Motorola DROID Ultra vs LG G2

Introduction

With only a few months left in the year, all the chips are on the table, as phone manufacturers are battling it out for your purchasing dollars. In this comparison review, we’re going to take a look at the Motorola DROID Ultra and the LG G2, both of which are available from Verizon Wireless for $200 with a 2-year contract, or $600 full retail. Since we’re already reviewed both devices separately, we’re going to take a look at some of the differences between them; what we like and don’t like.

Design

As with most smartphones today, both the Motorola DROID Ultra and LG G2 look like two black slabs, though the DROID Ultra does also come in a red version for those looking to spice things up.

But each device has its own design characteristics. The DROID Ultra is the thinner of the two at only 0.28” and is more lightweight. We like that it is constructed out of Kevlar for added durability, while the LG G2 is using a plastic polymer. Even though the G2 is a bit thicker and heavier, this is because it packs a larger 3000mAh battery, over the 2130mAh battery on the DROID Ultra. One thing we don’t care for is the glossy finished used on the rear of the devices, as it shows fingerprints, smudges, and pretty much anything else.

For button placement, both phones couldn’t be more different. The DROID Ultra uses capacitive buttons under the front display for back, home and recent apps, and on the right edge are the physical power/lock key and volume rocker. Meanwhile, the LG G2 uses the standard Android on-screen softkeys, but has placed the remaining power and volume buttons on the rear of the device under the camera. Furthermore, the Verizon version of the G2 slightly modifies these buttons, making each one feel identical, and hard to distinguish from touch alone – while the G2 version from other carriers has more of a “hump” for the center power/lock key making it easier to find.

Display

Ok, here we go. The Motorola DROID Ultra comes with a 5” Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 720x1280, giving it a pixel-per-inch count of 294. Meanwhile, the LG G2 has a larger 5.2” IPS LCD display with a full HD resolution of 1080x1920, which gives it a higher pixel-per-inch count of 423. This not only translates into a slightly larger screen on the LG G2 by 0.2” but since it is higher resolution, text and images are crystal clear, sharp, and lack any jagged edges.

When using both phones next to each other, colors are highly saturated with more “pop” to them on the DROID Ultra and viewing angles are also excellent, which is normal for AMOLED displays. The LG G2 has more realistic colors, which we prefer, though the off-axis viewing angles aren’t that great. When using the phones outside in sunlight and turning their brightness up to maximum, the IPS LCD on the LG G2 is brighter and easier to view with its LED backlight, as the Super AMOLED display on the DROID Ultra as a bit darker and harder to view.

The DROID Ultra includes Motorola’s Active Display notification feature, which we also saw on the Moto X. Basically what it does is allows you to nudge the phone, and only the center of the display will turn on showing the date and time. Then if you get any notifications, such as a new message or a missed call, only that part of the display will turn on. This way, the device will conserve power since it does not have to turn on the entire display.

The LG G2 has something different called Knock On, that allows you to double-tap on the display to turn it back on, without having to pick up the phone and press the power/unlock key on the back. This is a useful feature, and you can also double-tap the screen anytime to turn it back off.