The Droid Razr Maxx is built around one premise: battery life. The same 1.2GHz dual-core processor and 4.3-inch 540×960 Super AMOLED display as the RAZR, but with a 3300mAh battery that adds just 1.29mm of thickness. After using it as a daily device for just over a week, the results speak for themselves.
Look and Feel
The Razr Maxx has a clean, uniform profile compared to the original RAZR’s camera hump. MicroSIM and microSD slots are concealed on the left side. Mini HDMI and micro USB ports sit on top along with the 3.5mm jack; the power button and volume rocker are on the right. The Kevlar back gives it an industrial feel and the device fits naturally in hand without feeling cheap. An 8-megapixel camera with 1080p video and LED flash are on the rear; a 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera sits under the Motorola logo on the front.
Performance
Performance is strong despite Motorola’s UI layered on top. Occasional lag appeared but never severely enough to disrupt daily use. The Super AMOLED display is vibrant and responsive. One recurring bug caused the screen to go dark as if the power button had been pressed, though it did not appear to be a widely reported issue. Bloatware out of the box included Amazon Kindle, Blockbuster, GoTo Meeting, Let’s Golf 2, Madden NFL ’12, Netflix, MotoActiv, Motoprint, QuickOffice, Slacker Radio, SlingBox, and various Verizon apps. Most cannot be uninstalled.
Smart Actions was a highlight: configurable rules that automate phone behavior, such as switching to vibrate during calendar meetings or dimming the display at a set battery level. MotoSmart’s launcher offers 5 home screens with categorized app drawer folders and a useful contacts widget. MotoSmart, while not stock Android, was less intrusive than earlier Motorola UIs, and leaked screenshots of the upcoming ICS update looked promising.
Camera
The 8-megapixel camera with 1080p video was impressive. Photos were clean and crisp; the camera shortcut on the lock screen made it easy to capture moments quickly. A front/rear camera toggle button was a welcome detail. The front-facing 1.3-megapixel camera performed as expected.
Browser
The stock browser was largely untouched by Motorola. Pinch-to-zoom had no lag, Flash content played smoothly. LTE speeds where available peaked at around 20Mbps down and 7Mbps up.
Keyboard
Motorola’s custom multitouch keyboard and Swype ship out of the box. The Motorola keyboard was surprisingly comfortable on the 4.3-inch display with responsive keys and solid autocorrect. It’s a good option for users coming from a device without a physical keyboard.
Battery
The battery lived up to its reputation. Under heavy use including web browsing, social networking, app downloads, and email with Wi-Fi on throughout, the battery stayed above 10% for over 20 hours. On lighter days, 15+ hours of standby left the battery at 80%. The non-removable design rules out third-party extended batteries, but the stock 3300mAh cell makes that a non-issue for most users. Charging time was comparable to a standard device despite the larger capacity.
Wrap-Up
Pros: outstanding battery life; gorgeous display; exceptional camera; ICS update on the way.
Cons: occasional lag; Motorola’s UI may not suit everyone; non-removable battery; bloatware; screen-dimming bug on the review unit.
If you’re a heavy mobile user who has been frustrated by battery life on other devices, the Droid Razr Maxx deserves serious consideration.
