Hyundai's phones are creatively ridiculous

We associate the Hyundai name more closely with cars and ten-year warranties than we do phones in these parts of the world, but Hyundai Mobile does a little business selling low-cost phones in parts of Europe, the Middle East, and Asia (cars... phones... right, makes sense). We had a chance to check out some of the offerings today, and yeah, let's just put it this way: some of these devices are a bit off the beaten path. Pictured above from left to right are the MB-400 (bearing absolutely no resemblance to any existing device), the MB-910 touchscreen watch phone, and the lovely MB-105 "Chico" (which -- interesting fact -- features a whopping 50-message SMS storage capacity). The Chico wasn't functional for us, but follow the break for some hands-on time with the unfortunate iPod rip and one of the nicer watch phones we've seen come to market. Odd couple, isn't it?

Gallery: Hyundai's phones are creatively ridiculous

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[TylerTownsend18 @ Feb 17th 2009 1:10PM]

Wow....

[Look_Around_You @ Feb 17th 2009 1:13PM]

If someone wants one, then they aren't all that "creatively ridiculous".

Is the snark machine here on high today?

[Why should I have all the fun? @ Feb 17th 2009 1:22PM]

what ... who ... no, no man. These are just wrong.

These are the type of phones you get if you were to form an expensive government agency headed by a "phone czar" to oversee innovation in the cellular communications industry.

[Duke @ Feb 17th 2009 2:38PM]

Well racist, maybe you should look into how IP law works and its interaction with China. There is a reason China gets away with so much stealing of other people's ideas. Suing them isn't so easy.

[EB @ Feb 17th 2009 10:15PM]

Actually, as far as I know, this is a branch of Hyundai Corporation of Korea, same company makes automobiles, ships, semiconductors, etc.

[Curtis Joslin @ Feb 17th 2009 1:11PM]

Why are there so many cell phone articles on engadget.com
wtf happened to engadgetmobile.com ???

[kjb434 @ Feb 17th 2009 1:20PM]

Check yesterday's posts idiot. They easily explain why!

[Curtis Joslin @ Feb 17th 2009 1:25PM]

Ask a valid question, get called an idiot. Gotta Love the internet!

[fieldcar @ Feb 17th 2009 1:41PM]

@Curtis J.: Are you really surprised? Many of the people here are expected to be of a higher caliber technophile, and kjb434 is most likely venting because maybe has to work in IT and explain tons of stuff that would be easily found on google. Like today, i had a friend that is completely clueless on the world of bittorrent, rather than explain it, i would rather tell him to quit being an idiot and google it. I ended up linking to a youtube vid... cause google is hard or something.

[Curtis Joslin @ Feb 17th 2009 1:52PM]

wait. so are you telling me that i should use google to see why there are so many phone articles on the wrong page of engadget.com?

3 years System Administrator here.

[Why should I have all the fun? @ Feb 17th 2009 1:57PM]

fieldcar,

sounds like your "friend" was tying to engage you in what we non-dweebs types call an old-fashioned "conversation". Idiot indeed. He should have just Googled or at least IMed you for a youtube link then cross checked wikipedia before TXTing you "THANX"

[fieldcar @ Feb 17th 2009 2:03PM]

@Curtis J: I am using an example with google and IT work since the problem is with lack of knowledge, when the answer is EASILY attainable. The fact that reading back a few days would explain everything is obvious to me, the majority of the visitors of this site, and kjb434... kjb434 is just a little irritable, like you now seem to be.

Me? I could care less, I'd rather just normally comment on the story.

[Curtis Joslin @ Feb 17th 2009 2:09PM]

ok.. will will play one more time..

you say you don't care.. but you take the time to post.. so let me explain something to you..

if i don't come here everyday and view every article, how would i know to look back 3 days to find the answer?

again. i am not irritated. i just like having sane responses to my questions. but like i stated before, this is the internet...

[fieldcar @ Feb 17th 2009 2:12PM]

Why should I have all the fun?: Im not friendly when i get no booty... read me?

[fieldcar @ Feb 17th 2009 2:14PM]

@curtis: yes, your right, i just wanted to rain on your parade.. right. I was just trying to explain the logic of the poster that called you an idiot, and in turn you took offense. well, im closing the page now, this is boring me.

[Why should I have all the fun? @ Feb 17th 2009 2:47PM]

"Why should I have all the fun?: Im not friendly when i get no booty... read me?"


Yes, you're tired of flying solo and it manifests itself in surly posts.

[Pete @ Feb 17th 2009 5:26PM]

Since no one else was capable, this link explains the phone coverage:
http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/16/too-much-cellphone-news-on-engadget/

I suppose you want all the camera posts to go somewhere else too?

[Neil @ Feb 17th 2009 1:11PM]

The watch didn't look too bad.....until you see the profile shot. lol

[Why should I have all the fun? @ Feb 17th 2009 1:45PM]

are you kidding me? One looks like a 1998 MP3 player, one looks like a disposable calculator, and the third looks like and Art Deco wall clock.

All are ass nuggets. Sorry Hyundai, I calls them like I sees them.

[fieldcar @ Feb 17th 2009 1:47PM]

@Why should I have all the fun?: agreed... complete trash... I had a smidge of respect from hyundai with their new genesis, but now this stuff is pathetic.

[Neil @ Feb 17th 2009 2:31PM]

When did "doesn't look too bad" turn into OMG its so awesome? lol

[Chris @ Feb 17th 2009 1:15PM]

Yeah, c'mon guys

[Chris @ Feb 17th 2009 1:16PM]

please stop posting all these phone articles to engadget.... engadgetmobile?

[Sam @ Feb 17th 2009 1:16PM]

That watch looks quite lovely, however a bit thick.

[matt @ Feb 17th 2009 1:21PM]

Umm, Hyundai is a massive conglomerate of companies. From ship building to hynix.

[Jacques Saint-Germain @ Feb 17th 2009 5:50PM]

This is absurd, seriously Hyundai just keep doing cars...

[Phil Perman @ Feb 17th 2009 1:36PM]

Cars and phones being made by the same company isn't that bad. I've been on a train made by the same people as my phone before

[chuck @ Feb 17th 2009 1:38PM]

anyone else think lg chocolate ripoff before iPod ripoff?

[Adam @ Feb 17th 2009 1:53PM]

I was thinking more of a Zune rip.

[Prokanda @ Feb 17th 2009 5:46PM]

I had a first gen chocolate way back... I was thinking the exact same thing. Beat me too it.

[G @ Feb 17th 2009 1:53PM]

Wow, these are pathetic, are you sure they aren't from china?

[Gunny @ Feb 17th 2009 2:31PM]

oofta.

[Hackettman @ Feb 17th 2009 2:31PM]

That chico is a nice enterprise solution......Id like some of my guys to carry that around whenever I need to scream at them.....

[Harry Wagstaff @ Feb 17th 2009 2:37PM]

Hyundai selling phones is nothing - Daewoo make assault rifles.

[Why should I have all the fun? @ Feb 17th 2009 6:34PM]

OMG, that does look like you.

[ajfarson @ Feb 17th 2009 4:38PM]

Its funny to see a nice phone sandwiched between two duds... I would (almost) consider purchasing the watchphone...Something tells me that they need to fire 2/3 of the design team!

[sotec_productions @ Feb 17th 2009 6:48PM]

What phones?

I see a radio, a watch and a calculator.

You sure this is the right article for the pictures?

[erufiku @ Feb 17th 2009 8:28PM]

I thought it's impossible, but... these phones are uglier than what Motorola has to offer.

[dbrotzen @ Feb 18th 2009 9:50AM]

This is the first watch phone that actually looks good enough to be wearable. I could imagine re-skinning for all sorts of cool effects. I like everything about it except the Hyundai logo. What about battery life?

[david @ Feb 18th 2009 4:31PM]

Found out. Max 3 hrs talk time, 70 hrs stand by. I forgot, it's got to have a silent mode/vibrating alert and voice dial via Bluetooth to make sense to me.