Verizon swapping data dropping Bionic out for aRazr

[rich6661]

Talked to Verizon today to see what they would do about the Bionic that they sent me to replace the last one that had constant data drops.
Their first suggestion was another (3rd)Bionic. After I told them I didn't want ANOTHER one they offered a Razr.
I have to have a reliable data connection so I accepted.
Was this a good decision? Is the Razr reliable?
P.S. Gonna have to buy yet another car cradle.

 

[Thom]

There are alternatives.

You could run in 3G and probably be stable.

You could wait for the ICS OTA and it will likely solve the problem (assuming it isn't in the tower. And no the Verizon people you talk to have no idea if it is a tower problem in your area.)

If you must have 4G and can't wait for the ICS OTA you could install the 6.7.232 leak, revert to 5.9.905 when the ICS OTA is available, and then install the ICS OTA.

... Thom

 

[rich6661]

There are alternatives.

You could run in 3G and probably be stable.

You could wait for the ICS OTA and it will likely solve the problem (assuming it isn't in the tower. And no the Verizon people you talk to have no idea if it is a tower problem in your area.)

If you must have 4G and can't wait for the ICS OTA you could install the 6.7.232 leak, revert to 5.9.905 when the ICS OTA is available, and then install the ICS OTA.

... Thom

3G is stable but I'm paying for the premium 4g service and experience.
It seems like a lot of trouble to install uninstall and then reinstall again.
Are these suggestions to try and steer me away from the Razr?
Is it not a superior phone?

 

[PowerBomb]

No one wants to steer you away from the Razr, but the fact is the debate rages on in regards to whether specifically the Bionic alone had these problems, or all recent Droid phones. Upgrading to the ICS leaks basically eliminates data drops for most people, which seems to mean that nothing was ever wrong with "the phone", it was some sort of software issue that has been fixed with ICS. You can type in "razr data drop" on Google and see plenty of Razr owners complaining about the same issue.

In terms of data drops, accepting the replacement Razr is neither a good or bad decision. It might get you the same results. Aside from data drops, switching to the Razr is a matter of opinion, if you like it then there's nothing wrong with switching to it. Not exactly a huge step forward or backward, all these Moto phones seem to be lateral moves from each other with slightly different features.

So just be aware that switching devices may not be the end of your troubles. But at least the Razr does have official ICS already, so you'll be able to try it right away whereas with the Bionic you'd have to flash one of the leaks or wait for the official update that they claim is still coming this month.

 

[Thom]

3G is stable but I'm paying for the premium 4g service and experience.
It seems like a lot of trouble to install uninstall and then reinstall again.
Are these suggestions to try and steer me away from the Razr?
Is it not a superior phone?

You asked for options. I gave you the options.

The Razr vs. the Bionic ... some like one and some like the other. I think the Razr with it's back shellacked shut so you can't change the battery is absurd. I also don't like the way it feels when I hold it.

Some people prefer the Razr.

Go to a store and handle them both and go with what YOU like. They are the same device except for the screen.

The data drop debate is simple ... there are independent software developments going on for each of these devices and Verizon is changing the tower side software unsynchronized with any of them.

Currently the Razr has the fewest drops and it is on ICS. The ICS leaks on the Bionic are reporting the same reliability.

So ... ICS seems to be the current solution (until Verizon plus the rug out again).

Pick what you like.

... Thom

 

[rich6661]

You asked for options. I gave you the options.

The Razr vs. the Bionic ... some like one and some like the other. I think the Razr with it's back shellacked shut so you can't change the battery is absurd. I also don't like the way it feels when I hold it.

Some people prefer the Razr.

Go to a store and handle them both and go with what YOU like. They are the same device except for the screen.

The data drop debate is simple ... there are independent software developments going on for each of these devices and Verizon is changing the tower side software unsynchronized with any of them.

Currently the Razr has the fewest drops and it is on ICS. The ICS leaks on the Bionic are reporting the same reliability.

So ... ICS seems to be the current solution (until Verizon plus the rug out again).

Pick what you like.

... Thom

Thank you for the suggestions with the Bionic, I do appreciate them.
Will the OS after ICS be an option on both devices? (Isn't it JB?)

 

[Thom]

They are working on the deployment of I - ICS at the moment. J - JB will be coming to some phones in the future and Verizon announced a $100 buy back for any model not upgraded to JB in the future.

The timing on the OTA ICS for the Bionic is not known and it gets rather frustrating waiting for it. It is in the works.

I find it difficult to believe that it will be 6.7.244 (that has been out now for 10 days). I'm guessing there will be (at least) one more update before release.

That's a pure guess on my part.

... Thom

 

[wildkitten]

Well here's the issue about this. The Razr and the Bionic are essentially the same phone except for the screen. The Razr has an AMOLED screen but a non removable battery where as the Bionic's can be replaced.

Don't forget, the data dropping is not a Bionic exclusive issue. ALL Verizon 4G phones have had it...

This Is Why Your Verizon Galaxy Nexus (Or Other 4G LTE VZW Phone) Is Losing Its Data Connection

It's been seen by the Nexus, the Razrs, and of course our Bionics. Obviously it's not just ICS that cures this issue as the Nexus shipped with ICS but rather some other software update that's been done to these other phones, that seems to have been coupled with the Razr's ICS release, that has fixed the data drop issue for them that has not been pushed to us yet.

One other problem with the Razr is that their ICS release was buggy.
Droid RAZR & Droid RAZR MAXX ICS Issues Now Two Months Old

There has been a lot of speculation that the reason our ICS hasn't gotten to us yet is they figure the same problems seen with the Razr would be seen on the Bionic, which due to the hardware similiarity would be a pretty good assumption. Now I can't speak to why some on the ICS leaks haven't had major issues, although there have been some problems with them as some of the forums have talked about.

Is the Razr a superior phone? Well, that depends on whether you see the AMOLED screen as a major improvement over the Bionic's (personally I do not) and if being able to swap batteries is important or not. The phones have identical CPU's, the Bionic's is merely clocked down to 1.0GHz whereas the Razr is at 1.2GHz, and have the same 1GB RAM and 16GB base storage. If swapping the battery isn't a big deal to you and the AMOLED screen of the Razr is something you really like better, than yes, to you it could be a superior phone, but those are personal preference type of things no one but you can decide on.

As for Jelly Bean being for both phones, we have been told yes, it will be on both or people will get $100.
Motorola Promises Jelly Bean Updates for Droid RAZR, RAZR MAXX, Droid Bionic and More

In the end you have to decide if the data drops is more annoying than the ICS bugs the Razr has will be. The fix for both is likely to be in a few days.

 

[Satires]

I would suggest another bionic if you're happy with the one you have (A bionic).

Here's the reason.

I have two bionics, one from verizon and one from ebay. The phone I have from ebay (Knock on wood) is rock solid! The phone I have from verizon keeps dropping to 3g on it's own and drops data.

Here's the kicker.

I have both phones "fxz'd" with rsd lite with the same OTA .902 official verizon firmware. Then, both took the .905 update over the air from verizon. Both phones were set up exactly the same, that's just how I roll. Same play store updates and apps. Everything! Even the same sim card and sd card (When I swap between both bionics).

In my eyes, it has to be a hardware thing in the bionic I got from verizon, in fact I supposed to get my replacement today.

P.S. If you love the webtop experience as is, I wouldn't take the ics update.

 

[Yeltnerb]

I have both phones "fxz'd" with rsd lite with the same OTA .902 official verizon firmware. Then, both took the .905 update over the air from verizon. Both phones were set up exactly the same, that's just how I roll. Same play store updates and apps. Everything! Even the same sim card and sd card (When I swap between both bionics).

How does one make the same SIM work in different phones? I was under the impression that Verizon Sims were locked to a particular handset and you could not just move them willy nilly.

 

[Thom]

In my eyes, it has to be a hardware thing in the bionic I got from verizon, in fact I supposed to get my replacement today.

I assume you did a "soft reset" on the one being replaced by holding down the Volume Up/Volume Down/Power buttons until the menu appears and then disappears and it had no affect.

Since you are replacing the dropping phone anyway ... try a Factory Data Reset on the one you are replacing. Did it make a difference?

... Thom

 

[Satires]

I assume you did a "soft reset" on the one being replaced by holding down the Volume Up/Volume Down/Power buttons until the menu appears and then disappears and it had no affect.

Since you are replacing the dropping phone anyway ... try a Factory Data Reset on the one you are replacing. Did it make a difference?

... Thom

Yup, I did everything. Both phones were set up exactly the same.

When the verizon phone started acting up I did an fxz back to .902, let the os settle for a few hours and took the .905 update and again let it settle for a few hours. I then did a hard reset from the setting menu.

(As I have done a half dozen times with the good bionic from the same computer and fxz file)

The defective bionic remained defective running it unrooted bone stock and rooted.

 

[Satires]

How does one make the same SIM work in different phones? I was under the impression that Verizon Sims were locked to a particular handset and you could not just move them willy nilly.

Not in my experience (Shruggs). I have moved my sim between both of my bionics and a htc thunderbolt without an issue.

If you ever buy a used verizon 4g phone (Assuming it has a clean ESN) it may take a few minutes to initialize but will work just fine, did for me anyways.

 

[Yeltnerb]

Not in my experience (Shruggs). I have moved my sim between both of my bionics and a htc thunderbolt without an issue.

If you ever buy a used verizon 4g phone (Assuming it has a clean ESN) it may take a few minutes to initialize but will work just fine, did for me anyways.

Did you do anything else to activate them? change things on the website etc.?

I just had quite a time activating a replacement phone for my wife, and it didn't like the SIM.

 

[DDave]

I'm holding out for ICS for the Bionic. If it does not fix my data dropping problems I will then scream and hollor until I get something that I want that works.... Kind of like my Nexus (work phone). I've not had 1 data drop with it.... NOT ONE.

I like the Bionic and want to keep it... but I cannot see keeping it if it cannot hold onto a data connection in 4g.

I'm DDave, and I approved this message.

 

[Satires]

Did you do anything else to activate them? change things on the website etc.?

I just had quite a time activating a replacement phone for my wife, and it didn't like the SIM.

I did nothing other than just place the sim card in the desired phone. It provisions on it's own.

When I first got my bionic from ebay, it took a few minutes for the sim card to provision itself.

 

[rich6661]

I really am thankful for all the advice offered here. I know its partly a gamble as to any phone being that OS' are always a work in progress.
I can deal with the lack of battery replacement since I always have a charger handy. It seems though that the Razr is just one small step ahead of the Bionic and if that step gives me more reliability I'll take it.
Now the issue of the screen will take a little getting used to and of course I now have to buy yet another auto dock but progress marches on.

P.S. I'll have a Bionic auto dock and extended battery I dont need any longer.

 

[Dabrador]

I had the Bionic, I now have the Razr. Like you, I was offered the Razr as a replacement for my 3rd Bionic. To me, the Razr is more stable and reliable than the Bionic. To me, the Bionic was the most buggy and unreliable Droid I've had (OG, D2, DX, Bionic, Razr). Like you, I feel the Razr will be better supported (JB update) going forward than the Bionic.

Cognitive dissonance - asking current Bionic owners if you should keep your Bionic or get a Razr.

 

[Adara]

I rejected the RAZR when they first offered me one (to replace my data dropping Bionic) and I ultimately accepted when they offered the RAZR Maxx. (No way I was taking the RAZR -- I would run out of juice too fast.)

It's a RAZR Maxx, it's on ICS, and it still can't hold 4G. (Whereas, when I had the Samsung Galaxy SIII in my hands for a day, that thing grabbed 4G and wouldn't let go.)

I don't mind as much, as I have recently implemented a workaround for my house. (Got a WiFi repeater so I now have WiFi in my whole house, and gave the phone a Smart Action to switch to WiFi when I'm home. The Smart Action is effin' seamless, so I don't even notice which data network I'm not on.)

How do I feel about the RAZR Maxx as opposed to the Bionic? Eh. I realize that its innards are mostly the same as the Bionic, but I just don't have any sort of subjective emotional feel for it. The Bionic, I both loved and hated. The RAZR is just a phone. (It does, however, have the advantage of VZW having unlocked its World Phone capabilities, which means no more loaner phones when I travel. So, there's a plus if it matters to you.)