Droid X2 Review
The Droid X2 is the latest 3G device from Verizon. Yes, I did say 3G for those of you who were thinking this was going to be or is already on Verizon’s new 4G LTE network. The X2 is basically the same Droid X we all fell in love with last year but this time it has a bit of improvements spec wise. Last year’s model came with a TI OMAP3630 that was overclocked to 1Ghz, which was a full boost in raw power that we haven’t seen at that point in time yet; this time it’s packing a 1Ghz Tegra 2 dual core processor from Nvidia. Another bump up in improvement is the screen resolution that Motorola likes to call qHD, which brings the resolution up to 960x540. The X2 comes with the same amount of RAM found in the original X and by today’s standard, that might not be enough since we have behemoth devices packing a full GB in that department. Will the dual-core processor be enough to make this stand out from Verizon’s heavy 4G LTE lineup that is coming out like hotcakes now or are you one of those types that doesn’t care about the 4G and wants a new device that you know will be reliable? Find out after the break to find out if the X2 fills your every gadget need.
Hardware
This device screams high quality. Motorola is one of the few companies that takes build quality to the extreme without taking away from the consumer experience. The X2 is an extremely solid device. For those of you who were thinking it looked flimsy, take a second look at this one. Like stated above, it is the exact same as the X from last year, but the only change was the removal of the camera shutter. I guess that red button was kind of disturbing to look at in the eyes of Motorola. On the front of the phone you have it’s massive 4.3 in qHD screen and four hardware buttons. To the left you have the micro HDMI cable and microUSB for charging/syncing. The back houses the huge hump up top for the 8MP dual LED shooter and metal battery cover. The right side, well, it decided to go skinny dipping. Everything you expected from Motorola is all there.
Battery Life
The battery life on the X2 is very impressive. Because of the addition of the dual core processor, battery usage is improved and power users shouldn’t be scared to use this thing. During my usage, I managed to squeeze out two full days on the phone with close to heavy usage. The extra processor helps out a lot because it knows when exactly to use both cores for optimal usage. The routine checking of twitter, emails and Facebook only used up one core most of the time while the other was idle. Downloading and playing games from the Tegra Zone would be where both cores would be used together. Talking on the phone, I managed to get a full 9.1 hours on a single charge which is an hour and a half more than the actual spec sheet from Motorola says. Its good to know that sometimes your actual testing would be greater than what was press released.
Phone Usage
Making phone calls on the X2 was a delight to do. Because of Big Red’s reliable network, calls were made in an instant. Motorola included the same three microphones from the original as well in this one for optimal usage and noise cancelation. Reception on this was top notch. This bad boy locks on to a signal like a pitbull and even in areas where I know Verizon had little coverage, it still managed to hold on to at least two bars where my wife’s Incredible would show two bars on 1X. There was also this one rare occasion where I was in Grand Central waiting for the train and I had a full five minute conversation with my mom underground. I’m not saying that it isn’t possible to receive some type of signal when you’re underground, but I was surprised because sometimes I see AT&T customers making phone calls down there and feel left out.
Conclusion
Is the Droid X2 the phone for you in this world of 4G knowing that it is only 3G? It depends on you. Are you power and data hungry that you need a 4G device while there is on beast of a phone that is on a lower tier of usefulness? If so, then the X2 is not for you. I’d recommend getting the LG Revolution for your hunger. The X2 is a powerful device that gets everything you need done and more, but on Verizon’s 3G network. Is this a direct offense towards the phone though? No, its not. 4G phones aren’t yet fully optimized for long and extensive usage because the radio used on the devices drains the battery faster than normal phones. If you read this review and agree with the last sentence, then go out and purchase the X2. It is fast, long lasting, reliable and durable. What more can you ask for in a phone?
