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My Review - Droid X---> Bionic

sx4dude2013

sx4dude2013

Android Expert
Ok. Let me say a little about myself. Im a young male whos in college. I love tech and would consider myself a heavy user/i know some stuff about the x and Bionic. So most of my phone use is Web, texting, email, youtube, streaming music and maybe 3 phone calls a day.
So im def more of "entertainment" user....That being said. Here is my take vs the Motorola Droid X.
I LOVED my dorid X and it was the best phone a year ago. Did i HAVE to upgrade no, but did I want to. Yes :)

Ill start with what I think is the "biggest" issues for most users.....

The Display: The droid X display was fine. Never had and issue. It was kinda dim and hard to see in direct sunlight, but that was with most screens. The Bionic does the "PenTile Display". It does have "some" pixelation but IMHO it is very bright...I like it and it is fine reading pages and watching Netflix. Its something to get "used" to but not a negative at all.

The hardware: I liked the metal feel and backing of the X. It was a VERY solid phone. I need a phone to last and work when I need it to. The new bionic is a lot more plasticly, but still feels VERY solid, espically in the otterbox case. No issues currently with the moto hardware.
The soft touch buttons do take some getting used to, I currently dont like them :(

Software: I was running custom ROMS on the X so that speaks for itself. It was a nice solid combo. The bionic is already rooted but there is no SBF currently availabe so I dont want to root it just yet. The current software is KINDA buggy, litttle annoying things that i hope an update will fix.

Camera: I have used the X's camera, the blackberry 9930, and now the Bionic. The bionic is by far the best. Love the autofocus and pics are clear. Very happy with that. Video camera playback is a LITTLE jumpy in 1080p, but other than that its fine.

Dual core comments: VERY snappy, quandrant does well, little lag and VERY VERY nice pinch to zoon in browser with NO checkerboarding. Best ive ever used in browsers.

Battery life: I was running the X with apex RC3 and an extended VZW battery. (1930 mah) THe bionic comes with a 17-- map battery and seems to do well so far for a 4g/dual core phone. Overall its not too bad. Not GREAT, but maybe 7-9 hrs with A LOT of use (user specific, dont not quote please).

OVERALL IMPRESSIONS:
Its a solid device. Screen is differnet, BUT NOT BAD!!!!
Dual core is great and seems very snappy. Batt life is ok as well. Is it worth $249.99 (sale price at VZW).....yes. In my opinion I am very happy. I will be ready when 4g comes to my area :)
Its not like going from a flip phone to a SGSII, but it is a nice upgrade from the X.

NOTE: This is ONLY after 2 days, most of which I have been in class, at a bar, asleep, or drunk (college baby) haha. I will know more over time :)

Any specific questions and I will be glad to answer!! Thanks for reading my quick review!!!
 
Nice quick review! I just got back from Verizon giving the Bionic a test drive and I just couldn't handle the PenTile display. When I ran the Quadrant score, reading the results (22xx) on the orange background was NOT crisp and clear. I played the Modern Warfare 3 trailer on the Bionic and the green parts with text are difficult to read. I tried the Samsung Charge (SAMOLED) and that screen is AMAZING!!! Now if Motorola put the SAMOLED in the Bionic, I would ahve bought it on the spot. Just couldn't get over the qHD(Pentile) display.
 
sx4dude2013 said:
The Bionic does the "PenTile Display". It does have "some" pixelation but IMHO it is very bright...I like it and it is fine reading pages and watching Netflix. Its something to get "used" to but not a negative at all.
<snip>
Its a solid device. Screen is differnet, BUT NOT BAD!!!!
Click to expand...

Obviously this isn't the first time I'm reading about this but I am incredibly frustrated with Motorola's decision to move to PenTile.

The DX2 has it as well, and I know everyone has different levels of sensitivity to this kind of issue, so it will work great for many people, but it bothers the shit out of me. Everything looks pixelated and grainy, and it makes reading text almost unbearable for me.

WTF, Motorola? You went from a really great LCD screen on the X to this?

Frustrating. Unless the Nexus Prime does something really awful, this takes the Bionic off the list for me.
 
sx4dude2013 - - - Thanks for the X vs. Bionic review. I bought your old "X" and so far am really enjoying it. You took good care of it, it looks as if it were new.

Maybe in another year, I will be able to get your Bionic from you when you decide to upgrade again. :D
 
K4KAI said:
sx4dude2013 - - - Thanks for the X vs. Bionic review. I bought your old "X" and so far am really enjoying it. You took good care of it, it looks as if it were new.

Maybe in another year, I will be able to get your Bionic from you when you decide to upgrade again. :D
Click to expand...

Haha! Thanks Sam!
Im really glad we are both happy with the sale!
Let me know if you need anything!
 
I know Motorola makes good phones but until they quit releasing phones with software bugs and better screens I may give them a look again. Hardware is great however.
 
I couldn't stand the grainy youtube and netflix videos. I sent out back.... The Pentile screen was too annoying for me.
 
What you said is exactly what I had expected. My son has a D3. The bionic is kinda like a d3 with 4g. Nice phone. I'm going to wait a liiiiiiittle longer to upgrade though. I want to have some "pop" for the phone I'll have for 18 or so months more.
 
Moving from the Incredible (OLED) to the bigger screen, I compared the DroidX to the X2 and Bionic, and by far preferred the look of the X.

Once you use a phone with a supreme display, it's very difficult to go back. The LCD on the X is almost as good as the OLED, and brighter. The X2 and the Bionic are far, far behind.

And the X was free...
 
Steven, once again you have nailed my thoughts exactly.

I've been rubbing my hands together for a while now (probably started a few fires, lol) in anticipation of the "neXt" flagship phone that would put my X to shame, and every time I think about jumping (Thunderbolt, Bionic, X2, D3), my X improves due to GB, Android OC, new battery, CM7, and I sit back and enjoy the phone that really (still) does it all a year after I bought it.

Guess there is a first time for everything...
 
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