When Phones Were Fun: Motorola PEBL (2005)

If you were old enough to know what a cellphone was in the year 2004, then you remember Motorola's iconic RAZR flip phone. But what you might not remember is that the RAZR was just one in a series of "4LTR" releases throughout the mid-oughts. These included, among others: the super-slim SLVR; the substandard ROKR; the ultra-premium AURA (covered in episode 2 of this series) … and a phone that looked nothing like any of its siblings, yet blended perfectly into the 4LTR family - because it looked like nothing else on the market, either. On this episode of When Phones Were Fun, we’re heading back to the latter half of 2005 to unpocket the plump, pudgy and perfectly precious Motorola PEBL U6!
[SPECIAL THANKS]
Avi Greengart:
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Techsponential:
www.techsponential.com/
Andrew Martonik:
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[ABOUT WHEN PHONES WERE FUN - MOTOROLA PEBL U6]
This is the tenth in a series of MrMobile videos exploring the mobile tech world's most vibrant period in design and experimentation. In “When Phones Were Fun,” Michael Fisher re-reviews cellphones from the golden age of mobile, the decade-long span from the turn of the century to approximately 2009.
When Phones Were Fun: Episode 10 features a Motorola PEBL U6 press unit on loan from Avi Greengart, President and Lead Analyst at Techsponential. No company paid a fee or otherwise offered compensation in exchange for this coverage, nor did any company preview or approve this content before publication.
[LINKS]
Motorola PEBL U6 Review [Cnet]:
www.cnet.com/reviews/motorola...
Retro Phone Review: Motorola PEBL [TechRadar]:
www.techradar.com/news/phone-...
Stickiness: The Insulting Reality of Rubber Reversion [Polymer Solutions]:
www.polymersolutions.com/blog...
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[DISCLOSURES]
This post may contain affiliate links, which afford MrMobile / Future plc a commission if you make a purchase. See our affiliate link policy for more details: www.mobilenations.com/externa...
Additional information concerning MrMobile’s ethics policy can be found here: mrmobile.tech/ethics
#motorola #pebl #motopebl #u6 #tech #vintagephones #oldphones #whenphoneswerefun #2005 #moto

[@darshpanchal7105]

I love how there is one KZbinr who literally dedicated a segment of his channel to cover older phones just for the sake of nostalgia. Kudos to you Mr.Mobile.

[@48set]

Salute to this comment 💯

[@cyrilsantos85]

Trueeeee!

[@OliverKehm]

And they're some of the best vids on the channel! Nostalgia is everything.

[@darshpanchal7105]

@@48set thanks bro 🤗

[@darshpanchal7105]

@Mauro Figueiredo well I agree bro, it's just that these phones existed, in a not so competition market and nostalgia didn't kill anyone so there is that, but I see your point and agree with it too.🤗

[@SuperAceCrusher]

I'd definitely watch an episode about earpieces. This series is one of my most favourite here in KZbin.

[@OfficialEnzoEdoggYT]

eysu me too!

[@zmail8566]

Same

[@snowy324]

Same

[@Petra586]

Absolutely! 😁👍

[@John-zs4fh]

Agreed!! Especially those quirky Jabra and Plantronics from the early 2000s

[@goompo]

Everyone’s favorite recurring MrMobile character: Rubber Reversion™️

[@ashf1sh]

W profile picture

[@uzairrampage]

2005 was the last pre-depression year for me. I feel like crying every time I see something from then. Still struggling today, but I have to keep fighting. Thank you for the nostalgia sir! Means the world!

[@rodolfonoguera3623]

Keep fighting and keep strong

[@RiddleWhisperer]

Keep going Brother things will get better

[@1taketech]

feel better bro, think happy times

[@rizxred]

How are you now brother?

[@TheCurtisdavies]

keep going 🙏

[@ericgrant2670]

I love how this series has taught watchers why things like this become sticky over time. Every time I see rubber reversion in real life I think of this channel.

[@TheMrMobile]

Definitely naming my post-KZbin grunge band "Rubber Reversion"

[@theAllucard]

@@TheMrMobile I hope you're serious because I would like to hear a MrMobile grunge band 😁

[@NickDalzell]

My Galaxy S Relay has the same problem with its back. Took forever to fix with rags and tons of furniture polish.

[@voidofspaceandtime4684]

you can fix these issues fairly easily with "goof off" easily cleaned ps2 joysticks.

[@blu-drag0n]

@@NickDalzell Watching this I think it might be not that bad that the third party back plate for my LG V20 has its cover peeling away after all

[@2chap]

"From the age messages were instant, hinges were automatic and phones were fun..." Ooooh that was smooth like a butter, Mr. Mobile! Just like the butter..

[@zoransubic447]

BUTR

[@frankhorriganfromfallout2]

BTTR

[@ChristopherBibbs]

I remember stopping by the T-Mobile store and being blown away that you didn't have to train the voice dial for the PEBL. It was the first phone where I'd seen such magic. If you didn't live through the era of training your phone for the handful of names you thought you'd want to voice dial, you don't know how amazing modern voice recognition is.

[@TheMrMobile]

Absolutely. I touched on this in the A600 episode of this series. Truly groundbreaking for the time!

[@iancuk]

So SLVR was read "Sliver" while I thought it was "Silver" until this very moment 😅

[@omari285]

These phones have a lot of memories in my heart.

[@sdmalpas]

mine too. I lost my mother to cancer in 2008, I've got her old phone and its this one.

[@ossumopossum]

Omfg do you remember seem edits... And how easy it was to mod all of the 4letter devices

[@rosydipo]

Well I can't relate I'm not as ancient as you Egyptians

[@rosydipo]

@@ossumopossum Edit your typos

[@ossumopossum]

@@rosydipo seem editing was done to modify onboard operation instructions, enable or disable features of the handset and replace assets like a launcher or skins

[@otherssingpuree1779]

I wanted this phone. I still remember the advert of a girl walking on the beach, picking up a pebble, opening it, calling someone and putting it down on a stack of pebbels.

[@Matanumi]

HEL-LO MO-TO

[@techmad8204]

m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/iJixfnhpZsuMrNE this?

[@kien9]

@@techmad8204 no, i think she was talking about this one: kzbin.info/www/bejne/moLaZapvjMyLmbM

[@MrRed-zg6no]

@@kien9 I knew it I fucking knew it, but I still clicked the link.

[@altcodex5625]

@@MrRed-zg6no never gonna give you up, never gonna let you down...

[@fullstarlaming7937]

"When phones were fun" should have a Netflix series ,period.

[@muhammadadam8105]

You know,there is plenty of "should be on netflix"comment on good youtube video series,but for this series,i agree completely,mrmobile is a quite charming host,and pretty sceen ready imo(make sense since he study acting and probably aspire to be fulltime actor),for phone company ,i think its agood branding opportunity for them to open their archive if they are agree to help ,for netflix its a documentary show that resonates with great age group ,who i believe begin feeling nostalgic ,so there is a market for such documentary,however the problem i see is ,we often overestimate how big the market for such a genre and mrmobile (no dig to mrmobile here),i figure netflix already has their own market market research team to decide what series or show to make next time,but,hey things change,if no netflix offer things like nebula or just youtube like we see right now is good enough

[@angeloagnolas3014]

YES!!!!!!

[@sahamraireang5431]

yeah, netflix should work on it immediately.

[@ellamorrison3404]

I hope not :( I don't want to have to pay for Netflix just for this series, the only video service I'm willing to pay for is KZbin premium at this point

[@SudeennnSam]

Mr. Mobile, thank you for reaching out to us fellow international subscribers by including proper English subtitles. It’s the little details that made your videos watchable, apart from the amazing editing

[@AustinAllen]

Don’t forget the KRZR! That was my favorite 4 letter Motorola phone from the 2000s UPDATE: I spoke too soon! My fav was name dropped a little over 6 minutes in 😊🧡

[@karenranem]

Motorola PEBL - was my dream phone during that year. Darn. Simpler times i think.

[@brybrysofly4093]

This is the best series on KZbin. Far and away. I get all the feels watching them!! Thanks for the great content!

[@lucian8678]

This is like old time when you waited for the new episode of your favorite show to come on TV similarly I wait for new episodes of "when phones were fun"..

[@RebornAudio]

This has been said to death, I’m sure, but this genuinely is the best channel for retro phones.

[@rosydipo]

Yeah one of the best in the community

[@Ficehdulah]

Michael, please cover the late era of Symbian phones! I think those are surprisingly interesting and obscure enough that we don’t really know a lot about them. Oh and the Nokia N9! You know Meego was promising!

[@whitejazz100]

I loved my N8

[@danielsgrunge]

They were so cool!!

[@ToniCorvera]

That hinge mechanism is absurdly cool, kinda surprised I didn't hear a thing about it back in the day. The RAZR had all my attention (and most everyone else's) while the PEBL felt uninteresting to me, but that neat trick shouldn't have gone unnoticed. Someone bring it to a modern flip phone and I'll be in trouble...

[@xbrandon2252]

So good to see this amazing series still going! In a few years these videos will end up being very nostalgic.

[@group1896]

2:26 Of course we'd watch you review old earpieces. Your reviews are always entertaining

[@JakeVZW]

This series brings my heart so much joy, thank you for taking the time to do it right. The PEBL was one of my favorite phones ever (I had the maroon one, but I would've preferred the burnt orange in this video) and I loved that no one else had it or even knew what it was because at the time it was available unlocked only. The hinge mechanism and the keypad were just next-level. Our GSM coverage in the area left something to be desired so I would keep my fun phone (like the PEBL) on Cingular and my BlackBerry on US Cellular (because their network was unassailable). Oh, the good old days. Also, details like 0:58 are among the reasons that your channel is so great. Perfection.

[@Kittongrl720]

Same! I loved my pink one.

[@Eryc001]

Excellent vid as always, Michael. I honestly love your presentation and writing in this series

[@sillygoose2916]

I absolutely love this series. I have absolutely zero nostalgia for any phones, seeing as I grew up in the age of the glass slab. But the odd design choices, marketing, and left field chaos that came from the wild west of tech is enough to make an amazing series. I love your channel. Keep it up 👍. (Regarding the pebl, the hinge is by far my favorite part of the phone. Satisfying hinges are a personal favorite of mine).

[@frydog1ea]

Thanks again for the nostalgic trip down memory lane. I miss seeing but not using these older phones. I hope to see the Palm Treo 300 in a future video.

[@thecasualcanuck4590]

I absolutely love this series. Takes me right back. One day I have high hopes you might review the LG chocolate. What an absolutely odd device that was a ton of fun to play with.

[@NeilWang-TL]

"I chocolate you!"

[@eliasdetrois]

I love this series. One of my favourites! Keep them coming

[@gabrielleraul488]

i love your series of when phones were fun, please do more!

[@morningstar8187]

When phones didn’t cost as much as a computer. 😂I miss not having a mini heart attack every time I couldn’t find my phone.

[@AmirKhan-pq5ff]

@rrobertt13 and they're pretty good too.

[@benevolenttumour]

@rrobertt13 What? Shockingly enough some people just don't want to lose something expensive even if they can afford it. Conversely, you can buy a workable computer for very little and there is still a price floor for modern phones that provide all the functions that someone might need.

[@aaaadit5155]

Morning Star to the contrary, phones have never been cheaper than they are today

[@morningstar8187]

@rrobertt13 I don’t care about how much money you make. Losing something worth 2,000 dollars is always painful.

[@morningstar8187]

@rrobertt13 Money lost is lost time. Unless you’re making 2k a day, losing 2k represents days or weeks of your life you spent working for nothing.

[@TheFightQueen]

The Motorola Slvr is probably the phone I have the most fond memories of out of every device I’ve ever owned in this category (and I’ve owned A LOT). I know the phone doesn’t fit this series to well and it leans towards the more unique products but if ever do a a straight up retro orientated show, I’d love to see you cover the Slvr!

[@TheNostalgicFuture]

Favorite series! I really hope you keep it coming indefinately!

[@TamaraGirodie]

I absolutely love this series, thank you Mr. Mobile!

[@gauravgambit1941]

I truly like this series of "when phones were fun". My dad owned a Motorola Rokr e8. If could you make a video on Rokr series.. I loved Rokr e8.. it was too cool for its time

[@danielsalm6410]

I would definitely like to see a video on those older Bluetooth headsets. I remember when they first became popular and you’d see someone in a grocery store looking like a crazy person talking to them self and then everyone else realized and thought they were one of those pretentious people with that silly Bluetooth headset. Also if you could dip into the original blackberry line from beginning to end that would be fantastic as well because those were some of my favorite smart phones back in the day.

[@username3068]

This is probably the most fun series on all of KZbin! I always look forward to new videos!

[@ChandanSharma-yr7kv]

Gold stuff man, thanks for this.

[@dBager]

It should have been called Motorola SOAP (4 letters as well) : ))

[@thearousedeunuch]

That would mean that people would be picking up the soap... :D

[@isegrim1978]

Oh, that hinge was a point of envy. I think I was already on Treo by that time.

[@avishekkushwaha9144]

Thanks you soo much for making such wonderful videos and bring the memories back

[@monaz87]

I love these series! Had to subscribe!

[@isap9535]

OMG I feel so old I use to have this phone back when i was 19 can't believe it was that long ago I just turned 35 this year

[@MegamanNova]

I thought Motorola SLVR is shortened version of "silver". Not "sliver"

[@MkurugenziMwenyekiti]

It stood for sliver. Back then it was one of the thinnest phones to exist, hence the sliver name. There was a black version, and a "Product Red" version too, so silver wouldn't have made a lot of sense for those colours.

[@nrbgamingYT]

Samesies

[@fabreezethefaintinggoat5484]

They should have licensed the velvet revolver

[@TheSurogate]

@@MkurugenziMwenyekiti thanks for the info bro.... but then again, motorola should used wiggly font to emphasize slivering rather than that classy font 😁

[@cashnelson2306]

@@TheSurogate Context is important. It was obvious what it meant back in the day because the phone was just that thin.

[@gaminggroundz792]

Man I love this series! I wish companies would take risk and make different types of phones again. I would love to see another take on the sidekick. Great video!

[@Benpm2212]

Favourite KZbinr! Love the quality and depth of your videos! 😃

[@TheSolXP]

I remember the woes of Bluetooth pairing, so I would love to see a proper retrospect.

[@jithinjohnmathew1134]

I'm pretty sure that any video you'd do would be awesome for us "When phones were fun" fans 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@enp82003]

I really love your videos man! You give me such high school nostalgia

[@PreasanRajahBONEZ]

Great tech series, really appreciate the look back.

[@TechDove]

The phone I always wanted, but was only 16 when it came out

[@moviemogul83]

Oh boy would I love to see a Bluetooth video. Back in 2005, I was definitely the cliche Bluetooth guy, with a H500 even. I looked too cool back then. Lmao.

[@sparksx2]

I love this series! Please don’t stop.

[@tbwpro8288]

These reviews are heart-warming. And when I watch these I remember all the beautiful memories Thank you Michael ❤

[@WhoDidYouSay]

I had this phone when I was in school, I think I was 12/13 - man, the camera was bad. I was embarrassed to pull that phone out in school.

[@Doobency]

I was born in early 2003, and it makes me feel old when I say "I remember the time before smartphones!"

[@stanleytheodat7158]

Same I was also born in March 15 2003

[@eduardomavlyutov4710]

Michael, your channel is truly a gem, thanks a lot for what you do! Love sooooo much 'When phones were fun' playlist ❤ Love watching videos about Nokia and Motorola phones ❤ Had both when I was a teenager. Hope there are more 'When phones were fun' videos to come! 🤞

[@manmikey65]

One of my favourite mobiles ever, and I've still got it, it still works and occasionally I get it out of the "old phones" box and marvel at that hinge..... Mr Mobile your channel is so much more than a review channel, we your viewers are true fans of you and your work, never stop and stay safe.

[@AnonyMap1]

5:24 Phoenix Wright is calling

[@valdemarjuniobarbosa916]

i'm the only one who noticed the " stay tune " hidden ?

[@syeedahmed5331]

This series is like a time machine for me! Thank you Mr. Mobile.

[@shrinivasvasishta]

Fabulous video, Michael. Keep them coming :)

[@fahimrahim4840]

When phones were unique and u could enjoy life to fullest as not idly watching phones and wasting time when people weren't anti social I was more happy with a flip phone now just idly watching yt and other stuff 25 dislike better stay that way

[@pravda9646]

Boomer

[@brandonalvarado97]

Nobody's forcing you to do so, you're literally complaining about phones being better and letting you do more stuff lol

[@gaaaaavin]

That's your fault, not the phone.

[@kaitlyn__L]

Never, growing up through the '90s and '00s, did I expect to see someone say "people weren't antisocial" about 2006 😆

[@djbeth18]

When phone designers ACTUALLY “designed” phones...😂 This is beautiful For the era of course 👌

[@jorgediegoolivieri]

These videos are awesome. Keep up the good work👍

[@kian9108]

Congrats on 1 million!

[@tariq7408]

Thinking of the Motorola Droid Razr makes me feel so nostalgic... Alexa, play 'Lights' by Ellie Goulding

[@farhaanmohammedhafees9459]

That flip cover display looks like a mi band screen 😂

[@fuzz33594]

Michael - Really like this series and enjoy all your work.

[@AlexanderFort]

I love this series. I rewatched all the episodes more than once and watch right when I see a new episode is released.

[@westondaniel]

Thanks for bringing me back!

[@CoVerseAU]

As usually perfect episode!

[@jjunture]

Such a great series. I worked at a wireless carrier from 2001 to 2005, and miss it so much. We were a GSM carrier, and the RAZR was the ‘it’ phone to have.

[@bapynshngain]

This is THE best series ever! 🥲 Keep going Mr. Mobile. Also, would really love a video on the earpiece alone.

[@miguelrocha96]

This brings up so much nostalgia from my teen years! The pebl was for sure a awesome looking phone!👍

[@jackship5644]

Thanks for the sweet memories.

[@jimwertel6599]

Such a great series 👍🏽✨

[@rubaiyat300]

Thank you on that box shot at the end. What an interesting aesthetic choice and really clever design to reveal the phone.

[@ww_4776]

My favourite tech series so far ❤️

[@rititiize]

I had a motorola v525 and absolutely loved it! This video made me remember that phone!

[@normalrachael]

Simply the best tech channel around

[@danielrosario8946]

My 7 year old was looking forward to see your next video. Me and my son are diehard fans of your channel, thank you for everything you do

[@alaminsnighdho3818]

love ur episodes, when phones were fun

[@theclownprinceofcrime8499]

Great content as usual.

[@yashmathur6159]

The outro was simply wonderfully done❤️

[@ellaftw]

I love this series so much

[@nalinbhardwaj7269]

You bring back my memories, i have with my moto Razr.

[@azrilsyazrin]

I love this series.. I was young at age when these phones are around.. This brings me back to the past.

[@abdinsyakirin77]

I am 24 this year and during my childhood, I am very into mobile phone! I know everything about the specs, screen size and the connectivity that it had at that time (either bluetooth or infrared). I would take a brochure of mobile phone if I saw any at store and brought it home. Every month I buy mobile phone magazine just to know the latest news and release (internet is not as it is now). Watching segment like this really brought me back to my younger me, adoring mobile phone by its unique shape and form, from brands like Motorola, Nokia, Sony Ericsson. Looking forward to your next video!

[@Dragondude2525]

I loved mine when I had it in high school. Everyone wanted to flip my phone even just once. It definitely was talked about a lot but quickly a forgotten phone. Even just 2 years of use later it started getting gummy on the outside, the screen cover adhesive started weakening and lifting, and then the hinge started to go as well about 3 years later. By that point I had already moved onto a Sony Ericsson brick of a phone and then got my N95 shortly after.

[@linkinpark7898]

This video is an aesthetic bliss!!

[@LET_US_TALK_OPENLY]

Wow it's an absolute beauty,I want 1 just to have 1. is a treasure and a classic. Thanks for the upload

[@arminsanjana2516]

Loved Motorola then , love Motorola now .. great video 👌🏻

[@amelsfr]

this series brings so much nostalgia

[@saikatchatterjee3652]

more phones were fun videos please!!! this is really awesome... i wish phones are fun now too!

[@almerylc128]

Yay! A video on the one clamshell I still have and is now all sticky up on the shelf

[@badbeatking80]

Love these look back at tech videos. A Palm pilot, to Ipaq pocket pc, to Palm treo, to Audiovox, to HTC Evo 4g to now guy here. I been around.

[@stupid8911]

I still whoop out my Pebl from time to time to flip it open and close. You get me! I reflect fondly on this time in mobile phone history as well. Good work, Friend.

[@wildfloweralchemy]

I loved this phone. The open close mechanism was just so satisfying.

[@julianacromey7151]

Yes my friend, FINALLY you're doing THE MOTO PEBL. Ahhhh this brings me back😃 I had one & it was one of my faves! Yeah it wasn't the greatest tech-wise, but still I loved it.

[@raphymartinez]

Yesssss!!!!! This was my favorite flip phone ever. I never been bought a Razr but loved the Pebl. That pull down motion was the best

[@adityanarayansreejith9362]

Definitely need a video on the accessories! I don't know why but I love old tech!!!