The good: Despite a beefed-up battery, the Motorola RAZR Droid maxx has a slim, attractive and durable design with the same magnificent display, 1.2 GHz dual-core processor and a fast data speeds Verizon 4G/LTE as its predecessor. It retains powerful multimedia chops and tight security features.
The bad: With such an advanced smart phone is the vague promise of a future Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich disappointing. Even during a stronger battery is large, it is still can not be removed by the user. People with small hands will find it difficult to get around the phone to handle a broad framework, and the 8-megapixel camera is unimpressive.
Conclusion: The Motorola RAZR maxx Droid proves that a powerful Android phone may remain super thin and yet promise marathon-worthy battery life. If you can not live without ice cream sandwich and have large hands, the Maxx is very appealing.
Design
The bad: With such an advanced smart phone is the vague promise of a future Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich disappointing. Even during a stronger battery is large, it is still can not be removed by the user. People with small hands will find it difficult to get around the phone to handle a broad framework, and the 8-megapixel camera is unimpressive.
Conclusion: The Motorola RAZR maxx Droid proves that a powerful Android phone may remain super thin and yet promise marathon-worthy battery life. If you can not live without ice cream sandwich and have large hands, the Maxx is very appealing.
Design
Motorola made a splash with the first Droid Razr with the bold testament that it is the thinnest Android-powered smartphone in the world has ever seen was. For the company, which started the thin phone craze with the original Razr V3, it was an appropriate motion, even though to have the Razr, the trimmest chassis is always changing.
Interestingly, the company can not have the same glory with the RAZR maxx Droid. Measuring 5.14 inches long and 2.75 inches wide and 0.35 inches thick and weighs 5.1 ounces, the Maxx is a little thicker and heavier than its predecessor (0.28 inches, 4.5 ounces). Nevertheless, it still feels very slim and light, despite its larger footprint. I also found it good in my back pocket, albeit with an embarrassing bulge. Of course, people with small hands (because of the wide bezel housing the screen) have problems grasping the big-screened device. Gone, but the hump in the back of the phone, the lens of the camera instead and made the first Droid Razr top-heavy.
In fact, the way Motorola had managed to squeeze in a more powerful battery of the Razr Maxx to fill in this hump. There was a call for intelligent design under his belt, without the Maxx feel more balanced, since it also sports a thicker profile.
Interestingly, the company can not have the same glory with the RAZR maxx Droid. Measuring 5.14 inches long and 2.75 inches wide and 0.35 inches thick and weighs 5.1 ounces, the Maxx is a little thicker and heavier than its predecessor (0.28 inches, 4.5 ounces). Nevertheless, it still feels very slim and light, despite its larger footprint. I also found it good in my back pocket, albeit with an embarrassing bulge. Of course, people with small hands (because of the wide bezel housing the screen) have problems grasping the big-screened device. Gone, but the hump in the back of the phone, the lens of the camera instead and made the first Droid Razr top-heavy.
In fact, the way Motorola had managed to squeeze in a more powerful battery of the Razr Maxx to fill in this hump. There was a call for intelligent design under his belt, without the Maxx feel more balanced, since it also sports a thicker profile.
I like the kevlar carrier. It will not stop bullets, but it is admirable to resist scratches and wear.Another feature is the durability of the Maxx "nanotechnology coating" on the Droid Razr, which shields the handset's innards from light and moisture spills cumbersome. Found not get me wrong, it is not waterproof so do not take it to the beach. Making the Maxx is still harder a Corning Gorilla glass display with a chemically treated anti-scratch surface.
User interface
As the droid Razr before it, the Motorola RAZR maxx Droid Android 2.3.5 Gingerbread is a subtler version of Motoblur superimposed. You do not need to create a disturbing Motorola account before you can do to force the phone as you older mobile phones. It's the same reaction already seen on other Motorola phones like the Atrix 2 and the Droid Bionic. There are five of customizable home screen, with more links on the phone dialer, messaging, camera, and the main menu to choose along the bottom. If you hit the Home button in standby mode draws an overview of all home screens at once, similar to HTC Sense UI.
The lock screen shows a typical digital clock, date and battery info. To unlock, just swipe the lock icon from left to right. You can vibrate / ringer switch function here, too, and go directly to the camera app. Those who liked the Droid Razr, the virtual keyboard are the same well-spaced keys, light tactile feedback, and responsiveness here. You also have the option of following the standard keyboard or Swype for fast one-handed writing.
As the droid Razr before it, the Motorola RAZR maxx Droid Android 2.3.5 Gingerbread is a subtler version of Motoblur superimposed. You do not need to create a disturbing Motorola account before you can do to force the phone as you older mobile phones. It's the same reaction already seen on other Motorola phones like the Atrix 2 and the Droid Bionic. There are five of customizable home screen, with more links on the phone dialer, messaging, camera, and the main menu to choose along the bottom. If you hit the Home button in standby mode draws an overview of all home screens at once, similar to HTC Sense UI.
The lock screen shows a typical digital clock, date and battery info. To unlock, just swipe the lock icon from left to right. You can vibrate / ringer switch function here, too, and go directly to the camera app. Those who liked the Droid Razr, the virtual keyboard are the same well-spaced keys, light tactile feedback, and responsiveness here. You also have the option of following the standard keyboard or Swype for fast one-handed writing.
Features
With a Mother Lode of Android capabilities, the Droid RAZR maxx all staples, including some surprises, such as GPS, Bluetooth 4.0 (supporting a new generation of low-power accessories), Wi-Fi, and a mobile hot-spot function that can affect the listener as a modem for up to eight Wi-Fi enabled devices. Remember that mobile hot spot feature costs about $ 20 extra per month to your voice and data plans.
The RAZR maxx also offers the usual range of Google applications and services, most already loaded: Gmail, Google Talk, Google Voice Search with Google Maps with Navigation, Google Books, Places, Latitude, and YouTube. Phone and organizer features include a calendar, alarm clock, calculator, file manager, task list, voice command support, and speakerphone.
Other applications are preinstalled a healthy dose of free and paid software and services like Amazon's Kindle app, Blockbuster, Let's Golf 2, Madden NFL 12, Netflix, Slacker Radio, Print and Video Moto Surf. Of course, Verizon added a bit of bloatware own, such as equipment setup, Verizon Instant Messenger, My Verizon Mobile, NFL Mobile, V Cast Tones, Verizon, Video, VZ Navigator and Visual Voice Mail, which costs around $ 2.99 per month. Honestly, the most helpful of the lot in my opinion, the My Verizon's widget data, which lives by default on the home screen and your estimated data usage, not to cut back or slammed with additional fees.
Corporate and government bonds-friendly
Who says you need a BlackBerry for private or public mobile security? Motorola thinks not.Folding in the Droid RAZR maxx is support for Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync to not to mention government-grade FIPS 140-2 encryption for e-mail, calendar and contacts. For even more peace, more-severe methods such as remote wipe, PIN lock, device and SD card encryption, and remote activation / deactivation of the camera and Wi-Fi are also possible.
If you know that Doc have to tweak on the road, the RAZR offers maxx the Quickoffice app, you can create and edit Office documents, Citrix GoToMeeting videoconferencing application, and the portable PC experience that Webtop (more on that below) provides.
Moto Cast, Webtop and smart actions
Pressing the phone's productivity envelope on the Moto Cast app. It allows the sharing of documents and media files to your home or work computers. Moto also serve to cast the Gallery app with photos, music, and the app connects to access music files.
Many of Motorola Android phones are equipped with the company Webtop application, and the Droid RAZR maxx continues the tradition. It transforms the listener into a quasi-mobile PC with netbook-level functionality. To attach it to compatible accessories like the Lapdock 100 (10-inch screen), the Lapdock 500 Pro (14-inch screen), or an HD station, and the Webtop platform fires automatically. This Lapdocks sports a keyboard and touchpad, but you must contribute your own input devices when using something like the HD station.
The Webtop platform at its core is a Linux-based operating system, a netbook-like experience provides for the creation of documents and surfing the Web via a full web browser Firefox. The UI is pretty sparse, from a dock or software launch pad with a few applications. The screen of the phone is on the larger display and mirrored, so that you can still access your phone's content and features in this configuration.
Another interesting software developed spin on Android Motorola smart phone actions to help the company to operate mobile phones easier for beginners. It is basically a tool for automating phone behavior that follows rules set by you. For example, you can automatically turn off the phone, Bluetooth and GPS, if your Wi-Fi network is detected. Conversely, the brightness of the RAZR maxx commanded wheel way down when the battery levels are critical.
Other neat tricks are possible, for example, that the ringtone to start automatically silenced even in the office or the music player when you plug in your headphones. Still, I'm not sure how useful this because I found the people should review their technology, not vice versa control is feeling. If smartphones become truly self-aware and double rooms as personal companions, perhaps it will make it, predict my moods, but right now I would rather choose what I want when I want to do it.
With a Mother Lode of Android capabilities, the Droid RAZR maxx all staples, including some surprises, such as GPS, Bluetooth 4.0 (supporting a new generation of low-power accessories), Wi-Fi, and a mobile hot-spot function that can affect the listener as a modem for up to eight Wi-Fi enabled devices. Remember that mobile hot spot feature costs about $ 20 extra per month to your voice and data plans.
The RAZR maxx also offers the usual range of Google applications and services, most already loaded: Gmail, Google Talk, Google Voice Search with Google Maps with Navigation, Google Books, Places, Latitude, and YouTube. Phone and organizer features include a calendar, alarm clock, calculator, file manager, task list, voice command support, and speakerphone.
Other applications are preinstalled a healthy dose of free and paid software and services like Amazon's Kindle app, Blockbuster, Let's Golf 2, Madden NFL 12, Netflix, Slacker Radio, Print and Video Moto Surf. Of course, Verizon added a bit of bloatware own, such as equipment setup, Verizon Instant Messenger, My Verizon Mobile, NFL Mobile, V Cast Tones, Verizon, Video, VZ Navigator and Visual Voice Mail, which costs around $ 2.99 per month. Honestly, the most helpful of the lot in my opinion, the My Verizon's widget data, which lives by default on the home screen and your estimated data usage, not to cut back or slammed with additional fees.
Corporate and government bonds-friendly
Who says you need a BlackBerry for private or public mobile security? Motorola thinks not.Folding in the Droid RAZR maxx is support for Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync to not to mention government-grade FIPS 140-2 encryption for e-mail, calendar and contacts. For even more peace, more-severe methods such as remote wipe, PIN lock, device and SD card encryption, and remote activation / deactivation of the camera and Wi-Fi are also possible.
If you know that Doc have to tweak on the road, the RAZR offers maxx the Quickoffice app, you can create and edit Office documents, Citrix GoToMeeting videoconferencing application, and the portable PC experience that Webtop (more on that below) provides.
Moto Cast, Webtop and smart actions
Pressing the phone's productivity envelope on the Moto Cast app. It allows the sharing of documents and media files to your home or work computers. Moto also serve to cast the Gallery app with photos, music, and the app connects to access music files.
Many of Motorola Android phones are equipped with the company Webtop application, and the Droid RAZR maxx continues the tradition. It transforms the listener into a quasi-mobile PC with netbook-level functionality. To attach it to compatible accessories like the Lapdock 100 (10-inch screen), the Lapdock 500 Pro (14-inch screen), or an HD station, and the Webtop platform fires automatically. This Lapdocks sports a keyboard and touchpad, but you must contribute your own input devices when using something like the HD station.
The Webtop platform at its core is a Linux-based operating system, a netbook-like experience provides for the creation of documents and surfing the Web via a full web browser Firefox. The UI is pretty sparse, from a dock or software launch pad with a few applications. The screen of the phone is on the larger display and mirrored, so that you can still access your phone's content and features in this configuration.
Another interesting software developed spin on Android Motorola smart phone actions to help the company to operate mobile phones easier for beginners. It is basically a tool for automating phone behavior that follows rules set by you. For example, you can automatically turn off the phone, Bluetooth and GPS, if your Wi-Fi network is detected. Conversely, the brightness of the RAZR maxx commanded wheel way down when the battery levels are critical.
Other neat tricks are possible, for example, that the ringtone to start automatically silenced even in the office or the music player when you plug in your headphones. Still, I'm not sure how useful this because I found the people should review their technology, not vice versa control is feeling. If smartphones become truly self-aware and double rooms as personal companions, perhaps it will make it, predict my moods, but right now I would rather choose what I want when I want to do it.
Multimedia
A jack of all trades is used, the Droid Maxx a wealth of multimedia capabilities in order to pass the time. In addition to third-party apps like Slacker Radio, the Maxx the same robust music app that much more powerful than the stock Android software. Similar to the Droid Bionic, the Internet Radio app features a music store courtesy of Verizon Wireless, and my personal favorite, the support of podcast subscriptions and playback. Do not forget, you can also use the app to stream music from your home server via Moto Cast. Luckily, the RAZR maxx Droid 16GB of internal memory, and a preinstalled 16 GB microSD card, and can support cards up to 32GB.Files that it can handle AAC, AAC + AAC + Enhanced, AMR NB, AMR-WB, MIDI, MP3, WAV, WMA v10, WMA v9 formats are.
Netflix pairs well with the Maxx, the stunning HD AMOLED display. Watching "Tron," even on an LTE connection was overwhelming and I quickly forgot that the movie has no logical plot. Colors were rich and deep, and blacks were endless. Another treat is the phone's micro HDMI port, which you can connect to a large HDTV screen, your experience more enjoyable. This is possible through DLNA. Supported video formats include H.263, H.264, MPEG4, WMV v9, or upload your own or download them directly from the Android Market.
For all the Droid RAZR maxx speed, image quality was solid, with clear images and details. Color accuracy of the phone weakness, though. Still-life shots and washed out look muted. In low light, most of the photos contain noise, too. The LED flash has not helped this problem, but it did not blow out subjects in the foreground, either. Capable of full 1080p HD video with many additional features such as stereo audio, wind reduction, concert, and to detect balanced front-facing a choice when shooting movies, the Maxx strength. My video clips were clear and well-exposed even in low light, and automatic stabilization tamed to shake every hand.
Performance
I tested the Motorola RAZR maxx Droid on Verizon CDMA / LTE network in New York. Confirms that there is a reason Verizon is proud of its wireless infrastructure, in my tests, the RAZR maxx demonstrated excellent voice quality. The telephone handset had a lot of volume and I heard no static, hum, or other digital artifacts during voice calls placed me. Caller at the other end also said the line was clean and free of any distortion and had difficulty telling them I was talking to a mobile phone. Similarly, callers could say no, I had the RAZR maxx speakers turned on the phone. I noticed on the other hand, the speaker of the handset was soft and lacked serious oomph. That is, not to distort the speakers at high volume.
I tested the Motorola RAZR maxx Droid on Verizon CDMA / LTE network in New York. Confirms that there is a reason Verizon is proud of its wireless infrastructure, in my tests, the RAZR maxx demonstrated excellent voice quality. The telephone handset had a lot of volume and I heard no static, hum, or other digital artifacts during voice calls placed me. Caller at the other end also said the line was clean and free of any distortion and had difficulty telling them I was talking to a mobile phone. Similarly, callers could say no, I had the RAZR maxx speakers turned on the phone. I noticed on the other hand, the speaker of the handset was soft and lacked serious oomph. That is, not to distort the speakers at high volume.
During the short period of investigation data speeds, even in the CNET offices, impressive, with fast download speeds averaging just under 9Mbps. Uploads, but at the same position played about 0.6Mbps. This performance is lower than the typical speeds we see Verizon LTE phones. I plan to update this review with additional test results soon.
Of course, the Droid RAZR maxx claim to fame is its high-performance 3300-mAh battery. The phone is rated from Motorola offer 21.5 hours of talk time and close to 16 days in standby mode.With numbers like these, it will take some time before our battery tests run on the Maxx, but in anecdotal use during my brief initial testing, the phone never fell below 80 percent charge - pretty remarkable. Later, when tested in CNET Labs, playing the Razr maxx "The Godfather", with the screen brightness to 50 percent, and audio at half volume, in a continuous loop for 19 hours and 47 minutes straight. That's enough juice for more than three back to back, from coast to coast flights. In subsequent tests, we squeezed 20 hours of continuous standby service. Although it is less than the promised 21.5 hours of talk time is, it is still outstanding. Motorola RAZR maxx Droid hear the quality of the connection.
Completion
In many ways, the Motorola RAZR Droid is the smartphone, the Droid Razr Maxx should have been. The addition of a powerful battery still holds a slim and trim size makes it extremely tempting excellent Android handset. I really wish the phone came with the latest and greatest Android Ice Cream Sandwich instead of the mere promise of future upgrades. Furthermore, his sky-high $ 299.99 price tag will be anything but the most addicted gadget hounds reason to think twice. Still built with high-speed 4G LTE data rates, an amazing HD AMOLED screen and a battery, the Energizer Bunny green with envy, the Maxx more than enough tech phone for your needs.
In many ways, the Motorola RAZR Droid is the smartphone, the Droid Razr Maxx should have been. The addition of a powerful battery still holds a slim and trim size makes it extremely tempting excellent Android handset. I really wish the phone came with the latest and greatest Android Ice Cream Sandwich instead of the mere promise of future upgrades. Furthermore, his sky-high $ 299.99 price tag will be anything but the most addicted gadget hounds reason to think twice. Still built with high-speed 4G LTE data rates, an amazing HD AMOLED screen and a battery, the Energizer Bunny green with envy, the Maxx more than enough tech phone for your needs.
