Motorola Triumph Review: A Great Reason Not to Buy Your Staff iPhones
Triumph, indeed!
The Motorola Triumph (which goes on sale tomorrow) is Virgin Mobile's third Android-powered prepaid smartphone, and it's by far the best. In fact, I'll go on record saying it's the best no-contract phone you can buy, period.
That's in part because it stands to save you money over the cost of say, a BlackBerry or iPhone -- the more traditional go-to phones for business users. Read on to find out how much, and why the Triumph can stand toe-to-toe with other mid-range Android models.
Specs alone don't tell the whole tale, but they tell a lot. The Triumph features a 1GHz Snapdragon processor, 32GB of onboard RAM, a 4.1-inch screen (much roomier than the iPhone 4's), a 5-megapixel rear camera, and a front-facing VGA camera for video chats.
All this comes packed into a phone that's surprisingly thin and light. I can't say it's particularly attractive, a dull black plastic slab, but so what? The Triumph's got it where it counts.
For one thing, it's fast. I found it just as responsive as the much pricier Samsung Nexus S 4G: apps load instantly, Web pages scroll quickly, and Angry Birds runs beautifully. (Laugh if you want, but the game is a great benchmark for Android phones.)
Though positioned as a consumer phone (Virgin's all about social this and music that), the Triumph definitely works for business owners and employees. It's not only as powerful and versatile as, say, an iPhone, it's also cheaper -- perhaps considerably so.
As always, Virgin Mobile requires no contract. Monthly service plans (which, sadly, have just gone up a bit) are available for $35, $45, or $55, each with unlimited data. Assuming you opt for, say, the $45 plan, which includes 1,200 voice minutes (more than enough for most users), that's a pretty hefty savings over the $70/month minimum you'll pay AT&T or Verizon.
And suppose you're buying phones for 10 employees. At a bare minimum, you stand to save $3,600 per year over most contract smartphones.
My gripes with the Triumph are few and minor. I don't like the icon used for the Menu button (nothing about it says "menu"), and I miss having a dedicated camera button. Also, as with other Sprint/Virgin Mobile phones I've tested, 3G performance is less than stellar -- at least in my area. (AT&T and Verizon are both excellent.) Your mileage will almost certainly vary, but I'd try to road-test a Triumph before buying, just to be sure.
Until now, a prepaid smartphone meant compromising on features or performance -- sometimes both. The Motorola Triumph is an excellent phone for users who want the full Android experience without compromise -- and without the hefty monthly bill.
Pros: Big, beautiful screen. Thin, light, and amazingly fast. Takes great photos. Supports 720p video output via HDMI. Three affordable service plans to choose from.
Cons: Dull design. No dedicated camera button. Phone itself is on the pricey side.
Should You Buy It? Definitely. There's no better deal to be had on a full-featured, contract-free smartphone.
Price: $299.99 plus monthly service.
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