Rezound mini-review (nice device)

[rushmore]

I spent over an hour today with the Rezound and compared to the Razr for reference.

Build: This is more subjective than I thought, since the Razr is built more solid and thinner than the Rezound. The catch is the Razr is also taller and wider than the Rezound. The Rezound is FAR more comfortable holding and using with one hand. Material wise, Razr wins, but Rezound wins on ergonomics. The Rezound seems like a smaller device.

UI: IMO, I like them both.

Display: No contest here folks. The Rezound display is a wonder to view. Seems like a retina display for 4.3”. No pixels, great colors, bright and pure crisp goodness. The Razr looks like a dim, pixel ridden, over-saturated mess compared to the Rezound. Rezound wins by a profound margin. The 1280X720 is sweet.

Speed: Both are zippy in their UI’s, but for game emulators and higher def Flash, the Rezound is better. I also tested Quadrant (FWIW). The average after twelve runs was 2,270 for the Razr and 2,460 for the Rezound. Both had higher spike outliers (Razr 2,460 and Rezound 2,730). Rezound wins

Storage: Both have 16gb microsd cards and 16gb internal flash. Razr has about 2.5gb app storage and the Rezound 2.2gb. For media storage, the Razr has 8gb, but the Rezound has 10.5gb (this is due to no Webtop allocation on the Rezound).

Speaker: Forgot to check- sorry.

Sound quality 3.5mm: Both are good.

Call quality: Both seemed good.

Camera: This is a similar result as the display. No contest, the Rezound appears to take better pictures and quicker image capture. Others in store agreed, just like the display.

Heat factor: I and others in the store noticed that after twelve runs of Quadrant, the Razr was hot, but the Rezound was slightly warm.

Conclusion: If HTC was able to make the 9660 LTE chip behave in the Rezound, IMO, the Rezound is a MUCH better overall device than the Razr. The display alone will draw you in.

If the LTE behaves on the Rezound, I will buy it and then sell the Beats. Klipsch S4s are a lot better anyway.

Added: I added a pic, but it is not a good one (did not know how bad until afterwards) Flash drowns it. Both were max brightness.. not that you can tell in the pic

 

[trophynuts]

cool man thanks for the info. I'm excited to see that display. A lot of top blogging sites have said it is the best display to date. I really think the ReZound is going to be the sleeper of phones this month. Its not getting enough credit that it should be getting.

 

[sean76]

Rush, I was about to walk out of my office and go buy the Razr and put it through the heater this weekend. After reading what you just said, I'm thinking about just skipping this whole ordeal and grabbing the Rezound!

Reason beaing...Yes I'm a phone whore! But it just seems like I'd be getting the same problematic phone I have (Bionic) in a slimmer shell...Nothing more, nothing less!

You agree?

 

[rushmore]

I agree. I think you will love the Rezound. LTE is the question mark, but the rest is golden.

 

[sean76]

I agree. I think you will love the Rezound. LTE is the question mark, but the rest is golden.

I'm a sucker for a kick ass display!

 

[rushmore]

cool man thanks for the info. I'm excited to see that display. A lot of top blogging sites have said it is the best display to date. I really think the ReZound is going to be the sleeper of phones this month. Its not getting enough credit that it should be getting.

Comparing the Rezound to the Razr display makes the Razr look very bad. Ignorance is bliss.

Not kidding. The Rezound looks like a retina display for 4.3".

I added a pic in the main post, but not exactly a good result. At least shows I am not BSing.

 

[TxGoat]

I agree. I think you will love the Rezound. LTE is the question mark, but the rest is golden.

What question do you have about the Rezound's LTE? I don't have too much issue with the Thunderbolt's when I step out of the house and am in a building downtown. I'd say if you're in an iffy 4G spot, that may be where you'll have questions about it. Otherwise, it sounds like the Rezound is back in the running (for me anyways). The display of the Rezound is what I was concerned with, will it look "rezoundingly" better than that of the Thunderbolt's considering the Razr made the Thunderbolt's display look like an ATM machine screen.

Oh and where did you test the Rezound? Is it a friend's unit?

 

[Zytryx]

The display is the main reason I want this phone, being use to the retina display on the iPhone, it's hard to go to something with lower res. I'm glad to see it's up to expectations.

 

[rushmore]

What question do you have about the Rezound's LTE? I don't have too much issue with the Thunderbolt's when I step out of the house and am in a building downtown. I'd say if you're in an iffy 4G spot, that may be where you'll have questions about it. Otherwise, it sounds like the Rezound is back in the running (for me anyways). The display of the Rezound is what I was concerned with, will it look "rezoundingly" better than that of the Thunderbolt's considering the Razr made the Thunderbolt's display look like an ATM machine screen.

Oh and where did you test the Rezound? Is it a friend's unit?

Then you are good My concern can be said for all current LTE, so all things constant, the Rezound is IMO a great device (pending a more heavy test). A friend at a store lets me test new devices when possible. The reason the pic is bad is store lighting and D3 camera.

 

[Sketchr]

I really love Sense. So, it's not an easy decision..Rezound or Nexus. Early reviews of the Razr are not sounding good...

 

[trophynuts]

I have to say i just left the VZW store to put my hands on the RAZR....i am not impressed. People keep saying HTC needs to update their design....well all of Moto's current Droid phones pretty much have the same exact UI as well. I'm a moto fanboi i've always liked Moto products but the RAZR is not doing it for me. I really think they have crossed the line with ergonomics. I have big hands I'm 6'6 250 and the RAZR was uncomfortable for me to hold. Its too wide.



sorry didn't mean to turn this post into a RAZR bashing.

 

[Teegunn]

As soon as i heard about the crappy dim display on the razr and then heard first hand accounts of how great the rezound display was i put the rezound up in first place for my next device. still need to handle it firsthand but it's looking like a definite jump up over my droid x2 at this point.

 

[ochowie]

The display can't be oversold. Even with the crappy default background Verizon put on it's still an awesome display. Plus I can't believe how big of an upgrade Sense 3.5 is over Sense 3.0. I thought it would be small tweaks here and there (and to a larger extent most of the functionality is the same) but it's more accessible and user friendly now.

 

[TxGoat]

The display can't be oversold. Even with the crappy default background Verizon put on it's still an awesome display. Plus I can't believe how big of an upgrade Sense 3.5 is over Sense 3.0. I thought it would be small tweaks here and there (and to a larger extent most of the functionality is the same) but it's more accessible and user friendly now.

I'm not sure how I like the folders on the 3.5 I've got installed right now. They seem to take up a lot of space on the home screen.

 

[SamMax]

For those of you wondering if you made the right choice between the Razr & the Rezound.Check out this video, this is a positive review of the Razr but look at the pinch and zoom of the camera pics and web, the Rezound is so much smoother. If your coming from an iPhone that's something else you will be excited about. other than the display. Motorol'a pinch and zoom is very steppy (made up word).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2a1C740LVRw

 

[giper54]

Rushmore thank you for the mini review. We're you able to check out the gps? If so was it an easy lock? Rushmore how is the phones signal? Scott5626 can you comment on gps, signal strength and lte performance?

 

[rushmore]

Rushmore thank you for the mini review. We're you able to check out the gps? If so was it an easy lock? Rushmore how is the phones signal? Scott5626 can you comment on gps, signal strength and lte performance?

Did not have time to mess with GPS and signal in the store had the same low 74dbl signal as the Razr.

 

[0837s]

I just spent an hour or so with the Rezound at the Verizon corporate kiosk at the mall. I looked at the Razr and asked about the Rezound, and she handed me a live model to play with.

I have to say that the screen is awesome- I'm very impressed with the colors and the fact that it's NOT PenTile matrix display.

The signal and GPS were good- I was using it in the mall, enclosed, nowhere near windows. I did make a call on it and it was a crystal clear call.

The phone I had in my hand was extremely fast and responsive. Like I said, I did play around with it for an hour.

I originally went in to look at the Razr, but was un-impressed, like others have indicated. I'm glad I had the chance to play with the Rezound- I'm pretty sure that will be the device I will be purchasing on Monday, when it comes out. The Razr felt so light that it felt cheap- it felt like there was no substance to it. The demo model already had a scratch on the back of it, somehow...

I asked the rep if they had any of the accessories (red HTC case, wireless charging station, etc...) and they said no- could get them tomorrow or the next day, but the phones are definatley in stock.

 

[NightAngel79]

thanks for the mini review rushmore!

 

[SamMax]

Rushmore thank you for the mini review. We're you able to check out the gps? If so was it an easy lock? Rushmore how is the phones signal? Scott5626 can you comment on gps, signal strength and lte performance?

GPS works great! I don't have 4G where I live but it's close, I might take a drive tomorrow and test it.

 

[sean76]

I got the Razr today....however it could be going back in favor of the Rezound!

All depending on how my hands on goes on Monday! I will say this, Razr all in all is a really cool phone....the killer I think will be the Battery...however....the Rezounds battery will be watched very carefully as well....being HTC is known for terrible battery life.

 

[milkshed27]

I just spent an hour or so with the Rezound at the Verizon corporate kiosk at the mall. I looked at the Razr and asked about the Rezound, and she handed me a live model to play with.

I have to say that the screen is awesome- I'm very impressed with the colors and the fact that it's NOT PenTile matrix display.

The signal and GPS were good- I was using it in the mall, enclosed, nowhere near windows. I did make a call on it and it was a crystal clear call.

The phone I had in my hand was extremely fast and responsive. Like I said, I did play around with it for an hour.

I originally went in to look at the Razr, but was un-impressed, like others have indicated. I'm glad I had the chance to play with the Rezound- I'm pretty sure that will be the device I will be purchasing on Monday, when it comes out. The Razr felt so light that it felt cheap- it felt like there was no substance to it. The demo model already had a scratch on the back of it, somehow...

I asked the rep if they had any of the accessories (red HTC case, wireless charging station, etc...) and they said no- could get them tomorrow or the next day, but the phones are definatley in stock.

The first couple of days the Razr was out on display at Verizon there were a few people reporting that the Kevlar scratched easily.

As it turns out, there's a plastic film that peels off the back, perhaps that is what had a scratch on it.

 

[rushmore]

I got the Razr today....however it could be going back in favor of the Rezound!

All depending on how my hands on goes on Monday! I will say this, Razr all in all is a really cool phone....the killer I think will be the Battery...however....the Rezounds battery will be watched very carefully as well....being HTC is known for terrible battery life.

Sean,

When you actually compare the following things you will probably flee from the Razr like a small copperhead:

1. Rezound runs cooler
2. Feels a lot better to hold & use
3. Camera is better
4. The Razr display looks funky bad in comparison.

Just warning you I was very surprised, but took comparing them both next to each other to do it.