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Even more hands-on images of the Motorola Droid!

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Even more hands-on images of the Motorola Droid!
Even though the Motorola Droid A855 made its debut in NYC today, we received another unit to try out at home. The first thing we noticed is that the Droid is solid, heavy, and built like a tank, thanks to the all metal construction. In fact, the last Motorola device for Verizon that was made of metal was the RAZR2 V9m from 2007. The Droid's 3.7 inch 480x854 resolution display is quite impressive. It is capacitive sensitive, similar to the iPhone, and has excellent response...in fact it's better than any resistive display we've seen so far on Verizon. There's been a lot of talk on-line regarding the QWERTY keyboard, as it has had different styles and layouts over the months, but after a few minutes of use we had no problems with it, though we wish the keys weren't so flat.

Even more hands-on images of the Motorola Droid!
Even more hands-on images of the Motorola Droid!
Even more hands-on images of the Motorola Droid!

Even more hands-on images of the Motorola Droid!
Even more hands-on images of the Motorola Droid!


The Android 2.0 platform is something to give the BlackBerry Storm2, which was released today, and Windows Mobile devices a run for their money. It is very user friendly and easy to find what your looking for. The HTML Browser with EVDO Rev A completely loaded the PhoneArena.com site in only 15 seconds and was properly rendered on the screen. Unfortunately, embedded Flash is not supported yet, which is expected sometime next year, but you can view YouTube videos by going to the m.youtube.com site. Google Maps with directions, satellite view and street view is a major improvement over Verizon's VZNavigator.

Even more hands-on images of the Motorola Droid!
Even more hands-on images of the Motorola Droid!
Even more hands-on images of the Motorola Droid!


We briefly tested the 5MP camera, though the angle of the sun didn't make the images looks their best, so we will test this again. The Droid can also record videos at 720x480 resolution @ 24fps with a data rate of 3Mbps. They are recorded in 3GP format and encoded using the H.264 standard. Our 53 second video took up 19.7MB.

Even more hands-on images of the Motorola Droid!
Even more hands-on images of the Motorola Droid!
Even more hands-on images of the Motorola Droid!


Inside with Bright Light                                                    Darkness with Flash
Even more hands-on images of the Motorola Droid!
Even more hands-on images of the Motorola Droid!


We made a few test calls, and voices sounded clear and natural, with no static or distortion. However, when using the speakerphone, there was some slight distortion, but is was only noticeable when turned up to the highest level. Music playback was quite good, through you need to flip the phone over as the speaker is located on the back. Or you can opt to use wired 3.5mm earbuds or a stereo Bluetooth headset.

Even more hands-on images of the Motorola Droid!
















Our Full Review of the Motorola Droid can be viewed HERE!


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27 Comments

1. SamsungHTCfan posted on 20 Oct 2010, 01:44

So does the droid come in 2 different colors? gold battery cover AND black battery cover? I like the black better. Edit: ....OH sorry for my ignorance. I guess it was the reflection from the orange lights at the press conference reflecting off the back making it look gold. I'm relieved because I thought it was ugly as crap.

6. vzwtechbill posted on 28 Oct 2009, 16:29

????? Where do you see gold at?

11. PapaJay224 posted on 28 Oct 2009, 17:25

Im just curious why this person posted about a color, than realized it wasnt anything, and chose to edit the reponse rather than deleting it, Why edit the comment saying "nevermind" when you could have deleted it?

15. vzw fanman posted on 28 Oct 2009, 19:59

hahah you're right that would make more sense.

2. dandirk (unregistered) posted on 28 Oct 2009, 16:10

So standard Android 2.0 does not have a YouTube app installed? I suppose you can get it from the app store, so no big deal. A little disappointing, rumors were that full flash 10 support was in 2.0... Also hope there is some sort of protection for the camera lens... lint and junk gets into my BB's and pics suck.

4. PhoneArena Team posted on 28 Oct 2009, 16:13

Yes, there is a separate YouTube app in Android 2.0. What I was referring to is that you can't view embedded YouTube videos directly in web pages except by going to m.youtube.com

22. traedmark posted on 29 Oct 2009, 08:12

I'm not sure where you read a rumor that 2.0 was going to have full flash support at launch, or even that it would necessarily be in version 2.0. All Adobe and Google have claimed that native Flash 10 support is coming to the Android platform,and that hopefully it will be ready for release sometime early half of 2010.

3. aclsmb posted on 28 Oct 2009, 16:11

Is that keyboard backlit?

5. dandirk (unregistered) posted on 28 Oct 2009, 16:15

I hope so... but then there is always the onscreen kb... I wonder if there is a setting where the onscreen kb shows up when the phone is closed and goes away when open. Will have to really check this out at a VZW store.

20. sinfulta posted on 28 Oct 2009, 23:57

Yes the on screen keyboard disappears as soon as you open the keyboard. You also have too turn on the orientation sensor, as it is not on out of the box. I have an early software version on my desk at work right now. So far the orientation (accelerometer) sensor is only available on one side. Which is the side with the keyboard regardless if the keyboard is open or not it will only rotate the menu/apps programs to that side. So we'll see once an official one is released.

7. YouLostTheGame posted on 28 Oct 2009, 17:09

I have not been a Moto fan at all since getting my first cellphone about 10 yrs. ago, but I gotta say, with everything I'm seeing about this phone, I'm REALLY liking it! My biggest gripe with my Storm is the sure-press tech. It's just gotten so old for me. I just want to be able to tap my screen to open things, instead of having this big "clumsy" buttom for a screen. I'll mos def be playing with a model of this Droid at a VZW store to be sure I like it.

8. rath posted on 28 Oct 2009, 17:18

Can Motorola find different name beside Droid from google Android, there millions names available in this world.

9. PapaJay224 posted on 28 Oct 2009, 17:22

Actually Droid is being used from "StarWars" If you look at Verizons website, Motorolla and Verizon are under useage rights from "LucasFilm" to even use that name.... Just a fun fact...anf FYI its way better than Sholes, which every one can type but NO ONE can pronounce correctly.

14. TheEclectic posted on 28 Oct 2009, 19:22

But Sholes is a much cooler, nerdier name giving homage to the father of QWERTY. Plus it's not that hard to pronounce - 'Sholz'

18. oddmanout posted on 28 Oct 2009, 23:51

Whats so hard about the name "DROID"? Its an acceptable name seeing its verizons first android device. Kinda like how they went with G1 instead of HTC Dream... but i get you point.

10. vzwman posted on 28 Oct 2009, 17:25

it looks alot better than the gsm version phone arena post a video of the cdma plzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.......

19. oddmanout posted on 28 Oct 2009, 23:53

idk. the gsm is growing on me. I liked the silver and gold accents but i guess they decided to ditch that plan for the final product. Too bad. But if and when this thing comes unlocked gsm its going in my pocket

12. kilari posted on 28 Oct 2009, 18:00

Cool phone, expensive carrier. Go Android! Too bad you dont have a native pdf reader in my G1. Which makes you suck for a work phone. But would be ok for a personal phone.

24. VZDUBREP posted on 29 Oct 2009, 15:29

Yea too bad we have an awesome netowrk for our business and you have a, well not so great network, for your business :)

13. kilari posted on 28 Oct 2009, 18:18

God I love how much Android is in the news now. It beats the iphone being in every post.

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