Motorola announces the $1,999 Aura high-end mobile phone

Wed Oct 22, 2008 5:07PM EDT

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Motorola, still searching for its next RAZR-sized hit, announces the Aura, a new luxury mobile phone geared specifically for those with high-end tastes and even higher-end salaries.

Set for a December 4 release, the Aura, which carries a hefty $1,999, resurrects the sexy swivel design from Motorola's classic v70 and v80 handsets and combines it with a Rolex-like manufacturing process.

So, what exactly does two grand get you? A 16 million color, fully-circular LCD display (first ever in a cell phone, according to Motorola), a 62 Carat lens crafted out of sapphire for scratch resistance, a stainless steel exterior with etched designs that takes two weeks to fabricate, a Swiss-manufactured bearing for the swivel, 700+ individual components, PVD coating (similar to high-end watches), and an all aluminum keypad. 

As for the tech specs, its not bad, but not anything special, either: Quad-band GSM/EDGE (No 3G), 2-megapixel camera, MPEG-4 video playback, MP3 and WMA decoding, Stereo Bluetooth, 2GB of internal storage, and an 810mAh battery.

There's no doubt about it: The Aura looks slick, sexy, and expensive, but the short tech features combined with the high price makes this a fit for only those waiting for their private jets to be refueled.

Aura by Motorola

 

 

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  • 26 Posted by brefrench on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:12PM EDT Report Abuse

    this bullshyt isn't worth the price!!!

  • 27 Posted by hawkspride13 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:17PM EDT Report Abuse

    omg that is soooo ugly and even if i had that kind of money who in there right mind would waste that much on that and it probably cost even more to get it fixed which it will probably do easily

  • 28 Posted by videsh_patel on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:34PM EDT Report Abuse

    So your photos and videos will be cirular now? This is the dumbest phone with no features. I hope I can find someone with it so I can laugh at them. Moto if you wanted the next razr focus on the main consumer... we all can't afford a 1,999.99 phone.

  • 29 Posted by tylerarb on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:25PM EDT Report Abuse

    My RAZR looks good but works badly, a comment that I hear everywhere and also applies to my 2 year old RAZR. There was a time when Motorola actually knew a thing or two about cell phones. Those days apparently are long gone. This thing for $1999 doesn't plough any new ground technically, so it is just an overpriced gimmick that looks different or ugly (eye of the beholder) as a design strategy to announce to everyone that it is absurdly expensive. What a waste of design, engineering and financial resources! Glad that I no longer own Motorola stock.

  • 30 Posted by da_climber on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:38PM EDT Report Abuse

    There will be people that buy them that can't afford to feed their kids, just like people that buy $50,000.00 cars and live in tent. Hey man, look "I'm cool!

  • 31 Posted by oohayzme on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:45PM EDT Report Abuse

    Great timing Motorola... While the country struggles with some of the highest unemployment rates in years, while more layoffs are not only expected but certain, when the entire financial industry has crashed and has been crushed, while foreclosures are at an all time high... Motorola couldn't delay releasing a unique looking yet run of the mill phone that is obviously not only overpriced, but one that seems to be a cry for help from Motorola... The other problem that they face, is that the RAZR is getting kicked off by a number of manufacturers... Apple, Blackberry and a few others have introduced phones that show a change in design from the old typical, but phones that are superiour iin feature and function to anmything that Motorola can begin to imagine, let alone, design, build, market and sell...

  • 32 Posted by brad2629461 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:12PM EDT Report Abuse

    This is so stupid. So it looks alright but the tech features are the same as my $88 phone. Whatever floats your boat I guess.

  • 33 Posted by imokurnot on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:23PM EDT Report Abuse

    I think some people are missing the point about it's design. Think, "Sky Captain and The World of Tomorrow", a 20's-30's era phone that even Humphrey Bogart would carry around. Definitely overpriced but like a fleet of Bentlys, this phone's target market is for Rockefeller's and Oil Sheiks...

  • 35 Posted by jordanshane2 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:40PM EDT Report Abuse

    I'm going to spend 2K on a phone in a major depression. hmmmm.....let's think this over.

  • 37 Posted by t_tokman on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:26PM EDT Report Abuse

    Its stupid,ugly and motorola sucks .. nokia all the way

  • 39 Posted by kelsey_576 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:49PM EDT Report Abuse

    that is an ugly phone.i wouldn't pay ten bucks for that.the design is hidious, and sapphire for a phone? wtf?? doubt they make much on that.

  • 40 Posted by lilbrownsugar64 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 6:51PM EDT Report Abuse

    that would be my breakfast lunch an dinner well move over motorola.but nice clock.

  • 41 Posted by ltcasanova103 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 6:58PM EDT Report Abuse

    I'm sorry!!!! for that amount money, it should be able to dirrect traffic to work or tell you where to go to beat traffic and V70 or V80 wroked well enough, large clock works for me though lol!!!!!! but it is a bit much allot much. A dud spud for Motorola, I think

  • 43 Posted by jnakisses4ever on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:37PM EDT Report Abuse

    My FREEBIE phone has more specs than this phone and i might add, is much more attractive......this is just plain CRAZEE!!!!!

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