Motorola is back in the game with the cd930, a dual-band GSM beast that is built like a brick outhouse and features a display that actually knows what it’s doing. Released in 1998, this phone is a godsend for anyone on the Orange network, as it comfortably handles both 900 and 1800 MHz bands, ensuring you actually have a signal when you’re roaming abroad or just stuck in a particularly thick-walled pub in Bromley. The headline feature here is “VoiceNotes,” a dedicated side button that lets you record up to three minutes of voice memos. It’s the perfect “I don’t have a pen” solution for recording directions or just reminding yourself to buy more milk later.
The display uses Motorola’s “Optimax” technology, a high-contrast holographic screen that is genuinely impressive, especially in direct sunlight where other phones usually turn into useless slabs of glass. It’s also got a built-in vibration alert, which is still a luxury in some circles. However, let’s talk about the “Personality” user interface, navigating this thing is still about as intuitive as trying to read a map upside down in a hurricane. It’s a clunky experience compared to the Finnish competition, and at 120g, it’s got some decent heft to it. But if you want a phone that feels like it was engineered by people who build tanks, the cd930 is a reliable, dual-band workhorse that won’t let you down.