Motorola DROID BIONIC Pro Reviews

The Motorola Droid Bionic is currently a unique combination of 4G LTE, dual-core processor and high-resolution display. When using it, it is obvious that it is the most powerful 4G LTE handset on the market now and the synthetic benchmark confirm the difference of performance between the Bionic and its competitors, namely the Thunderbolt and the Droid Charge. Although we don’t have a definitive answer about its battery life yet, I expect it to be competitive or better than smartphones in this category. That said, I’m just about sure that the battery life won’t be as good as non-LTE phones. Because of that, I would prefer recommending it to users who don’t mind charging their the phone more often than usual. It is true that there aren’t a whole lot of choices for those who want to switch to 4G LTE, but if you want to benefit from LTE’s network prowess, the Droid Bionic is the best choice.

I sound like a broken record, but the Bionic really is a combination of the Droid 3’s software load and SoC, the Droid X2’s display and form factor, and a Motorola 4G LTE baseband. It’s a combination that finally breaks the mutual exclusivity that dual core and 4G LTE have had since Verizon’s 4G LTE launch. The Bionic that we saw and played with at CES never really saw the light of day, and yet I feel like this “Targa” turned Bionic does the promise of being the first dual core smartphone with 4G LTE justice. Even though the Nexus Prime is looming eerily on the horizon as of this writing, if there’s anything I’ve learned in the smartphone space, it’s that it is usually better to be first, than better, and you have to hand it to the Bionic for being first to dual core with LTE.

The Motorola Droid Bionic is a stone cold killer. Killer features, and a murderous pricetag, particularly if you want to take full advantage of it. If you don't insist on a keyboard, it's got just about every feature you could possibly ask for in a smartphone. And when coupled with it's optional accessories, it's got the unparalleled flexibility to be the center of your digital lifestyle. Likely the biggest drawback for the Droid Bionic is, sadly enough, Verizon's own policies on data use, which put the brakes on a great deal of the mobile entertainment, home theater integration, and digital lifestyle options the smartphone seems designed around. A 2 GB monthly data ration does a disservice to a device which is one part mobile brain, one part home entertainment box. Even if you don't want to drop another small fortune on the accessories, the Bionic is a very solid smartphone that will remain, if not cutting edge, then considerably ahead of the pack for a very long while. It's got a superb processor, tons of memory, a quality screen, and the reputation of a solid design line behind it. That's about as close as you get in this business to future proof.

The Droid Bionic is massive phone. Not only is the phone itself big, but the opportunity it presents is large, too. Motorola and Verizon are attempting - with the insane number of accessories and docks - to position the Droid Bionic as a potential laptop replacement device for the weary traveller. It's true, with the right mix of accessories, you can probably sneak away for a long weekend (or short business trip) without the need for a laptop, but there are plenty of trade-offs (size/expense of the laptop dock, limitations of Webtop mode, etc.) The phone itself is mostly great. Network, voice call, and battery performance are the best of Verizon's LTE devices. The messaging features are robust, as are the music and video consumption apps. The biggest failing of the Droid Bionic is the camera, which is too slow and leads to mixed results. Other than the camera, the Bionic's dual-core processor means plenty of horsepower to accomplish all that you might wish to with the phone. Would I recommend the Droid Bionic? Sure, to anyone but a dedicated shutterbug, it is the new King of the Hill at Verizon Wireless. It covers all the basics, and then some. Add in all the possible use cases created by the series of docks, and the Bionic can even so go far as to replace your entertainment center and laptop. It may be pricey at $299, but the best of the best is never cheap.

With a price tag that's just a penny shy of $300, the Droid Bionic is definitely at the top end of Verizon Wireless' current lineup. Considering the similarly-equipped Droid RAZR will be available next month for the same price, we feel as if Verizon Wireless and Motorola are stealing some of their own thunder with the recent announcement of the thinner Droid RAZR. For this reason, we wouldn't be too surprised if the price for the Droid Bionic drops somewhat, relatively soon. Assuming Motorola and Verizon Wireless do something to keep the Droid Bionic competitive with other offerings, we feel the Droid Bionic is indeed a phone worthy of consideration for users who want a zippy Android experience with 4G connectivity.

Although we’re still wrapping up our lab tests of the Droid Bionic, it is safe to say that this is one of Verizon’s strongest phones available right now. The build quality is excellent, the software is clean and intuitive, and the addition of ZumoCast is terrific. The display, however, is a big disappointment. The overall speed of the Droid Bionic is almost enough to make up for that shortcoming, but the high price makes the phone a tough sell. On the plus side, if you’re upgrading from a basic handset or feature phone to the Bionic, you’ll get a $100 gift card toward your Verizon bill or any accessories. That’s a good incentive, but it seems like a big leap to go from a phone that can only make calls to this dual-core, 4G beast. It might be more fair to extend such an offer to 3G Droid owners or, at the very least, to owners of the original Droid.

The Droid Bionic is a solid performer, and the smoothest Android-powered smartphone I've used to-date. With the phone's appetite for power, it would have been nice for Verizon to include the accessory back-plate for wireless charging as a standard feature, just to help make it through the day -- but once you're aware of the limitation and look for opportunities in your daily routine to top-off the battery, you'll be fine. The audio anomalies that many have experienced seem to be random and intermittent, and might be mitigated by using high-end earphones. Since the phone doesn't come with any earbuds, we're left wondering if it's the quality of 3rd party earbuds, or the phone itself that's responsible for the noise.

The Droid Bionic is a fine phone — a solid entry to Verizon’s lineup of 4G handsets. Though I take issue with some of the software decisions here (and some of the bugginess), overall the device performs as well if not better than almost every Android phone on the market. The Bionic is essentially as good and as bad as other recent Motorola entries, and shares much in common with the Droid X2, Droid 3, and Photon 4G (on Sprint). It’s a handsome device with a sturdy build, and has more than enough horsepower to keep you happy for the immediate future. However, there are questions to be asked. For starters, can you put up with the battery life as it is now? Do you feel comfortable paying $300 for this phone when a handful of new devices are on the way in the Fall (not the least of which is likely the next flagship Android phone running Ice Cream Sandwich)? And does the “DROID” robot voice sound effect bother you in any way?

If you somehow don’t mind paying a huge premium right now, or simply have an unlimited cash flow, we definitely recommend checking out the Motorola DROID BIONIC because it’s seriously the most future-proof device out of the three. Yes, it’s priced significantly higher, but you’re going to be presented with a device that’s packing lightning fast 4G LTE speeds and the additional functionality of Motorola’s Webtop experience – while offering all of the lovable aspects of Android in general. However, it doesn’t mean that the other two aren’t great alternatives, but rather, they’re reasonably priced high-end smartphones that will appease people with their performance. With the iPhone 4S, it isn’t necessarily classified as a next-generation iPhone, since it’s nothing more than an incremental upgrade. And with the Samsung Galaxy S II, it doesn’t quite behold the same blinding aura as it did when it first launched overseas back in the spring. In any event, they both have their strengths in offering an exceptional experience, but the Motorola DROID BIONIC simply IS the epitome of a cutting edge smartphone – plus, it helps when it performs handsomely in a variety of departments.

If you’re looking for a 4G LTE phone that isn’t already outdated, the Droid Bionic is the phone for you. Like all recent Motorolas, this phone has some issues with screen quality and its camera, but it more than makes up for it with a dual-core processor and quick 4G LTE speeds.

With everything said and done, the Motorola DROID BIONIC lands at top of the pile when it comes to Android smartphones available from Verizon Wireless. It is by far the best of the LTE smartphones to date, with a fast processor in a slightly slimmer design. Battery life is still a problem, but not as much so as seen in the other LTE phones, and it might not be the best option for habitual shutter bugs. Regardless, the DROID BIONIC is a solid smartphone that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend to somebody who needs a new phone now and can't wait for what's coming over the horizon, provided they are OK with the $299 price of entry.

Although touted as the first in a new breed of dual-core 4G devices, in some ways it feels like the last in its generation, home to an uninspired skin, average display and ho-hum camera. What will rescue the Bionic from being an unwanted stepchild is its sheer speed and power. With 4G cranked up, the browser blazing through Flash and a simple Bluetooth keyboard attached, this Droid will leave netbook users (and even some laptop workers) choking in its Bionic dust.

After using these smartphones for several days, we believe that the overall best device out of the group is the Motorola DROID BONIC. Not only does it have the slimmest design and has great build quality, it is also the fastest with the best benchmark scores and download speeds, which makes running apps and view web pages more enjoyable. Call quality and signal reception are also excellent, with voices sounding clear and natural, and the battery can provide almost 10.5 hours of talk time. But the camera quality was only average, and outside pictures were not amazing (though inside and flash images are good), but it does provide some nice looking videos at 1080p resolution.

If you're on Verizon and are dying for a new phone, this is easily the fastest and best Android on Verizon. If you can get over the pixilation of the screen, and don't mind constantly toggling between 3G/4G modes to make it through the day without constant recharging, at any rate. If you're not squarely in the Android camp though, you should probably hold out a little bit longer to see what iPhone 5 and the next crop of Windows Phones are gonna deliver.

The Droid Bionic is definitely the fastest 4G LTE phone yet, and it's our new top smartphone pick for Verizon Wireless. The $299 price is steep, but you get dual-core power and blazing data speeds, plus a bevy of useful apps. We also like the qHD screen and loud speakers. The Samsung Droid Charge has a better AMOLED display for watching video and sleeker design, but the Bionic has a faster dual-core processor and offers longer battery life.

Make no mistake, there’s plenty to like about the DROID BIONIC. The combination of a dual-core processor and LTE adds up to a phone that’s fast in both performance and data access, while the solid display and HDMI connectivity mean it’s a good choice for multimedia playback. On the flip side, however, mediocre battery life and underwhelming stills performance from the camera take off some of the shine.

Without a doubt, the Motorola DROID BIONIC is a long time in the making, but after checking all the fanfare regarding it, we’re actually not all that impressed mainly due to the fact that everything it has to offer has been done already. Sure it claims to fame as being the first 4G LTE smartphone with a dual-core processor, but when you break it down, there isn’t one sole new thing found with it.

Conclusions The Motorola Droid Bionic is the most powerful phone for Verizon. It sets the bar for Android performance, offering faster Web page loads and better battery life than any other LTE phone so far, so it's an easy Editors' Choice.

The Motorola Droid Bionic is everything you want from a high-end smartphone--it's sleek, fast, and powerful, with features that will please both consumers and business users--if you're willing to pay the high price.