The Droid 4 is the best slide-out QWERTY Android phone available at the time of this review. Built for business users on Verizon, it combines dual-core performance, 4G LTE, and a best-in-class five-row physical keyboard in a thin, well-built package for $199 on a two-year contract.
4G LTE
Verizon’s 4G LTE network is impressive. Speed tests in Kansas consistently showed downloads over 10Mbps, making web browsing and file transfers significantly faster than 3G. For business users sending and receiving documents in the field, the speed advantage is real and practical. Worth noting: LTE can drain the battery quickly when searching for signal in areas without LTE coverage, so a widget to toggle the radio off is recommended for anyone outside a coverage area.
Keyboard
The five-row QWERTY keyboard is genuinely impressive. The dedicated number row eliminates the need for long-press input, keys are well-spaced and clearly labeled, arrow keys are functional, and the spacebar is large. The main criticism is keyboard noise: the keys have a pronounced bounce-back that’s louder than expected in quiet environments. The physical keyboard’s real advantage is screen real estate: since no software keyboard is needed, the full display stays visible while typing.
Hardware
Key specs: an 8-megapixel rear camera, 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera, 1785mAh battery, 16GB built-in storage, and a 1.2GHz dual-core processor. The battery should carry most users through a workday. Hardware feels solid and well-crafted throughout.
Software
MotoBlur has been slimmed down considerably from earlier iterations and is no longer particularly obtrusive. Performance was fast and responsive. The Droid 4 is the best physical keyboard Android smartphone on Verizon, and one of the best available anywhere.
