Motorola Debut i856 user reviews (Boost Mobile)

Pros When it worked, decent reception. .

Cons Poor quality, 90 day warranty, Motorola not addressing widely reported problems with screen.

Summary I spent $185 for the i856. Many users are reporting a problem with a white screen. Though I bought it only a little more than three months ago, Motorola was going to charge $110 to repair it (though a new one can be purchased today for about $100. Worse, the problem I am having has been reported by others as well. Fortunately, Boost now carries the Sanyo. Avoid this phone and avoid Motorola.

Also, music player very basic (for example, can't fast forward, or delete song). If a call comes in, will move longer Podcast to a much earlier spot, so you have to relisten to it. Poor screen quality. Rudimentary Internet access (doesn't work with things like Google Maps).

Additional problems with headphone jack (I often have to tweak the plug to get it to work, very annoying).

Pros Good Clear Phone Calls
Great 2 Way service
Improved texting functions (still not to par with other Carriers)
Durable design phone
Better than average rural coverage signal strength

Cons poor battery life (but no different than other similar IDEN phones I have had)
clumsy Navigation key to navigate thru different phone options
Texting is better but still is kind of frustrating as it suggests some crazy suggestions of words

Summary Went to this phone from Sprint/Nextel service. Yes pretty much the same carrier, but this phone works better than the Phone service I was getting from Sprint and better than the 2-way which I was getting with my Hybrid Ic502 and 602. Internet is slow and behind the times, 2-way while better is still weak. BUT both do function well enough for me and I am not having any problems with text messages not going thru. If you are looking for using this phone as your computer away from home, well keep looking. BUT if you want a good phone for phone calls, direct connect, and basic text messaging, you will not go wrong with this phone. I highly recommend getting an extended battery if you don't want to charge this phone 1-2x a day, but it does charge up pretty fast. The slide keyboard does take a little time to get use to, but after that it is (my opinion) easier to use than my previous phones. Navigation key to scroll thru the menu is clumjsy but I am slowly getting use to it. Camera is decent, haven't used the music features yet. Also the $50.00 unlimited plan make this a keeper for me. Again as I have said, if you are looking for a "PHONE" and not a multimedia center to check your e-mail and surf the web, this phone is worth every penny.

Pros Looks Better than The Other Boost Mobile Phones

Cons Faulty, Non-Reliable, Wires Wear Too Quick, You Must Have Boost To Use The Phone

Summary It is the biggest piece of crap phone I have ever had. It never works right. Whatever a flex line or wire or whatever is wore out after the first 2 months. So now my screen is completely white. I can not see/send/ or do anything with my pics. I can not read my text messages even though I am paying for them. Boost told me that it was basically my fault because I was on it to much besides the fact that I paid my $55 to them without a problem to have unlimited service. Basically do not get this phone if you have people who you really need to get in contact with because this is NOT the phone for you. I would just say that it is the phone but it is boost too. I know that paying 10 dollars more for a contract is a tad bit more expensive but think about the long run. Which is cheaper' to pay a little more a month for insurance on a phone or to have to keep paying for different phones because they are to cheap to make them right.

Pros The phone is light and functional. It can do far more than I initially gave it credit for---sending pictures with messages, decent web browser, and easy to use if you refer to the Motorola manual. It is a fun, practical and productive phone to use.

Cons Screen could use a bit more resolution and better instructions on using "predictive" typing.

Summary Voice quality has been supurb---better than the Htc touch, and the palm treos I have previously owned. Great volume too. I am in Colorado Springs and have have no problem with the network to date and have made many many calls, sent text messages, and used the web browser frequently. The browser is not overly fast but I have not found it to be objectionably slow. Speed seems to be more like 2 but not quite 3G. The unlimited plan is teriffic---much of the reason the large carriers have lost my business.