Motorola DROID review

Motorola’s second Android handset is heading our way. We review the Motorola DROID to find out what users can expect from the Milestone when it hits the UK.

Motorola DROID
IT Pro Verdict

The DROID is truly a coup for Motorola, a manufacturer thought to be well past its prime. Only sales figures will determine how the DROID will stack up against its self-professed competition, Apple's iPhone, but Verizon has found itself a fantastic flagship device to carry its smartphone line through the holiday season. And UK users have this all to look forward to when the Milestone device hits these shores.

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Android devices are a bit like buses. You wait ages for Motorola to launch one then two Android-based handsets arrive almost at the same time.

The first in this shiny new line-up, the DEXT, arrived in the UK exclusively on the Orange network in early October and now we have the company of its younger sibling to look forward to.

Dubbed the DROID in the US, when the second Motorola Android-based handset heads over here it will bring with it a different moniker. On arrival in the UK, its name will be changed to the Motorola Milestone.

Ahead of this exciting arrival, which is tipped for 7 December, we take a look at the DROID running on Verizon's network.

Aesthetics

For those keeping track, the DROID measures 60x13.7x115.8mm (WDH) and weighs in at a hair less than 165g. It is adorned by a 3.7in WVGA (854x480 pixels) capacitive touch screen that displays 400,000 vivid pixels. It's nice to have a larger display on an Android device - it gives users the sense of working on a real computing device and not just a small smartphone.

The DROID also features integrated GPS, Bluetooth (2.1) and Wi-Fi (802.11b/g). MPEG-4, H.263 and H.264 videos play back at D1 resolution (720x480), and the included 16GB microSD memory card provides plenty of storage space for videos, music and photos, as well as documents relating to work, of course.

The user-replaceable, rechargeable battery pack is said to be good for as much as 6.4 hours of talk time and 11.25 days of standby. In terms of real world use, Motorola's Chairman Sanjay Jha told us that the DROID's battery would provide a full day's use when fully charged. As is the case with all smartphones, actual battery life depends entirely on usage and will vary from person to person. So we'd advise keeping an eye on juice levels if you're constantly checking email, surfing the web or sending texts.

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