Motorola DROID, Apple iPhone 3GS and Palm Pre: side by side
Share this page:
If you’re a numbers type of person, then the 5-megapixel camera on the Motorola DROID wins by a long shot versus the 3-megapixel sensor used on the Pre and iPhone 3GS. There’s plenty of good detail and rich color tones in images captured on the DROID. With its high pixel count, the DROID does take some time in saving photos before proceeding to take another shot – it’s not too much of a problem when you consider the quality it provides. Out of the three, the Pre performs the weakest partly because it lacks an auto-focus which is essential in getting the best detail. Fortunately, the Pre is able to take shots consecutively with barely a pause – even when using the flash it still maintains a short break between shots. The iPhone 3GS doesn’t rival the DROID’s pixel count, but it did a good job in reproducing vivid colors while detail was better than the one on the Pre.
 |  |  |
The Apple iPhone 3GS camera interface | ||
 |
The Palm Pre camera interface |
 |  |
The Motorola DROID camera interface | |
 |  |  |  |
Apple iPhone 3GS | |||
 |  |  |  |
Palm Pre | |||
 |  |  |
Motorola DROID | ||
Outdoor photos | ||
 |  |  |
Strong light | Medium light | Low light |
Apple iPhone 3GS | ||
 |  |  |
Palm Pre | ||
 |  |  |
Motorola DROID | ||
Indoor photos | ||
The DROID triumphs in the video capture category with its ability to shoot at DVD-like quality – it’s very detailed and runs smooth with no indication of choppiness. The iPhone 3GS also performed well even though its maximum video capture resolution is a bit less versus the DROID. Nonetheless, it’s still usable in saving those precious memories. Unfortunately software limitations have placed the Palm Pre in the boat of no video capture ability – we’re sure that down the road this feature will be available.
All three phones are able to view a variety of video codecs ranging from H.264 to MPEG4 – but we have to say that the Motorola DROID makes for the best experience watching a video. Its high resolution screen really places it well ahead of the Pre and iPhone – making it suitable to watch videos on the go.
Software:
Apple has transformed the way apps are marketed and sold thanks to the introduction of the App Store. The iPhone 3GS has by far the most compelling and eclectic mix of applications to appease anyone’s appetite. With over 100,000 apps available and growing, the iPhone 3GS truly does have an app for just about anything. It may seem far-fetched, but Apple has its own niche in the gaming market – we’ve seen beautiful 3D games run smoothly on the handset. Sure there are plenty of free applications to download on the App Store, but Apple has proven that money can be made with paid apps.
Luckily for Android, it isn’t too far away from replicating Apple’s successes. Android has steadily pushed out some decent apps on the Android Market and the Motorola DROID gets treated to some spectacular Google based applications – like Google Maps Navigation. It’s right on pace with applications that rival the ones on the iPhone 3GS, but lacks in the 3D gaming department. They’re mostly simple apps right now and we hope to see a rapid growth in the development of application offerings in the coming years. With a good amount of handsets offering Android, we will see a rapid growth in the development of applications in the coming years.
 |
The Apple iPhone 3GS App Store |
 |
The Motorola DROID Android Market |
The small following of WebOS is probably its Achilles heel with only two devices running the operating system. Barely eclipsing the 400 app mark, the App Catalog is nowhere close to the levels found with the App Store or Android Market. We find that a good portion of the apps are somewhat gimmicky and lack depth when compared to the other ones. Basically the Palm Pre is still sitting tight trying to attract developers to craft some decent programs.
 |  |
The Palm Pre App Catalog | |
Share this page:
65 Comments
1. Phullofphil posted on 20 Oct 2010, 01:55 0 0
why do any comparisons at all the last two i looked at did not come to a complete conclusion. I can compare a 1985 mustang and a 2006 tacoma and tell you what i think is better. It does not matter what or when they came compare how it is today its easy.
2. MarcMaiden posted on 25 Nov 2009, 11:42 0 0
cool comparison Phone Arena... I think its better to stay neutral because these phones are so similar that picking a phone would be just like playing favorites
3. jcoberg10 posted on 25 Nov 2009, 12:12 0 0
overall not a bad review. They tried to stick to the facts. Only getting lost in the Iphone 2-3 times. However, at the end They awarded the Iphone the Multimedia phone. Which i would very much disagree with. Itunes is the worst Music program, a open system with the ability to play any music file type is far superior. Plus, during the review the droid got more praise for its video player and options(this is still considered multimedia right?). Also, the droid received credit for having the best speaker, which i feel is very much in the multimedia area. When comparing the cameras, phoneareana failed to mention that the Droid has a nice LED flash. Now, I have not had a problem being able to find the app i'm looking for in the android market. 50,000 or 100,000 it doesn't much matter at that point, everything after that is a duplicate anyway, and all the new intuitive apps will more than likely be releasing on android because of apples strict filters on their app store. Now I have reviewed the review. And I think the droid has surpassed the Iphone in nearly every way. The only thing left is opinion, which for the most part can not be changed. but facts are facts, and they seam to stack up in the droids favor.
7. Iphoneluv posted on 25 Nov 2009, 14:08 0 0
Are you kidding...... The droid is no where near a better phone than the Iphone...c'mon, you dont even believe that yourself.
9. tonyc_42 posted on 25 Nov 2009, 15:23 0 0
you so it's not a better PHONE??? how can you say it's not a better phone when it doesn't have the dropped calls or service issues. iphone may be a better multimedia device (for now...) but the clear winner as a phone is the droid.
22. E.N. posted on 26 Nov 2009, 01:00 0 0
It looked like the iphone won to me. The droid is great but you guys are getting ahead of yourselves. How many iphone killers are there going to be! Part of me is just hoping that a phone comes out of nowhere and beats the iphone so we can get this over with. I mean some of you guys even called the Storm an iphone killer. Come on. Verizon is probably already preparing for their next Android device. And based on the pictures taken, I'd say the iphone's picture quality look the best. Just look at the color of the pictures, even in low light. And if a developer had to choose between developing for Android or Apple, they would go for Apple because there are so many iPod touches and iPhones that are out there and growing everyday around the world. And one thing that they like is the uniformity. If you develop for one, most likely it will work for every single one out there. You can't say that for Android. Some graphic intense games on the Droid (if there are any) probably won't work for the Eris and the G1. Take Gameloft for an example. Although they receive 13% of their profits from Android, it probably costs them more to pay their laborers to convert each of their games to work with each Android device. (That has to be the reason why they are not making any more apps for Android because I don't see why Gameloft would drop that 13% of profit) And I hear that Android won't only make smartphones because they want all phone users to be able to customize. That's tears up the uniformity even more. And everyone keeps on saying that the Android app store will grow and grow very soon. But sadly, that's the same exact thing the Pre owners were saying. And I guess I can stop talking about how bad the iPhone's battery life is because it looks like it is much better than the Pre's and Droid's. And they didn't emphasize how bad the keyboard sucked. On the Droid website it boasted about having the thinnest keyboard in the world, but it stinks really. It probably would have even helped them out if they made it a little bit more thicker. And after two years the iphone still has the best online keyboard and easy to use interface? Really? Still? And everyone keeps complaining that its outdated. If these phones can't beat an outdated phone, then that makes everything even more sad. And its a good thing that the Droid users have removeable battery because I'm reading that removing the battery often to fix problems is not uncommon. And is backgrounds really featured on the Android Market? More than a year later and backgrounds is featured on their market? That app is so done now. I wouldn't call it useless, but its bordering that area.
26. smartphonelover posted on 26 Nov 2009, 02:12 0 0
The Iphone doesn't have the high specs that the droid and the droid is also on Verizon It's like comparing an off the line Ford Mustang to an off the line Dodge Challenger. The challenger is gonna win cause of specs are just better and plus with the Iphone on AT@T network it's like the mustang will lose spark at random times lol, stupid metaphors Iphoneluv just except it, the Iphone is beaten this time by the droid. Plus if Verizon gets the Palm Pre next year like rumored then Verizon will have two Iphone challengers, and with the htc dragon/passion that means Verizon will have at least 3 Iphone challengers. Meaning Verizon will definitely draw a lot of attention from AT&T and the Iphone
30. Quemical posted on 26 Nov 2009, 05:30 0 0
Well said smartphonelover. The Droid is the clear winner, without question. So iphoners, when's your next Droid killer coming out? DROID FTW
31. E.N. posted on 26 Nov 2009, 12:02 0 0
Since when has anyone cared about the high specs of the iPhone? That's not why so many people like it. But I'm pretty confused why the iPhone renders web pages faster while the Droid falls behind the Pre, even with the highest specs. And why does the Picture quality not look as good as the iPhone or even the pre? Go specs!
32. vzwman posted on 26 Nov 2009, 12:29 0 0
all you iphone lovers got it all wrong the droid is not an iphone killer but it is an iphone competitor
33. vzwman posted on 26 Nov 2009, 12:37 0 0
E.N. im sorry to say that your full of crap you obviously dont know squat about the performance any of the three smartphones mentioned in this article
36. vzwman posted on 26 Nov 2009, 14:16 0 0
i own 2 droids my brother has an iphone 3gs and a friend of mine owns a pre from sprint oh and not to mention my droid eris NIB havent opened it yet
38. E.N. posted on 26 Nov 2009, 15:51 0 0
Okay? What does that prove. You know a lot of people with phones. I'm happy for you. That doesn't mean you know more. You probably still think that the web browsing on the Droid is better than the iPhone. And why would you have two droids and an Eris?
40. Quemical posted on 26 Nov 2009, 19:26 0 0
"But I'm pretty confused why the iPhone renders web pages faster while the Droid falls behind the Pre, even with the highest specs. And why does the Picture quality not look as good as the iPhone or even the pre? Go specs!" Are you KIDDING ME? As far as rendering, CDMA 3G and THE FASTEST PROCCESSOR AVAILABLE + webkit = PWNGE, have fun surfing on GSM! PICTURE QUALITY????? Do you know anything about the DROID???? How about 720p Bluray video on my Droid, I just compared to my brothers Iphone and its not even close!!! Its sad really how much you are in denial. You could make an argument for speed but picture? Thats just being woefully ignorant.
41. E.N. posted on 26 Nov 2009, 23:10 0 0
Go back and read the review. Look at the video of the web browsers and tell me which is better of the three phones. Look at what phonearena wrote inregards to speed and data rendering. Look at the pictures phonearena took and then come back and we'll see what else you can scream about. It's not like I made this up what I said out of nowhere. And again you're throwing out specs that I dont really care about. All I know is that the pictures taken by phonearena on the iPhone 3GS looks better than the Droids. (We all know that the Droid's video quality is superior. I was talking about the photo camera.) Everything I jsut said came out of this review. So if you're going to get mad, get mad at the information and video posted. The Droid has two processors and that's the best it could do with web browsing? Please point out what else I said that was incorrect.
