Exclusive: Motorola Droid X preview
By Joanna Stern 
posted June 15th 2010 4:59PM
posted June 15th 2010 4:59PM
So here are our main takeaways:
- Hardware: From afar, the Droid X looks like the EVO 4G, but up close the differences are obvious. Its slightly longer and wider, and it has four physical buttons along the bottom of the screen rather than touch-sensitive ones like those on the EVO. In hand, the phone feels really solid and we were surprised at how light it felt, though we could really do without the hump on the back. And yes, the large thing fits in a jean pocket, but not without slightly bulging.
- Screen: Apparently the Droid X has a 4.3-inch, FWVGA 854 x 480-resolution screen, though we couldn't confirm that on the device itself. Regardless, it was super crisp and the capacitive screen was mighty responsive to taps and multitouch gestures. Our one concern is the mirrored trim around the screen -- it makes the whole face of the phone extra glossy.
- Motorola Blur / Android: We confirmed that the Droid X was running Android 2.1 with some new sort of Motoblur (perhaps Ninjablur) skin. We didn't get to configure Blur with our social networks and contacts, but it didn't seem as "in your face" as the original. There's also a new navigation bar along the bottom that lets you easily jump to different Android panes. We can't really make a call on how we feel about this new Moto skin, but it does feel like a major improvement and it absolutely didn't slow down performance. We should also mention that preloaded on the phone was a Blockbuster application and a DLNA type app. Those two pieces combined with the fact that there will be a separate HDMI dock available has us thinking multimedia is the focus here.
- Camera / Camcorder: The Droid X has a 8-megapixel camera, and records 720p video. But here's the thing about the camera: you have to tap to focus and it doesn't refocus until you actually snap the picture. In addition, the camera button on the phone was super stiff, so when we went to shoot a pic the entire thing shook and blurred the image. You can see what we are talking about in the gallery below. As for video recording, it was a bit laggy while we were shooting at 720p, but the video plays back smoothly, and in our opinion, crisper than the EVO 4G. Nevertheless, as you can see in the clip below, the white balance keeps on changing and the exposure fluctuates.
- Keyboard: Just like with the CLIQ XT, Motorola preloads Swype. However, we also noticed a "multitouch keyboard" option. Oh yes, you heard us. When we held down two letters simultaneously it recognized both. We could really go on and on about how excited we are about this, but just check the video below of it in action.
- Performance: Snappy! That's exactly what the Droid X is. The entire phone and transitions were super fast and responsive, keyboards popped up with virtually no lag and it tracks finger swiping more accurately than most Android phones we've seen -- it undoubtedly has its 1GHz ARMv7 processor (presumably an OMAP3630) to thank for that. If the specs on the model we saw are correct, the phone will come with 8GB of storage space. Obviously, we didn't have enough time to test battery life, but there was some sort of special battery management software on the phone.
Pretty promising, isn't it? We should know more when we get an announcement toward the end of the month, but in the mean time, we're really excited about what Moto's got going on here.
Updated: There have been conflicting reports on the Droid X's screen size. We're going with 4.3-inches for now.
Sam Sheffer contributed to this article.
go moto! looks great
@skyblaze
damnit, i preordered an iphone 4 today. my original droid i bought in november got stolen in march. guess i shouldnt have been so eager.
@thes1ckness Not like you made a bad choice. The iPhone 4 is a great device, as are Android devices. If I were on ATT and wasn't a big fan of Android, I would have considered the iPhone 4.
@thes1ckness Yeah the iPhone isn't a bad choice.... but I would have still waited instead of pre-ordering right away!
@skyblaze
Indeed!!!
@skyblaze
wow that's big!!! I take it this doesn't go in the pocket?
@elijahblake That's what she said
@skyblaze
hump, do not like, i'll keep my evo.
@skyblaze
Yeah... but it's freakin' huge!
@skyblaze Looks like a stunner!
@skyblaze
It does look good.
Verizon to Motorola: "Don't forget the glue!"
@elijahblake
oh it does fit in the pocket, just "with a slight buldge". lol that's signature worthy there..
@thes1ckness haha yeah I have the droid original too but honestly compared to the iPhone 4 this phone is GREAT but I'm still getting the iPhone 4 cause well I just LOVE the iPhone like in my opinion no phone beats it no matter how hard it tries
Engadget for the MotherF*ckin Exclusive!!!!!!!!!
@thes1ckness Dont worry about it. Just like with the evo, the iPhone is better in just about every way except screen size. Faster processor (in performance, not specs on paper), better display, cleaner/smoother operating system, way better battery life (don't know about moto x yet, but it will probably be comparable to the evo), better music utility. You made the right choice.
@ComboBreaker
Seriously, this is a great scoop! Great going Engadget!
That aside, this phone honestly looks very big. Other than that I love the how slim they made it.
@skyblaze thats the Android Help widget on that first picture... which was new in Froyo i thought? Is this our first Froyo phone (especially with Adobe there?)
@skyblaze
Looks great but does it come with the murse you need to carry it? :)
It's humongous!
No front facing camera? Maybe I can live with that. But the size of that thing doesn't really fit well to my taste (galaxy s already looked big enough for me). I'd go for an android tablet if I want bigger screens but for a phone, uh well, I'll wait for some user feedback. Hope it goes gsm too just so I have more choices for my next phone.
@skyblaze
Big...
@skyblaze HOLY COW THAT'S HUGE!!! haha, a Droid tablet.
@skyblaze
It looks fucking ridiculous. Like some KIRF star trek tricorder made of cheap plastic.
@skyblaze
ENGADGET! What version of Android is it running?!
@skyblaze
I MUST KNOW! IS IT AMOLED SCREEN?
That phone looks sick, not something I could carry but still awesome looking. The the DROID 2, Verizon knows what's up.
So is this what it's come down to in the Android market for competitive hardware differentiation? Who can make the biggest freaking phone?
Yikes.
@MarkAnderson
That's what she said!
@skyblaze : wait, so when the heck did Engadget get one of these? and wait, no slider? Isn't that the whole point of the Motorola DROID? I prefered Evo till I saw this with the thought 'Evo with hardware AND virtual keyboard? sold'. If it doesn't have one, I'm back to Evo.
@skyblaze
DID YOU SAY DIVX. My mind is blown!
@skyblaze I'm not hating but dang this phone is just too big for my liking. I prefer quality over quantity :/
@skyblaze Too small, I want my phone BIGGER!!!! And you call that smooth!? OMG you really are ignorant.
@blenderman345 There's a Droid 2 in the works with a slide-out keyboard, but it isn't gonna compete with the EVO like the X will.
@skyblaze lol hahah
you are joking? How big is this 'Phone'? lol
I thought these massive phones died out in the 90's..
This is a joke, will never be a mass market product, I'm guessing the Engadget readership might be about the real market size for these.
@MysticMaven
Yeah, I want my phone as big as the one I had in 1995. >.
@Stepup
It's a mans phone.
@skyblaze Its a bit on the bezel-y side for me TBH. It looks way bigger than the Evo, yet the screen is just .1in bigger than the Evo's. But the design isn't too bad.
@skyblaze Front-facing camera?!
@thes1ckness You're an idiot to preorder a phone.
@elijahblake Zach Morris would so sport this phone!
@skyblaze
Damn, I prefer Sense UI, but the hardware looks damn good.
@N900
This is on the too damn big side of the spectrum.
I'd love me a large screen with great resolution so I can web browse and read manga etc with ease but gosh man. The device looks hard to hold and that bulge is gonna suprise more than a few people LOL.
@MarkAnderson
I don't get this latest trend of Android phones getting larger and larger. For God's sakes, it has to feel and work like a phone too - how weird is it to hold a 4.4" slab to your ear. It will be as comfortable as holding an N810 to your head. Now will be start selling shirts and pants with extra large pockets like what the Sony transistor radio salesmen used to have in the 60s? lol
I think for a phone 3.7" is the sweet spot - what N1 has. 4"+ is tablet territory and for that you have your Dell Streaks and other tablets.
@elijahblake
At some point screen size will hit a wall, I would say somewhere around 5".
@thes1ckness *NEVER* *BUY* *SIGHT* *UNSEEN* - ***EVER***. Even if it's a magic carpet for $5 DON'T BUY SIGHT UNSEEN!
You'll hate the small size of the iphone screen after playing with/using smartphones with 4.x " screens
@thes1ckness
So cancel it
@elijahblake Now every guy who read about the bulge part is going to cancel their petite iphone 4 and get the new droid.
@Chuckinator0
hmm, i find that to be more your opinion than fact
i for one dislike iphones/ipods as music players, theyre actually pretty bad quality
i like my sound the best it can be so i use cowon, things a beauty
once youve used it youll never be abe to stand idevices music quality
@skyblaze
Anyone know if this is coming to Canada?
@skyblaze
Here is where I draw the line. That is too big. It's a effing tablet now.
@thes1ckness
This is mine bitches! :) from droid to incredible to x!