Motorola Droid (original) Review

How does the Motorola Droid perform in everyday use?

The Motorola Droid features a 3.7-inch display that showcases its vibrant interface, building on the improvements introduced with Android 2.0. Users have noted that the device delivers excellent call quality and a long talk time, making it suitable for extensive communication needs.

However, in benchmarks compared to its successor, the Droid X, the original Droid's performance pales with a lower processing speed of 600 MHz, which may frustrate users seeking speed in multitasking and app usage.

What is the design and build quality of the Motorola Droid?

The Droid has a robust and solid build, typical of Motorola's design ethos at the time. Its physical QWERTY keyboard, while welcomed by some users for typing convenience, is often criticized for feeling flat and lacking definition.

Additionally, the lack of dual-mode functionality for world-roaming reduces its utility for frequent travelers, a notable downside considering its intended user base.

Is the user experience intuitive on the Motorola Droid?

Motorola Droid benefits from Android 2.0's improved messaging and contact management, providing an intuitive interface that many have praised for its ease of use. Users appreciate the integration with Google services, particularly Google Maps Navigation, enhancing its daily usability.

In contrast, the device's multimedia capabilities feel lacking, especially in comparison to contemporaries, leaving music and video features trailing behind more robust offerings that engage mobile content consumers.

Does the Motorola Droid offer good value in today's market?

When it was released, the Motorola Droid was considered a powerful option for Android users, emphasizing speed and reliability. Its ability to handle the latest apps at launch was a competitive edge.

However, users today may find its specifications less appealing compared to newer smartphones, which offer more advanced features and functionality for the same price range.

How does the Motorola Droid compare with its competitors?

In the evolving smartphone industry, the Motorola Droid faced competition like the HTC Hero and Palm Pre, which were also launching in the same period and offered similar features with their own strengths.

While the Droid attempted to differentiate itself with a physical keyboard and Android's ecosystem, competitors often outperformed it in multimedia capabilities and portability.

Pros & Cons

• ✅ Gorgeous 3.7-inch display providing a vibrant visual experience.
• ✅ Excellent call quality and long talk time enhance communication.
• ✅ Improved messaging and contact management via Android 2.0.
• ✅ Robust build quality offering durability and a solid feel.

• ❌ Flat QWERTY keyboard design detracts from the typing experience.
• ❌ Limited multimedia functionality compared to competing devices.
• ❌ No Bluetooth voice dialing hampers hands-free usage.
• ❌ Does not support dual-mode for world-roaming.

How It Compares to the Competition

• HTC Hero — Offers a more advanced multimedia experience with a unique design.
• Palm Pre — Known for its innovative user interface but lacks a physical keyboard.
• Samsung Galaxy S — Superior performance and multimedia features set it ahead of the Droid.

Who Should Buy This & Who Should Skip It

Buy it if: Ideal for users seeking a reliable entry into the Android ecosystem, especially those who value physical keyboards and Google integration. It suits those who primarily use smartphones for communication and basic applications.

Skip it if: Those looking for advanced multimedia capabilities or faster performance should consider alternatives. Users who plan to travel internationally will find its roaming limitations a drawback.