Motorola DROID 2 vs Motorola DROID X

Introduction:

Separated by only a month, two prestigious Android based smartphones from Motorola are currently at the forefront of the whole Android lineup. The one-two punch combo from Motorola may have surprised many, especially when there is so much competition from all sides, but the tandem will undoubtedly attract customers thanks to their high-end status. There were some people who were quick to snatch the Motorola DROID X when it was released over a month ago; especially when it provided a refreshingly new take on Motorola's DROID line. However, Big Red didn't take too long in bringing the Motorola DROID 2 out to the market in order to provide customers the two best Android options that money can buy. On one hand you've got the gargantuan sized DROID X boasting a ton of features that seem to gravitate toward multimedia conscious individuals. While on the other, you've got the refreshed DROID 2 that eloquently improves in many categories over its predecessor. If you happen to still be deciding on which DROID to go with, now is probably the good time to pit these two against one another.

Design:

These two handsets couldn't be anymore different from one another from simply taking a quick glance at either of them. The DROID 2 of course packs a landscape QWERTY keyboard that caters to those who prefer the presence of actual buttons when typing something out. By no means is it bulky too since it looks and feels more like the normal sized device between the two, plus, it retains the overall design of its predecessor and continues to exude a fine looking industrial design. Come to think about it, the DROID 2 slides into any pocket very easily since it's only 0.54” thick – impressive when you factor in the keyboard it carries. Some people may require two hands to hold the DROID X in place since it easily dwarfs the DROID 2 in terms of overall size. Despite that, it still resonates a quality design that's even more impressive since it tallies in at 0.39” thickness. The DROID 2 is heavier as it hits the scale at 5.96 oz versus the DROID X's weight of 5.47 oz. There's no arguing that Motorola placed a lot of love in the creation of both devices, which is evident in the premium materials employed on them, but after checking out the fresh looking DROID X, it's easily the fan favorite with its awe-inspiring looks.


With the rapid pace of display technologies continually being pushed to the limit, the 3.7” TFT display found on the DROID 2 is considered normal sized while the 4.3” TFT display with the DROID X is situated at the upper end of the spectrum. Even though the DROID X provides more real estate, both offer a resolution of 480 x 854 pixels – making them the most pixel filled screens seen on any Android smartphone.

However, doing the math will blatantly show that the DROID 2 has a higher pixel density on paper than the DROID X – but still, it doesn't really factor in that much. Looking at both displays from a distance of 1 foot, there is no distinguishable difference with the naked eye. But when we set the brightness to the highest level, we can visually see that the DROID 2 has a higher contrast ratio – it's evident when you look at the color black as the DROID 2 looks more natural. Regardless, they still provide support for 16.7 million colors and offer good viewing from all angles.

Without a doubt, we definitely prefer the tactile feeling physical buttons used on the DROID X over the touch sensitive ones with the DROID 2 which can sometimes be accidentally pressed. But of course, the DROID 2 has the convenience factor since it packs a usable landscape style QWERTY keyboard – making it the prime candidate for those who don't like relying on touchscreens. Aside from that, the DROID X utilizes larger sized buttons for the volume rocker, two-level shutter key, and dedicated power button. The DROID 2 uses the same set of buttons, but they weren't as easily accessed since they are smaller and more flush to the surface. Additionally, they both feature a 3.5mm headset jack and microUSB port for charging/PC connection, but the DROID X has some inclusions that can't be overlooked. Such as a micro HDMI port to easily share media content and 3 different microphones – the regular one, another for noise-canceling, and a directional one for video recording. Following the DROID X's theme of bigger is more, we're treated to a higher 8-megapixel auto-focus camera over the 5-megapixel shooter on the DROID 2 – thankfully though, they both offer a dual-LED flash. Finally, the handset's internals and batteries are well protected thanks to their metal like rear covers.