I got a chance to play with the RAZR HD LTE today.
When I reviewed the ATRIX HD LTE a while back I was checking off features on my checklist and couldn’t help but notice its screen wasn’t as big as the competition plus it was missing NFC. Turns out Motorola had another trick up its sleeve. 2 high-end SKU’s; the ATRIX HD LTE and now the RAZR HD LTE.
Basically, the RAZR HD LTE has the same features as the HTC One X and Galaxy S III. A 1.5Ghz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 with LTE support, 1GB RAM, NFC, 4.7” display, 16GB storage, etc.
One thing I like about the RAZR is that it has a very distinctive Motorola look to it. From the Kevlar back to the sharp edges it’s very original.
In my hand the RAZR feels really solid. It’s got a nice heft to it that you don’t get from the Galaxy S III or HTC One X but at the same time it doesn’t feel bulky. Out of the 3 phones I like holding the RAZR most.
behind: Galaxy S III
The entire back is covered with a kevlar tub unlike last year’s RAZR which had a metal frame and a kevlar insert. You can see the metal frame on the RAZR HD on the edges.
Super AMOLED HD fans will be happy to know that the RAZR has an incredibly saturated Super AMOLED HD display. Super AMOLED haters will hate the fact that the RAZR has an incredibly saturated Super AMOLED HD display.
iPhone 5, RAZR HD LTE
Size wise it’s quite impressive. Despite having similar specs to the S III and One X and more importantly, a 2530mAh battery it’s has a smaller footprint plus it’s about the same thickness as it’s competitors.
Behind: RAZR HD, iPhone 5 in front
One way they’ve accomplished this is by having a very narrow bezel and on screen buttons. Unfortunately, I couldn’t use it long enough to figure out whether the narrow bezel makes it hard to use.
Galaxy S III, RAZR HD
In the past Motorola was known for sometimes over customizing their software. You can see Google’s influence in the software. It’s pretty much stock android with a custom skin and printing support built-in. The home screen has pretty slick widgets.
HTC One X, RAZR HD
When it comes to high-end Android, all manufacturers have to play the hardware game. So, while the S4 Snapdragon is still very competitive it’s about to be supplanted by Qualcomm’s quad-core offerings in the very high-end. I mean the HTC One X came out almost 6 months ago so I’m a little disappointed that the RAZR feels a little late to market.
HTC One X RAZR HD
I asked Motorola why launch the RAZR now and not 6 months ago. They said one of the factors was supply. They wouldn’t go further into it but it probably means there’s a component in the RAZR that Motorola couldn’t get enough of (probably the Snapdragon S4 processor). I’m just speculating here but maybe Verizon didn’t want their version of the RAZR HD till now. Verizon being Motorola’s primary customer for this device.
I’m also a little puzzled by the software, Android 4.0.4. While there aren’t many Jellybean phones available, I hoped that Motorola would include it on their late to market flagship phone. Especially since google’s their daddy now.
Unlike the ATRIX the RAZR HD ships with Chrome as the default browser. I didn't look more carefully to see if the stock Android one is present too. Otherwise the software is similar to what you get on the ATRIX including Motorola's Smart Actions automation program.
Of course the RAZR’s trump card is it’s large 2530mAh battery. The HTC One X has a 1800mAh while the Galaxy S III’s weighs in at 2100mAh. We’ll see if this has a meaningful effect on battery life when I review it later
RAZR HD, Galaxy S III
Anyways, from what I’ve seen today the RAZR is competitive with the Galaxy S III and HTC One X but they’ve already been on the market for a few months. Until things slow down, In in terms of Smartphone years a few months might as well be a few years. You could say that a S4 Snapdragon offers a good user experience - and I wouldn’t argue. The thing is, since Android phones have to play the hardware game you’ve got to make the user feel like they’re not making any compromises.
Hopefully Motorola can get this out as soon as possible. The exact release date wasn't revealed. Pricing is said to be 'cheaper than the competition'. I'm guessing that means ~$79.99 on a 3 year when it comes out.
Sponsored By
Recent Forum Posts
Message