Customer Rating: 
Summary: Worth the price, but not awesome.
Comment: I've had this phone for about six months now. I got it free when I renewed my cell contract. It is, as several of the previous reviewers have said, a sturdy, functional phone. The size is good - it fits nicely in my back pocket, for example), I get good reception with it, the speakerphone is OK. The camera is what it is - not great, but not awful for a 640px camera. I'm not a fan of ONLY having the option of buying Verizon's software or paying to message the pictures to myself, but that's a Verizon issue, not an issue with the phone itself.
I have two gripes with this phone: First, the vibrate is very weak - I can have the phone UP AGAINST MY SKIN (i.e., tucked inside my clothing while I'm out running) and I'll hear it ringing before I feel it vibrating. Second, the battery isn't awesome. I'm not a heavy user and I can routinely go four or five days without having to recharge, BUT if I have to take it off the charger before it registers "charge complete" I get at BEST a day of light to no use before it's dead again. I don't get a full charge unless I turn the phone off during the charge - which is not ideal, since this is my only phone.
All told, though, you can't really argue with this much functionality from a free phone.
Customer Rating:
Summary: be very cautious
Comment: When working great phone but............
I am on my 4th model of this phone.
purchased aug 2007
1st, had to recharge dailey, lasted two weeks, replaced
2nd, mic and speaker quit working, lasted 5 months, replaced
3rd, no warning-went to boot mode & out of town, lasted 3 days, replaced
4th, so far praying until I can get different model
Luckly the warranty period is one year.
Customer Rating:
Summary: A great, reliable, basic cell phone
Comment: Having come from about 18 months with the horrible LG Chocolate, the Motorola W385 is a pleasure to use in every respect. Like many others here who like the W385, I wanted a basic, reliable, well-made cell phone. I already have a stereo system, an Ipod, a digital camera, a PC, and a television. I have no need or desire to watch movies on my phone or to use it as a computer. I just want to be able to make and receive phone calls with no hassle and with utter reliability. The W385 achieves that, and does it admirably.
The phone fits comfortably in my hand. The keypad and its buttons are solid -- not too big, not too small -- just the right size for an adult, and provide good tactile feedback. And I like the blue backlighting with it. The navigation buttons, volume controls, soft keys, voice-command button, etc., are where you would expect them to be. The on-screen menus are easy enough to bring up and navigate. While the phone's camera may not produce image quality that would rival the finest digital camera you can buy, it is acceptable to me. As I mentioned, I already have a digital camera, and when I travel or go to interesting places, I take it with me. The camera on the phone is for quick, spur-of-the-moment shots, the quality of which meets my expectations. Voice quality on this phone is very, very good. While some of the reviewers have reported problems with battery life, I have had no such problems with mine. Perhaps it is because I turn Bluetooth off when I'm not using it. Also, I'm not on the phone for hours at a time. In any event, the battery life has been very good for me.
All in all, I would give this phone my highest recommendation to anyone who doesn't need all the bells and whistles with a cell phone. I researched phones for a couple of weeks before deciding on this one. The reviews were consistently good, from one site to another. And unlike the nightmarish LG Chocolate, I am delighted with the Motorola W385. Though Verizon is legendary for being stingy -- there isn't even one basic game on this phone, because the company wants you to download and purchase them -- that is obviously not the fault of the W385 itself. If you have reasonable expectations, they will all be met or surpassed by the W385.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Great Cell Phone!
Comment: I really love the simplicity, size, and clear reception this phone has. My last phone was by LG and I was never able to get good reception for very long unless I stood outside my door or near a window. I was always experiencing "dropped calls". When I finally updated my contract I decided to try the Motorola W385 based on reviews I had read. I'm glad I did. Not only is it a reliable phone but it was free through Verizon with reactivation of a two year contract. I also love the phone exterior. It has a rubber like texture, not slippery like most phones. I also purchased a snap on case which is also rubberized for added protection against dropping it. I recommend it.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Great Basic Phone
Comment: I got the w385 as a free upgrade through Verizon and it's great. I don't need a lot of bells & whistles, just a phone. It blows away my old LG 3300 in terms of sound quality (Minneapolis metro). I didn't know how bad my old one was until I got this one; it's about the equal of my land line. It also has a great feel. The black rubberized case is easy to hold and doesn't make me look like some NYC bling-king wannabe. And did I mention how good the sound is? If you don't need a lot of extras, but you do need a solid feeling phone with great sound, at a price (free) that can't be beat: this one could be right for you.
Summary: Worth the price, but not awesome.
Comment: I've had this phone for about six months now. I got it free when I renewed my cell contract. It is, as several of the previous reviewers have said, a sturdy, functional phone. The size is good - it fits nicely in my back pocket, for example), I get good reception with it, the speakerphone is OK. The camera is what it is - not great, but not awful for a 640px camera. I'm not a fan of ONLY having the option of buying Verizon's software or paying to message the pictures to myself, but that's a Verizon issue, not an issue with the phone itself.
I have two gripes with this phone: First, the vibrate is very weak - I can have the phone UP AGAINST MY SKIN (i.e., tucked inside my clothing while I'm out running) and I'll hear it ringing before I feel it vibrating. Second, the battery isn't awesome. I'm not a heavy user and I can routinely go four or five days without having to recharge, BUT if I have to take it off the charger before it registers "charge complete" I get at BEST a day of light to no use before it's dead again. I don't get a full charge unless I turn the phone off during the charge - which is not ideal, since this is my only phone.
All told, though, you can't really argue with this much functionality from a free phone.
Customer Rating:
Summary: be very cautious
Comment: When working great phone but............
I am on my 4th model of this phone.
purchased aug 2007
1st, had to recharge dailey, lasted two weeks, replaced
2nd, mic and speaker quit working, lasted 5 months, replaced
3rd, no warning-went to boot mode & out of town, lasted 3 days, replaced
4th, so far praying until I can get different model
Luckly the warranty period is one year.
Customer Rating:
Summary: A great, reliable, basic cell phone
Comment: Having come from about 18 months with the horrible LG Chocolate, the Motorola W385 is a pleasure to use in every respect. Like many others here who like the W385, I wanted a basic, reliable, well-made cell phone. I already have a stereo system, an Ipod, a digital camera, a PC, and a television. I have no need or desire to watch movies on my phone or to use it as a computer. I just want to be able to make and receive phone calls with no hassle and with utter reliability. The W385 achieves that, and does it admirably.
The phone fits comfortably in my hand. The keypad and its buttons are solid -- not too big, not too small -- just the right size for an adult, and provide good tactile feedback. And I like the blue backlighting with it. The navigation buttons, volume controls, soft keys, voice-command button, etc., are where you would expect them to be. The on-screen menus are easy enough to bring up and navigate. While the phone's camera may not produce image quality that would rival the finest digital camera you can buy, it is acceptable to me. As I mentioned, I already have a digital camera, and when I travel or go to interesting places, I take it with me. The camera on the phone is for quick, spur-of-the-moment shots, the quality of which meets my expectations. Voice quality on this phone is very, very good. While some of the reviewers have reported problems with battery life, I have had no such problems with mine. Perhaps it is because I turn Bluetooth off when I'm not using it. Also, I'm not on the phone for hours at a time. In any event, the battery life has been very good for me.
All in all, I would give this phone my highest recommendation to anyone who doesn't need all the bells and whistles with a cell phone. I researched phones for a couple of weeks before deciding on this one. The reviews were consistently good, from one site to another. And unlike the nightmarish LG Chocolate, I am delighted with the Motorola W385. Though Verizon is legendary for being stingy -- there isn't even one basic game on this phone, because the company wants you to download and purchase them -- that is obviously not the fault of the W385 itself. If you have reasonable expectations, they will all be met or surpassed by the W385.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Great Cell Phone!
Comment: I really love the simplicity, size, and clear reception this phone has. My last phone was by LG and I was never able to get good reception for very long unless I stood outside my door or near a window. I was always experiencing "dropped calls". When I finally updated my contract I decided to try the Motorola W385 based on reviews I had read. I'm glad I did. Not only is it a reliable phone but it was free through Verizon with reactivation of a two year contract. I also love the phone exterior. It has a rubber like texture, not slippery like most phones. I also purchased a snap on case which is also rubberized for added protection against dropping it. I recommend it.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Great Basic Phone
Comment: I got the w385 as a free upgrade through Verizon and it's great. I don't need a lot of bells & whistles, just a phone. It blows away my old LG 3300 in terms of sound quality (Minneapolis metro). I didn't know how bad my old one was until I got this one; it's about the equal of my land line. It also has a great feel. The black rubberized case is easy to hold and doesn't make me look like some NYC bling-king wannabe. And did I mention how good the sound is? If you don't need a lot of extras, but you do need a solid feeling phone with great sound, at a price (free) that can't be beat: this one could be right for you.