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"Sets a minimum standard for all my future smartphones!" on by ClydeHoward
Pros: Android 2.3 Gingerbread,
Excellent call quality,
Screen is bright and clear,
Very fast 4G LTE data performance,
Dual-core 1.2 GHz processor,
16GB internal memory, and 16GB microSD card included,
Thin and lightweight.Cons: Phone takes up to 3 hours to fully charge,
No ICS (yet).Summary: I was one of the first users to have the original HTC Droid Incredible; in fact, I pre-ordered it from Verizon before it came out and had it a day before it was released in stores, so I had the earliest model with the beautiful AMOLED screen (as opposed to the Super LED). My experience was very good with my Incredible: I had the slim extended battery from Seido (battery life still sucked), my Incredible worked smoothly with no bugs, the 8mp camera was pretty decent, it had plenty of space, and its 1gz processor was always fast enough to run anything I wanted. I saw a lot of Verizon android phones come out over the past 2 years that were sub-par to my Incredible. As a power user, I needed something that improved on battery life, had at least the same screen quality, had a dual core processor (to fight obsolescence), and had plenty of space. This phone has outperformed all my expectations.
BATTERY: First of all, the battery life is this phone's biggest selling point. During my first day of use, I turned OFF the wifi and used 4gLTE (which is FAST!) because I have the unlimited plan for Verizon. I spent much of the day downloading all my old apps and setting up school email and personalizing all my settings. I also got engaged to my girlfriend on the same day, so one can imaging all the texting I did and picture messaging of the ring and all. We went out late to celebrate and I used it lightly while out showing off my new phone and its features and when I got home, I still had 25% battery! Just as the reviews report, the battery on this thing really out-does itself. What is even more impressive is I do not have a lump sticking out of the back due to an extended battery.
SCREEN: I have no problem with it. It is a beautiful display and is slightly better than my old Droid Incredible AMOLED display. The best part about it is I do not need to turn down the settings like brightness and screen timeout like I did to conserve on battery. Some reviewers have compared this screen to the beautiful screens of the Samsung Droid Nexus and iPhone4s, which both have 300+ pixel/inch density. Sure, you MIGHT notice a difference if you were to put them side by side on same photo. However, I do not notice anything in terms of a lack of quality or really see any pixels. Coming from my old Incredible (which has the same AMOLED tech), this has a very slightly better pixels/inch and remains beautiful to look at and easy on my eyes. Also to note, it has a Corning Gorilla Glass screen. This is the same glass screen covering as the iPhone4s and makes it extremely hard. I'm still using a screen cover because I do not want to chance anything.
PROCESSOR: The Razr MAXX has a 1.2gz dual core processor. My old Incredible had a single core 1gz snapdragon processor, which ran things smoothly. After using the Razr Maxx, I can tell the difference. The same games, apps, and video feel like they run like butter. The Droid Incredible would have a very slight lag before it ran something fast and smooth. The Droid Razr does not have that lag. There are other phones that have a dual core 1.5gz processor; honestly, there really should not be any difference in performance that one notices.
CAMERA: Wow, great camera on this thing. I proposed to my girl friend at the local Botanical Gardens and the camera takes amazing photos both close up and far away. Digital zoom is excellent and the best part is NO SHUTTER LAG! When you press the snap button, BAM! That's the picture you get! There is no holding the phone steady as you wait for it to capture the photo. I can't be more pleased.
SMART ACTIONS: Great job Motorola! Take a moment to check out the Smart Actions features. This allows you to program your Droid Razr Maxx (or regular Razr) to automatically change settings or launch applications. When I showed this to my fiance's brother, who is a big iPhone user, his eyebrows raised and he was impressed.
For example:
- I set my phone so when I arrive at my work's address, my phone will automatically go into vibrate mode.
- I set my phone so it makes all text messages/email notifications quiet during my sleeping hours during work nights
- My phone automatically puts the screen dimmer and turns off sync when battery reaches below 25%
- My phone now notifies me to charge it at night if it is below 25% battery life
- *This program does pretty much whatever you want. If you have done programming, you might know what a "macro" is. It is a macro creation tool. In short, it allows you complete automatic control over your phone. It is EXTREMELY easy to use, especially if you choose from the large sample list of tasks.
SPACE: Advertises as a total of 32gb. Need I say more? The system reserves 8gb for its own use, it leaves 8gb of internal memory for user use, and it comes with a 16 gb MicroSD card. In reality, the user gets 24 gb of space, which is pretty good.
KEYBOARD: Has a standard android software keyboard. I prefer the Swype keyboard, which comes preinstalled on it. Make sure you check it out, it is the FASTEST keyboard to use out there (Faster than iPhone or other keyboards on the Market). To use it, when you go to type in a text field, long press the field until a menu pops up, select on that menu "Input Method", then select "Swype". Swype allows you to drag your fingers through all your letters of words instead of individual presses. Quite fast once you get used to it (which does not take long).
SOFTWARE: Currently runs Android 2.3 Gingerbread. This is one of the latest versions and it runs very smooth. The Razr Maxx will be upgraded in 2012 to Android 4.0, which will pretty much make this into a whole new phone. Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwhich (codename) will redefine how Android and raise the bar for competition (iPhone, Windows phone). I will not explain how important this will be for the Droid Razr, so if you are interested in this be sure to Google Android 4.0's new features and changes/reviews.
**My advice, before you're will buy the Motorola DROID RAZR MAXX, I suggest you have to check for best deal at: Androidphone4g.blogspot.com/p/motorola-droid-razr-maxx.html
In summary, if you are trying to decide to get this phone versus another, get the Droid Razr Maxx. I do not think you will be disappointed. -
"Uninspired by iPhone, returned Nexus, happy with Maxx" on by Lefseboy1
Pros: Battery
Screen size
Build quality
Connectivity
In hand "feel"
Android OSCons: No Android 4.0...yet
Camera not great, but not awfulSummary: I thought I would upgrade to the iPhone 4S when I was eligible, but I felt blah about it. Everyone around me has an iPhone, which they love, but there were things that excited me more about with the new Android phones. I decided to go with the Galaxy Nexus because of its stellar reviews and high rankings on phone lists. I liked the screen size and resolution, and Android 4.0 is wonderful. However, the connectivity to service was awful. I lost service when making a call when walking out of the Verizon store -- and in a major metropolitan area. I lost service on almost every call I made after that, which was frustrating and disappointing. The change the SIM card at Verizon, which didn't change anything. Service was moderately better on 3G, but I still had problems, so I decided to return it. In addition, the battery life was very short, and it got uncomfortably hot while talking on it during the few times I was able to do so.
The day after I bought the Galaxy Nexus, the Razr Maxx was released, but, since I could only do one return at Verizon, I was hesitant to try another 4G phone. I was resigned to get the iPhone 4S, thinking it was the safe option (upgrades, streamlined opeeration, iTunes, etc.). But, after having the Galaxy Nexus for two days, the iPhone felt so small and heavy, and I knew I couldn't use the widgets that I enjoy with Android. It's silly, but I wanted to be excited about getting a new phone, and I wasn't excited about the iPhone.
While the salesman was returning the Galaxy Nexus and preparing to set me up on the iPhone 4S, I wandered over to the Razr Maxx display. I liked it very much, so I decided to take a chance on another 4G phone, and I have been very happy with my decision.
SCREEN: I just prefer the bigger screen of the current line of Android phones of iPhone. The Razr Maxx screen may not have the much lauded pixel density of the iPhone 4/4S or the Galaxy Nexus, but it is very bright, and I barely notice a difference.
CONNECIVITY: No problems. And 4G really is very fast. I use it at home instead of WiFi since I was grandfather into an unlimited data plan.
PROCESSOR: Very quick. Just an occasional hick-up when going back to the home screen, probably due to the calendar and weather clock widgets I have running there. Not a big deal, and it may improve with ICS.
OPERATING SYSTEM: No, it doesn't have Ice Cream Sandwich, but I am coming from Froyo, and this is much better. I can live happily with it until the ICS update arrives. Also, I am a Google fan, and I would have a difficulty time without navigation from Google Maps, which is something a friend who switched from the original Droid to iPhone misses greatly.
BUILD: I love how it feels. Much more comfortable that the Razr. I'm not using a cover on it yet, and may not put one one due to the great build quality (Kevlar, Gorilla Glass). However, I did put on a screen protector, "just in case!"
And finally, BATTERY: Fantastic. I was so conditioned by my old phone -- and even by two days with the Galaxy Nexus -- to constantly worry about the battery, but I worry no longer. I easily get through a day with moderate to heavy use, and the batter has yet to go below 30%. For me, it's worth it.
I did research ad nauseum when my upgrade was approaching. I learned that no phone is perfect and no phone is for everyone. This one spoke to me, and I am enjoying it very much! -
"The Next Level" on by S-Nealy
Pros: + Dual Core 1.2 GHz processors
+ 4.3" Super AMOLED screen is really nice
+ This phone is FAST. No doubt other phones might be faster
+ Feels more solid and well-built
+ Motorola's UI is clean and easy to customizeCons: - No Ice Cream Sandwich (yet)
Summary: Just got one of these things to replace an AT&T phone (Captivate) where the contract was close to expiring.
*WOW*
The phone charged from 30% to 90% in just over 2.25 hours (full recharge time is said to be 2.5~3.5 hours). That's REALLY good given how massive this battery is...
The battery is big, but not much bulk is not added. And given how smartphones were a decade ago, yet for such tiny screens in return, I have no complaints on the form factor and the battery within at all.
Also, every time I bought a 3rd party battery, it died within 6 months. So the need to have a spare battery is eliminated by this device, and I don't need to trust the quality of third party replacements. So the need to worry that this battery cannot be replaced by me is a non-issue.
4.3" Super AMOLED screen is really nice. The Captivate's screen isn't as saturated, but was slightly better in presenting darker colors (or maybe the gamut was limited and it elevated darker hues, resulting in an inaccurate appearance). This is a VERY minor nitpick, as only one game (Osmos) has a dark background where minute detail is no longer as visible, but for every other game there are no issues that shroud darker elements, and every other game looks FAR BETTER under the RAZR MAXX, thanks to the color gamut and darker hues.
The 960x540 resolution on the RAZR takes a moment to get used to (most models have 800x480), but it makes life easier for browsing and, again, the 4.3" screen size makes typing easier. (the PPI to the RAZR is 256, whereas the Captivate's was 216 - neither is as densely packed as a certain phone from a fruit vendor (300DPI), but I've no complaints on screen quality.)
FAST. This phone is FAST. No doubt other phones might be faster (e.g. those with the Exynos processor), but this one is no slouch. Every game and app I've worked on feel more responsive, especially Osmos (which I didn't expect to run better, but it did).
FEEL/SIZE: With case protector (Otterbox) on both devices, the RAZR MAXX is almost as thick as the Captivate, but taller. And just slightly wider. It weighs more, but the feel of the MAXX feels more solid and well-built.
Actually, I do have a gripe:
It has 16GB internal flash RAM and also includes a 16GB MicroSD card. It would have been ideal if a second MicroSD slot existed, which would really bring out the full potential of this phone.
Definitely 5 stars - there's nothing that's really detractable, not even the nitpicks. The fastest data connectivity sweetens the pot (YMMV, I chose Verizon), and reports on how it's impossible to drain this thing down in one day with moderate/heavy use are truly impressive.
*Note, I suggest check for best deal for the RAZR MAXX, before you're will buy it at: ******************.wordpress.com/2012/02/14/motorola-droid-razr-maxx
Thank for reading! -
"Best Phone I've ever owned.....AMAZING Battery Life!!!!" on by andyflippen
Pros: Battery Life (See Below)
Display
Battery Life
Functionality
Battery Life
Smart Actions Battery Life Saver
Did I mention battery life?Cons: None that I've found so far. The camera isn't as intuitive or reactive as the iPhone, but I want my phone as a phone. If I want the crispest action shots, I'll use my camera.
Summary: I have the Droid X2 and then upgraded to the 16gb Razr. The Razr is the exact same phone as the Maxx, but my battery was dying every day before I left the office. Don't undervalue how much battery life 4gLTE service actually uses. I used Smart Actions, made my own adjustments, limited use, didn't read my Kindle app at lunch, and still had a dead battery on my way home from work. So, I traded up to the Razr Maxx. This week, I've used my phone to watch Netflix shows at lunch, read from my Kindle app, used the phone more than normal (on purpose), sent a lot of texts and pictures, played on Facebook, watched YouTube videos, and just tried to run this battery into the ground. End result....70% battery life at the end of the day. This battery is no joke. I can't kill this thing. I've never had a phone that I didn't have to charge every day, but I could honestly get 1 1/2 - 2 days out of one charge, and that's saying a lot for me. I use my phone for work all day, and play on it quite a bit when I'm not in the office. This is the best phone I've ever owned. Call quality is crisp, I don't drop in some dead zones I've always dropped in. The Speak Now function allows you to speak texts, emails, and call contacts while driving with no interuption. The 4gLTE speeds are lightning fast, and in it's case, I can't tell the difference in thickness between the Maxx and Razr, except that the Maxx is better balanced due to shape, and easier to hold for calls. I absolutely love this phone. I considered a Galaxy Nexus and iPhone 4s also, but there is no comparison. When this phone gets ICS update, there will be no reason to look at any other current phone on the market.
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"The best phone on the market, hands down!" on by Caldrumr2010
Pros: Ridiculous battery life, solid build quality, fast and powerful, large screen, great call quality.
Cons: Lack of Android 4.0, less-than-stellar screen, mediocre camera, low resolution.
Summary: This is a really great phone. I had the original Droid, and have had nothing but problems with it for over two years. So, needless to say, I was very excited to upgrade. I am not a big fan of the small, underwhelming iPhone, so it was either this or the Nexus. The battery and build quality sold me on this one.
Battery
First off, this is exactly the same as the Droid Razr, except for a (much) larger battery, and a slightly different shape, due to that larger battery. So does the larger battery rationalize the fifty-dollar price increase. In two words, oh yeah! The battery is amazing. With over double the capacity of phones like the iPhone, you won't need to charge this baby often. You would have to put this phone through the ringer all day long to drain its battery, and if you use it more moderately, you could easily get two or three days out of a charger. I haven't reached 70% since I got it.
Build Quality
This is a nice-looking phone. It's sharp, it feels great, and it is sure to make your iPhone-using friends squirm with envy. It's slim, light, and large. Just note that if you have small hands and you like to do one-handed texting or browsing, you may have issues due to the large screen size.
The gorilla glass screen is great, it's water resistant, and the overall build quality just seems solid. The Kevlar backing is more of a gimmick than anything else, but it looks neat, and it has a nice feel to it. Just don't expect to stop any bullets with this one!
Screen
This has a nice, large Super Amoled+ screen. It is fairly bright, and images look really nice and sharp. However, if you compare it side by side with a phone like the Galaxy Nexus, you will notice the difference. The screen is less bright and colorful. So, while it's nice, it's not the best. And at this point in technology, for a top-of-the-line device, I expected 720p. It's a shame, but the screen really isn't bad, and you are sure to enjoy it. Movies and games look nice and sharp.
Software
This is where the phone really stumbles a bit. Again, for a flagship device, I can't believe this doesn't have Android 4.0. And from the looks of things, we won't be getting it this year at all. Very sad. You shouldn't have to root your device to get the best software. This isn't an old phone. Motorola, update your gear!
The Motoblur version of Android is okay. It's not so intrusive as it has been in the past. But you will probably want to replace most of it with custom apps from the marketplace. The smart settings are very nice, however. For instance, I set my phone to go silent at night, only if I am home and my phone has been inactive for a few minutes. However, calls from certain individuals will still go through. Very nice!
Sound
This thing has a great speaker! The speakerphone is surely the best I have ever heard, and even music sounds clean and crisp. This tops the sound quality list for any phone I have ever seen. Even if you set the phone down on its back (speaker down), the sound is clear and loud. Very nice.
Call Quality
I'm not a big talker when it comes to the phone. However, I have had some serious issues with other phones in the past regarding call quality. That is definitely not an issue here. Calls are crisp and clear, and both parties can hear each other well. The speaker has nice volume, and I have yet to have a dropped call. No issues here at all. Calls sound much cleaner than on my old phone.
Camera
First off, the 1080p video on this phone is very nice. You won't want to be ditching your camcorder anytime soon, but for a mobile device, the video is very nice.
However, the camera is a bit blah. While 8 megapixels is nice to have, it doesn't matter too much if the camera isn't great, and other phones have better cameras. If the camera is a primary feature for you, you may want to look elsewhere. The pictures are mediocre: a bit washed out, and not very clear. It does not perform well in low light, though this is a problem with many phones out there.
Performance
This phone is fast! It has a dual-core processor that will keep you zipping along. Things open quickly, transitions are smooth, and apps perform very well. Multitasking is a breeze, and I don't get constant force closes. It has the processing power, memory and overall juice to do what you need, when you want, all the time.
Capacity
This phone comes with 16 GB internal memory, about 8 GB of which is set aside for storage. It also comes with a 16 GB SD card, upgradeable to 32. While I would have liked the option to have a 32/32 combination, it's not a big deal, and this will work for most people. If you have a lot of music files, Google Music comes pre-installed, and works like a charm!
Overall
In the end, this phone makes me happy, and not just because of have been waiting two years to replace my old piece of junk. This is a slick, slender piece of powerful hardware that will make just about anyone happy. It makes my Droid look like a doorstop, and makes the iPhone look like somebody's chubby misfit cousin who showed up to the party uninvited.
I would take off a star for the software, the camera, or the lack of 720p resolution, but really, these things are just nitpicking, and each of them does the job well, if not perfectly. Since I don't think there is another phone on the market that outshines this one, I give it 4.5/5. However, if it had Android 4.0, and brighter 720p screen, and the iPhone camera, I think it would be smartphone perfection!
Bottom line: if you want a top-of-the-line, powerful smartphone, this is the one to get.
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