Evo or Droid X

[bluehaze013]

I thought about switching my EVO for a DroidX for a couple days before my 30 day return window was up but soon came to my senses LOL. The EVO has a way better UI with sense, the UI on the DroidX looks like it was thrown togethor by a kindergardener with a box of crayons. EVO has a front facing camera which seems like a gimmick at first but is actually really incredible once you start using it to make video calls (You can even make video calls to iPhone users already however they have to use wifi whereas you can do it over 4g or even 3g) plus the 4g is amazing blazing fast speeds, faster than you should ever need on a phone but it makes your experience when tethered to your laptop very similiar to being at home tethered to your wifi. The EVO is smaller and much sleeker and even boasts a waider screen via a more similiar resolution to your standard HD TV. There are many small nuances I could go on about but I won't I say just get the EVO, you have a 30 day window to return it though I doubt you will in the end.

The only advantage the DroidX has is the GPU it uses but the thing about that is it's very similiar to a PC, majority of games will be developed for the masses so in the end not many if any games will be released that are exceptionally better on the droidx as even with it's more powerful GPU the game devs will still have to tweak thier releases to run properly on the majority of devices therefore in the end all the droidx gpu will end up doing is sucking down more battery life while playing the same games you can play on the EVO. Maybe in a couple years the GPU your phone has will play a major part in your buying decision but right now it really doesn't make a difference what gpu you have other than for bragging rights.

Best of luck whatever you decide but just like me I think in the end you will be much happier with the EVO.

Cheers

 

[Randymac88]

droid x has a much better battery life,

You don' know that. And, I've been getting great battery life on my EVO. I think the early issues were overblown. Not to say everyone has my experience, but I would say my EVO battery is as good if not better than my old iPhone 3G.

 

[EarlyMon]

The only advantage the DroidX has is the GPU it uses but the thing about that is it's very similiar to a PC, majority of games will be developed for the masses so in the end not many if any games will be released that are exceptionally better on the droidx as even with it's more powerful GPU the game devs will still have to tweak thier releases to run properly on the majority of devices therefore in the end all the droidx gpu will end up doing is sucking down more battery life while playing the same games you can play on the EVO. Maybe in a couple years the GPU your phone has will play a major part in your buying decision but right now it really doesn't make a difference what gpu you have other than for bragging rights.

The Snapdragon processor in your Evo contains an AMD GPU.

The combination of GPU and DSP components for both the X's processor and the Evo's are part and parcel of the mobile multimedia capabilities and advanced user interface graphics, and any gaming support is tertiary.

Where your PC may have multiple components on one part of the motherboard, all are bound into these phones' processors in a single package called System on Chip (SoC) design.

Your theories about power distribution for this - with respect to games or anything else - are incorrect.

If you own an Evo you're already using the hell out of its GPU whether you play games or not.

 

[jroc]

I'm on Verizon. I'm seriously thinking about getting the X. The HDMI thing is a big letdown compared to the EVO. Going by that heavyweight article, I might have chose the EVO too. The HDMI thing and the plan is hard to over look.

I say might cuz, like most reviewers, he didnt get into reception and just barely touched on call quality and didnt test the noise cancellation for the X. Calling 911 never takes a back seat to downloading at blazing speeds. When in an emergancy situation, I wanna know I can make and recieve calls when it matters.

Show me where the EVO has better reception than the X, do a background noise test with the EVO like the one for the X thats floating around and I will say I agree with that article. If not, dont give any review a numerical rating, say which one is the champ unless u do a complete review.

No reception comparisons, not a complete review. He mentions the Front camera that the EVO has and the X doesnt, but doesnt mention the noise cancellation the X has and the EVO doesnt......

I gave Engadget fits for it, gotta be fair and call out anyone else who does it too. I said the X review done by the folks at this forum wasnt complete for the same reasons. And they praised the X to high heaven.

 

[wase4711]

well, after dealing with the phone call quality nightmare of the Droid Incredible, going through 3 of them, and finally giving up for the EVO, I will tell you this; I agree that the phone part of these devices is VERY important, to me and my family, and I have NOT been the least bit disappointed in the EVO/SPRINT call quality, and reception..crystal clear in chicagoland, no complaints from anyone I have called or calls me, not a single dropped call in over 30 days, and, the call quality is as "landline like" as it gets.
I see the droid x also has a wonderfully high call quality rating as well, but, you wont really know until you get one and use it in real life phone activities..Motorola phones usually sound very good, so I assume this one will too.
But, I can assure you, the call quality on the EVO is fantastic as well!

 

[ARR22]

I'm on Verizon. I'm seriously thinking about getting the X. The HDMI thing is a big letdown compared to the EVO. Going by that heavyweight article, I might have chose the EVO too. The HDMI thing and the plan is hard to over look.

I say might cuz, like most reviewers, he didn't get into reception and just barely touched on call quality and didn't test the noise cancellation for the X. He says these phones are for data first and phones second, I say no. Calling 911 never takes a back seat to downloading at blazing speeds. When in an emergency situation, I wanna know I can make and receive calls when it matters.

Show me where the EVO has better reception than the X, do a background noise test with the EVO like the one for the X thats floating around and I will say I agree with that article. If not, don't give any review a numerical rating, say which one is the champ unless u do a complete review.

No reception comparisons, not a complete review. He mentions the Front camera that the EVO has and the X doesnt, but doesnt mention the noise cancellation the X has and the EVO doesnt......

I gave Engadget fits for it, gotta be fair and call out anyone else who does it too. I said the X review done by the folks at this forum wasnt complete for the same reasons. And they praised the X to high heaven.

Fair point, call quality should never be overlooked. About calling 911. A friend of mine works as a 911 dispatcher for my local city. He tells me that 95% of the government agencies can track your cell phone via GPS in the event of an emergency. So I wouldn't worry about calling 911 and not having them being able to locate you. Unless of course you are one unlucky bastard that happens to call the 5% that doesn't have this tech. LOL

On another note I have a friend with the N1 that has noise cancellation. There is a slight difference. But not enough for me to think that the Droid X is better. Just my opinion though.

 

[jroc]

Dont the GPS have to be on for that to help?

 

[ARR22]

well, after dealing with the phone call quality nightmare of the Droid Incredible, going through 3 of them, and finally giving up for the EVO, I will tell you this; I agree that the phone part of these devices is VERY important, to me and my family, and I have NOT been the least bit disappointed in the EVO/SPRINT call quality, and reception..crystal clear in chicagoland, no complaints from anyone I have called or calls me, not a single dropped call in over 30 days, and, the call quality is as "landline like" as it gets.
I see the droid x also has a wonderfully high call quality rating as well, but, you wont really know until you get one and use it in real life phone activities..Motorola phones usually sound very good, so I assume this one will too.
But, I can assure you, the call quality on the EVO is fantastic as well!

Hmmm..... I have an incredible as my company paid work phone. And I have never had a complaint about call quality. The only complaint I have is that my company has Verizon and not Sprint hehehe. And no they did not buy me the incredible. They supplied me with some cheap ass flip phone, and I went out of my way to buy an incredible online. Just in case people are wondering. Oh and carring around 2 phones sucks. But it can be cool if you want to show off.

 

[ARR22]

Dont the GPS have to be on for that to help?

Cellular triangulation. Just got off the phone with my buddy, cuz I was clueless.


Not as accurate but does the trick.

 

[broken1i]

I chose the evo on account that sprint offers affordable plans for students, the coverage is great in NYC, and it's a beastly phone. It's my first android phone and I couldn't be happier. Also, this thread is pointless...they're both droids so it's a win win situation. New phones will eventually come out and wash both these phones out of the water in terms of specs.

 

[ryohei47]

the 2 main differences i can think of:

4g for the evo
faster updates for the droid x

 

[ARR22]

I chose the evo on account that sprint offers affordable plans for students, the coverage is great in NYC, and it's a beastly phone. It's my first android phone and I couldn't be happier. Also, this thread is pointless...they're both droids so it's a win win situation. New phones will eventually come out and wash both these phones out of the water in terms of specs.

I agree that its a win win. But disagree on your assertion that the thread is pointless. It can help someone make a decision either way. If its pointless so is every other review that compares android to android phones. Just my 2 cents.

 

[ARR22]

the 2 main differences i can think of:

4g for the evo
faster updates for the droid x

Faster updates? You care to elaborate? I believe the Droid X is running a custom UI as well. The only phone I know of that offers faster updates is the N1.

 

[tqlla]

I have been thinking about this too. I cancelled Verizon but now they are offering me 200 free minutes. With the $10 fee, Sprint isnt saving me much money at all =(

Here is the Breakdown with my 20% corp discount on both

SPRINT
Unlimited minutes (Practically)
Unlimited Data - with unlimited tether?
Unlimited Text
Phone = $150 after $100 MIR - $50 Corp discount
Cost/month = $66 after 20% discount and $10 fee

Verizon
650 Anytime minutes (more than I need)
Unlimited Data - 2GB Cap on tether
Unlimited Text
Phone = $150 after $50 new every two
Cost/month = $72 after 20% discount(applies on unlim data and unlim text)

I like the EVO but the Wifi is flaky, and I feel like I am getting the shaft on that $10 fee. Also, the data and calls are not as solid as it they were with Verizon.

The DROIDX has 2X Ram, a better processor and 24GB of included memory. However it doesnt have a front cam, nor does it look as nice as the EVO. Plus its TOO BIG. I thought the EVO was already on the edge of TOO BIG

Decisions Decisions. I switched to Sprint July 2nd

 

[RickJ]

I'm on Verizon. I'm seriously thinking about getting the X. The HDMI thing is a big letdown compared to the EVO. Going by that heavyweight article, I might have chose the EVO too. The HDMI thing and the plan is hard to over look.

I say might cuz, like most reviewers, he didnt get into reception and just barely touched on call quality and didnt test the noise cancellation for the X. Calling 911 never takes a back seat to downloading at blazing speeds. When in an emergancy situation, I wanna know I can make and recieve calls when it matters.

Show me where the EVO has better reception than the X, do a background noise test with the EVO like the one for the X thats floating around and I will say I agree with that article. If not, dont give any review a numerical rating, say which one is the champ unless u do a complete review.

No reception comparisons, not a complete review. He mentions the Front camera that the EVO has and the X doesnt, but doesnt mention the noise cancellation the X has and the EVO doesnt......

I gave Engadget fits for it, gotta be fair and call out anyone else who does it too. I said the X review done by the folks at this forum wasnt complete for the same reasons. And they praised the X to high heaven.

I would agree in there should be a review on call clarity, considering the X's noise cancellation features. That, no doubt is a very useful feature depending on how well it works. I would be confident that it does work well simply because it is a high end moto product. For me personally it wouldnt make a whole lot of a difference though as I'm bluetoothing 10hrs a day and i need that feature in my BT, not the phone. LOL, I actually dont even want to answer my phone anymore if I can't find or get to my BT in time.

I think pretty much everyone assumes that a high end phone's call *feature* is going to work as expected, and for the most they part do, and no individual reviewer could give you any better insight.

My point is that it is actually unfair and relatively useless to make the comparison between different (or even same) phone models on different carriers in regards to reception. Beside the fact that reception is mostly a carrier situation, the individuals review would only be relevant if you were in the same location as he. The only way to fairly test reception is within the same carrier using different phones, pick a baseline and rate from there.

While I wouldnt necessarily want reviewers to leave out comparisons between reception and data speeds, I would want them to point out clearly that these results are applicable at this time and location only and very likely are not relevant to rating of any individual phone model.

 

[KiLo11]

hardware specs aside
the EVO because you can load custom roms on it
as for the Droid X you cant because just like the milestone the bootloader is locked and encrypted by motorola

 

[bluehaze013]

The Snapdragon processor in your Evo contains an AMD GPU.

The combination of GPU and DSP components for both the X's processor and the Evo's are part and parcel of the mobile multimedia capabilities and advanced user interface graphics, and any gaming support is tertiary.

Where your PC may have multiple components on one part of the motherboard, all are bound into these phones' processors in a single package called System on Chip (SoC) design.

Your theories about power distribution for this - with respect to games or anything else - are incorrect.

If you own an Evo you're already using the hell out of its GPU whether you play games or not.

The more powerful it is the more energy it uses, this applies to everything lightbulbs, speakers, cars, motorcycles and yes even GPU's.

Just like switching my laptop from Nvidia to integrated graphics has a dramatic effect on battery life so to will using a more powerful gpu in the phone.

I think you missed my point about the games, I have a bleeding edge PC that can play games way more demanding than the ones that are available but the extra power goes to waste other than for benchmarking and bragging rights. The game manufacturers want to sell games so they make games that run on the average PC as opposed to making them require high end best of the best equipment to run so sure most of these games run over 100FPS on my computer but the guy with the average PC that only gets 60fps in the same game is still essentially getting the same experience.

 

[EarlyMon]

The more powerful it is the more energy it uses, this applies to everything lightbulbs, speakers, cars, motorcycles and yes even GPU's.

Just like switching my laptop from Nvidia to integrated graphics has a dramatic effect on battery life so to will using a more powerful gpu in the phone.

Correct but not specifically applicable to the point at hand.

The Droid X's processor is made with a 45 nm process (1mm=a million nm) while the Evo's is made with a 65 nm process. The transistors in a 45 nm process-made chip are therefore MUCH smaller and MUCH closer together - and therefore can either operate at higher speeds or require less power to operate at a given speed or both.

Also - and this most important - it is not like switching components in your laptop. Not at all.

The complete system of devices is integrated into a system chip - SoC - and that affords significant power savings as well.

And GPUs are not more powerful in the same sense of the word that you started off with. A GPU's apparent "power" to the user comes from capability and speed. Were I to magically replace your Evo's processor with a 45 nm one, I could provide you with more "graphics power" at the exact same consumption of electrical power you're using now.

Or, I could give you the exact same "graphics power" and use less of your battery while doing so.

I think you missed my point about the games, I have a bleeding edge PC that can play games way more demanding than the ones that are available but the extra power goes to waste other than for benchmarking and bragging rights. The game manufacturers want to sell games so they make games that run on the average PC as opposed to making them require high end best of the best equipment to run so sure most of these games run over 100FPS on my computer but the guy with the average PC that only gets 60fps in the same game is still essentially getting the same experience.

OK, thank you that's very helpful - and possibly not as completely related as your intuition is telling you - it's a little related, but here's where it breaks apart:

These evolved SoC processors use a variable clock speed. The faster the clock goes, the faster it burns energy.

Your gaming PC is indeed wasting energy when you're not needing or using its capabilities.

Your SoC processer - be it in Evo or X - is simply going to throttle back its speed and therefore its energy consumption when performing less daunting tasks.

This is the key to the success of the multimedia mobile processors - they don't just sit around running at top speed doing nothing and then just turning the energy into waste heat, like on a conventional sets of chips - you can say that the chips are very clever about this and be quite correct.

Here is the list of software processes in my Evo when just idling at rest plugged into my laptop for a charge:

View attachment sample_of_stock_evo_processes.pdf

The processor speed to support all of that is at something like 25% or less - it's rather difficult to tell _precisely_ at a glance, just invoking that monitor speeds up the processor.

Here's what uses up power on your phone - the processor running faster and energy thirsty radios - in order of consumption:

• Bluetooth - this is pretty minor
• wifi
• 3G
• aGPS
• 4G

I don't know where the FM radio fits into that list - subjectively from using it - I'd _guess_ it's more like in the wifi use range - maybe less, not sure. (edit - checked it today - 40 minutes of listening on an earbud sucked 1% of battery)

(Just to be complete - There's also the LEDs for the phone camera and the display brightness and the speaker. There's a "party show" app on the store that turns your phone into a bright disco display - the author warns that it's bound to pretty much drain any standard smartphone battery in little more than a half-hour - just producing an intensive light show - not a processor-intensive one - but he guarantees you'll have fun doing it. I have LED Light - makes the phone into mighty nice flashlight - uses about nothing for the processor, but...)

Power consumption in these devices is non-linear.

It's one of those things you'll have to wrap your head around - because 28 nm is coming and you'll want to be prepared to separate truth from hype.

And with SoC - they don't integrate the capabilities into a super-thingy - they take a cpu chip, a gpu chip, a dsp chip, and some other chips and then place them microscopically closer together and prewire their contacts - all on one chip. This too saves on the juice.

Hope this helps.

 

[eric3316]

Correct but not specifically applicable to the point at hand.

The Droid X's processor is made with a 45 nm process (1mm=a million nm) while the Evo's is made with a 64 nm process. The transistors in a 45 nm process-made chip are therefore MUCH smaller and MUCH closer together - and therefore can either operator at higher speeds or require less power to operate at a given speed or both.

Also - and this most important - it is not like switching components in your laptop. Not at all.

The complete system of devices is integrated into a system chip - SoC - and that affords significant power savings as well.

And GPUs are not more powerful in the same sense of the word that you started off with. A GPU's apparent "power" to the user comes from capability and speed. Were I to magically replace your Evo's processor with a 45 nm one, I could provide you with more "graphics power" at the exact same consumption of electrical power you're using now.

Or, I could give you the exact same "graphics power" and use less of your battery while doing so.



OK, thank you that's very helpful - and possibly not at completely related as your intuition is telling you - it's a little related, but here's where it breaks apart:

These evolved SoC processors use a variable clock speed. The faster the clock goes, the faster it burns energy.

Your gaming PC is indeed wasting energy when you're not needing or using its capabilities.

Your SoC processer - be it in Evo or X - is simply going to throttle back its speed and therefore its energy consumption when performing less daunting tasks.

This is the key to the success of the multimedia mobile processors - they don't just sit around running at top speed doing nothing and then just turning the energy into waste heat, like on a conventional sets of chips - you can say that the chips are very clever about this and be quite correct.

Here is the list of software processes in my Evo when just idling at rest plugged into my laptop for a charge:

View attachment 7756

The processor speed to support all of that is at something like 25% or less - it's rather difficult to tell _precisely_ at a glance, just invoking that monitor speeds up the processor.

Here's what uses up power on your phone - the processor running faster and energy thirsty radios - in order of consumption:

• Bluetooth - this is pretty minor
• wifi
• 3G
• aGPS
• 4G

I don't know where the FM radio fits into that list - subjectively from using it - I'd _guess_ it's more like in the wifi use range - maybe less, not sure.

There's also the LEDs for the phone and the display brightness and the speaker. There's a "party show" app on the store that turns your phone into a bright disco display - the author warns that it's bound to pretty much drain any standard smartphone battery in little more than a half-hour - just producing an intensive light show - not a processor-intensive one - but he guarantees you'll have fun doing it.

Power consumption in these devices is non-linear.

It's one of those things you'll have to wrap your head around - because 28 nm is coming and you'll want to be prepared to separate truth from hype.

And with SoC - they don't integrate the capabilities into a super-thingy - they take a cpu chip, a gpu chip, a dsp chip, and some other chips and then place them microscopically closer together and prewire their contacts - all on one chip. This too saves on the juice.

Hope this helps.

You should win the longest posts award. No one here even comes in a close second to you......

Of course they are all very informative posts!

 

[EarlyMon]

You should win the longest posts award. No one here even comes in a close second to you......

Of course they are all very informative posts!

Yeah, many thanks, and sorry for doing that to you and the other people. It comes from being able to type extremely fast. It takes me a lot longer to say things in fewer words when I write. In person, I speak slowly and more efficiently. Honest. :^/

PS - It doesn't help that I can write about one thing and not make typing mistakes while talking to someone about another subject, tho. That tends to unnerve coworkers. I'm kinda whacked that way.

 

[Oridus]

You know why i'm able to stay out of these debates? It's because like other people, I have a hobby, and I set aside money every year for my hobbies. My hobby is that of cell phones.

I like buying up the newest ones, playing with them, flashing, modding, poking and prodding. So, i'm going to have the best of both worlds. Within a few months, in addition to my Evo, I should have a Samsung Galaxy S Pro (Epic 4G) along side my Evo on Sprint, I will have it's AT&T Brother the Samsung Galaxy S (Captivate), and then I will have a Droid X on Verizon.

My monthly bill for all 4 phones will be roughly $200, (Assuming I get the job I am having my 2nd interview for today). So roughly $2400 a year for my hobby, not including the phones, which on upgrade or new line pricing (minus the one from the job i'm having the interview for), you're looking at $3000 a year for my hobby. Considering I used to smoke and spent $1,700 a year on smoking, this is not really all that bad, $1,300 extra out of pocket a year for a hobby.

I'll let y'all have a really nice video comparison of these three major providers and some of the big hitter cell phones this coming fall if I get this job I am trying for ^_^.

This allows me to have fun, and avoid being in the heat of the argument of which phone is best. I'll be a catalyst for you all ^_^

 

[Cobravision]

Yeah, many thanks, and sorry for doing that to you and the other people. It comes from being able to type extremely fast. It takes me a lot longer to say things in fewer words when I write. In person, I speak slowly and more efficiently. Honest. :^/

PS - It doesn't help that I can write about one thing and not make typing mistakes while talking to someone about another subject, tho. That tends to unnerve coworkers. I'm kinda whacked that way.

The first part reminded me of a Nabakov quote: "I think like a genius, I write like a distinguished author, I speak like a child."

The second part reminds me of Thomas Jefferson, who, as legend had it, could read, write, and converse simultaneously.

 

[Oridus]

Yeah, many thanks, and sorry for doing that to you and the other people. It comes from being able to type extremely fast. It takes me a lot longer to say things in fewer words when I write. In person, I speak slowly and more efficiently. Honest. :^/

PS - It doesn't help that I can write about one thing and not make typing mistakes while talking to someone about another subject, tho. That tends to unnerve coworkers. I'm kinda whacked that way.

How fast is extremely fast?

 

[carmendiva]

Faster updates? You care to elaborate? I believe the Droid X is running a custom UI as well. The only phone I know of that offers faster updates is the N1.

From my understanding it really isn't as saturated as the Evo is with Sense.

While it has certain features of motoblur, they said it is mainly stock....which i am kinda bummed about

Three sense devices in almost a years time and Sense really has not changed much and it gets kind of old...although Htc sense keyboard is the best keyboard i ever used(including physical keyboards)

I was really excited for a motoblur device

I do however believe(given htc and motorola's records) that the Droid X will probably see any updates faster than HTC EVO

Supposedly, the X will have Froyo by next month(as well as the original droid)

 

[jroc]

You know why i'm able to stay out of these debates? It's because like other people, I have a hobby, and I set aside money every year for my hobbies. My hobby is that of cell phones.

I like buying up the newest ones, playing with them, flashing, modding, poking and prodding. So, i'm going to have the best of both worlds. Within a few months, in addition to my Evo, I should have a Samsung Galaxy S Pro (Epic 4G) along side my Evo on Sprint, I will have it's AT&T Brother the Samsung Galaxy S (Captivate), and then I will have a Droid X on Verizon.

My monthly bill for all 4 phones will be roughly $200, (Assuming I get the job I am having my 2nd interview for today). So roughly $2400 a year for my hobby, not including the phones, which on upgrade or new line pricing (minus the one from the job i'm having the interview for), you're looking at $3000 a year for my hobby. Considering I used to smoke and spent $1,700 a year on smoking, this is not really all that bad, $1,300 extra out of pocket a year for a hobby.

I'll let y'all have a really nice video comparison of these three major providers and some of the big hitter cell phones this coming fall if I get this job I am trying for ^_^.

This allows me to have fun, and avoid being in the heat of the argument of which phone is best. I'll be a catalyst for you all ^_^

Hook me up with the job, sounds like it will be fun. lol