The VGA camera shoots photos in three resolutions, from 640x480 down to 160x120, and three quality settings. You also can adjust the brightness and white balance, choose one of 10 fun frames, use a self-timer and multishot mode, activate a date/time stamp, and select one of six color tones. You also can use one of eight shutter sounds or you can silence the effect completely. Photo quality was acceptable for a VGA camera, though not great. Colors were faded and images were grainy. The Mako does not shoot video.
You can personalize the Mako with a variety of wallpapers, screensavers, and a banner. It includes just one game--Brick Attack--but you can buy more titles. Just keep in mind that the Kyocera supports BREW instead of Java. You also can get more additional personalization options and ringtones from MertroPCS via the WAP 2.0 Web browser.
Performance
We tested the dual-band Kyocera Mako S4000 (CDMA 800/1900) in San Francisco using MetroPCS service. Call quality was quite respectable with a clear signal and natural-sounding voices. The volume could be a bit louder, but it should be fine for most environments. We also noticed that the audio was a bit flat at times, though it wasn't enough to be a problem.
On their end, callers said we sounded fine. They could tell we were using a cell phone, but we encountered few complaints beyond a couple of reports of static. Automated calling systems could understand us as well, but it was best if we were placing the call in a quiet room. Speakerphone calls were just OK; the audio was clear, but it had a tinny quality and the volume was too low. On the upside, you can activate the speakerphone prior to making a call.
The Mako has a rated battery life of 4.16 hours. It has a tested talk time of 5 hours and 2 minutes. According to FCC radiation tests the Mako has an SAR of 1.23 watts per kilogram.
What You'll Pay
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