To say that today's smartphones are as
powerful as personal computers were a decade ago is quickly becoming cliché, but that doesn't make it any less
true. Witness the Cingular 8125: despite being small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, this powerful quad-band
phone packs a 200 MHz processor, 64MB of RAM, enough on-board memory to store scores of MP3s, pictures or videos, and a
MiniSD slot to add gigabytes of additional storage, as needed. In other words, the 8125 is a perfectly respectable
personal computer that just happens to fit in your pant pocket. And did we mention that this
little PC-turned-phone should work on pretty much any GSM network in the free world (providing it's unlocked)?
Click on to read our review.
It's a powerful combination. After testing the 8125 for the last few days, it's clear that Cingular's latest
Windows-powered smartphone may be its best yet (it is an HTC, after all). First, the phone itself is solid. Despite a
rather measly 5 hours of talk time, the 8125 maintained a clear signal most of the time, and the Microsoft and
HTC-designed software made it easy to dial phone numbers, despite the lack of a number pad. Thanks to advances to
Microsoft's latest mobile operating system, Windows Mobile 5.0, the phone will automatically pull up contacts from your
SIM card or on-board memory once you start dialing, so you never have to go digging for a phone number. (One gripe: you
still can't scroll through numbers on the virtual number pad using the directional keys, so that means you'll have to
use the stylus, or your finger.)
But if you're seriously considering dropping $350 for this, its ability to make calls is just one necessary
function, and possibly not the most important one. And it's the non-phone features that set the 8125 apart. Like many
of the latest smartphones, this device offers built-in WiFi, Bluetooth, and a high-speed EDGE radio, making it a cinch
to get online. Unlike many of the other phones out there, the 8125's QWERTY keyboard is a dream. While the Treo's
keyboard is still considered by many to be the standard-bearer, this phones keyboard is actually roomier and easier to
use. Backlit and with slightly raised keys, the 8125 makes it easy to bang out emails, text messages, and do quick web
searches.
More importantly, the 8125 offers full native support for all Microsoft Office
documents, which means you can seriously consider leaving your laptop at home next time you head off on a quick
business trip. You can create, save, and edit Word and Excel documents on the 8125 and send them to your PC without
worrying about any annoying formatting problems that used to occur on early revisions. (And vice versa: Documents
created in your desktop translate perfectly onto the mobile version of Microsoft's office products.) The 320 x 240 QVGA
screen is bright enough -- and big enough -- to make manipulating documents easy enough that you can temporarily forget
you're working on a handheld device.
There's more, of course: basic
support for all Office documents, a decent 1.3 megapixel camera, and, of course, the ability to sync up the 8125 with
your Outlook email, contacts and appointments. Ambitious users can also download and watch Windows Media content on the
8125, including transferring recorded Tivo programs to the phone via USB or transferring songs from music PlaysForSure
services such as Yahoo Music Unlimited or Napster To Go. And maybe that's where the similarities between the 8125 and
your PC of yesteryear end: your old PC would have a hard time keeping up. It's definitely better suited for the power
user, but the 8125 may be one of the best mobile PC replacements we've seen yet see on the US market.
posted Feb 21st 2006 12:08PM
hi some body help me plis, in my 8125 i use the internet explorer but every time appear the address is not valid,check address and try again, and the address is correct,my email is working good, some knows what happend? THANKS!!
Oh yes.... This is the best phone I ever used and I use alot of them. I even made a 22 minute video review on it and uploaded it to youTUBE. Check it out here :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICIw1q1CEFg
Hey! Wasn't the T-Mobile MDA supposed to be released today. I'm really getting impatient
Does this have USB 2.0? If so, I'll have to pick it when I win the contest. USB 1.1 takes too long to sync with Windows Media Player on my SMT5600.
*crosses fingers* should get mine in next day or 2...
Like Mike, I'm hoping it has USB 2.0 and not USB 1.
#2 - Yeah, the MDA is released today. One thing that the 8125 has over the MDA is the keypad. The MDA keypad is pretty bad compared to the 8125's.
How does it compare to the T-Mobile MDA?
A TMO rep over the weekend told me that the MDA would be available on Monday but when I went to pick one up they pushed the date to Tuesday today. I was pretty upset about it but what can you do? I put my name down on a waiting list, I'm number 15 and the tmobile store opens in 10 minutes. I can't wait to get my hands on the device. I just wish it looked as nice as the 8125 but I'm not a fan of Cingulars service. The TMobile online store has the MDA listed at $399 and amazon has it availabe for $349 with a $50 mail-in rebate but there's a 1-2 week shipping window. It's a hefty chunk of change to drop on a phone but it sounds like it's gonna be worth it.
Oooohhhh! I would cut off a limb to get one of these! Need to dump money in my car first.
Nice to see some reviews of this sexxy sexxxxxxyy beast finally posted though! Thanks!
- Kiteless
I would love to know what kind of EDGE speed you achieved with this.
Can you do a broadband speed test?
My initial tests with a Qtek 9100 were somewhat disappointing.
Thems phones be nice. i want one of thems.
would i be able to get this unlocked in a phone shop in the uk?
what i meant is if i won this in the giveaway would i be able to get it unlocked here
I just picked up my MDA about 20 minutes ago. It was $350 with a $50 mail in rebate after my 2 year renewal. I definitely can't wait to get out of work now and get home and play with it. I have to agree that the 8125 has a better looking keypad but I like the outside of the MDA much better.
I would give my left *nut* for that phone...on 2nd thought just $350 and another 2 years of my mobile communication to Cingular would be enough. ;-)
That phone is sooo sexy I might uncontrolably show it my OOhh face!!
The 8125 is a great device. I am still getting adjusted to it, but it performs well and has great features. I sure would like to have another model to compare :)
How is the 8125 keypad better than the MDA?
Cingular is coming out with some really cool ones, the problem is that they don't unlock their phones like TMo does, so I kinda shy away from them.
I've now had my 8125 for more than one week. It is simply the best PDA Phone I've ever used.
I installed Microsofts VoiceDialing software (to use instead of the built in software) and this phone is practically perfect.
The keyboard is better than the MDA because the buttons are slightly larger and the backlight is somehow easier to view (white instead of blue).
where do i get voice dialing software for a cingular 8125
#1, I want your toys, but you can keep the wigger-tastic colloquial speech.
It's hard to take you serious when you say something like, "I could run down the specs but f_ that sh_."
Does any one know of a similar device with a 400MHz+ processor and a VGA display?
Does anyone know if this phone will support the upcoming microsoft mobile 5.0 security feature pack? With the processor only 200mhz it will not run the newest version of skype that has a minimum requirement of 312mhz. This is the one reason i have not purchased the phone. I don't see much detail in the article on how it performed with a full memory card and having a few apps running. Also, how about wireless at the same time the phone is being used.
I had to settle with an LG F9200 instead of this phone, hopefully I'll be able to save up some money and get me one of these.
I wonder if there is any difference between the Cingular 8125 and the t-Mobile MDA. I hope you review the MDA soon.
OMG....My chance to win is at around 9000 to 1 now...Jesus
Daniel - I have heard that if you push your cell company hard enough... they will unlock it for you. This is all second hand info that I am giving you, but if you tell them that you do a lot of international traveling, you might be able to get it unlocked.
Can anyone who actually works at Tmobile or Cingular etc... confirm or deny?
Now that looks great. Nice big screen, alot of features, good technical specs and a great keyboard.
Giving one of those away too ? ;)
Can you post a picture of someone actually using the 8125? I like the form factor, but concern that it's too big for practical use?
Hopefully I'll win me one of these in the contest!!
Can anyone get some PERFORMANCE reviews on this thing? I want to know how the TI OMAP performs against an Intel XScale (especially for things like emulation).
I've had a QTek 9100 for a few months now (imported) so I think I can speak with some impunity...
USB - It's 1.1, not 2.0. But unless you're filling up 1GB+ to your MicroSD it's not really an issue as onboard you can only 64MB and that's after you gank the OS + default installation of apps.
The Bluetooth hardware however is 2.0, although it's still only working at 1.1 tx/rx rates. The real bummer is how horrible MS's bluetooth stack is compared to Widcomm's (Which I had on my previous iPaq 4355). Basicly you can OBEX push files/contacts to the phone, and that's it. Did I mention it's horrible? Sorry, that was an understatement.
Don't be fooled by the 200MHz of the CPU, it's OMAP 200MHz which is a dualcore cpu. You have two brains in that single 200MHz brain, and some of the variants of this phone shipped with Skype as part of their default software install (and it made the phone perform HORRIBLY according to most early reports).
Major differences between the TMO MDA and Cingular's 8125 are the obviously differences between the layout of buttons on each unit, and slightly different keyboard keys (MDA's are a bit more rounded, 8125's are a bit squarer - personally the spacing of the round keys is a plus for my poorly opposed thumbs)
Im thinkin of picking up a O2 mini s/Qtek 9100/MDA--> do any of you know the compatibility of these smart phones w/ Apple computers? I run a 12 inch G4 ibook. Thanks guys!
wheew, this is punishing!
i want one... maybe a treo killer
@ Ninjabong
While you are correct in that it's not 100% accurate to compare a 200 MHz OMAP processor to an Intel Xscale... you are incorrect about the "dual-core" meaning there are two brains.
The OMAP processor indeed has two cores, but only one of those cores is used to run the operating system, in this case Windows Mobile. The other core is a DSP used for communications.
This is a stark contrast to the dual-core that Intel and AMD are working on in the desktop and laptop areas. Those are _symmetric_ meaning there are two of the same core (used to run the OS).
The TI processor with two cores basically helps save space and make the phone smaller by not requiring a separate chip for a DSP. It doesn't do anything for the speed for such things as playing back video or etc.
gimme, gimme, gimme You know how boys always need the latest toys.
Windows Mobile sync with the Mac is possible... you can do it with software from a company called MarkSpace.
http://www.markspace.com/missingsync_windowsmobile.php
Unfortunately, Windows Mobile 5.0 support is not there yet, but should be ready soon.
I wish I only paid 350 for this, I'm already a Cingular slave customer, so I dropped 450 for this when I ordered it today. I can't wait till it shows up Friday!
OK. Had mine for a week now and agree with most everyone's reviews. A few gripes after a week....(1) is the lack of adjustment to the keyboard backlight timeout. It goes off in like 3 seconds unless you're typing and in the dark, it's not good. I would like to be able to adjust the backlighting. (2) The thing gets slow when you have multiple tasks running. I have had to remove the battery to "reboot" a few times already. (3) I have both a Treo and a SMT5600 and while I like Windows software better, I have to say the Treo is better at one-handed operation. The 8125 is tough to dial on the go and find the right number for the contact you are dialing. All you do is push the first three letters of the contact on the Treo and you're there, ready to dial. (4) Signal strength is NOT that good. Put the Treo, the SMT5600 and the 8125 together and the 8125 struggles to find a signal, plain and simple.
These complaints aside, it is a great device and probably trumps the Treo in the end (if you can live without one-handed operation). I still like and use the SMT5600 for its great phone characteristics..but it comes in 3rd, as the PDA functions jsut aren't as strong.
Why nobody talks about WIFI and BLUETOOTH, are we on WIFIg and BLUETOOTH 2.0/
#1 that video must be unintentional comedy, but it has made me more insterested in getting the HTC Wizard.
How the Cingular 8125 compares to iMATE JAMin?
Any body knows Cingular's price for 1 year contract?
This review was mediocre. I expected so much more from Engadget Mobile -- more pictures; more tests of call quality (inside buildings; what city; quality versus another phone). Talk me about how fast web pages loaded. I want to see how Powerpoint files look on the screen. How are the accessories.
Yikes.
Rightclick, We're definitely still hammering out our review process, but thanks for the input! We'll be sure to refine our reviews with comments like this.
Best, Ryan
Yes, I agree. This review was good a getting me excited but lacking in specifics details like rightclick mentions.
I learned more about the device from reading the comments from Nijabong and Benson Leung.
The review that NO ONE has done yet is a side-by-side Cingular 8125 / T-Mobile USA MDA comparison.
Also no-one has done a side-by-side Cingular 2185 / T-Mobile USA SDA comparison.
Maybe Engadget could be the first?
#27-Engadget IS giving this phone away and has been for the last couple days.
#28-The phone is much much smaller than you would think. It easily fits in the hand. It's about half as big as I imagined it to be after first seeing the pics a couple months ago. The body is almost the exact same size as a Blackberry 7100.
It's too bad the processor is so slow.
Great review. I can't wait to get one.