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Motorola T600 Review

Our top recommendation for water enthusiasts
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Motorola T600 Review (On land, we think there are better options available. On water, though, the Motorola T600 is a great call.)
On land, we think there are better options available. On water, though, the Motorola T600 is a great call.
Credit: Caroline Miller
Price:  $135 List
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Manufacturer:   Motorola
By Gray Grandy ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Jul 9, 2024
59
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#5 of 9
  • Range and Clarity - 30% 6.5
  • Ease of Use - 25% 6.0
  • Weather Resistance and Durability - 15% 9.0
  • Battery Life - 15% 3.0
  • Weight and Size - 15% 4.0

Our Verdict

The Motorolla T600 is a great option among top-ranked walkie talkies for anyone who will be bringing it on the water. Its waterproof casing and ability to float make it an ideal aquatic companion. It also has great range across unobstructed landscapes, which translates well to the world of lakes and oceans, but not necessarily all rivers. Other than being waterproof, this radio has similar performance and usability to significantly cheaper options - so it is only a good value for those that are going to be utilizing it for its intended use. Get the skinny on how it stacks up against other top products in our article on the best walkie talkies.
REASONS TO BUY
Waterproof and floats
Good range when there are not obstructions
REASONS TO AVOID
Expensive
Bulky
Challenging menu navigation
Editor's Note: On July 9, 2024, we added more insight regarding this model's range and clarity.

Compare to Similar Products

 
motorola t600
This Product
Motorola T600
Awards Top Pick Award
Best for Water Use
Editors' Choice Award
Best Overall
Top Pick Award
Best Durable Radio
Top Pick Award
Best Lightweight Radio
Best Buy Award
Best Bang for the Buck
Price $135 List$110 List$165 List$90.00 at Amazon
Compare at 3 sellers
$38 List
$30.00 at REI
Overall Score Sort Icon
59
73
72
69
53
Star Rating
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Bottom Line This radio is made to live around the water, but is a poor value if that is not important to youSmall, sturdy, and dependable, these walkies excel at their essential tasksA durable and feature-filled radio with a battery that lasts for daysAn FRS radio that is equally packable and capableWhile it has poor range, this inexpensive radio is our top recommendation in its price range
Rating Categories Motorola T600 Rocky Talkie Mounta... Rocky Talkie 5 Watt Backcountry Access... Midland X-Talker T10
Range and Clarity (30%)
6.5
7.5
8.0
7.0
3.0
Ease of Use (25%)
6.0
7.0
5.5
7.5
5.0
Weather Resistance and Durability (15%)
9.0
7.0
9.0
5.5
6.0
Battery Life (15%)
3.0
9.0
9.5
7.0
7.0
Weight and Size (15%)
4.0
6.0
4.0
7.0
8.0
Specs Motorola T600 Rocky Talkie Mounta... Rocky Talkie 5 Watt Backcountry Access... Midland X-Talker T10
Measured Weight (Single Radio, with Batteries) 8.4 oz 6.7 oz 9.5 oz 6.0 oz 3.9 oz
Watts .5W, 2W 2W 5W 2W Not listed
Dimensions Body Only 2.4" x 1.5" x 4.9" 6.5" x 2.5" x 1.6" 4.05" x 2.44" x 3.4" 6.25" x 2.5" x 1.25" 2" x 1" x 3.5"
Battery Capacity 800 mAh 1550 mAh 1800 mAh 1800 mAh 1,000 mAh
Battery Type NiMH, Alkaline AA Lithium Ion Lithium Ion Lithium Ion AAA
Rechargeable Yes, also can use normal AA batteries Yes Yes Yes No
Charge Via USB Not with supplied cable, yes with a different micro USB cable Yes Yes Yes n/a
Frequency Range 462.55 to 467.71 MHz 462 to 467 MHz 462 to 467 MHz 462.55 to 467.71 MHz 462.55 to 467.71 MHz
Channels 22 128 22 + 8 repeater channels 22 22
Privacy Codes Yes, 121 available 121 available Yes, 121 available Yes, 121 available Yes, 38 available
Keypad Lock Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
NOAA Weather Alerts Yes No Yes No Yes
VOX Yes No No No Yes
Scan Function Yes Yes Yes No Yes
Clips to Pack Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Our Analysis and Test Results

This radio floats and is waterproof to a meter deep, which should keep it protected in any wet environment. That feature comes at a price though, as it is more expensive and twice the weight (8.4oz) of similarly equipped options that aren't waterproof.

Performance Comparison


motorola t600 - the t600 in in its natural habitat with a pfd and water shoes.
The T600 in in its natural habitat with a PFD and water shoes.
Credit: Gray Grandy

Range and Clarity


We gave this metric 30% of the total of the T600. We prioritized our scoring of each radio's range and clarity on how well they performed when there were trees or hills obstructing the transmission, so our findings were more realistic for varied outdoors use. This radio came in around the average of our review.


The T600 was able to handle up to two miles of range in hilly forests, but at the end of its range, it was more apt to sent incomprehensible messages than others. In circumstances where there was a cleaner line of sight, we enjoyed as much as 6 miles of range, though it can be rare in many outdoors environments for a lengthy, clean line. The PTT button has a high and low half, which allows you to decide to transmit at .5 or 2 watts. This feature lets you decide if you want to save battery with lower power, or get better range with higher power. The confusion comes when you are on one of the FRS frequencies that are designated to be at .5 watts. When on those channels, it still will not transmit at 2 watts even if you press the high half of the PTT button. This split button can help you make a longer call when you need, or save battery, but it can also be unclear as to what power you are transmitting at.

motorola t600 - the t600 had good range in a clear straight line but stumbled a bit...
The T600 had good range in a clear straight line but stumbled a bit with hills, weather, and vegetation.
Credit: Michelle Powell

Ease of Use


We really appreciated user interfaces that use a combination of buttons and knobs for quicker adjustments, but this radio only utilizes buttons. Combining the “up” and “down” arrows to change volume, privacy codes, and channels sometimes created confusion over which one we were changing. Having an interface of only buttons requires navigating the menu to make simple changes like the volume and the channels, and that took some familiarity to do efficiently. If the ambient noise increased, you were left scrambling to press the right buttons to increase the volume while you can't hear the person on the other end.


The hands-free VOX feature was not very useful to our testers. It was unreliable as to if it would transmit when you talked, or it may transmit when you were not talking if there was a loud ambient noise. It required you to keep the radio close to your mouth, but its bulky size made this usually uncomfortable. You could use this with the external plug-in earpiece, but the radio is not rated for water use with the earpiece plug open. In real life, this radio's real value comes in its water resistance, so any feature that opens its waterproof ports defeats the radio's value. The T600 has some good features, with plenty of built-in security codes, channels, and weather channels. It also has a flashlight on the bottom to help if you get stranded in the dark, and it has the option of red or white light. The scan function is good if you are communicating with multiple groups.

motorola t600 - the buttons are laid out well, and the display is a good size, but...
The buttons are laid out well, and the display is a good size, but we really prefer our radios to have knobs to make adjustments easy.
Credit: Gray Grandy

It also has a whistle built into the backpack clip. However, you have to move a small catch to remove the whole clip to be able to put your mouth on the whistle - something that could be challenging in an emergency situation. The clip worked in most situations, but we could not rely on it to stay secure in the roughest conditions. The spring was just not strong enough, the clip lacked teeth or texture for holding friction, and it seemed prone to breaking.

motorola t600 - the t600 has a lot of symbols on the screen that sometimes needed...
The T600 has a lot of symbols on the screen that sometimes needed the manual to understand. Its solid feeling casing left us feeling good about its durability.
Credit: Gray Grandy

We were happy to find that the buttons were larger than average, so it was realistic to work this radio with gloves on. It also has an average amount of settings and a good display screen, so there are not too many options on the menu to wade through. We also appreciated the simplicity of the battery hatch closure. Making a waterproof door could have easily been over-engineered, but Motorola utilized a simple two screw design with an effective rubber seal that makes it easy to change batteries.

Weather Resistance and Durability


The T600 performed exceptionally well in our water resistance tests. It met the manufacturer's specifications of being able to spend thirty minutes one meter underwater (with ports closed of course). It also floats and flashes its light when it goes in the water, which makes it much more likely to be found if you drop it off of your watercraft. This radio is clearly designed to spend time in the water, and Motorolla executed that intent well.


The waterproof and floating exterior also works to defend the radio from terrestrial threats such as rocks and getting squashed in a backpack. This radio showed very little wear after our testing, and we have little question it will continue to last. The charging and earpiece ports are the only potential weaknesses to the water-resistance of this radio. If you forget to close them before submersion, you are risking this radio failing. The small plastic pieces on the backpack clip also seem like a likely piece to break with rough handling.

motorola t600 - the light on the bottom of the motorolla t600 flashes when it is...
The light on the bottom of the Motorolla T600 flashes when it is dropped in the water, and this is the only radio in our test that floats!
Credit: Gray Grandy

Battery Life


We gave this metric 15% of the total score of each walkie. This radio's battery lasts approximately half the time of our review's average. While that was a shorter performance than many others, the T600 has the convenient feature of accepting regular AA batteries in place of the supplied battery pack in case you run out without a way to charge it. This would allow you to extend this radio's life as long as you wanted, as long as you carry enough batteries.


Weight and Size


At 8.4 ounces and 2.5 x 1.5 x 7.5 inches, this is one of the larger radios in our test group. This is not surprising considering the extra material it takes to make it waterproof and floating, but it is still a small drawback. When clipped to a backpack or in a pocket, it felt larger and usually uncomfortable.


This radio is quite blocky and dense, so it felt even larger than its dimensions suggest. It would be better stashed in a storage compartment of a boat or somewhere else that you could keep it off of your body.

motorola t600 - the t600 was a bit big to live in a loose pocket. it felt bulky and...
The T600 was a bit big to live in a loose pocket. It felt bulky and pulled at our jacket pocket.
Credit: Caroline Miller

Should You Buy the Motorola T600?


If you need a radio to use on the water, this is worth the extra money over cheaper options. A quick dip in the water for most other radios will mean you need to buy another radio, but the T600 won't even flinch if you drop it in. If you don't care about the aquatic prowess of your radio, there are plenty of cheaper options that have similar capabilities that will provide better value for your money.

What Other Walkie Talkies Should You Consider?


If you're looking for another submersible radio, take a look at the Rocky Talkie 5 Watt, which offers an IP67 rating and a robust construction. Rocky Talkie even advertises it as a radio built for water sports. If you're looking for a less expensive option, the Midland X-Talker T10 is a great choice if you're needing something really wallet-friendly, though it is best for close-proximity use.

Gray Grandy