Crystal Talk AI was influencing the sound quality.
   SoundstageDistinct bias to the bottom speaker. Only as wide as the phone. DA content widens the sound stage. Left and right separation is good.
CommentThe sound signature is average, helped with a bit of high-bass.

Build

Size (H X W x D)158.76 x 74.38 x 8.26mm
Weight grams189g
Front glassGG Victus
Rear materialAramid Kevlar fibre is stronger than steel but is a fingerprint magnet – use the bumper case.
FrameAircraft Aluminium
IP rating68 – 1.5M for 30 minutes
ColoursCarbon Black
Pen, Stylus supportNo
In the box
   Charger68W
   USB cableUSB-C to USB-C 5W capable cable
   BudsYes – USB-C
   Bumper coverYes
CommentIt has a charger in the box (Samsung does not), buds and a bumper cover. MIL-STD-810H means very well made.

OS

Android13 – Almost pure Android
Security patch date44986
UIMy UX 3.0
Display: Peek Display, Attentive Display
Gestures: Quick capture, Fast flashlight, Three-finger screenshot, Lift to unlock, Flip For DND, Pick up to silence, Swipe to split
OS upgrade policyThree upgrades, e.g., 16
Security patch policyMonthly security patches for at least three years, then a further year of bi-monthly
BloatwarePure Android – all Google Apps. You can uninstall Facebook.
OtherPlay: Gametime Audio
CommentMy UX 3.0 adds value to pure Android. There is an assignable RED button on the left side.
Security
Fingerprint sensor location, typeUnder Glass optical
Face IDYes 2D only
OtherLenovo ThinkShield is more for enterprise use.

Motorola ThinkPhone Camera

Rear PrimaryWide
  MP50.3MP bins to 12.6MP
   SensorOmnivision OV50a
   FocusPDAF Omni Directional
   f-stop1.8
   um1 bins to 2
  FOV° (stated, actual)73.4-86°
   StabilisationOIS
   Zoom8X digital
Rear 2Ultra-wide
   MP13MP
   SensorHynix HI336
   FocusAF/Fixed Macro
   f-stop2.2
   um1.12
  FOV (stated, actual)120
   StabilisationNo
   ZoomNo
Rear 3Depth
   MP2MP
   SensorGalaxyCore GC02
   FocusFixed
   f-stop2.4
   um1.75
  FOV (stated, actual)N/A
   StabilisationNo
   ZoomNo
   Video max4K@30fps
   FlashYes
   Auto-HDRYes
Shooting modes:
Ultra-Res
Pro (w/ Long Exposure)
360° Panorama
AR Stickers
Live Photo/Video Filters
Dual Capture
Night Vision
Portrait (w/ HDR)
Scan
Spot Colour
Cut-out
Artificial intelligence:
Auto Smile Capture
Smart Composition
Shot Optimization
Auto Night Vision
Other features:
Burst shot
Timer
Assistive Grid
Watermark
Leveller
RAW photo output
HDR
Active photos
   QR code readerBarcode scanner and Google Lens
   Night modeAI

Motorola ThinkPhone Front

FrontSelfie
  MP32MP bins to 8MP
   SensorOmniVision OV32B40
   FocusFixed
   f-stop2.4
   um.7 bins to 1.4
  FOV (stated, actual)70.1-80.6°
   StabilisationNo
   FlashScreen fill
   Zoom8X Digital
   Video max4K@30fps
    FeaturesShooting modes:
Dual Capture
Spot Color
Timelapse (w/ Hyperlapse)
Other features:
Video Stabilization
Face Beauty
Comment• 1X Day Primary sensor: the colours are accurate. Good details in the background, shadows, and highlights.
• 4X Day Primary sensor: Good colour and details – particularly good background with little noise
• 8X Day: Primary sensor: Pushing its limits with a noisy background – still pretty good
• Ultra-wide: 13MP sensor: Slightly muted colour and details. You can tell it is a different sensor from the primary.
• Macro 13MP sensor: excellent details and colours and not as critical about 4cm focus distance.
• Indoor office light: Slightly muted colours and good details
• Bokeh Depth: Better colour (AI processing), good detail and excellent bokeh background. This uses the 2MP sensor for depth.
• Dark <40 lumens: The standard mode (not night mode) is quite decent, picking up details from the screen.
• Night mode: Brightens the scene but blows out details – needs work
• Selfie: The 32MP (bins to 8MP) has natural skin tones, good detail and a range of filters to enhance any image.
• Video (we are not video experts):
o Primary sensor: You can shoot at 4K@30fps with OIS (1080p 60/30fps with OIS and EIS), and the day/office light results are very good.
o Ultrawide sensor: You can shoot 4K@30fps with no OIS and 1080p@60/30fps with EIS.
o Selfie: 4K@30fps with EIS.
o Overall video is good but lacks dynamic range, especially in low light.

Ratings

Features9.5
It has the right balance of features and price and lacks nothing compared to phones costing 20-50% more. Love the 68W and QI charge, MIL-STD/IP68 build and almost pure Android.
Value9.5
At $999, it’s the class leader in every respect. Frankly, the price is a bargain.
Performance9
Excellent performance from the 2022 Flagship processor – only slightly beaten by the 2023 SD8+ Gen 2.
Ease of Use9.5
Pure Android, light My UX overlay adding value and ThinkShield. It is easy to use, and the 2+3+3 years warranty/OS Upgrades/Security patches are a bonus. Add 68W 53-minute charging, and its one of the easiest phones to own and use
Design9
Business-like and exceptionally well-made. Durable, Gorilla Glass Victus, Aluminium frame and Aramid Kevlar fibre back makes this a keeper.
Rating out of 109.3

Motorola ThinkPhone, Motorola ThinkPhone, Motorola ThinkPhone

Motorola ThinkPhone, 8/256, 5G, dual sim, Model XT2309-2

$999
9.3

Features

9.5/10

Value

9.5/10

Performance

9.0/10

Ease of Use

9.5/10

Design

9.0/10

Pros

  • Business, Stylish, MIL-STD-810H and IP68 build
  • Great battery life, 68W charger inbox and 53-minute fast charge
  • A decent camera – all that you need
  • USB-C 3.1 Gen 1 alt DP/Ready For
  • Very strong phone signal strength for the city, suburbs, regional and rural use

Cons

  • The camera system is good, not great,
  • It can get a tad hot under load
  • Stereo speakers could use work
  • Wi-Fi 6E needs work

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