Motorola DROID 2 Review
Share:
Powered by a 1GHz TI OMAP processor with 512MB of RAM, just like the DROID X, the handset is a workhorse in moving about the platform with very few instances of unresponsiveness. Now one of the biggest reasons to possibly side with the handset as opposed to another Android set is the fact that it's running Android 2.2 Froyo from the onset. The latest version of the open platform provides for a swift experience and brings aboard support for Flash 10.1 – so it's easily one of the main attractions for the smartphone. Rather than sticking with a stock Android experience, we're greeted to the same unique BLUR-like interface found on the DROID X – which some can find tasteful since it's not as obtrusive as full blown MOTOBLUR.
Included on the Motorola DROID 2 are a total of 7 home screens that you can move between quite fluidly just by sliding your finger across the screen. There are also red dot icons that appear on the bottom of the screen that can be used to jump quickly between any of the home screens. For example, you can go from the far-right screen to the far-left screen in just one tap. It is quite clear that the DROID 2 does not contain the full fledged MOTOBLUR interface, like the Motorola DEVOUR, but the DROID 2 does have some elements (or features) of MOTOBLUR that are infused into the Android OS. Because of this, the DROID 2 does have some extra Motorola widgets, better social networking integration, and its own messaging program.
 |  |  |  |
Motorola DROID 2 is running Android 2.2 | |||
 |  |  |  |
Organizer & Messaging:
All of your contacts, including those from your Google and Facebook accounts, are displayed together alphabetically in one concise list in the phonebook app. You also have the choice of just showing contacts from certain groups (Facebook, Google, phone, etc.) as well as creating new groups. Within the app there are two other panes you can swipe between, one showing your contact’s history (including text messages, emails, phone calls, and Facebook inbox), and the other showing status updates. When you select one of your contacts, you are then presented with more detailed info on them, such as their phone numbers, email address, and all their current Facebook updates. Naturally, you can enter new contacts via the Motorola DROID 2 directly with all of their information. For added convenience, people that you call frequently can be added to your Favorites list, and you can even assign their phone number to one of 8 speed dial locations.
 |  |
The included calendar on the Motorola DROID 2 is stock Android and syncs directly to your Google account. It does support syncing to multiple Google accounts, but not to Facebook, like we saw with the HTC Droid Incredible, which was added to it as part of the Sense UI. There aren’t any task or note apps installed on the DROID 2, but the Android Market has several to choose from. There is, however, a sticky note widget that can be used only on the home screen. The included clock app is also very basic and only provides you an alarm clock and countdown timer.
 |  |  |  |
The Calendar app of Motorola DROID 2 | |||
The 3.7” real estate we're presented with on the Motorola DROID 2 still pales in comparison to the gargantuan size found on the DROID X – so inputting text via the on-screen keyboard is more challenging here. You'll have your choice of using either the stock Android one or the Swype keyboard – with the latter of the two working fairly well with less typos, surprisingly. If you rely on using the stock Android keyboard, you'll be faced with some stringent confines which made for an occasional mispress – but thankfully the landscape option minimizes some of the stress. As the best alternative, the physical QWERTY will take some time to adjust, but once you've gotten a feel for it, there are very few instances we found ourselves making mistakes.
 |
 |
 |  |
Share:
Samsung Galaxy 3 Review 
LG GS170 Review 
Related phones
More content with DROID 2 and DROID 2 Global
24 Comments
1. Osukaru posted on 20 Oct 2010, 01:55 0 0
Unchanged design - Agree, How is that a con? Manual sliding mechanism - Too Lazy To Open it? “Doesn't” 720p video capturing - The wording does not make sense. Maybe "Lacks 720p Video capturing"
3. androlover (unregistered) posted on 13 Aug 2010, 10:15 0 0
I agree, its like we have gotten so picky that minor things are such a big deal. -design is amazing for what is inside -manual sliding mechanism makes it feel solid does no 720p recording...i forgot it was a phone and not a video camera
6. Wildmanfan posted on 13 Aug 2010, 13:32 0 0
Brother, I agree with you both. Are people so damn lazy that they need everything spoon-fed to them? The part that's annoying about these reviews is that they are supposed to be the source of information for us users and the reality is, there's no satisfying these people? So this is to say that because the design sucks, there's no sliding mechanism, and it doesn't do HD recording, I shouldn't buy it? So maybe I should buy it because of solid construction. Yeah, that's seriously usable. Real good job phonearena.
9. nizziemillz posted on 13 Aug 2010, 17:14 0 0
I completely agree with you guys, and phonearena whoever is paying you must pay good for these crap reviews. Unchanged design? - You know phonearena the old saying "If it isn't broken don't fix it" comes to mind when you say that. Manual sliding mechanism? - It has no spring so it has mch less of a chance of breaking the slider Does no 720p video capture? - are you ratarded? The pros that you didn't mention were: -New keyboard design? -The classy new look? -1ghz processor maybe?
24. QwertyLover (unregistered) posted on 06 Sep 2011, 03:46 0 0
I agree! For me, I prefer QWERTY keypads and touchscreen so, if ever the touchscreen didn't response, there would be a keypad. hahaha...
2. Sniggly posted on 13 Aug 2010, 07:26 0 0
I've honestly never had an issue opening the slider on the original Droid. In fact, I liked how solid it always felt when sliding open and closed. At this point, only ten months after the original, it was smart of Motorola to leave most of the physical design unchanged, as up until this came out stores were still consistently selling out of the original Droid. Only things that ever usually turned people off when deciding what phone to buy were the physical looks (which I never understood, I think it's sexy in its own way) and the keyboard design, which is much improved now due to those slight changes.
4. sgvdude (unregistered) posted on 13 Aug 2010, 10:56 0 0
I sense an initial bias against the phone in the review. I've made roughly 10 calls and unlike the original Droid, callers report that I sound crystal clear. Finally, I can tilt the phone in any direction without distortion, unlike the original Droid. I think too that worthy improvement is in the needs of the user. Android users see little to nothing groundbreaking on the iphone 4 over the 3gs and iphone users see nothing groundbreaking about the Droid 2. Simply put, the droid 2 fixes all of the issues I had with the origianl droid and I'm content with it.
5. Dave456546 (unregistered) posted on 13 Aug 2010, 13:22 0 0
Have to agree with Osakru, this review is rife with poorly worded sentences and odd grammatical errors. Is the author not a native English speaker? At any rate, the biggest knock against the Droid 2 seems to be that is is just a series of improvements over the Droid and not a vastly different model. Going in with expectations of a brand new experience can only lead to disappointment. Seems like a good solid phone to me.
7. ace1122 posted on 13 Aug 2010, 14:19 1 0
Motorola wasn't trying to make an entirely new phone here. Just take what was wrong with the original and improve it. And they did. Mission Accomplished.
8. RORYREVOLUTION posted on 13 Aug 2010, 16:23 0 0
Exactly. Like the original iphone, it had problems it had issues. Year later comes out the 3G. Fixes a lot of the issues but overall little changed about it. Motorola did a great job by making the keyboard better and adding a 1ghz processor with 2.2. So overall i would say they did a great job. If you aren't impressed with d2 then get the dx or wait for the droid pro.
10. ................... (unregistered) posted on 13 Aug 2010, 18:29 0 0
Unchanged design is a con for this phone but not for the first three iphones?
11. etownone posted on 13 Aug 2010, 20:20 0 0
Went to check out it out today ... still not too crazy about the qwerty keyboard. Maybe cause I'm used to my envy3. But I was REALLY impressed with froyo .... checked out some websites that my iTouch can't handle and it ran everything just perfect. From videos, to songs that play in the background. It just felt like a mini pc in my hand (compared to my iTouch) Anyways .... waiting on Fascinate now. It's between the Droid X and Fascinate for me. Oh, and skype was pretty awesome too.
12. russellw10 posted on 13 Aug 2010, 23:24 0 0
Wasn't there something about the benchmark test on the droid 2 being pretty dang good, i think that's a definite pro.
13. AM0795 (unregistered) posted on 14 Aug 2010, 00:04 0 0
Really i think people are fussing too much...Verizon has and will now always have the best lineup.... IIINNN MY OPINON! Negative me if you want but this is my opinion....The droid 2 doesn't really lag, 720p isn't really a big deal for me or i dont think for anyone really because come on there are hacks to get it, maybe it will come with a firmware update, and really are you a photographer? The design is fine and nice, i perfer my droid x's big screen but software to me is great and yes the clock app is simple because you have an awesome dock.....Relax on some things, they have like 4-5 droids to chose from, though 1 is non existent anymore--eris...They will have a new blackberry and the iphone soon.. THIS PHONE AT LEAST DESERVES A 9.
15. GW (unregistered) posted on 14 Aug 2010, 21:18 0 0
HOLD THE DAMN PHONE STILL; I felt like I was having a seizure watching this video
16. Joshing4fun posted on 15 Aug 2010, 00:10 0 0
At least this dude didn't sound like a freaking robot like in many other PA videos
17. Shah.Legno (unregistered) posted on 15 Aug 2010, 01:39 0 0
I'm using the original motorola Droid...it's all fine & feel very solid.. Droid 2 have improve in many parts compare to original Droid...but the real complain here with my Original Droid is it's 5 Mp Camera that is Very Noisy,haze & not sharp....in Droid 2...Motorola Should Fix this problem & upgrade the camera resolution to 8 MP at least...but they didn't do it with Droid 2...i'm quiet dissapointed with this problem that Motorola still not fix it with Droid 2.
18. Atlantaguy (unregistered) posted on 15 Aug 2010, 21:57 0 0
Folks should do a search about the signal issues with this phone that are just hitting the press. I got my Droid 2 this weekend, and noticed I was only getting 0-1 bars of reception in my house, which is in a very strong Verizon cell area (my old phone got 2-3 bars all the time). I also got dropped calls. Turns out the reports are saying this is not just me. Quite a few people are reporting reception issues with this first batch of Droid 2 units. Google it. Added (a design flaw): If you get the moto case with the kick-stand Verizon sells with this phone, the case semi-blocks the top rows of keys on the keyboard when you slide the phone open. The phone should have been designed to slide open just a bit more, but now if you use a case on the top portion, it covers the top edge of the top row of keys making it much harder to type on. Since they (Motorola) didn't put a wrist strap loop in the corner of the phone body, you can't use a wrist strap, so you pretty much need to good case to ensure you get a good grip on it and don't drop it. Duh - do all the manufacturers just smoke weed all day and just not test their phones for stuff like this before shipping them anymore?? ARGH. I'll swap mine for a Droid X (if they ever get them in stock again).
19. DF334 posted on 16 Aug 2010, 20:09 0 0
I loved the Droid 1 and I love the Droid 2 even more!! Froyo is a beast by the way!
20. droid 2 or incredible????? (unregistered) posted on 21 Aug 2010, 17:32 0 0
I have an env2 right now and really need an upgrade but I’m torn between the droid 2 and the incredible. From what I learned the droid 2 has- better battery life and better txt/swype battery life is important to me, whats the point of a phone if you cant make it through the day on a charge? The incredible seems to have about everything else... any opinons would be great!
21. somewhere in europeus (unregistered) posted on 08 Sep 2010, 14:32 0 0
you guys are all wrong ... even motorola says it , this phone has only HD PLAYBACK , means, you can watch HD Videos, but the Cam is NOT HD ...
23. thedivabree (unregistered) posted on 24 Dec 2010, 02:37 0 0
i agree. this is madness! it's a great phone...yet professional reviews act like someone shoved a stick up their ass. wow no HD video recording.....damn. who cares? has ANYONE forgot the main purpose of a phone....calls? texts? the internet is fab, the scrolling is great, the phone is amazing....yet those little things get these people down.
i LOOOVE how it looks. it's sexy! and who is seriously lazyass enough to say "oh well its not spring loaded". thats like complaining the stairs in your house aren't escalators. pshh.
get the droid2. it rocks.
