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Prizefight (week of October 26)
Motorola Droid Bionic vs. Apple iPhone 4S
Motorola Droid Bionic vs. Apple iPhone 4S
The Motorola Droid Bionic proved to the world that a dual-core processor and Verizon's 4G LTE chipset could exist in the same phone. The result is one speedy handset, with plenty of power as well. Aside from the usual multimedia and enterprise features, the Droid Bionic also has Webtop functionality that transforms the humble smartphone into a bona-fide Netbook thanks to a variety of accessories.
However, it faces a serious challenger in Apple's latest device wonder, the iPhone 4S. Even though it's widely touted as merely an incremental upgrade, it has a lot of power under the hood. There's plenty of brains behind this beauty, with a dual-core processor along with a seriously upgraded camera. And, of course, it features Siri, the voice assistant that is the current darling in the tech press. Will the Droid Bionic's Android brawn win against the iPhone 4S' elegant strength? We find out in this Prizefight.
Editors' note: The Prizefight scoring system is as follows: Each judge rates on a 0-to-5-point scale. At the end of each round, we will take an average of the three judges' scores. The final score for each phone will be an average of all five rounds.
Round 1: Sexiness and durability
Design and looks count for a lot when you're shopping for a cell phone, so here's where we examine the look, size, feel, and sex appeal of the devices.| player | Nicole | Jessica | Brian | the winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Apple iPhone 4S - 16GB - black (Sprint) | 5The iPhone wins in the sleek and sexy department hands down. The smooth glass on both the front and back combined with the steel frame results in a luxurious feel that outranks the Droid Bionic's comparatively bulky heft. The display also seems brighter and crisper. | 5It's supersexy with its metal frame and two glass screens, and feels like the premium device it is. Sadly, the glass is all-too breakable. It also has great resolution. | 4The iPhone is still slick and sexy, and the most luxurious phone on the market, but dropping this thing is an instant shatter, and it's anything but durable. | 4.7 |
 Motorola Droid Bionic (Verizon Wireless) | 4The Droid Bionic has a different aesthetic entirely, with its large 4.3-inch display and thick form factor. Its soft-touch matte backing and the sculpted glass do make it more attractive, but its overall heft and size make it look clumsy and awkward next to the iPhone. | 4Big and thick, this one's built for brawn, not beauty. While I don't mind the robust aesthetic and larger screen, it looks much less premium. | 4This phone makes the iPhone feel like a midget with its expansive 4.3-inch screen. The Droid isn't ugly, but it's not sexy, either. This guy will definitely survive a few drops. | 4 |
Round 2: Controls and user interface
Sexiness is one thing, but are the phones easy to use? In Round 2, we examine the design and usability of their user interfaces, keyboards, and navigation controls.| player | Nicole | Jessica | Brian | the winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple iPhone 4S - 16GB - black (Sprint) | 5The iPhone 4S definitely shines when it comes to ease of use. The user interface is dead simple, with all of the apps on display right when you turn it on. With iOS 5, the iPhone now has a handy notification tray, plus it's easier to access the camera from the lock screen. | 4Over the years, Apple has added more hidden features that you have to know are there. In iOS 5, that's the pull-down notifications tray. Otherwise, it's famously straightforward and intuitive. | 5It can't be said enough, the iPhone 4S still has the easiest and snappiest UI on the phone market. The new software improvements don't add any complexity, either. | 4.7 |
| Motorola Droid Bionic (Verizon Wireless) | 4We do think the Android OS is not as complicated as some people would have you believe, but it does have a bit more of a learning curve because of all the customization options. We also admit that we're not big fans of the MotoBlur interface. | 4The long setup process is the pits, but I do like the Bionic's stylized Android icons. Android in general has some tricks you have to know about to use. | 4Android's OS is no chump, but it's still not as straightforward, with all of its options. The tech geek won't mind, but the general consumer will. Plus the Droid, even with all its power, still feels a hair slower. | 4 |
Round 3: Features
What do these phones offer under the hood? Here we examine the features in each device and rate which phone offers more.| player | Nicole | Jessica | Brian | the winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple iPhone 4S - 16GB - black (Sprint) | 4The iPhone 4S has plenty of the same features as the Droid Bionic (WiFi, 8-megapixel camera, GPS, etc.), but it offers Siri, a voice assistant that seems on first glance to be more intuitive than the voice feature on Android. iPhone users will enjoy iMessage as a built-in internal messaging system | 4The dual-core A5 processor is lightning fast, and Siri is a fun and useful update to voice control. Newsstand, Cards, and Find My Friends bring helpful features natively, but iMessage is the most quietly elegant and possibly most useful new feature in iOS 5. | 4The 4S matches many things, but it still falls short compared with tech specs. Most of the improvements came with iOS 5. iMessage is the answer to BBM, and Siri is a peek into the future, but it's still not a game changer. Just yet. | 4 |
| Motorola Droid Bionic (Verizon Wireless) | 5Yet, we have to give the nod to the Droid Bionic on this one because it also has 4G, HDMI, and DLNA compatibility, and the optional Webtop platform that turns the phone into a portable computer. | 5The Droid Bionic matches the iPhone 4S in dual-core processing, then adds on 4G LTE capability, DLNA support, and an HDMI-out port for everyday use, plus it's got those neat-o optional docking station and laptop accessories--as long as you're willing to pay for them. | 5The stats don't lie. There's 4G connectivity, HDMI out, and the ability to dock this and use it as a portable computer. DLNA support also makes this a BEAST. | 5 |
Round 4: Web browsing and multimedia
These handsets do a lot more than just make calls; they also have Web browsers and multimedia players. We tell you which phone offers a better media and Web-browsing experience.| player | Nicole | Jessica | Brian | the winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple iPhone 4S - 16GB - black (Sprint) | 5The Safari browser on the iPhone continues to be best in its class, and the 8-megapixel camera on the 4S makes it one of the best camera phones on the market. | 5The superior 8-megapixel camera and sensors take the cake. iTunes with iCloud syncing drops the cherry on top. Videos would be even better on a larger screen, with Flash support. | 5Safari is still the best mobile browser on the market, and its speed and performance has improved with the 4S. When it comes to camera, both are 8 megapixels, but this one isn't even close. Pictures and videos were superior in every way. It's not even close. | 5 |
| Motorola Droid Bionic (Verizon Wireless) | 4We liked the browsing experience on the Droid Bionic, too, especially because of the speed boost we get from 4G LTE. The Droid Bionic's larger screen offers a wider display for movies and TV shows. However, the camera experience was poor; there was quite a bit of shutter lag, and pictures seemed overexposed. | 4The disappointing 8-megapixelcamera didn't accurately reproduce color and clarity, but I appreciate the larger screen and Flash support. | 4Browsing on the larger screen is a better experience, and watching videos is excellent, too, but the camera doesn't even come close to the iPhone's in color temperature or sharpness. It's no contest. | 4 |
Round 5: Call quality and general performance
Cell phones aren't worth much if they don't make good calls and can't keep up with your demands. In the final round, we check out just how well devices work as a phone and everything in between.| player | Nicole | Jessica | Brian | the winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple iPhone 4S - 16GB - black (Sprint) | 4We tested the iPhone 4S call quality on Sprint, and were pleasantly surprised at the volume and clarity we experienced. However, data speeds did not compare with the Droid Bionic's. | 4With three carriers to choose from, the iPhone has the call quality advantage, but its lack of 4G support limits it to technically 3G speeds. | 4Call quality will be a different experience with the multiple carrier versions of the iPhone, but it's still solid overall. Data speeds, lag behind significantly with HSDPA, and early reports of a shorter battery life hurt it here. | 4 |
| Motorola Droid Bionic (Verizon Wireless) | 5The Droid Bionic's 4G LTE speed is definitely apparent when loading Web pages and streaming video. We loaded CNET.com twice as fast than with the iPhone 4S on Sprint 3G. Call quality was pretty good, too, though we did encounter the occasional static crackle. | 5Verizon's 4G LTE is fast and coverage is generally strong. The entire system hummed along smoothly. | 5Call quality is very good as well, but the difference is Verizon's 4G network that delivers here in San Francisco. It's not even close. | 5 |
The winner is...
Winner
Apple iPhone 4S - 16GB - black (Sprint) (4.5 pts)
Runner-Up
Motorola Droid Bionic (Verizon Wireless) (4.4 pts)
It's yet another close Prizefight, with the iPhone 4S winning out by only a tenth of a point! The Droid Bionic fought hard, though, and it did win in the Features and Performance category. Unfortunately, it just wasn't enough, as the iPhone beat it in three other rounds. You win this time, iPhone 4S!
I bought iPhones for my kids, but the greater variety of hardware pushed us to Android for my wife and I. My wife wants and integrated physical keyboard and I wanted a larger screen.
As opposed to my iDevice which told me to get Flash if I wanted to watch it?
But why would you want to? Flash is on the way out, HTML 5 is the future. I'm sorry you live in the past, enjoy your lag till the battery dies.
No, you should just not do the Prize Fight until there's one worth doing. Pit the Bionic against the iPhone 4 and leave the 4S until later if you want a bit more of a legit comparison. You can't take a new product that's part of the Fall class of tech and compare it to an already-outdated summer release. It just makes no sense.
I'm not an Android fanboy by any means, but orgasmic love affair with Apple at CNET has just gotten out of hand.
And yes, I can read elsewhere. I suppose I come here out of habit because I got into CNET when the site was more balanced. And I know that you, as a "journalist," don't care at all if it's fair and balanced, because here we are adding comments to this post and increasing your site traffic, so you still win.
Still, the point stands.
The iClone Fandroids have nothing to hang their hats on so they are completely dependant upon ignorance and hate.
Your response was spot on.
It's not their fault that a new Android phone eclipses the rest every month.
So you argument basically boils down to, "It isn't an iPhone." There are pros and cons to both phones but at least come with a reasoned argument.
Well if don't like this review there are others out there, ones that show accurate, albeit longer, video evidence of their ratings. Or watch on youtube the fails of the 4s. The drop test is a favourite. But Brian is entertaining. I mean it's billed as prize fight. Entertainment is what I expect.
@sjobalia
Thanks for that link as I do value a good informative face off as well. Its good to be able to watch those as well.
@Cee215
Doesn't have Siri? Ha! Glad to see apple apologists keeping up their usual of research. Siri equals google voice with a feminine touch. One would think apple would have made this more of a knockout feature considering time to play catch up. A small tip off is that Siri fails more outside the US. I only find the iOS comment to have sort of merit considering it is a new polished OS.
On the flipside, I would totally buy the new Galaxy Note - the perfect all in one tablet/phone wonder. Very much looking forward to the 2012 release of the Galaxy Note.
You want to read some pretty bad reviews? Check out the best reviewed tablets section - most are done by Eric Franklin. He complains about the lack of ports, the proprietary charging adapter, and the "sharp edges" of many tablets, but similar shortcomings on the iPad are not enough so to give it a 3.5 like all the others. Seems pretty biased to me.
Brian has been doing Prize Fight forever, and it wounds my heart.
Then let's compare it 4S vs. Galaxy S2.
You have to be kidding.
Owned the 4 for 14 months and it it he first phone I have ever owned where I broke the glass 2x - once front (drop), once back (early glass/case issue).
"I had a ferrari for 14 months and its the only car I've ever totaled because I was going 120 mph!"
See what I did thar?
When certain makers of Android Phones keep mostly the same design, they ALWAYS get knocked for it on Cnet in these comparisons.
Lets not even mention UI.
However, Apple keeps its same design and software interface and it is hailed as a marvel even if its years old...
*Typed using Siri, faster than you can say Android.
I hate to say it but you really are an uninformed "SJ IS MY GOD" fanboy.
I can 100% say and prove that my Galaxy S2 will outperform, outspeed and out surf the 4S.
Pull it in dude.
You are making yourself look bad.
I really hope you're just acting dumb on purpose and not really serious. You clearly have no idea what you are talking about and just a plain old silly fanboy lol...
@cee215
dude chill out, you really sound like a complete child..both phones are great and people are entitled to opinions. saying if its not a iphone it sucks just makes you look immature.
Plus you are comparing different networks? Why? You're CNet! Go get yourself a phone on the same network for testing purposes. The Droid on Verizon was faster than the iPhone on Sprint? Then go get a Droid on Sprint and an iPhone on Verizon and run your damned test again.
Why are these rated from 1-5 if every categories is rated a 4 or 5? It should just be a zero or one, a plus or a minus... whatever.
Someone above said he wanted his 5 minutes back. 5 minutes is what they spent putting this "comparison" together.
sort your life out.
Its not Brian Tong's fault, it is the script he is given...he is only there for his animation and entertainment value. Clearly the 1st 2 rounds belonged to Droid! I have lost faith and trust in Cnet...its all a bunch of propaganda on here!!!
2 screens later.....
Ouch
Now, where's the parody he made of the Android phones? Oh wait, doesn't exist. Guess that goes to show you that even celebrities know a good product from a toilet phone (Droid)
Though I'm sure you'll just pull out some lame comeback now that I've hurt your feelings.
Notice how none of the people whining about this prizefight own an iPhone 4S or the Droid Bionic and yet they claim bias about 2 phones they have never used. That's why Android cry babies have no credibility....they have big opinions but small wallets and think they know it all about gadgets they have never used and can't afford.
I have a Galaxy S2 and an iPhone 4S for my business. I bought a Galaxy Tab 10.1 and an iPad 2 so I use Android and Apple devices daily. Android devices are slower and have weaker batteries and also suffer from fragmentation issues. Android only fans just ignore these issues but tech websites can't ignore these common flaws in their reviews.
People who review movies they have never seen are frauds and fake critics. People who bash CNET without ever trying the devices they are reviewing or matching in a prizefight have no credibility here and are just complaining about stuff just to be complaining.
On the other hand, while my Evo 3D (and my quickly-returned Photon) are generations behind in touch sensitivty and battery life, the gadget junkie in me is in love with the numerous features and power. The speed is ridiculous, and 4G rocks! But truthfully, all these features do not lead to an overall better experience; its overall less enjoyable. I suspect (hope) that will change with the Galaxy Nexus and ICS, but these prize fights pretty accurately refect TODAY's state of affairs. ---And for Pete's sake, there is nothing sexier yet than the iPhone 4; newer? yes, but not sexier - not yet.
Jessica Dellacourt is like having Maggie on here, who is all about the iPhone.
This is why its very hard to take Apple fans seriously. Even if it might be a legitimate criteria -- which I, for one, do not see -- I just don't see how the iPhone is any "sexier" than a lot of other smartphones out there.
I realize that this type of whacked out thinking is how Apple has built its profitable technocult....but the irony is it has nothing to do with technology.
Personally, I think the iPhone is now looking rather jaded and clunky. It's still a pretty good device though...just not as functional as many others now on the market.
But, hey its a free market...go ahead and spend twice the dough on something because you might think its "sexy." It's hard not to laugh whenever I see someone with an iPhone. It's like yuppies and brie...