T-Mobile MDA Compact III

Last Update: Review by 3G (added on 07/03/07)

T-Mobile MDA Compact III runs on Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0 featuring a built in GPS, 240 x 320 resolution, 127 grams of weight, 128Mb ROM/ 64Mb RAM, 2MP camera, FM radio and bluetooth 2.0 connectivity.

+ REVIEWS (last updated: 07/03/07)

3G has a review of the T-Mobile MDA Compact III ;
“The T-Mobile MDA Compact III, together with Co-Pilot Live 6, is a tidy package, delivering a feature- rich sat nav solution that goes some way to challenging dedicated sat nav systems like the TomTom Go and Navman iCN range. However, the Windows OS sometimes make pre-journey planning and operation slow while the touch-screen usability issue can grate. It just falls short but it’s not far off TomTom et al.”

CoolSmartPhone has a review of the T-Mobile MDA Compact III ;
“I have to give full credit for the layout of these buttons though - the GPS button on the lower left allows quick access into your sat-nav so it’s just a matter of hopping into the car, slotting the MDA Compact III into the excellent holder and then tapping the GPS button. The trackball glows a nice blue colour when you activate it. Most things are easily done with the MDA Compact III navigation system. Getting text messages or emails on the go is a breeze - it’s just a matter of spinning the wheel and tapping the trackball in.”

ZDnet has a review of the T-Mobile MDA Compact III rated it 7.5/10 and writes;
“Battery life was pretty impressive: we played music through a microSD card non-stop with the screen forced to stay on and got 9 hours 25 minutes of music. This bodes quite well for anyone wanting to use the MDA Compact III for a few days away from mains power — including those looking for GPS-assisted navigation outside of a vehicle…Pros: Built-in GPS receiver, option to buy with CoPilot navigation software, excellent mini-trackball and wheel, FM radio. Cons: Lacks Wi-Fi, no flash for camera, awkwardly located memory expansion slot.”

ITreviews has a review of the T-Mobile MDA Compact III and writes;
“Even without the CoPilot - or any other - navigation software, the MDA Compact III is an impressive piece of kit. It is small, thin and light (58mm x 108mm x 16mm and 160g) and styled in a compelling grey…Verdict: The feature mix in the T-Mobile MDA Compact III is frustrating. The device is neat and pocket-friendly, and it covers the Pocket PC basics extremely well. We love the wheel and mini trackball. But without Wi-Fi or 3G it is less useful than it should be.”

Pocket-Lint has a review of the T-Mobile MDA Compact III rated it 8/10 and writes;
“Although this misses the keyboard that you know you want, the hand recognition software is pretty good when it comes to writing contact details and the odd notes - we wouldn’t file a story on it however. The MDA Compact III is a great little phone come PDA for those wanting more than just a phone but not yet ready to go the whole hog and get something with a keyboard.”

Trusted Reviews has a comparison review of MDA Compact III and O2 XDA Orbit and writes;
“I tested the battery life of each by playing MP3 music continuously from a microSD card with the device screen forced to stay on. The MDA Compact III managed nine hours 25 minutes music and battery life, the XDA Orbit nine hours 59 minutes. Both the XDA Orbit and MDA Compact III are fine examples of the Pocket PC. Quad band connectivity makes for worldwide use, while a small format makes for good portability. The the built in GPS antenna means all in one navigation is possible, and the innovative mini trackball is a boon to usability.”

Pondrew has a review of the T-Mobile MDA Compact III and writes;
“I personally have found the camera setup in the MDA Compact II (1.3mega pixel) to be by far the best in any Windows Mobile device and when it comes to taking still photos I consider it to be an outstanding camera phone…I’ve long been a fan of Windows Mobile Media Player 10 with it’s album art and the MDA Compact II has offered me the best Windows Mobile based music player solution yet. Excellent quality sound from the headphones or from the internal speaker (situated in the back of the device).”

ComputerActive has a review of the T-Mobile MDA Compact III rated it 3/5 and writes;
“Good Points: Lightweight, big clear screen, integrated GPS reciever. Bad Points: Copilot software took us around the houses, microSD card is fiddly to install, trackball is very touch sensitive. Overall The T-Mobile MDA Compact III is a smart looking handheld computer with some nice extras. However, if you’re just looking for a sat-nav device, stick to a standalone system.”

Dimensions - 58 x 108 x 16.3 millimetres
Weight - 127 grams (battery included)
Operating System - Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0 for Pocket PC Phone Edition
CPU - Texas Instruments OMAP 850 @ 201MHz
Memory - 128Mb ROM/ 64Mb RAM - microSD
Resolution - 240 x 320
Networks - GSM 850MHz, GSM 900MHz, GSM 1800MHz, GSM 1900MHz
Connections - Mini USB / Bluetooth 2.0 / GPRS
Extras - SiRF Star III GPS, 2 Megapixel camera and built-in FM radio

+ VIDEO: