The Motorola DROID RAZR launched on Verizon on November 11th at 11:11 AM. At 0.28 inches thick, it was the thinnest Android smartphone available at the time, with a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED display (540×960) protected by Gorilla Glass. The screen held up in direct sunlight and at extreme angles, with vibrant highlights and deep blacks typical of Super AMOLED technology.
Pros
- Fast hardware with dual-core CPU and 4G LTE speeds
- Exceptionally thin and lightweight design
- Outstanding viewing experience
Cons
- Poor battery life under heavy use
- Difficult to operate one-handed at 5.15 x 2.71 inches
- Non-removable battery
Hardware
The 1.2GHz dual-core Cortex-A9 processor with 1GB of RAM handled multitasking without issues. Preloaded apps from Verizon included Blockbuster, Let’s Golf, and Madden 12. An 8-megapixel rear camera and 2-megapixel front-facing camera rounded out the hardware, with panorama mode that was intuitive and easy to use.
Battery life was the RAZR’s significant weakness. Under heavy use, the device struggled to last more than 4 to 4.5 hours. The non-removable battery ruled out third-party extended battery options. For power users, a charger nearby was non-negotiable.
Software
The RAZR ran Android 2.3 Gingerbread with Motorola’s updated MotoBlur UI. The 4G LTE speeds on Verizon were consistently fast in testing. Performance benchmarks reflected the dual-core hardware well in CPU-bound tasks.
Conclusion
The DROID RAZR pushes the boundaries of what a smartphone can look like. The thinness makes it instantly compelling, and the dual-core CPU paired with Verizon’s LTE network makes it a speed demon. The battery, however, can’t keep pace with the hardware it powers. For workhorses and data-heavy users, keep a charger close by or be prepared to manage battery anxiety throughout the day.
