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The Motorola Droid, powered by Verizon Wireless, will hit shelves on Nov. 6. So how does the handset stack up against smartphones such as the BlackBerry Storm 2?
Motorola Droid review round-up
Verizon's iPhone killer has arrived. We sift through all the Droid reviews, a week before the Motorola-built smartphone goes on sale.
By Matthew Shaer | 10.29.09
On Thursday, a week ahead of the Nov. 6 release date, tech bloggers issued their first reviews of the Motorola Droid, a smartphone powered by Verizon Wireless and Google’s Android 2.0 operating system. So how does the Droid stack up against, say, the BlackBerry Storm 2? As always, it depends on whom you ask.
Early tests of the Droid have been largely positive, with reviewers praising the Droid’s navigation capabilities, its full QWERTY keyboard, and its lush screen display, which bests the iPhone in terms of resolution. Over at Gizmodo, Matt Buchanan says there is “something weirdly refreshing about [the] straightforwardly utilitarian design” on the Droid:
The 3.7-inch display, packed with pixels, looks simply amazing. Text is ridiculously crisp, thanks to a 854×480 resolution that makes for 267ppi. (The iPhone is 163ppi.) Seriously, looking at my inbox is kinda making me drool. Besides clarity, touch response seems dead on. The keyboard works way better than it looks. It appears flat, but there’s a slight bump to every key that, combined with the soft rubber texture, just works.
At CNET, Kent German and Bonnie Cha call the Droid “a real competitor to Apple’s device.” They are particularly jazzed about the Android 2.0 operating system, which they say meshes very well with a range of desktop programs, including Office programs:
Perhaps one of the top highlights of Android 2.0 is the expanded capabilities of the personal information management tools, including e-mail, calendar, and contacts. The Droid now offers native Microsoft Exchange synchronization out of the box for e-mail, calendar, and contacts, in addition to support for Gmail and POP3 and IMAP accounts.
PC World is happy enough with the Droid to dish out a 90-percent rating. In his review, Robert S. Anthony singled out the Droid’s call quality and the display. (No surprise there – everyone loves the Droid display.) Anthony also gushed over the Web browsing experience:
Especially snappy is the Droid’s Web browser, which loads images quickly thanks to the powerful 550MHz processor and speedy hardware-accelerated graphics. Though you are at the mercy of your 3G high-speed data network coverage, once you’re in it, Web surfing is breezy and smooth. Video from sites such as YouTube looks equally impressive; the playback of a high-definition YouTube cartoon (”Sita Sings the Blues”) was excellent, with no stalling or audio dropouts.
Of course more than a few reviewers have some quibbles. Mr. Anthony, for instance, doesn’t like the occasionally grainy shots produced by the Droid camera. And most of the reviews we read criticized the QWERTY keyboard. (Importantly, the Droid does have a touch-screen like the iPhone, but also real rubber keys.) Here’s CNET:
Though many users will welcome a physical keyboard, we weren’t particularly impressed. The keys are flush and squashed next to each other, which makes it difficult to text quickly or by feel. Also, though the buttons do give a slight downward “push,” they’re a bit slick and we were thrown off by the “dummy keys” on either end of the bottom row. On the whole it is a better experience than the T-Mobile G1, but not nearly as comfortable as on the Cliq or even on the Samsung Moment.
Bottom line: The Droid is a good phone. It might even be a great phone. Will it blow the iPhone out of the water? Not right away. But the sheer amount of buzz surrounding the Droid debut suggests that Apple is susceptible to an attack from a smartly-manufactured, well-executed smartphone.
Are you sold? Or will you be standing by your iPhone? Drop us a line here, or on Twitter, @CSMHorizonsBlog.
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Comments
2. pinoytutorial | 10.29.09
Yep, the Motorola Droid did everything it can to promote the Droid phone. It was a pretty stiff competition especially if you’re against an iPhone. The spec comparison are almost the same between the two.. up to the price point. We have to wait for customer reviews.
http://pinoytutorial.com/techtorial/motorola-droid-official-release-on-november-6-for-199-with-contract/
3. Scott Kinzy | 10.29.09
I love apple. I have only owned macs since the 128 was first introduced. I have used the iphone for 4 years and absolutely love the hardware. I own apple stock! Next Friday I am running to the Verizon store to buy a Motorola Droid! I hate AT&T!
4. theo | 10.29.09
It looks like the trifecta of Verizon, Google, and Mot did their best to bring to market a compelling device just in time for the Holidays.
5. Cal | 10.29.09
Love Apple, love the iphone..do not love AT&T. Love Verizon, hope to love the Droid…did I say that I do not love AT&T?
6. dr. gass | 10.29.09
Honestly apple itunes and their software are great for beginner or advanced beginner technology users, but i am an advanced user and it is an insult.
i wish they had a physical talk button and i wish they just copied another successful slide out keyboard. I will wait a week, and if i hear that HTC is coming out with an android 2.0, i may wait until december.
but this looks like a better phone for someone that wants to use their phone for multitasking, work, and things other than just playing games.
7. Itchy80 | 10.29.09
Does anybody know if this thing will work abroad?? I travel a lot and the phone’s spec’s seem great for when I’m in the US but what about international compatibility? That’s the only thing holding me back from going out and getting one the second they hit the shelves!
8. kvone2kx | 10.29.09
still not sold. i bought the g1, with all the same promises of open source and what not, only to be dissapointed on the bad quality of the apps. the system was always bad and the promises of updates to come will make it better, its been a year and im still waiting.the droid updates are just hype. now the touch pro 2, how come no one mentions it or even promotes it? you want a good phone? theres a good phone (the touch pro 2, offered by most carriers)where open source is not even needed, theres enough code and tweeks out there to make your phone intoo a mimi computer. just a heads up, check it out before you fall for the tricks of the man.. ohh the touch pro its a htc phone as well
9. jonnie | 10.29.09
After reading that Droid will be one of the first phones to support Adobe Flash 10.0 for web browsing (I hope it’s an upgrade and not a new model), I was sold. I’ve researching that around the web and can’t find any other device that has that ability. It sounds like a great device that has potential to grow.
10. jonnie | 10.29.09
After reading that the Droid would support Abobe Flash 10.0 for web browsing in 2010, I know this phone is going to be great. I only hope that Flash comes in an software upgrade, not in a new model. I haven’t seen any other phone have this capability, so it shows me that the phone is forward thinking. Let’s hope it is.
11. Cherrob | 10.29.09
No one yet has said how an actual phone call sounds on this thing. it is a phone, after all, right? And will it allow me to get my mac emails? Or does it only sync with microsoft? I don’t know, I like the cool toys as well as the next person, but I still need to be able to make calls–tell me how the speaker phone sounds, etc.
12. Erik | 10.30.09
To be honest, I’m torn between this phone or waiting for the Palm Pre on Verizon. Either way I am switching from AT&T which is horrible in Chicago! If the Palm Pre was out right now on Verizon I would prefer that phone over this Moto Droid. Web OS is much more intuitive and a better/simpler user experience.
13. Joe | 10.30.09
Ummmm… Specs on the droid and iphone are not close to the same in the cell phone world!
14. Mark | 10.30.09
re: dr. gass
Honestly apple itunes and their software are great for beginner or advanced beginner technology users, but i am an advanced user and it is an insult.
I hear this comment from people on Apple products and it’s ridiculous. A phone that is easy enough for anyone to use shows the product actually had some thought put into it. Multi-tasking on your phone? The iPhone os does multitask. Apple has restrictions on 3rd party apps. I have no problem making a phone call, switching to the web browser while talking, and having my apps updated in the background. Post again after you get the droid and the battery is dead after 2 hours of multi-tasking.
15. Megan K | 11.01.09
One true differentiator which was largely ignored by many is the Flash support available with Droid. This is ground breaking for many reasons with the true potential of flahs based apps coming to mobile devices. I use a Flash based’social productivity’ application called Zahdoo.com and I am excited to able to access the app with Droid.
16. Dabil | 11.01.09
For those of you who are comparing the G1 to the Droid, STOP! There is no comparison. The G1 wasn’t even on the Verizon Network! So for those of you who didn’t like the G1 because of spotty service, it was because of the T-Mobile network.
And for those of you asking if this phone will work abroad. You need a GSM World addition phone for that. I have not seen anywhere that there will be a Droid World Addition phone. Doesn’t hurt to ask though when you go to buy.
17. wrlsmarc | 11.01.09
No the Droid will not be world phone capable. Only CDMA 850/1900 for use in the US and small parts of Asia. If the Droid is a success, and usage resembles the iPhone, wait for the hick-ups on the Verizon network. They will be the same. In recent months, AT&T has added additional capacity in many areas and the service levels are back to par with Verizon. San Francisco is one of those markets that were dismal over the summer but have improved since late August.
18. ELZEE | 11.02.09
With everybody gushing about the Droid, no one has mentioned that it does not work on GSM bands, so it does not work internationally (unless you get the Vodafone model, which works internationally but not the US). What’s up with that? The multi-band technology has been around for a while, and both the iPhone and the Blackberry Storm 2 have it. Is Motorola planning a model that works everywhere?
19. Nathan | 11.04.09
I was thinking of dropping Verizon and going with the iPhone. After doing a great deal of research re: the Droid, I’m convinced it is worth staying with Verizon and getting this phone instead. I think in the long term that will be the biggest impact it has… it won’t cause too many people to drop their iPhones, but it will stop Verizon’s bleeding off of customers.
20. r4 ds | 11.05.09
The QWERTY keyboard feels flat and the dialpad control is restricted to the home screen.
21. Andrew Zarian | 11.08.09
I love my Droid. Im coming from a windows Mobile phone and wow what a big step .. I have seen many people say this phone sucks because it doesnt have multi touch but thats not true . the phone is fully capable of multi touch .. I made a video to show how you can do it and also save some battery life hope it helps out
22. Sonia | 11.08.09
@#14/Mark: I’ve owned several WinMo phones over the years, BlackBerries, HTC Android devices, and an iPhone — the DROID, without a doubt, is one of the nicest I’ve used in terms of phone quality AND battery life. See here (http://phandroid.com/2009/11/03/motorola-droid-battery-life-review/) for a review on battery life. Granted, I’ve only had this phone since Friday night, but after one charge, several calls, an hour of watching TV, and checking emails/Facebook, my phone has probably only used up about 10% of its battery life. This phone is, in my opinion, far superior to the iPhone. Just my two cents.
23. First Time Smartphone Buyer | 11.08.09
The Droid is so far the best Smartphone I’ve seen, and verizon is the best network, so it definitely looks like something worth checking out.
24. Tiffany | 11.11.09
My husband and I both got a Droid last weekend and his works great but mine is having a lot of problems. Like restarting itself constantly, closing programs while im in the middle of working on something, and loading all of the apps at the same time which wastes my battery and slows my phone down. Even after all this I love this phone and can’t wait to go to Verizon tomorrow and replace it with one that actually works.
25. Jessica A. | 11.11.09
I had the iPhone for 2 years and finally had enough when my call was dropped twice during a one hour phone call with my at&t iphone. I admit that the Droid isn’t as sexy as the iPhone BUT I almost c*me in my pants when I saw the navigation with google earth like photos of the street and the voice navigation at the same time - why wasn’t that heavily advertised?! That is a HUGE selling point. I have played with it constantly and I have imported my contacts and phone numbers via one of the 3 gmail import welcome emails. I have ALL 4 bars in the elevator of my 40 floor condo building and I am extremely happy. I don’t use that qwerty keyboard - I never have. I have a FLASH now for my camera. Its easy to get my mp3’s from my computer to my phone. All in all I must say that Droid might be a late bloomer in sales but it sure is making me alot happier than the iPhone right now.
26. andranic | 11.11.09
I have been talking to alot of Iphone owners and non of them would switch to a droid they are happy with the phone that have. But many people that would of gone to ATT are sticking with verizon and that was the point of this . I think it will only get better with time.
http://www.guysfromqueens.com/?p=598
27. Anthony pleas | 11.16.09
The motorola Droid Is the best phone. The phone calls are very clear I like it better Than the blackberry. The battery life is not all that but I am used too all motos draining batteries.The applications are good too The key board is great to me I can text fast. I suggest this phone to everyone who wants clearity switch to verizon. By the way t-mobile sucks in web browsing.
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1. rob oram | 10.29.09
i’m sold - i want a good phone but i also want a good service provider…i wasn’t happy with the touch…i even bought an iphone but couldn’t stand the iffy service…this might be the ticket