Motorola recently completed their trifecta of their new line of 2012 RAZR Android devices (RAZR M, RAZR HD, & RAZR Maxx HD) through Verizon. Having already handled the RAZR M and loved it, now we move on to its big brother with the Droid RAZR HD. Today’s topic of discussion is focused on the ins-and-outs of the RAZR HD. Offering a bigger display w/ higher resolution and bigger battery, can it best the Droid M or even its predecessor from last year? Let’s dig deeper for those answers, shall we?
For the high-end RAZRs, Motorola used a 4.7inch Super AMOLED HD display w/ a 1280 x 720 resolution for improved visuals over the Droid M. Specializing in deep blacks & luminous colors along with high ppi of 313, makes the Pentile arrangement a less pixelated sight. And since this is using Super AMOLED technology it is on par to the visuals seen on a Galaxy S III. Good thing the RAZR HD has an HDMI Out for HD viewing. Easily among the upper echelon of Android displays.
Now that’s what I call a notification light!
Motorola continued to stick with the Android favorite of the year as far as processor as concerned. Equipped with a 1.5GHz dual-core S4 Snapdragon processor plus 1GB of RAM equals a strong experience. I did run into a bit of lag when navigating through Netflix. It was weird, no stutter while playing only scrolling through content & between episodes/seasons. Other than that no problemo. Moto retained the standard 16GB of internal storage that can be expanded up to 32GB via microSD card. Call/speakerphone quality performed well with no issues. And might I add, the speaker system on the RAZR HD is quite loud but in a good way with great clarity. I doubt you will missed any phone calls on this thing.
The RAZR HD’s shooters are pretty much the standard of 1.3MP front-facing that produces low-res & grainy results for the most part along with recording video in 720p HD. Nothing much to expect here. The 8MP rear shooter on the RAZR HD is a decent camera as it is not the best performance in low-light settings.
Motorola continues its lightly-modified Blur UI from Android 4.0.4 from its recent Android endeavors (Atrix HD, Photon Q, & RAZR M). Though not really an Android skin anymore, the Blur UI offers great functionality for Android users. Motorola’s best selling point on the software side is: Smart Actions, an app that allows you to create personal shortcuts based on location & functions. Like have it launch Google Music when plugging in headphones, filter out social network notifications while at work, or automatically silence your device when you are in a meeting.
Motorola’s legacy within the mobile space still continues now as an official part of Google. Compared to the rest of the high-end smartphones on the market, I think Motorola is lacking only in the design & camera department. The Blur UI can be tweaked to look a little better and the design of the hardware is rugged & great but compared to Lumia, iPhone 5, or the One X; it seems a little dated. I am confident Motorola will continue to surprise us moving forward. Now don’t get me wrong, the software from a functionality standpoint & battery life are quite superior. I think Motorola has definitely solidified their position within the Android community in regards to their hardware & software contributions. If you disagree, please put the RAZR HD’s battery & Smart Actions against your favorite smartphone. The outcome may turn you into a believer.
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| The new RAZR isn’t as thin as last year’s model but not too thick either |
Priced at $199.99 on contract, the newest RAZR is a solid and capable device. If you just want a device that works with a great battery life or was a fan of last year’s model, this is for you. This the high-end Android device to compete with the rest of the hierarchy but be mindful of your options for those ready to upgrade.
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| Motorola continued its rugged design of Kevlar rear & Gorilla Glass on the display |
