By Bruce Normann
Manufacturer: Motorola Mobility LLC
Product Name: DROID RAZR MAXX HD
Model Number: MOTXT926M
UPC: 723755002180
Price As Tested: $199.99 (With 2-year Contract) (Newegg)
Full Disclosure: The product sample used in this article has been self-supplied.
Pervasive computing has taken over as the dominant technology market for consumers. Even the US government is using tablets and smartphones, and when that slow-moving behemoth is on board, you know the ship has set sail. Supporting that Always On Real Time Access experience with back-end infrastructure is the other major driver in the universe of computers. Everything else is on the wane, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Users who want to stay productive, or merely connected while away from their desk, have found the smartphone to be a mobile workhorse. Today, Benchmark Reviews brings you a hands-on review of Motorola’s latest flagship device, the DROID RAZR MAXX HD.
Motorola’s 4.7 inch HD Super AMOLED screen is a very nice upgrade from the 4.3″ version on my old RAZR, and now features 720p resolution (1280×720). While nobody can currently improve on the IPS+ LCD screen featured on the LG Optimus G, or the monster screen on the oversized Samsung Galaxy Note II, the RAZR HD sits solidly atop the second tier in both screen size and quality. Both the RAZR HD and RAZR MAXX HD have a 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor, 1 GB of RAM, and the 4.7″ HD Super AMOLED display. They also have the same cameras, an 8MP rear unit and a 1.3MP facing the user.
Almost all of the specifications are identical between the two new models, just like last year’s RAZR siblings. And, like those previous models, it’s their batteries that set them apart. The RAZR HD has a 2530mAh battery, and the RAZR MAXX HD has 3300mAh of go juice inside. Both versions represent an improvement over the 1780mAh in my old RAZR, and the new MAXX pays only a minimal weight penalty compared to the standard RAZR HD. I definitely liked the slimness and light weight of my old DROID RAZR, but the RAZR MAXX HD offers almost double the battery capacity for roughly one ounce more (30g) in weight. As you can see from the table below, Motorola has tried to move away from the simple Talk/Standby battery life measurements, because no one uses their Smartphone that way anymore. Traditional Talk/Standby numbers were available from the wireless carrier, though. What’s clear to me is that you don’t have to make that much of a physical sacrifice to get the extra battery life with the RAZR MAXX HD; it’s only an additional 0.9mm of thickness and 12g of weight. The penalty is all in the pricing, at this point.
| Model | Weight | Thickness | Talk (hr) | Standby (hr) |
| DROID RAZR | 127 g | 7.1 mm | 12.5 | 205 |
| DROID RAZR HD | 146 g | 8.4 mm | 16.0 | 286 |
| DROID RAZR MAXX | 145 g | 9.0 mm | 21.5 | 380 |
| DROID RAZR MAXX HD | 157 g | 9.3 mm | 21.0 | 372 |
| DROID RAZR HD 146 g | 8.4 mm | Mixed Usage: 24 hrs. | ||
| DROID RAZR MAXX HD | 157 g | 9.3 mm | Mixed Usage: 32 hrs. | |
- Dimensions: 2.67″(W) x 5.19″(H) x 0.36″(D) (67.9 x 131.9 x 9.3mm)
- Weight (with battery): 5.54 oz. (157 g)
- Colors: Black only
- System Chip: Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Plus MSM8960
- 1500 MHz
- Dual core(28nm Krait)
- Graphics processor: Qualcomm Adreno 225 GPU
- Memory:
- 1 GB MB LPDDR2 RAM System memory
- 32 GB Non-Removable storage
- 32 GB Removable microSD (card not supplied)
- Display:
- 4.7 inch 720p HD Super AMOLED (1280×720)
- 16,777,216 colors
- 312 PPI pixel density
- Capacitive Touchscreen, Multi-touch
- Scratch-resistant glass (Corning Gorilla)
- Network Connectivity:
- CDMA 800 1900,
- LTE B13,
- WCDMA 850 900 1900 2100,
- GSM 850, 900, 1800, 1900
- EVDO Rev. A,
- HSDPA 21.1 Mbps (Cat 14),
- HSUPA 5.76 Mbps
- Wireless Connectivity:
- WiFi a/b/g/n
- WiFi HT40
- GPS/GLONASS
- NFC
- Bluetooth 4.0 (LE)
- Audio and Video:
- Audio Codec: MP3, AMR-NB/WB, AAC/AAC+/eAAC+, WMA
- Video Codec: MPEG4, H.264, H.263, VC-1, VP8, WMV7/8
- Camera:
- Main (Rear): 8.0 Mega pixel (3264 x 2448)
- Sub (Front): 1.3 Mega pixel (1280 x 720)
- Sensors: Accelerometer, RGB light, Proximity, Gyro, Barometer
- Battery: 3,300 mAh (21 hours average talk time)
- Operating System: Ships with Android 4.0.4 (Ice Cream Sandwich)
Immediate Upgrade to Android 4.1.1 (Jelly Bean) during initial device setup
The front surface of the DROID RAZR MAXX HD doesn’t give off any really obvious clues to its status. The RAZR design theme is not radically different from the previous generation, and the new HD versions are definitely an evolutionary step forward. Comparing them side-by-side will reveal the larger screen size, the smaller border between the active screen area and the edge of the device, the swapping of the touch controls from the bottom of the unit up onto the screen area, and slightly less of a taper at the top and bottom. The net effect is basically more screen, and less of everything else. The three capacitive buttons at the bottom of the active area are used for Back, Home and Recent Applications. The Verizon logo is there to remind you that these new DROID RAZR HD phones are only available on this provider network, at least in the USA.
The back of the new RAZR HD models is where you’ll see the biggest changes. The Kevlar covering, which used to be inset into the metal frame, now extends over the full surface of the rear panel, and it also wraps around the edges. This makes for a very neat, seamless look, and it’s also very comfortable to hold. The Kevlar surface has a unique feel that’s soothing to the tough, yet surprisingly rigid and tough. The rounded contour on the rear edges enhances that effect and makes it one of the more comfortable phones to hold, in my experience. This is especially true while using it as a computing device, where you tend to cradle the device in your non-dominant hand. When using it as a phone without a separate earpiece, people tend to grasp the edges more tightly, as they hold it up close to their ear.
The edge of the RAZR MAXX HD has a definite trim ring around all four sides, that’s metallic and finished in a lighter shade of grey than the rest of the phone. It’s not silver, by any stretch of the imagination, so it doesn’t stick out visually, but it does make the edges better defined. Since the RAZR MAXX HD is about 1mm thicker than the regular RAZR HD, the trim ring could have been the place to make up that difference, but that’s not the case. It’s the Kevlar back panel that’s deeper on the MAXX version, which I think adds to the ergonomics of the device, as I mentioned above. This bold choice in materials is more than just a gimmick to add a bit of visual flair, it offers a real-world improvement in usability, in my opinion.
All of the hardwired user controls and connectors are integrated into the metal trim ring on the sides of the phone. On the right side, as you’re looking at the screen, are the On/Off button towards the top, and a rocker switch nearer the center, which is mostly used for volume control. The two buttons have distinctive textures; the power button is ridged in the center section, which improves traction, and helps your finger to find it. This is the button you’ll be using most often, and the texture definitely makes it a bit easier to find and manipulate than the version on the previous DROID RAZR phone. On the left side are all the ports, two exposed, and two hidden. At the bottom are the HDMI and USB ports, with the latter being used for charging duties. Just off the center line is a small drawer/cover plate that cover up the slots for the SIM card and the microSD card. The SIM card fits into a little tray that is integrated into the cover plate, and the microSD slot is a standard “push it in until it clicks” variety. The tiny round hole in the cover is for the special removal tool which is supplied with the phone, and it will probably respond to a standard paper clip, as well. The 3.5mm stereo headphone jack is along the top edge, which is where it ought to be, IMHO. On the bottom edge are two cross-head screws which are probably the first step in disassembly of the unit. We’re not going there today, even though I do have a penchant for taking things apart…..
Now that we’ve seen what it looks like, let’s take some time to review the main features that set the DROID RAZR MAXX HD apart from all the other Smartphones on the market.
Let’s start with the elephant in the room. As much as I like almost everything about this new RAZR HD, the main reason I selected it was for the oversized battery, and the extended battery life that is a direct result. This is not an all-day battery; this is a 2-3 day battery, depending on your usage pattern. I don’t spend all day playing games or watching videos on it – I have a day job that keeps me quite busy, thank you. I’m probably an extreme case, even though I do keep up with several email accounts and social networks, and my phone is on 24/7. Clearly, this is going to be a case of YMMV, but I don’t know anyone who uses this phone that doesn’t get at least a full day’s use out of it. No matter how much screen time they put in during the day, with video and graphics keeping the GPU spooled up, the RAZR MAXX HD always outlasts them.
One other factor to consider is the overall life of the battery. Modern lithium ion polymer batteries have a lifecycle that is defined by how many times the battery can be charged, before its capacity starts dropping. With a larger battery, you don’t have to charge it as often, and the service life will be longer. There are a variety of standards and varying levels of performance that can be achieved, but a rough rule of thumb is that when a LIPO battery is charged ~500 times, its loses ~20% of its original capacity. Some battery-charger systems do better than that, but with the rate of progress in technology, and two-year service provider contracts being the norm, isn’t it convenient that the built-in battery starts dying off just when it’s most advantageous to update your hardware?
Gorilla Glass on the front, Kevlar on the back, and a polymer nano-coating on the electronics to keep water damage at bay? You’d think people were hard on their cell phones…LOL. I ride the subway to work, where EVERYONE has their nose glued to the screen, and I’m always surprised by how many shattered screens I see on a daily basis.
The RAZR MAXX HD was shipped from the fulfillment center with Ice Cream Sandwich, v4.0.4 installed. Not too long after the initial startup was completed, the phone began the update process to load Jelly Bean v4.1.1. The upgrade went smoothly, and there were no issues. I know some of the early adopters spent a few anxious weeks waiting for the upgrade, but at this point, it’s pretty much a given that your phone will get updated within the first 24 hours.
The camera on the RAZR HD models is pretty much a carryover from the previous RAZR line, and it’s probably the only area of the phone that won’t get accolades from the user base. It’s not bad, per se, but it’s definitely not a class leader. I’m OK with that, because I’m perfectly happy to carry a camera around when I want to take pictures. I realize I’m in the minority there, and of course most people are going to be viewing their cell phone images on a display that has less than one megapixel of resolution. Even the larger 10″ tablets with a 1080p display only have two megapixels to work with, so you would hope that there’s a software genius somewhere who could find a way to make 8MP images from tiny little sensors look good on a small display. Next to the camera, and its companion the LED flash, is the speaker for the speakerphone function. This really is a bright spot for the RAZR HD class; it’s loud and has very good tone quality. It’s good enough that I don’t see the need for a separate hands-free speakerphone device in the car. Considering the size difference between the speakers in the two devices, that’s really saying something.
One of the changes to the interface that stands out at first is the location of the command keys. On the previous generation DROID RAZR, they were separated from the screen area, and below the logo. They were still capacitive touch buttons with haptic feedback, and a huge step forward from the stiff mechanical buttons of prior phones, but they weren’t integrated into the multi-touch interface. The new buttons respond to hold, drag, and swipe commands, offering a deeper level of control. My only complaint is that now these oft-used buttons are now quite close to the rest of the icons along the bottom row. I used to be able to get a little sloppy in my tapping, knowing that there wasn’t anything else down there to accidentally hit; now I have to be a little more precise and measured with my ministrations. Time will tell whether this change is an improvement or an irritant.
That’s pretty much a wrap on the features that you can point to and see. This line of phones sticks pretty close to the core design features of the Android operating system, which suits me fine. I’m not happy with the collection of bloatware that is permanently installed; the usual Verizon apps, Kindle, Color, NFL Mobile, Modern Combat 3, Real Racing 2, and Slacker Radio. It always seems like the apps I don’t want require the most frequent updates, too. Annoying! The one added feature I do like is Motorola Smartactions, an app designed to automate tasks based on a range of triggers like time, location, ambient light, battery level, Wi-Fi, etc. For one thing, it keeps my phone from chiming all night long as updates come in from a variety of data feeds. It also prolongs battery life by shutting selected functions down when the phone is not in use. It knows that it’s been sitting still for at least half an hour, it’s dark in the room, and it’s after 11:00 pm, so it knows not to bother me. I can even block out nighttime calls from people who aren’t on the “Guest List”, so to speak. I can also easily shut off the new, big, bright notification LED, because it lights up my bedroom like a strobe light if I don’t. It’s color coded, Face book bought the rights for Blue, most others are Green.
The number of apps in the Google store just caught up to the number of Apple offerings, which means there are very few limits on what you can do with an Android phone these days. Google Now is just one example of the rich software pallet that’s available now. The growth in this industry is truly amazing. In the next section, I’ll give my final conclusion and rate the Motorola DROID RAZR MAXX HD phone.
Google’s Android OS is the most popular smartphone operating system on the planet right now, mainly because it gained a significant advantage in the last two years. In 2011 it hit 50% market share, and in the waning months of 2012 three out of every four smartphones sold were based on Android. The acceleration curve for mobile computing is driving a winner-take-all market situation that favors Google’s diverse mobile ecosystem over Apple’s Garden of Eden. Motorola Mobility represents a big chunk of that Android bionetwork, and they have a rich history of innovative, high quality products, along with a loyal user base. You wouldn’t think brand loyalty would be a factor in this market, but when “your” brand keeps kicking out top-tier products, it makes your purchase decisions pretty easy.
Technology is improving at an exponential rate, even though we usually experience the change in such small time slices that we don’t notice. Some phones are already utilizing quad-core processors, and the software will come along to take advantage of that extra computing power. Today, the balance between size, cost, capability, and utility is relatively stable and we can sit back and enjoy the fruit of the moment. Don’t get too comfortable, though. Existing technologies will soon reach a commercial tipping point, and things like gesture recognition, wearable computers, energy harvesting, and 3-D eyeglass displays will radically transform how we interact with our personal computers. Whoever coined that phrase was a real visionary, because for the last 30+ years, computers have been getting more and more personal. At some point they’ll become part of us, and much later, we’ll become part of them. Until then, enjoy this moment when you can hold all this computing power in the palm of your hand, and you can also set it down when you want to.
In the next section, I give my conclusions and ratings on the Motorola DROID RAZR MAXX HD Smartphone.
IMPORTANT: Although the rating and final score mentioned in this conclusion are made to be as objective as possible, please be advised that every author perceives these factors differently at various points in time. While we each do our best to ensure that all aspects of the product are considered, there are often times unforeseen market conditions and manufacturer changes which occur after publication that could render our rating obsolete. Please do not base any purchase solely on our conclusion as it represents our product rating specifically for the product tested, which may differ from future versions of the same product. Benchmark Reviews begins our conclusion with a short summary for each of the areas that we rate.
The performance of the DROID RAZR MAXX HD is state of the art for its class. The 1.5 GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4-Plus MSM8960 SoC is all the processor that’s needed to support the current software offerings. The upgrade from the dual-core 1.2 GHz ARM Cortex-A9 that was in the last generation is a significant leap forward for performance. Likewise the 1GB of RAM and 32GB of system memory are more than enough to support most user’s needs. The 4.7″ AMOLED 720p screen on the new HD models is also a worthwhile improvement, and it’s supported by a capable GPU, the Qualcomm Adreno 225. It’s definitely better than the 4.0″ Apple iPhone 5 screen (1136×640), by comparison. The camera is a bit weaker than the other elements, but the speakerphone is excellent. Jelly Bean is a capable mobile OS, and all the elements work smoothly together to provide a positive user experience.
Battery life is the absolute top headliner in the performance category, though. The main reason I selected this phone, and paid the extra money relative to the base RAZR HD model, was for the extended battery life. This is potentially a 2-3 day battery, depending on your usage pattern. I don’t know anyone who uses this phone that doesn’t get at least a full day’s use out of it. No matter how much screen time they put in, the RAZR MAXX HD always outlasts them. The overall life of the battery is also going to be extended, since you won’t need to charge it as often. Modern lithium ion polymer batteries have a lifecycle that is defined by how many times the battery can be charged, before its capacity starts dropping.
Between the Gorilla Glass on the front, full Kevlar on the back, and nano coatings on the electronics to keep them dry, Motorola went the extra mile to make the DROID RAZR MAXX HD as durable as a conventional smartphone can be. Normal wear and tear won’t dull or scratch the screen and the thin lip around it offers some additional protection, in case you drop the phone onto a hard surface. I really dislike phone cases. They ruin the tactile experience for me, and make carrying the phone less comfortable and convenient. I’m a guy – I have pockets, not a purse, and I want something that will slip easily into and out of whatever pocket I choose. So, I’m very happy that this phone has durability and ruggedness built right into its smooth and sleek exterior. I’m going to lump “subjective feel” into this section, because it’s intimately related. The RAZR MAXX HD feels good in my medium-sized hands; it’s solid and substantial in a way that’s hard to describe but easy to understand. The Kevlar has a unique feel to it, that’s both hard and soft at the same time, and the rounded edges on the back amplify this effect since you’re never gripping a hard edge.
In terms of functionality, the DROID RAZR MAXX is near the top of the Android pile. It’s as fast as the software requires, offers a large 4.7″ HD Super AMOLED screen with 720p resolution, and has 32GB of built-in storage space. Two things that would put it over the top are: a replaceable battery, and a better main camera. The first wish is going to be difficult and probably counterproductive, since the packaging required to make the battery replaceable would undoubtedly make the phone bigger, or the battery capacity smaller. Neither of those things is desirable. A better camera should be relatively easy to do, next time around. Maybe there’s a possibility of improvements on this model via a software upgrade, which would be even better. The continuing improvement of Android, and the inclusion of Google Now in Jelly Bean, makes for a highly functional package. Motorola kept the add-ons to a minimum with these phones, but there are a few: Chrome for Android, Smart Actions, Circles Widget, Android Beam, Backup Assistant+, Visual Voice mail, Viewdini, VZ Navigator, wireless DLNA streaming. Some of these features come from the wireless carrier that currently has a lock on distribution of the RAZR HD family, Verizon Wireless.
As of mid-January 2013, the Motorola DROID RAZR MAXX HD smartphone, model MOTXT926M, is only available from Verizon Wireless, with contract activation. They do participate with some channel partners such as Newegg, where I got mine. At the moment, prices are cheaper through some of those partners, compared to buying direct from Verizon. At the reduced pricing of $199.99, I’m quite happy with the value equation.
+ Battery life is outstanding
+ Bulletproof construction
+ Large 4.7″ HD Super AMOLED screen
+ High-resolution screen with 312 ppi pixel density
+ Dual-core 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 SoC
+ 32GB of internal storage space
+ 4th-Generation (4G LTE) mobile data network support
+ Near Field Communication (NFC) support
+ Android Beam works
– Battery is not user replaceable
– Only available from one wireless carrier
– Camera performance lags best-in-class
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Performance: 9.50
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Appearance: 9.50
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Construction: 9.50
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Functionality: 9.25
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Value: 9.00
COMMENT QUESTION: If not the Motorola DROID RAZR MAXX HD, what smartphone do you want most?