Mobile & Wireless Group (MWg) is a Singapore based start-up company established to develop and market premium, converged mobile devices. It was Founded by the team responsible for O2’s ground-breaking range of PDA-phones. The MWg Zinc II is the successor to the O2 Xda Zinc launched by MWg. Let’s take it for a spin and see how well it performs!
INTRODUCTION
Let’s talk specs. Running on Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional, the Zinc II sports a 500MHz Samsung SC32442 CPU with 256MB ROM and 64MB RAM. The screen is 2.8" and QVGA resolution. In terms of wireless radios, the device has quadband GSM (850/900/1800/1900) and triband UMTS (850/1900/2100) with HSDPA. It does WiFI b/g, Bluetooth 2.0, GPS, and has an FM radio, plus a 2.0MP on the rear with autofocus. The device has a 3-row slide-out backlit QWERTY keyboard. Powering it all is a 1530mAh battery. For even more specs, check out PDAdb.net.
WHAT’S HOT
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Device
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Size (inches)
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Weight (grams | ounces)
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4.44" x 2.47" x 0.52"
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132 | 4.65
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|
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4.44" x 2.27" x 0.63"
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156 | 5.61
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|
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4.74" x 2.63" x 0.43"
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157 | 5.53
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|
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4.33" x 2.09" x 0.59"
|
117 | 4.12
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|
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4.66" x 2.48" x 0.47"
|
130 | 4.58
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|
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4.56" x 2.33" x 0.67"
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188 | 6.63
|
|
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4.64" x 2.36" x 0.48"
|
129 | 4.55
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|
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3.96" x 2.34" x 0.67"
|
133 | 4.76
|
|
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4.68" x 2.44" x 0.67"
|
188 | 6.63
|
|
|
4.58" x 2.42" x 0.47"
|
120 | 4.20
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|
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4.56" x 2.33" x 0.65"
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178 | 6.28
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|
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3.92" x 2.41" x 0.60"
|
137 | 4.83
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|
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4.24" x 2.09" x 0.53"
|
117 | 4.12
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|
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4.17" x 2.00" x 0.85"
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151 | 5.34
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|
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4.41" x 2.24" x 0.49"
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122 | 4.30
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|
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4.57" x 1.70" x 0.64"
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140 | 4.94
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|
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4.88" x 2.44" x 0.53"
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130 | 4.56
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|
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4.21" x 2.20" x 0.55"
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120 | 4.20
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|
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4.53" x 2.47" x 0.47"
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146 | 5.15
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|
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4.63" x 2.19" x 0.67"
|
158 | 5.57
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|
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4.35" x 2.07" x 0.67"
|
158 | 5.57
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|
|
4.56" x 2.41" x 0.51"
|
125 | 4.41
|
|
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4.44" x 2.36" x 0.55"
|
133 | 4.69
|
|
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4.01" x 1.98" x 0.55"
|
124 | 4.37
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|
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8.28" x 4.67" x 1.08"
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640 | 22.5
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4.48" x 2.52" x 0.59"
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154 | 5.43
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|
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4.17" x 2.38" x 0.68"
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147 | 5.18
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|
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4.01" x 2.00" x 0.71"
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165 | 5.82
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|
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4.41" x 2.24" x 0.49"
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122 | 4.30
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|
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4.41" x 2.28" x 0.73"
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140 | 4.94
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|
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4.01" x 2.00" x 0.45"
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110 | 3.88
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|
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4.56" x 2.36" x 0.70"
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200 | 7.05
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|
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4.30" x 2.40" x 0.60"
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120 | 4.23
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|
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4.20" x 2.30" x 0.60"
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136 | 4.79
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|
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3.70" x 2.30" x 0.60"
|
126 | 4.44
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|
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4.48" x 2.39" x 0.51"
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116 | 4.09
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|
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4.60" x 2.60" x 0.50"
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134 | 4.70
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|
|
4.10" x 2.10" x 0.60"
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150 | 5.30
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|
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4.40" x 2.32" x 0.75"
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190 | 6.70
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PRODUCT FEATURES
Here is the unboxing of MWg Zinc II.
The MWg Zinc II sports a flush touchscreen design. The Windows Mobile soft keys are really soft keys, unlike other devices there are no hard buttons for these keys, you just touch the screen.
Here is the AT&T Tilt (HTC Kaiser) next to the MWg Zinc II. The MWg Zinc II is slightly smaller and is sleeker with no hard edges.
The AT&T Tilt on top is slightly thicker than the MWg Zinc II.
Here is a video tour of the MWg Zinc II external features.
This video focuses on how fast the SirF III GPS chip acquires your location, 3G data speeds and the quality of still pictures taken with the 2MP camera. The My Mobiler freeware Windows Mobile application was used for this video. The
mobile DSL Reports
speed test was used to determine 3G data speeds.
This video reviews the included software. All of the Windows Mobile 6.1 software is included, however MWg does not include much else.
The MWg Zinc II screen rotation speed is excellent. The membrane keyboard takes a little practices but works well.
The video of MWg Zinc II usability test based on the original
pocketnow.com – Usability Tests
.Here is the list of tests I run through.
- Switch between the email, contacts and calendar applications
- Open a 3rd party application (Windows Live Search) buried within the interface
- Open a favorite web page from the home screen
- Start playing music from a specific artist
- Add a new contact beginning from the home screen using the following details:
Name: John Zorn, Work Phone: 800.555.1212, E-mail: test@example.com - Compose and send a specified E-mail to that contact (beginning from home screen; no cheating and using the contact you’ve just created and Send E-mail to) using the following details:
To: John Zorn
Subject: Test
Message: The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog.
The MWg Zinc II is a solid performer. I had no issues with it. My only three wishes are:
BUGS AND WISHES
- A dedicated headphone jack
- More pre installed software like Adobe Reader (especially for the price).
- A Quad band 3G radio for use with T-Mobile USA 3G network
The Mwg Zinc II can be purchased from Expansys USA unlocked for $599.
PURCHASING
PROS
Excellent touch responsiveness
Fast GPS location acquisition
Unlocked
- Quadband GSM/Triband UMTS
- WiFi/HSDPA
CONS
Lack of included software like Adobe Reader
No dedicated headphone jack
- Screen only QVGA
No cover on Micro SD slot
| Value |  |
| Ease of Use |
 |
| Features | |
Overall |
|
The MWg Zinc II is a solid performer and I think it is what the AT&T Tilt (HTC Kaiser) should have been out of the box. That said, given the competition that is forming out there with the HTC Touch Pro, Samsung Omnia and Sony/Ericsson Xperia X1, the Zinc II does not dazzle. It is somewhat of a basic Windows Mobile smartphone and offers very little user interface advances other than an excellent finger touch sensitive screen (for a Windows Mobile device). My conclusion is that if you do not want to be on the bleeding edge, and want a solid full featured unlocked smartphone with Windows Mobile 6.1 the MWg Zinc II should be on your short list.
OVERALL IMPRESSION
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