Motorola Droid X: the Mixed Reviews Are in
One week after the Motorola Droid X launched, reviewers are giving the handset a C+ rating. The much anticipated Droid X quickly became a hard-to-find smartphone, but still didn't get the same fireworks-caliber launch as the iPhone 4. The Droid X debut was even overshadowed by Apple's Antennagate press conference and free bumper giveaway.
Thu, July 22, 2010
PC World — One week after the Motorola Droid X launched, reviewers are giving the handset a C+ rating. The much anticipated Droid X quickly became a hard-to-find smartphone, but still didn't get the same fireworks-caliber launch as the iPhone 4. The Droid X debut was even overshadowed by Apple's Antennagate press conference and free bumper giveaway.
Slideshow: Motorola Droid vs. Apple iPhone 3GS
Here's a look at the Droid X reviews -- the good, the bad, and its uncertain future.
The Good
A Mobile Powerhouse: Every review of the Droid X I read praised its lightning-fast 1Ghz processor and responsive handling. The New York Times' David Pogue said: "In general, the Droid X is a speed rocket, much like its recent rivals. It's impossible to overstate how satisfying it is to use a snappy, responsive gadget." Other specs include 24GB storage, 8-megapixel camera, 720p HD video, HDMI Micro out, three mics for noise cancellation and built-in wireless with 3G hotspot powers.
Big, Impressive Screen: The Droid X's huge 4.3-inch touchscreen is one of the phone's most noticeable features, and the quality is great. Associated Press' Rachel Metz writes: "All this screen real estate is great for multimedia fans, as videos, Websites and photos look fantastic on the Droid X." The Droid X is built for multimedia consumers, not just people who want to send text messages and check e-mail.
All-Day Battery Life: Compared to the HTC EVO 4G, which ran out of juice after a couple of hours, the Droid X could hold a charge for two days if used normally. Using the Droid X as a Wi-Fi hotspot, however, is not considered "normal." SlashGear writes: "Unfortunately, one of the things we expect from hotspot functionality is that it guzzles through battery life, and sure enough a little WiFi-tethered browsing takes a big chunk out of the DROID X's 1,540 mAh Li-Ion battery."
Excellent Call Quality: It's a simple fact, but still worth mentioning: you can actually make phone calls on Verizon's (VZ) network. USA Today's Edward C. Baig highlights this benefit: "Droid X belongs at or near the top of the Android list. Verizon has a sterling reputation. Call quality was good. In a week's worth of testing, I never had a dropped call. Find an iPhone user who can say the same."
The Bad
Sluggish Interface: Despite the horsepower under the hood, the Droid X still fumbles. "Scrolling through the main menu wasn't always smooth and responsive. And oddly, whenever I swiped to unlock the phone, it stuttered a bit," reports PCWorld's Ginny Mies.
