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I recently purchased my Droid Bionic, not aware that in a month's time the HTC Vigor (Thunderbolt 2 officially) would be released. I read up on many rumors of the HTC device, but they all seemed very unlikely. I asked my friend who works for Verizon about the HTC device if he knew anything about it, and he did and told me the specs of the HTC Vigor would be identical to the Bionic, noting that the rumors aren't true, and that it's most likely 1GHz or 1.2GHz dual core, with a qHD 560x940 screen. As far as dimensions or weight, he doesn't know how the HTC Vigor will do in that category. He works high up in Verzion, and I won't disclose his name just in case this info wasn't supposed to be given to me.
Should I return my Bionic and hold off for the Vigor?
I know the Bionic's PenTile screen is very disappointing, the camera is sub-par, and the battery life, while impressive, isn't as amazing as it can be (high cell standby and idle times).
How are HTC screens usually compared to others (SGSII, iPhone, Motorola)? Battery life on HTC phones? My main concern is the battery life overtime; would custom ROMs improve the battery life of the bionic?
I know the camera will definitely beat out the Bionic.
Is anyone returning their phone and waiting for the HTC Thunderbolt 2?
I was deciding if i should wait for the Vigor or Prime, but went ahead and purchased the Bionic.
I was really impressed with how little juice the screen on the Bionic pulls.
My screen on my previous phone would be around 70-80%
Bionic screen uses less than 20% That's why the cell standby percentage seems high.
All the percentages have to equal 100% It doesn't necessarily mean that the cell standby is using more juice when compared to other devices.
Wish the camera was a tad better, but it's doable. I do like how I'm able to use my phone outside in sunlight.
Sent from my GT-P7510 using Tapatalk
I would chose the Bionic after all the problems with the Thunderbolt. I will not go back to a htc again.
Sent from my DROID BIONIC using XDA App
I had read, prior to purchasing the Bionic, that HTC Vigor, Prime, and iPhone 5 would all be released in October. Since I didn't want an iPhone and am not super techie that I need a pure Google phone, it was really between the Vigor and the bionic. My last phone was the HTC Droid Eris. Although with root and some fab devs producing ROMs, my l'il Eris lasted me through my 2 yr contract, it was buggy. The hardware literally fell apart and I had to replace the handset 4 times in my 2 yr contract. Although I know ppl who love their Incredibles and Thunderbolts - they ALSO complain of software bugs and hardware issues. Having weighed that, I decided to go with a Motorola product. My friends who have Moto Droids all like them and rave about them. Plus, I'm eager to see if Google acquiring Motorola Mobility will have any impact on the Bionic or proceeding products. I WOULD like to see unlocked bootloaders in the future though.
HTC Vigor:
1. It's going to be running a dual-core previous generation Snapdragon, *not* the new Krait cores which aren't even coming out until 2012. The OMAP4 in the Bionic definitely outperforms it.
2. Just going to be a Sensation on Verizon. If you want to check it out, go to your local T-Mobile store and look at it yourself.
Nexus Prime:
1. We don't really have much details on it.
2. It *might* even also have the dual-core Snapdragon the Sensation/Vigor will run. Seeing as how the T-Mobile Galaxy S2 has that instead of the Exynos, it's highly possible.
3. Eric Schmidt said Ice Cream Sandwich is coming out in October or November. This is a huge timeframe which will most likely lean towards the November area. If previous trends match up with this, the phone will come out *after* the software. Last year, the Nexus S came out 2 weeks after GingerBread dropped on AOSP. If it comes out at the end of October or beginning of November, that will be November or even December before we see the Nexus Prime.
My 2 cents before you start comparing the Bionic to the other phones coming out.
I was thinking of waiting for the Vigor till I realized it was a 1.5 Ghz based on the A8 that Qualcomm and HTC are STILL using. That is why they are pushing them all the way to 1.5Ghz, just to compete with the Exynos, OMAP4, and Tegra 2. The OMAP4 will still kill the Vigor. Granted RIGHT out of the box, the Vigor will probably score a little higher on meaningless menchmarks, most of which have not even been optimized for the new chipsets. But once we can overclock the Bionic CPU even to 1.2Ghz, I would almost guarantee it's CPU will DESTROY the Vigor
If you really plan on using Sense, wait for the Vigor.
In two days I will be replacing my Droid Eris with a Bionic. I do like the Eris, but I was very disappointed that while Android was quickly releasing new versions, I was stuck on whatever HTC had working because the Sense layer is so complicated. As soon as I could root, I did, and didn't find that I missed Sense all that much, though it is pretty.
Some of my friends, mostly Sprint customers, love HTC and Sense, and are loyal to the brand, refusing to go elsewhere. If you're one of those, wait for the Vigor. Otherwise, it's the Bionic now or the Prime later.
cdf3 said:
I was deciding if i should wait for the Vigor or Prime, but went ahead and purchased the Bionic.
I was really impressed with how little juice the screen on the Bionic pulls.
My screen on my previous phone would be around 70-80%
Bionic screen uses less than 20% That's why the cell standby percentage seems high.
All the percentages have to equal 100% It doesn't necessarily mean that the cell standby is using more juice when compared to other devices.
Wish the camera was a tad better, but it's doable. I do like how I'm able to use my phone outside in sunlight.
Sent from my GT-P7510 using Tapatalk
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I didn't think about the percentages must equal 100%, which answers my question about the call standby and the phone idle percentages being so high. Thanks for answering that for me.
AdamNJ77 said:
I was thinking of waiting for the Vigor till I realized it was a 1.5 Ghz based on the A8 that Qualcomm and HTC are STILL using. That is why they are pushing them all the way to 1.5Ghz, just to compete with the Exynos, OMAP4, and Tegra 2. The OMAP4 will still kill the Vigor. Granted RIGHT out of the box, the Vigor will probably score a little higher on meaningless menchmarks, most of which have not even been optimized for the new chipsets. But once we can overclock the Bionic CPU even to 1.2Ghz, I would almost guarantee it's CPU will DESTROY the Vigor
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It's not 1.5GHz, its either 1.0GHz, or 1.2GHz. I'm also 100% sure if the Vigor has the A8 Qualcomm dual-core chip, that the Bionic will wipe the floor with it.
bill.garrett said:
If you really plan on using Sense, wait for the Vigor.
In two days I will be replacing my Droid Eris with a Bionic. I do like the Eris, but I was very disappointed that while Android was quickly releasing new versions, I was stuck on whatever HTC had working because the Sense layer is so complicated. As soon as I could root, I did, and didn't find that I missed Sense all that much, though it is pretty.
Some of my friends, mostly Sprint customers, love HTC and Sense, and are loyal to the brand, refusing to go elsewhere. If you're one of those, wait for the Vigor. Otherwise, it's the Bionic now or the Prime later.
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According to rumors, the Prime is supposed to sport a 4.65" screen, which honestly to me is way too big, so for me it was either the Bionic or the Vigor (TB2).
Thanks for everyone's responses, they're definitely giving me insight into both phones and their capabilities as well as how they will perform in the long run. Keep them coming!
Final hardware could still be Krait snapdragon for the Vigor but its getting more skepticle. It coule be the Krait will be in the Prime when it comes out close toward the end of the year. A 720P HD 4.3 in screen is very enticing indeed so it is a tradeoff between the Bionics' mediocre screen or something a screen better than the Retina Display.
My 2 coins
equake said:
Final hardware could still be Krait snapdragon for the Vigor but its getting more skepticle. It coule be the Krait will be in the Prime when it comes out close toward the end of the year. A 720P HD 4.3 in screen is very enticing indeed so it is a tradeoff between the Bionics' mediocre screen or something a screen better than the Retina Display.
My 2 coins
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It would *not* be Krait cores. Krait hasn't even been released yet and is still scheduled for a Q2 2012 release. Not even close.
Berzerker7 said:
It would *not* be Krait cores. Krait hasn't even been released yet and is still scheduled for a Q2 2012 release. Not even close.
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He's ABSOLTELY correct, there is NO chance it is the Krait
I was debating this same thing for a month or so.. Everyone always wants the best available, sometimes that can be a very difficult task. I was on the HTC Evo, and absolutely loved it. So that was drawing me towards the Vigor. My friend has the Nexus S and I was able to see how awesome that can be, so that was drawing me towards the Prime. But bottom line was, I was tired of waiting. I switched to VZW in July so I could get the unlimited data, and because I knew the Bionic was coming out. I had to grab an old blackberry I had laying around to wait.
Can you see why I jumped on what I had initially been waiting on?? The biggest thing I dislike is the LED.. its not the best on the Bionic. I imagine it will be decent on the HTC. But as for the Nexus, does samsung even have a Notification LED?
Definitely different benefits to each phone, but I think as soon as some fixes come out the Bionic will be a very good phone (already is pretty awesome).
AdamNJ77 said:
He's ABSOLTELY correct, there is NO chance it is the Krait
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It would be ashame if the Vigor uses the same MSM8660 as in the Evo 3D only clocked higher since the Scorpion cores are getting long in the tooth.
Read this story for S4 Snapdragon Dual Core LTE
seekingalpha.com/article/280664-qualcomm-incorporated-s-ceo-discusses-q3-2011-results-earnings-call-transcript
All I know, is that if I was waiting for the vigor I would wait until the reviews started leaking out, especially after the thunderbolt battery fiasco.
Motorola makes a really solid phone. Even though I like htc and generally applaud their use of materials in their hardware, Motorola makes a seriously well built device. No cheap tolerances whatsoever.
Sent from my DROID BIONIC using xda premium
acPIZZA said:
All I know, is that if I was waiting for the vigor I would wait until the reviews started leaking out, especially after the thunderbolt battery fiasco.
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This. The sad thing is that the Thunderbolt outside of the battery life was a pretty good phone. The screen is quite beautiful and the phone itself runs pretty fast. Hopefully HTC has learned from this so when Vigor (aka Thunderbolt 2) comes it'll be much better in terms of battery but retaining the screen quality of the original Thunderbolt.
Motorola makes a really solid phone. Even though I like htc and generally applaud their use of materials in their hardware, Motorola makes a seriously well built device. No cheap tolerances whatsoever.
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Except for that nasty pentile display. Seriously the Bionic could have been an complete winner if it wasn't for that. Instead I'll wait for either the Vigor (aka Thunderbolt 2) or Prime. Too bad for Moto as the original Droid really set the standard for Android phones.
DemoManMLS said:
This. The sad thing is that the Thunderbolt outside of the battery life was a pretty good phone. The screen is quite beautiful and the phone itself runs pretty fast. Hopefully HTC has learned from this so when Vigor (aka Thunderbolt 2) comes it'll be much better in terms of battery but retaining the screen quality of the original Thunderbolt.
Except for that nasty pentile display. Seriously the Bionic could have been an complete winner if it wasn't for that. Instead I'll wait for either the Vigor (aka Thunderbolt 2) or Prime. Too bad for Moto as the original Droid really set the standard for Android phones.
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I back the display. Its not a game changer when you can see pixels when you hold the phone up to your eye. I keep saying this - but at normal distance the display is as crisp as any.
Go looking for pixels - you'll find them. Hold an iphone up to your face you'll get the same thing.
Sent from my DROID BIONIC using xda premium
acPIZZA said:
I back the display. Its not a game changer when you can see pixels when you hold the phone up to your eye. I keep saying this - but at normal distance the display is as crisp as any.
Go looking for pixels - you'll find them. Hold an iphone up to your face you'll get the same thing.
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Difference is that I can see the pixels even 5-10 feet away. I didn't see this on either the original Droid or even the Thunderbolt for that matter. So yes the pentile display to me is the deal breaker on the Bionic. Maybe not for you but it certainly is for me. If it works fine for you then enjoy the phone as the Bionic for the most part is a good device. I just felt that the pentile display wasn't for me.
I'm useing my bionic now, I'm about a foot away and I can't see the pixles, I've been useing Netflix with it even closer to my face and its flawless, don't know who's bionic you've been looking at but I can't see my pixles too easily
Sent from my DROID BIONIC using xda premium
DemoManMLS said:
This. The sad thing is that the Thunderbolt outside of the battery life was a pretty good phone. The screen is quite beautiful and the phone itself runs pretty fast. Hopefully HTC has learned from this so when Vigor (aka Thunderbolt 2) comes it'll be much better in terms of battery but retaining the screen quality of the original Thunderbolt.
Except for that nasty pentile display. Seriously the Bionic could have been an complete winner if it wasn't for that. Instead I'll wait for either the Vigor (aka Thunderbolt 2) or Prime. Too bad for Moto as the original Droid really set the standard for Android phones.
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I would definitely agree that the Thunderbolt was a very good phone, except for the very disappointing battery life. The Bionic's pentile display is also disappointing, but as I used my Bionic more and more, I felt like the display is very crisp and pixels are hardly noticeable unless you truly look for them, and lets be honest, on any phone if you truly look for pixels, you'll find them.
acPIZZA said:
I back the display. Its not a game changer when you can see pixels when you hold the phone up to your eye. I keep saying this - but at normal distance the display is as crisp as any.
Go looking for pixels - you'll find them. Hold an iphone up to your face you'll get the same thing.
Sent from my DROID BIONIC using xda premium
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Normal distance is great. When I watch videos, play games, etc, pixels are hardly noticeable. In addition, the battery life saved from those pentile displays are quite remarkable. It's a somewhat good tradeoff: screen quality for battery life, and even then the screen quality isn't terrible to the point where it would be a decision changer for me.
I upgraded to a bionic from a Droid X (forced due to bootloop, but nonetheless) and also have a Thunderbolt. The pentile screen does love much to be desired, and yes, I can see pixels when holding it even at arms length.
But IMO the bionic has answered the mail on what *I believe* it was meant to be: a portable media center with a webtop bonus thrown in. I've read countless threads across many devices about people pushing their media (local or stream) from their phones to all sorts of tv's, pc's, xbox's, name your reciever. Moto made sure they put out a device that had the horsepower to accomplish that with the added benefit of a decent non battery hogging screen for those that want to use it in transit or while away from their receivers. That's primarily how I used my Droid X and can probably count in the low hundreds the number of times I actually looked at anything on the screen itself for longer than 2 mins (mainly just to set up hdmi out or a bluetooth connection to stream something).
Just my experience and opinion...
I got bionic on the launch date .. and for some reason i hear all these nerdlings qqing about oh this phone is old hardware and what not. I came from a Nexus One which in my opinion was the dopest android phone ever made besides the touch sensor. The screen on the bionic ****s all over my n1 and in every way its a upgrade. I looked at samsung LED screens before hand and I do enjoy them, but the bionics screen is great imo unless you got the magnifier glass out lmao
am i the only one whos really loving this phone and doesnt really care about the samsung and other phones coming out -__-
this a solid phone
avniii said:
I got bionic on the launch date .. and for some reason i hear all these nerdlings qqing about oh this phone is old hardware and what not. I came from a Nexus One which in my opinion was the dopest android phone ever made besides the touch sensor. The screen on the bionic ****s all over my n1 and in every way its a upgrade. I looked at samsung LED screens before hand and I do enjoy them, but the bionics screen is great imo unless you got the magnifier glass out lmao
am i the only one whos really loving this phone and doesnt really care about the samsung and other phones coming out -__-
this a solid phone
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Click to collapse
Solid yes... What it was chalked up to be .. No. dont get Mr wrong, I love it... BUT your comparing it to a nexus 1. If you had came from a sensation, like myself, you'd understand the let downs a little better. Great phone definitely... Could it have been better, absolutely.
Sent from my DROID BIONIC using xda premium
I'm completely happy with Bionic. Samsung has pretty screens but much lower quality materials and design if you ask me. Samsung and Toshiba are both pretty crappy but they know if you put a beautiful screen on it people will overlook all the other areas costs were cut. people should pick a phone and try to live with their choice and enjoy the new toy. The Bionic is a hell of a phone. Quite being babies indecisive with too many choices.
I'm coming from an Original Droid and while I kind of hoped I'd be able to make it until the Prime released, that didn't happen....and I LLLOOOVVVEEE this phone! Now if only they can send an update to fix the network connectivity issues I'll be all set!
I love my bionic, no qestion's asked it works perfect. Have not had any problems with it, i will not give this phone up unless the pohone that replaces the bionic is 50x times better. Way better then my DX2. I perfer the cpu/gpu in the bionic then the nvidia cpu/gpu.
The 4g lte is great very fast. pretty sad my 4g lte is faster then my cable connection.
The only thing this phone is missing is CM7 or CM8 if it comes out.
I enjoy the BLUR but im to accustomed to my nexus one custom ROMs.
I honestly never use my 4g on my bionic only for specific times whe nits needed. I keep my data off completely throughout the day and oh man does the battery ****ing kill it hahah i love this phone so much the speaker/video camera/and all around feel of the phone is superb..truly superb. Samsung might have a nice screen and GPU or w.e but moto dominates with the actual phone feel.
This is comign from the guy who was like dreaming about getting a GS2 because thats my favorite phone but the bionic>>>gs2 in my opinion beside the led
avniii said:
bionic>>>gs2 in my opinion
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I would almost promise you that if you held them side by side, this wouldn't be your opinion any more. Now, I absolutely love my Bionic and it's the best phone I've used on Verizon(it's worth noting that I've owned nearly every Android smartphone to come to Verizon since the Droid 1) However, a coworker of mine imported a GSII some time ago and I've had ample opportunity to play with it. To me, it remains completely unrivaled by anything I've seen from another manufacturer to date. This is really just my 2 cents.
P.S.:When I say nearly every, I mean literally all but 3 =P I will continue this with the upcoming Rezound, as well. Nothing like having variety with my LTE.
I have tried out nearly every phone out there.
I had money just sitting here, so why not put it to good use.
When it coolness down to phones, I liked 2 the best.
GS2 and the Bionic
The GS2 screen was truley amaizing, but like sanding usually does, they increase there contrast. Pictures no longer feel... realalistic.
The GS2 was lighter. It in a way felt cheaper as well.
The main reason I chose the bionic was it's processor.
Prosesses utilize ram.
The OMAP4 is the only multiple-channel processor which makes ram access better.
Gingerbread doesn't support multiple cores or channels, but ice-cream sandwich will.
I didn't want a phone that would become old technology as soon as the next OS was released.
Not hating the GS2, but single thread benchmarks with a 1.5ghz is not that impressive when the OMAP4 is pretty close at 1ghz and working less than half as hard as the1.5ghz.
Sent from my DROID BIONIC using xda premium
I'm coming from an iPhone 3GS (so, admittedly a few years of technology and freedom behind), but this is easily the best phone (smart or otherwise) that I've ever owned, and I had tried a Samsung Infuse 4G briefly a few months prior.
I'm a little apprehensive to see what the Nexus Prime is going to look like, but I just have to keep reminding myself how much joy this phone has brought me. There's always the possibility of something newer and shinier, but I'm increasingly glad that I pulled the trigger when I did. This phone is a beast
I'm coming from a Samsung Fascinate (Galaxy S) and had a Droid1 before it, so I feel like I understand the strengths/weaknesses of Samsung and Motorola. I appreciate the light weight and great screens of Samsungs. But Samsung is crappy at ongoing software support/updates, and many of the things that don't get the fancy headlines (e.g., call quality, GPS locks, external speaker volume and sound quality) are inferior due to cramming so much stuff in the light/thin phone.
Both of my Motorolas have been heavier and thicker, and I don't love the Bionic screen, but man it just works well. Instant GPS, great audio and call quality, good reception, better battery life.
Sometimes the supermodel is fun to be out with, but doesn't make a great wife.
Coming off a Pantech Matrix,,,,anything is faster.
Only thing I have to complain about is...the locked bootloader
I've owned both the BB Storm and Storm 2, the HTC Imagio, Moto Droid, HTC D.Inc., Moto Droid X, Samsung Droid Charge, and the Moto Droid X2 before this. While I have to say the display on the Charge was nice, the 800x480 resolution is getting old fast. Hell, the OG Droid was the Android device that changed the smartphone "game" in the US when it was released, and it had a higher resolution screen. But the Charge's screen felt... fake and cartoonish. I wanted something in between the DX and the Charge.
The Bionic's screen isn't something to write home about, but the colors are good IMO, the high resolution is perfect, dual core and a gig of quality RAM, 4G LTE and excellent call quality. Out of all the phones I've owned, including flip phones, Motorola's have always been the best in signal and call quality, period. The worst was the D.Inc., even on EVRC-B it was still crappy. Plus the screen... while it was an AMOLED, it had an older Pentile matrix that makes the Bionic look fantastic.
Overall, I'm glad I waited and was able to get the Bionic. People have too high of an expectation when it comes to smartphones. As long as it does what you want, be happy with it. The Bionic does all of that, plus much more and this is by far the best device I've owned.
Oh... and f*ck Apple.
Mmmaannn i have high expectations for the Bionic because #1 its farking 300$ @launch. I think sgs2 was 129$?
#2: all u guys talking about ur OGdroids, I upgraded from an Omnia from 2-3 years. The only thing for me the Bionic is good for is the performance, internet speed and phone speed, and I like the screen the fact that I can clearly read in sunlight.
I'm new to Android. I only played around with it so maybe I'm not familiar with the OS. about winmo I liked was having a task bar like on your desktop where I can hold right click and actually close or minimize. And I mean actually close, when I goto open the app it loads like new. When I use task killer it tells me it killed the apps but same apps keep reapearing. And for example I would kill the browser and when I reopen the browser it opens where I left off.
Also, I played with some Samsung devices and I really like how I can change brightness, screen rotation wifi gps etc. is that like a touch wiz only thing? So apart from the OS I also need to figure the interface? Is there like a complete stock barebones gb platform I can go to? Is that just getting a nexus?
Honestly I got the phone for the specs because you can always tweak usability but you can't add ram or cpu.
Any APPS or Tweak suggestions is greatly appreciated.
Oh btw on my winmo I never had to buy apps I could dl and install cracked vers. Not that I dont want to support devs im just uuber broke (yea rite rocking a 3oo$ fone) it was a gift smarta's.
And I could load a movie on my sd card and coreplayer would play everything even HD with crz stutter bcuz phone too slow. Android I have to start converting files? Wtf? And I also had wifi tether! Wmwifitouter...
Im on the fence should I trade my phone downgrade and get some cash in my pockets or will the Bionic get better?
Sent from my DROID BIONIC using XDA App
Also to add on samsing phone if you hold the home button you get a list of recent apps BUT there's also a button for task manager anyway I can get this on Nothing-but-a-BLUR?
Sent from my DROID BIONIC using XDA App
I'm loving the bionic so far, the one thing that's really annoying me doesn't seem to be a big deal to others. I understand the increased resolution but the font is way too small. It's giving me a headache.
Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk
harpdoc said:
I'm coming from a Samsung Fascinate (Galaxy S) and had a Droid1 before it, so I feel like I understand the strengths/weaknesses of Samsung and Motorola. I appreciate the light weight and great screens of Samsungs. But Samsung is crappy at ongoing software support/updates, and many of the things that don't get the fancy headlines (e.g., call quality, GPS locks, external speaker volume and sound quality) are inferior due to cramming so much stuff in the light/thin phone.
Both of my Motorolas have been heavier and thicker, and I don't love the Bionic screen, but man it just works well. Instant GPS, great audio and call quality, good reception, better battery life.
Sometimes the supermodel is fun to be out with, but doesn't make a great wife.
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you sure hit that one on the head. i have had many phones and i like motorola phones alot. with some tweaks and stuff you can make the bionic a bad a## phone. i love the things you can do with this phone! just amazing!! zumacast is one of my favorite apps ever. despite what others say about the lapdock, i love it.
I've debated getting the D4 for some time now (had my upgrade for awhile) and pretty much miss a physical keyboard which is my primary motivation.
How are you guys liking it, obviously the big con is moto vs htc in bootloader locks but otherwise, would you recommend it? Not being able to tether the 4G would be a huge blocker too..
I am happy with the D4 and would recommend it...cautiously.
Like you said, the bootloader is locked, and as a result development activity is somewhat limited. If custom ROMs are a top priority then I would go in another direction. Furthermore, the screen is sub-par.
Other than that though, the phone is great. Build quality, battery life, the keyboard, and the stock OS are all very good. 4G wireless tethering works perfectly.
I had the same prob when I went from D1 to bionic, always found myself choosing not to use the phone for some task (like answering this thread), waiting until I could use a laptop instead. I'm very happy I switched. It may not be ideal, but then the ideal doesn't exist. Physical keyboard, dual core, Vz 4g: What else gets a check on that trio? -GEF
Funny thing, I'm debating the switch too.
I found a cheap cheap droid 4 on CL and I'm about to activate it today. I sure am going to miss my thunderbolt though. Kinda sad that I'm selling it today..
Thunderbolt vs Droid 4
My wife has a Thunderbolt and I have a Droid 4. As far as comparing the two, the Thunderbolt does have the advantage of an unlocked boot loader, and tons of ROMs, however...
Our D4 ICS ROMs are more functional than the Thunderbolt's since they have no RIL(data/phone) so really they are unusable at this point in time. My wife currently runs Virus' InfectedEternity ROM, which is great but it's a GB ROM with Sense 3.5. She envies my software all the time especially now that the D4 ICS Roms have stable data. The wifi tether app works great. The only things which do not work in our ICS ROMs are the HW video codecs (which might be coming once we can flash custom kernels and use open source since a TI license is required for our codecs), and the advanced ICS camera functions (face detect).
As far as hardware, the D4 is definitely superior. The only benefits the Thunderbolt has are a slightly bigger screen (0.3" bigger), and a better camera. Otherwise the D4 wins all day with a better looking screen (Tbolt is older TFT), a faster processor (dual core OMAP4430 vs single core snapdragon), better touchscreen, better call quality (both are excellent though), and better battery life. The D4 even has a physical keyboard (the greatest phone keyboard ever) and they are still about the same thickness.
Overall, the D4 is definitely superior to the Thunderbolt. Development is booming for the Thunderbolt, but is at a standstill until ICS leaks, whereas we are on the verge of bypassing the D4's boot loader with kholk's kernel, which means our development should blow up in the coming months.
I got a GS3 because it's the last subsidized upgrade I'll ever get through Verizon (and keep unlimited data).
Pros of gs3:
Nicer screen (but too big for easy one handed use)
Lighter weight
Other than that, in the real world there are no other advantages. With the .232 leak, the Bionic seems just as fast, and this includes gaming so far. The Bionic build quality is better, the radios are at least as good, and it actually feels better in the hand (the sg3 is BIG). And I already miss my Lapdoc.
Bottom line is that the Bionic is still a great phone with a new lease on life with ics. You ain't missing much other than the latest new device buzz.
I'm actually coming to the Bionic from a different Samsung device (Charge). I wouldn't have high hopes for the radios if I were you. Samsung still hasn't proven that they can get them right as seen by complaints with the Nexus. Maybe the S3 is different...I sure hope so.
That said, they do lots of things really well. I'm anxious to put the Bionic through its paces because, for me, this is an upgrade in every sense of the word.
My girlfriend had a Droid 2 global and I have a DX2 work phone. Both the DX2 and D2g are horrible phones. Girlfriend accidently dropped the D2G in the toilet (where it belongs) and I begged and pleaded for asurion to give us a non-moto phone. She ended up getting the bionic and she's happy, and fiddling with it the other day I'm actually quite impressed as well with it.
I'll stick with my nexus till verizons contract expired and I'm done with them though.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
That is a good question: what new phone is worth upgrading to from the Bionic?
ronaldheld said:
That is a good question: what new phone is worth upgrading to from the Bionic?
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hardware wise there is nothing mind blowing right now that I would upgrade to but I would definitely suggest the Galaxy Nexus if you prefer tinkering more as the Nexus lineup is the most "open" of any Android phone and would provide you with the best user community
I'm happy with my Bionic, but the GS3 blows it out of the water.
Nothing out now is worth upgrading from a Bionic. I'll be waiting for a device with an OLED screen (not massive hopefully) and an OMAP5 beast of a processor. I'm perfectly happy with my Bionic until then.
My wife had a HTC Thunderbolt and it is quickly showing its age so we were able to get her a Galaxy S3 which I got to setup and play with.
Compared to the Bionic from a hardware standpoint, both devices are similar performance wise. The SGS3 has a little better of a gpu on it, a faster cpu and has double the ram of the Bionic, but the difference is still minimal spec wise. The biggest difference is the screen, the SGS3 has a MUCH nicer screen and the size is great. Finally I like that Samsung put a big enough battery in the SGS3 (2100mAh) compared to the Bionic's 1730 mAh battery which isnt big enough IMO.
From a software standpoint my Bionic on the ICS leak is just as smooth and seems about as fast as the SGS3. I also like the new Blur a lot more than Touchwiz though both are pretty nice. Other than that? I like the overall build quality of my Bionic better and it seems like Motorola has finally got the radios down with the basebands in the ICS leaks.
Would I trade my Bionic for a SGS if it was free? Not sure but I definitely wouldn't pay for one. Since I am grandfathered in on unlimited data with Verizon, my next phone will not have a subsidy unless I am willing to give up my unlimited data (which I am not) so I will have to pay full price. That means my next phone will have to blow my Bionic out of the water and I don't see any of the current devices out there doing that....not even the upcoming rumored Razr HD.
TY for the little review of the SGS3 vs our Bionic. I hated the fact that everyone shunned the Bionic. Coming from an OG Droid it was a definite upgrade. With the announcement of the RAZR, RAZR Maxx, and Galaxy Nexus everyone seemed to jump off ship too quick. Everyone complanied about the screen, the dropped network, etc...everyone was quick to point out what i believe are small flaws. For me the Bionic was the phone I wanted and am not dissapointed in it. The locked bootloader made the development community small. Without roms like those from Dhacker, DroidTheory, Eclipse team, and Liberty team, our phones would be very bland. I never gave hope on it. I was bummed when we lost a few of the devs due to the ungrateful people who didn't appreciate their hard work. I was really stoked with the announcement of ICS for our phones. And now with the leaks out I am much happier with my phone until the eventual upgrade. The SGS3 is nice but it not a worthy upgrade imo now that we have leaks and eventually an official ICS. Sorry if I took this off track.
amageus said:
TY for the little review of the SGS3 vs our Bionic. I hated the fact that everyone shunned the Bionic. Coming from an OG Droid it was a definite upgrade. With the announcement of the RAZR, RAZR Maxx, and Galaxy Nexus everyone seemed to jump off ship too quick. Everyone complanied about the screen, the dropped network, etc...everyone was quick to point out what i believe are small flaws. For me the Bionic was the phone I wanted and am not dissapointed in it. The locked bootloader made the development community small. Without roms like those from Dhacker, DroidTheory, Eclipse team, and Liberty team, our phones would be very bland. I never gave hope on it. I was bummed when we lost a few of the devs due to the ungrateful people who didn't appreciate their hard work. I was really stoked with the announcement of ICS for our phones. And now with the leaks out I am much happier with my phone until the eventual upgrade. The SGS3 is nice but it not a worthy upgrade imo now that we have leaks and eventually an official ICS. Sorry if I took this off track.
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I like Moto's phones i also came from the OG droid. i think Moto does a good job on quality. i want something built good not some flimsy little piece of plastic. i figured the SGSIII would blow the bionic away but from everything i have read it is not so. I will keep my Bionic and my unlimited data until Moto comes out with a quad core than i might think about moving on but not until then.
i would also like to state that it also will depend on what the dev community moves onto as well since it seems that phones from VZW will now always be locked down.
Personally I think the Bionic is the most underrated phone in Android history. I bought mine on release day, upgrading from the OG Droid, and have been happy with it ever since. Now with the ICS leak, combined with my extended battery, 32Gb Class 10 SD card, and Lapdock 500, I have to say it's the closest thing to a perfect device I've ever owned (the one flaw being the locked bootloader).
amageus said:
..... Without roms like those from Dhacker, DroidTheory, Eclipse team, and Liberty team, our phones would be very bland....
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and sparkyman216 - get on that train Bionic faithful!
I too went from a Bionic to the SGSIII. I wanted one final subsidized device so I could keep my grandfathered unlimited plan as well.
I will admit, my biggest gripe with the Bionic (aside from the lack of an official ICS release) is its pitiful camera. I'd also really like to have a 720p screen and/or a little bigger screen area and some more internal storage since you don't get the "full" 16Gb internally on the Bionic.
At any rate, I got the GSIII and I have to say I am quite underwhelmed in several key areas. The camea is awesome in comparison to all of my various Moto devices over the years but it still seems slower to focus compared to my coworkers' iPhone 4S or even the HTC One X/Evo 4G LTE.
Probably my biggest gripe with the GSIII is its diminished battery life compared to the Bionic with an extended battery. Yes, it's a lot thinner but I'd gladly add a hump to the GSIII to get another 2 hours of runtime out of it. Gaming sucks when you are in CPU power saving mode!
The GSIII is also quite slippery and if I keep it I will investiage some kind of textured battery door or thin skin case.
As far as the pros, its reception is STRONGER than my Moto in strong areas (but weaker in fringe areas) and the call quality is really superb--a first for a Samsung! That screen is fabulous and I feel that 4.7" to 4.8" is the perfect maximum usable screen sizefor a modern smartphone. The S4 CPU flies and gaming is a total job on this device.
While I didn't think it would be a problem, I have grown to DETEST the capacitive buttons on the GSIII, especially when trying to type in landscape mode. I have big hands and my right hand is always hitting the menu button by accident. I also miss a side-mounted microUSB port and I miss having a standard microHDMI port. I have the 232 leak of ICS on my Bionic and I have a new appreciation of the HDMI port due to the revamped ICS Webtop mode and losing it is gonna really suck!
Not sure which way I will end up going as I really feel 50/50 about hanging onto the ol' Moto or jumping ship to the Sammy.
unbesorgt said:
Personally I think the Bionic is the most underrated phone in Android history. I bought mine on release day, upgrading from the OG Droid, and have been happy with it ever since. Now with the ICS leak, combined with my extended battery, 32Gb Class 10 SD card, and Lapdock 500, I have to say it's the closest thing to a perfect device I've ever owned (the one flaw being the locked bootloader).
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Completely agree.
And
unbesorgt said:
Personally I think the Bionic is the most underrated phone in Android history. I bought mine on release day, upgrading from the OG Droid, and have been happy with it ever since. Now with the ICS leak, combined with my extended battery, 32Gb Class 10 SD card, and Lapdock 500, I have to say it's the closest thing to a perfect device I've ever owned (the one flaw being the locked bootloader).
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The Bionic and the Rezound are both the most underrated android devices ever, and I own both.
I'd get the G3 if it had quad core in the US. But I'm real happy with the bionic/lapdoc combo with ICS. I don't think there is a more usable/versatile use of a phone with that.
I have a Samsung Galaxy S3 (SGS3 from here on..) on my desk for work.
Let me start by first saying the .232 ICS leak on the Bionic finally resolved my data drop issues, where data went away for no reason and it took a battery pull or airplane mode toggle to bring it back, although 3G <-> 4G hand offs are extremely slow. The Bionic with the 6.7.232 ICS leak is what I expected the Bionic to be (except the screen is worse than I expected) when it was sent to me in Sept 2011. Camera is typical Moto "phone" camera quality. Reception (with this leak) is great, battery life is very good (for an Android phone), etc.
I still use my Thunderbolt as my "daily driver" due to its screen and camera and general phone/email performance. With the Rezound 1620mah battery, and the stock 1400 as a spare, I can last as long as I need to between charges.
I hate touchwiz (both on my T-Mobile SGS2 with GB and ICS, and the VZW SGS3). Blur on the Bionic is "just enough" to help but not get in the way, and actually looks good. While touchwiz on the SGS3 "looks" better, it still looks "cartoony."
In day to day use (so not looking at every single feature/function, but rather only those I actually use), I like the calendar of the SGS3, its camera and its display quality over the Bionic. I also like that the SGS3 supports simultaneous voice/data over 3G. Those are 3 areas the Bionic doesn't keep up. Beyond that, the Bionic (with 6.7.232 ICS Leak) now has better reception, and the rest is a tie.
Would I buy an SGS3 if my Bionic was my daily driver (ICS or GB on the Bionic, assuming I didn't have the data drop problem)... I don't think so. While the camera and screen (colors, sharpness, readability, etc) are better on the SGS3, I don't think its worth spending the money.
Will I use the TB or the Bionic as my daily driver? Because of the screen and camera, I'm back on the TB for now.
I plan on buying a GS3 once I have the money, but it will be hard for a bit. The Bionic, my first smartphone, has been damn near perfect. Awesome ROMs once I worked up the bravery, made it even better. And now with official ICS, it has a new life and I love it. But I'm ready and begging for something new to play with and the GS3 is looking perfect.
I definitely agree with others who say the Bionic is overrated. I would argue that until that besides the Galaxy Nexus, the Bionic was pretty much the best phone on the US market until 2012's powerhouse phones dropped. On Verizon alone, I would take the Bionic over any phone until the GS3.
i think the camera is software limited, the post processing "magic", jpeg compression, noise handling, or maybe the auto-focus algorithm
samsung has digital camera worked together with SGS development
Let me preface by saying that I am one of the official testers of phones for my public safety department that are issued to our administrators of which I am one. Because of Sprint's slow and horrible data connection speeds, they have been bounced in favor of Verizon's network. I also have a personal phone which until recently was also on Sprint's network. I was so impressed with Verizon's 4G data that I paid the ETF and switched to Verizon. As such my phone history has been (after we jettisoned Blackberry in obscurity which I am not counting):
Work
Motorola Xprt
Motorola Admiral
Droid 4
Bionic
Personal
Hero
Evo
Galaxy S1
Evo 3D
Galaxy S3
As such I've had the opportunity to watch "generational" leaps in phone technology. The Hero to the Evo was such a leap. The Evo to the Bionic was such a leap. And now the Bionic to the Galaxy S3 is another evolutionary leap in technology. Keep in mind that I carry (as do most of our administrators) the Bionic. I recommended the Bionic because it met our tight security standards yet was fast, well built, and did everything well. That it would eventually see the next generation of Android was a plus and of course I have already previewed the unofficial pre-release unofficially . I determined that the Razr was not the leap in technology that warranted much excitement. It wasn't an option to be fair.
Now saying all that I steadfastly disagree with the notion that the Bionic is in the same league with the Galaxy S3. Sure, they do basic functions and the Bionic which has been woefully underrated and Verizon's EOL little gem, stands toe to toe with the best of them. However, the Galaxy S3 just does everything better and gives you more. Screen to screen there is no comparison. Speed, responsiveness, smoothness, software, hidden features, ergonomics, call quality, picture quality, video the list goes on...the Galaxy just does it all better. It is in my opinion a "generational" leap in technology. This is my unbiased opinion and mind you that on my recommendation, we carry the Bionic as the official work phone for my department. But for personal use, the Galaxy is a technological wonder and is arguably the best phone on the market; yes besting the One X as an overall better kit. Unfortunately we will not see the Galaxy S3 issued due to cost and security concerns, but really don't kid yourselves, the Galaxy S3 right now is in a league of it's own.
On a Thunderbolt now and one of the few to still have true unlimited data.. I miss a keyboard, new to the D4 area and getting familiar w/ ROMs and what not, just wondering if you'd recommend it. Mainly just want to keep my 4G and get a keyboard. ICS will be nice but never messed w/ it much on my Thunderbolt.
Thanks in advance!
Just a week ago, I picked up a used Droid 4 as a replacement for my ailing (and LTE'less) droid 3.
Overall I am very happy with it, and I have to say, I can type faster on this keyboard than any other keyboard phone I've had. It's wonderful.
That said, it's still a midrange phone with a somewhat mediocre display... but all the mediocrity is absolutely worth having a keyboard IMO.
It's a good phone if you need a keyboard. I'm jealous of all the development going on with the Razr HD so I'm slowly practicing using the onscreen keyboard and in a couple months when I'm eligible to upgrade I will. The only thing that disappoints me about the Razr HD is that they didn't put 2gb of ram which I think should be the standard for a company's topline phone.
This is good input. I don't need high resolution, I need stability, battery life, and a keyboard, even if its a little bulkier. I also need VZN out of my pockets and lack budget to get anything newer at non upgrade prices. Thanks gents.
Sent from my ADR6400L using xda premium
I just came from a droid 3. Let's be honest...this is a flagship phone! The specs are not mid range, they are top notch when the phone was released. The device is is sweet. I get amazing battery on stock rom. Some apps I froze...its smooth. I usually turn off animation to increase speed...I haven't had to yet. I got a deal on mine, but for brand new, I would gladly pay 150.
Sent from my DROID4 using xda app-developers app
It's absolutely worth that. I'm coming from an LG Revolution, which has performance very similar to your Thunderbolt. Trust me, the D4 is quite a bit better. Yes, the screen was never going to win any awards, but otherwise it performs very well, and the screen's shortcomings are rarely a real issue in actual use. And the battery life, while not up to Razr Maxx standards, is still decent. And then there's the keyboard...just superb. It puts this phone (and now the Photon Q) in a class of its own.
The Kraken! said:
It's absolutely worth that. I'm coming from an LG Revolution, which has performance very similar to your Thunderbolt. Trust me, the D4 is quite a bit better. Yes, the screen was never going to win any awards, but otherwise it performs very well, and the screen's shortcomings are rarely a real issue in actual use. And the battery life, while not up to Razr Maxx standards, is still decent. And then there's the keyboard...just superb. It puts this phone (and now the Photon Q) in a class of its own.
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You know what, after using my D4 for awhile, you're absolutely right. The Performance of my D4 is well worth the upgrade from the D3, not something I necessarily expected. The screen still sucks in some ways, but it looks great when it's turned up all the way. Better than my D3 as well. and lastly, the battery life is also way better than my D3 (which probably actually had a battery that was on it's way out).
I couldn't be happier with my purchase, especially the magnificent keyboard. I can type SO FAST on my phone, so much faster than my D3. I love it.
Droid 4 really is an exceptional keyboard phone. I really am sad that there probably won't be a Droid 5.
Yeah, you may be right. I'll be sad if they don't make a D5. But who knows, that they bothered to make the Photon Q might be a sign that they're not giving up on the slide out form factor. We can hope.
I love mine
I've had my Droid 4 for a few months now and I must say that I absolutely love this device. Its fast, the keyboard feels great and the display is awesome. It will be hard to top this device for me as I require a keyboard.
It's Heavy. Which actually is noticeable when you're trying to relax in bed and check some news or play a game. I came from a Droid X to this Droid 4. I missed the keyboard of my other phone that I had long ago (LG enV2, lol). I thought it would be nice to text with a keyboard again, since being with a all touch screen phone got annoying (I loved Swiftkey tho at the time I made this decision) and I didn't really like Swype, it had some bugs and it's predictions weren't as nice as Swiftkey. Now that Swiftkey Flow is coming out and even usable in beta form... I decided I made the wrong mistake. Swype was proven to be faster than physical keyboards and now Swiftkey Flow improved upon it even further. Also, all this locked bootloader crap is annoying. I think this will be my last Motorola phone, since I had so much fun with my Droid X and this phone all I do is wait for Hashcode day after day. It's old. Keep in mind, there are many apps like Airdroid, which you can type from your pc (you must be connected to the same router on the pc and phone) with your keyboard and have all your Android info right there. Depending on the status of the next Moto device, probably the "X", that will determine what I will get next year around October. If you really enjoy modding your OS and phone, I highly recommend just using Swiftkey Flow and getting a nice screened phone and unlockable bootloader. However, the build quality is amazing and the keyboard also looks amazing and it has never missed a key-press.