Motorola Aura gets unboxed

We've seen it up close and even knocked-off already, but when it comes to a $2,000 phone, we're guessing that a proper unboxing is as high on your list of must-sees as it is on ours. Thankfully, the folks at T3 have come through and done the honors and, as far as unboxings go, this one certainly doesn't disappoint. As you can see above, the phone comes packed in a rather stylish and sturdy box that likely won't be seeing too many trash cans any time soon and, of course, the phone itself is looking as envy-inducing as ever. Hit up the link below for plenty more shots, and keep an eye on T3 for a complete review that's promised to be coming soon.

[ILoveApple @ Jan 2nd 2009 2:59PM]

$2000 isn't THAT amazing. People were buying the original N95 on release day for $1200 two years ago.

[Kris120890 @ Jan 2nd 2009 3:02PM]

Yeah but the n95 was worth it.

[Fernando @ Jan 2nd 2009 3:15PM]

the original N95 was only $700 on launch week, Nokia Flagship Store price.

[Rik @ Jan 2nd 2009 3:15PM]

True... my N95 has damaged paint on all edges today from the many times it has seen the floor nearing at high speed, but hey, that swiss army knife still does everything!

(Ok... so the volume up button went dead after it hit the floor once, but for that we got MagicKey!...)

[Tyler @ Jan 2nd 2009 3:23PM]

n95? LOL, a requirement for a smartphone should be "has an input type better than t9"

what a joke phone... put at least a suretype keyboard on there, make it half as thin, and dump the 1990's OS that is s60 and call me in the morning

[Gad Get @ Jan 2nd 2009 3:40PM]

@ Tyler

They can't just slap a SureType keypad on their phone; it's an RIM-patented technology.

[Anthony @ Jan 2nd 2009 3:47PM]

@Fernando: I got the N95 for over $700 then "upgraded" to the N98 8gb for even more. Not 1k but I think around $800.

However, the N95 had what I wanted most: 5mp camera & all the other smartphone things that Symbian offers.

This is a great looking phone. If it wasn't a feature phone (w/o features) I think it would have some appeal for the "totally stupid gadget freaks" out there (myself included) instead of the just "totally stupid".

[Aaron @ Jan 2nd 2009 3:48PM]

Good work, Tyler. Dissing a two year old smartphone that's sold 15 million units.

Things have moved on, check out Engadget's N97 preview. Or just buy an E71. ;)

[Game_playa @ Jan 2nd 2009 4:24PM]

@Anthony
How'd you get the N98? Thats not even out yet. Or were you talking about something else?

[d?niel @ Jan 2nd 2009 4:30PM]

Fernando, your avatar is AWESOME!!

[Mike C @ Jan 3rd 2009 2:28AM]

Honestly I think this phone looks like junk.
Its a really out of date design and not worth $100 letalone $2k...
Come on Motorola, give us handsets we might actually want.

[toxicpiano @ Jan 2nd 2009 3:01PM]

It's hideous, why would soil your eyes by unboxing it?

[L @ Jan 2nd 2009 3:05PM]

You know, nobody forces you to even take a look at posts like this if you dislike the phone that much.

That you actually spend time to post a useless comment says enough...

[tom @ Jan 2nd 2009 3:05PM]

It will not be hideous, if Moto were to knock out a zero from the pricetag.

[Haha @ Jan 2nd 2009 6:57PM]

Yeah i know and 2000$?? WHY?

[Rudolphe @ Jan 2nd 2009 8:59PM]

@L i guess people aren't entitled to an opinion or allowed to post on stuff they think isn't good huh...

[AV-Logistics @ Jan 2nd 2009 3:08PM]

It is a nice l00king phone, but I personally would not pay 2 grand for that.

[lu1de @ Jan 2nd 2009 3:40PM]

isn't that an old phone?

[GingerFox @ Jan 2nd 2009 3:10PM]

is that box made of wood?

[Boarderwoot @ Jan 2nd 2009 3:16PM]

Yes, and even at a cost of $2000 it will burn right along side your standard witches.

[Fernando @ Jan 2nd 2009 3:16PM]

yes, it represents the return of artistry

[Spencer @ Jan 2nd 2009 3:17PM]

yes

[GingerFox @ Jan 2nd 2009 4:51PM]

seems a tad...wasteful?

[Tom @ Jan 2nd 2009 5:45PM]

No, a plastic box would be wasteful. Wood comes from things called trees, and they grow from the ground. Just so happens wood will go back into the ground once you're done with it. Besides, you're more likely to re-use a nice wooden box than a shitty plastic package that cuts you or a cardboard box that bends and folds in all the wrong places after a month of use.

[Metkis @ Jan 3rd 2009 1:18AM]

You're so right, let's cut down a rain forest for Motorola Aura boxes. Woo!

[h_2_o @ Jan 2nd 2009 3:26PM]

is it worth 2k, no way, however for a styleish phone it can not be beat. every now and then i get out my old v70 and people still freak out when you open it up and want to see it. don't get me wrong that 2k price tag is crazy but for pure style right now no other phone comes close to it.

[bandigolo @ Jan 2nd 2009 3:27PM]

if 80's cartoon characters had cell phones, this would be it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-sOaUAgbB4

[DeoWulf @ Jan 2nd 2009 4:42PM]

I thought it kinda looked like something from Dr. Who.

[ecobore @ Jan 2nd 2009 3:29PM]

I am dazzled by the aura of stupidity coming from the future owners of this phone.

[shugg @ Jan 2nd 2009 3:35PM]

just curious ,is there anyone out there that would buy motorola $2000 over .,hmmh any phone.,?
is this considered a smartphone.,??for a dumb-buyer

[Levi @ Jan 2nd 2009 3:39PM]

Read: "Ugliest Motorola phone unboxed!"

[Jeff @ Jan 2nd 2009 7:00PM]

You obviously haven't seen their Motorola Renew

http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2009/01/01/motorolas-renew-for-t-mobile-is-as-boring-as-it-is-green/

[Levi @ Jan 2nd 2009 8:19PM]

Yeah, you got me there, I haven't seen that one yet... but, aside from the color, it looks like the rest of Moto's candybars... this one... I just don't see the appeal... I think they tie for ugliest of Moto overall so far.

Didn't I see some concepts of some decent looking, possibly-worth-buying Moto phones recently? Like, might-save-the-company's-mobile-division concepts?

[hfm @ Jan 2nd 2009 3:42PM]

Just imagine how jealous people will be when I'm using this phone while wearing my Pip-Boy 3000.

[Dubthezombie @ Jan 2nd 2009 3:45PM]

I like the presentation of the phone but the design is boring. Even with that impressive screen the circular format would make presenting information on this phone awkward and probably frustrating. Definitely a product for those with more money than brains, or an inferiority complex, probably the latter.

[Aaron @ Jan 2nd 2009 3:49PM]

There's obviously a market for this kind of phone, otherwise the Nokia 8800 wouldn't exist (and continue to exist).

[Flaystus @ Jan 2nd 2009 3:54PM]

Its ugly. I wouldn't own one for $10

[KilgoreTrout @ Jan 2nd 2009 4:08PM]

That box really seems stylish and sturdy.
Maybe Motorola should concentrate on making boxes and leaving the job of making phones to folks who can actually do it.

[MRLN @ Jan 2nd 2009 4:12PM]

I would definitely own this for $10. Because it's a lot more functional than most $10 phones.

[Brian @ Jan 2nd 2009 4:19PM]

a normal rolex goes for minimum 5,000, and rolex has stayed in business for a long time. Most people here don't understand who would pay that much for an object because they live in an apartment and drive a ford. My dad was lucky to buy a rolex when gold was extremely cheap. My dad almost took down an insurance agency a couple of years ago because he got it stolen 3 times and they always had to replace it.

It's not targeting the guys here, who try and get the most for the least.

[TheMarioBrutha @ Jan 2nd 2009 4:21PM]

Call me crazy, but I think that the Krave ZN4 is prettier.

[joeyboy @ Jan 2nd 2009 4:31PM]

it's funny that everyone here only mentions the price. I agree with it and also I dont find the general design of the phone inspiring, but the display is just pure genius.

I only realized it after looking at the unboxing the second time: it's a ROUND display. No, not only a round face plate hiding a rectangle, but really a round display going to the corners of the center circle and I bet it looks pretty cool when you see it live...

It's the same like being the first to own an flat LCD monitor when everybody else has a fat CRT monitor. I paid around 1.500 Euro for a 15 inch LCD from NEC at that time and would do it again. Not sure if I would buy a moto phone though for that money...

[knate @ Jan 2nd 2009 4:34PM]

i am not gonna lie, i don't find that phone attractive in the least bit.

[wickliffe @ Jan 2nd 2009 4:36PM]

That box may have cost more than my cellphone. Wood and leather? Srsly, people ...

[Timm @ Jan 2nd 2009 4:41PM]

Unboxing articles are like turds in a river.

[tueng @ Jan 2nd 2009 4:49PM]

It vaguely reminds me of the Eva bot on Wall-E. If they could add the eyes and slide out wings, it would rock.

[3rdman @ Jan 2nd 2009 6:11PM]

It's EVE, not Eva. Thanks for hurting WALL-E's feelings....

[! @ Jan 2nd 2009 6:23PM]

Hey, it's like that MS ophone spoof concept phone!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WazA77xcf0A

[Rudolphe @ Jan 2nd 2009 9:00PM]

I guess this is made for the same crowd of well paid individuals who bought that I'm rich app for the iPhone.

[mocax @ Jan 2nd 2009 10:00PM]

i thought they laser engrave your name to the phone?

if i had $2000 to spend, i'd get this phone. The first thing i do is grind this phone's screen against the iPhone's to see if the sapphire glass is really what they made it out to be :D