Help Initial Observations/Questions

[hilmar2k]

Okay, so I picked up a RMHD today, and so far I am extremely unimpressed. Maybe this will change with time, but both the battery life and reception are not even up to par with my Inc4G. Very surprised. Now, it's a bit too early to judge battery life, but the reception is terrible. Not even as good as the notoriously terrible (for reception) Inc2. I thought Motorola had good radios?

We'll see what happens. It is updating to 4.1 now. I am pretty surprised it came out of the box still on 4.04.

 

[hilmar2k]

Well, after updating to 4.1.1 and going through one charge cycle, neither the reception nor the battery life improved.

Maybe I got a lemon. Guess I'll go back to BB and try swapping it for another one. Hopefully that solves my issue, as battery life and reception were two of the three reasons I upgraded in the first place.

 

[jkmasi]

I had the Inc 2, and the SG3 (loved until JB). Now I'm using the RMHD, and I find both the reception and battery life to be excellent. I can make a clear phone call from my office whereas when I had the SG3 I had to step outside to get enough service to clearly hear/make a call. My battery easily lasts a full day, but then so did my SG3... but now I have at least 70% left when I hit the sack each night, as opposed to 30-50% I had left on my SG3 at the end of the day.

Hard to comment on your experience without knowing how you have your Maxx HD configured, but you should expect excellent battery life - provided you don't have rogue apps or services that are keeping your phone awake.

My only complaint about the phone after using for a couple of months is a slight case of occasional hesitation - not even enough to call it lag.

The Razr Maxx HD may not be the most exciting or smoothest smartphone available, but it definitely has excellent battery life and cell reception.

 

[hilmar2k]

Well, looks like I'm going back to the Inc4G. The signal strength on the RMHD is just subpar in comparison. Surprising with all of the "Motorola has the best radios" I hear all the time. I am a little surprised, considering, but two RMHD's both failing to get even close to the signal strength of even my old Inc2 tells me that the radio is far from the best.

 

[hansangb]

If you even *think* the battery life is not that good, it makes me think you have a faulty unit.

 

[hilmar2k]

If you even *think* the battery life is not that good, it makes me think you have a faulty unit.

Maybe my expectations were just higher. I am using the phone pretty lightly, and my extrapolations based on battery drain for the day so far looks like it will last 30-40 hours. I could get that out of my Inc4G with its 1700 mAH battery. I'll give it a couple of days to see what it will really do. But I ready about people watching an entire movie and using less than 10% of the battery. I am not seeing anything like that. If I'm only going to get the battery life I am seeing now, I might as well return it for the DNA.

However, that all said, the reception is of bigger concern to me at the moment. I'll compare it to my co-worker's Rezound tomorrow at the office, but it comes up short of both the Inc4G and the Inc2 so far.

And I find it hard to believe I got two faulty units. I swapped out the first one and am seeing the identical underwhelming battery life and reception.

 

[Thom]

On the Bionic under ICS I found that GPS was really eating the battery. I disable GPS until I am in a situation where I need it and battery usage is much better.

You might check it out.

... Thom

 

[hansangb]

Maybe my expectations were just higher. I am using the phone pretty lightly, and my extrapolations based on battery drain for the day so far looks like it will last 30-40 hours. I could get that out of my Inc4G with its 1700 mAH battery. I'll give it a couple of days to see what it will really do. But I ready about people watching an entire movie and using less than 10% of the battery. I am not seeing anything like that. If I'm only going to get the battery life I am seeing now, I might as well return it for the DNA.

However, that all said, the reception is of bigger concern to me at the moment. I'll compare it to my co-worker's Rezound tomorrow at the office, but it comes up short of both the Inc4G and the Inc2 so far.

And I find it hard to believe I got two faulty units. I swapped out the first one and am seeing the identical underwhelming battery life and reception.

I've had 1700mAH phones and they simply could not last 30-40 hours. If I left it alone and checked email a few times a day, maybe. But not if I played games, surfed the web, listened to music etc. FYI, my phone buzzes every few minutes due to Nitro email alerts, I have every location on, gmail sync every 15 min (or whatever the shortest duration), BT, GPS, etc. That *never* happened with my Droid, Droid Incredible, or Droid Bionic.

So if you don't use the phone that much, I guess you should stick to which ever one gives you the better reception.

 

[Sandroidfan]

Yeah, there is absolutely no way that Maxx HD with 3300mAh will last just as good as Inc4G with 1700mAh battery if tested under same condition. it should go way longer than Inc4G.

Also how do you compare the signal, just by dbm or bars? I believe Inc2 is 3G phone with GB, so dbm is calculated differently than LTE phone with ICS/JB. Unless it drops calls/data, I bet RMHD is on par with Inc4G in real usage at least.

 

[hilmar2k]

Also how do you compare the signal, just by dbm or bars? I believe Inc2 is 3G phone with GB, so dbm is calculated differently than LTE phone with ICS/JB. Unless it drops calls/data, I bet RMHD is on par with Inc4G in real usage at least.

I compared it to the Inc2 when the RMHD was in 3G. I compared it to the Inc4G for LTE. I did not use the bars, I used the dBm level. I'm going to give it a few days, but so far the signal definitely seems inferior.

Today will be a good test of the battery, because I will be back at work and at my more normal routine.

 

[hilmar2k]

Well, battery life seems fine, but reception is still poor. I am shocked by how many people think this thing has a good radio. It has failed every comparison so far. I have compared it to an Inc2, Inc4G, HTC Rezound and a Samsung Fascinate. All but the Fascinate had significantly better reception, and the Fascinate was on par (and we all know how much Sansung radios suck). The Rezound was at -80 dBm while the RMHD right next to it was at -103 dBm. That was four bars on the Rezound and two on the RMHD.

I guess this thing goes back for the DNA. I'd rather live with shorter battery life than crappy reception.

 

[hilmar2k]

.....and now wifi doesn't work. Connects but no data. Every other device on the network is fine.

Worst. Radios. Ever.

 

[Sandroidfan]

Well, battery life seems fine, but reception is still poor. I am shocked by how many people think this thing has a good radio. It has failed every comparison so far. I have compared it to an Inc2, Inc4G, HTC Rezound and a Samsung Fascinate. All but the Fascinate had significantly better reception, and the Fascinate was on par (and we all know how much Sansung radios suck). The Rezound was at -80 dBm while the RMHD right next to it was at -103 dBm. That was four bars on the Rezound and two on the RMHD.

I guess this thing goes back for the DNA. I'd rather live with shorter battery life than crappy reception.

Not sure what's going on with your RMHD. I don't think DNA will get you significantly better reception than RMHD.

When I tested reception at verizon store couple of months ago, my RHD and DNA were neck and neck on reception. dbm can vary with position by 2~3dbm, but overall they seem to be equal. And Note 2 had best reception, better than both by about 5~6dbm to the contrary of perception on samsung radio.

 

[hilmar2k]

Not sure what's going on with your RMHD. I don't think DNA will get you significantly better reception than RMHD.

When I tested reception at verizon store couple of months ago, my RHD and DNA were neck and neck on reception. dbm can vary with position by 2~3dbm, but overall they seem to be equal. And Note 2 had best reception, better than both by about 5~6dbm to the contrary of perception on samsung radio.

Four possibilities as I see it:

1. I have the worst luck imaginable and managed to get two lemons
2. My comparisons are flawed
3. My expectations are too high
4. The RMHD sucks

I don't think #3 is it. From all of the glowing reviews I am having trouble accepting #4 as well. That leaves numbers 1 and 2. Though even if my signal strength comparisons are flawed, it doesn't explain my wifi issues.

After having a phone with a 4.7" screen for a couple days, I really don't want to go back to the 4" screen on my Inc4G. And the lack of an SD card slot on the DNA is keeping me away from that. Man I wish the RMHD would just work......

EDIT: Reset fixed the wifi.

 

[Sandroidfan]

Sometimes going by dbm alone is misleading when comparing different phones. Did you run speedtest and is it too slow? Does it drop 4G while others are holding onto 4G? Those are more important things in real usage, and I don't think RHD will disappoint there.

Also did you try setting network mode to LTE/CDMA? Default is global and it can be flaky in holding 4G sometimes. Anyway hope you figure that out.

 

[hilmar2k]

Sometimes going by dbm alone is misleading when comparing different phones. Did you run speedtest and is it too slow? Does it drop 4G while others are holding onto 4G? Those are more important things in real usage, and I don't think RHD will disappoint there.

Also did you try setting network mode to LTE/CDMA? Default is global and it can be flaky in holding 4G sometimes. Anyway hope you figure that out.

I'm going to hang on to it for the full 14 day return period before bailing, as I really want to like it. I know it sounds like I am bashing the poor phone, but I am just so disappointed because I so badly want it to work.

Yeah, that's the first thing I do on LTE phones. Thanks for the tip, though.

 

[hilmar2k]

Wifi is dead again......

This thing is going back. Looks like I'll have to try the DNA.

 

[marky2mark]

I got my RMHD just before Thanksgiving and haven't had any of the issues you mentioned. Wifi and 4G have been rock solid as well as voice signal. My old Droid Incredible would consistently drop calls inside my house, the RMHD hasn't dropped a call yet. And I easily get 2+ days between charges.

 

[eagle7]

I got my RMHD just before Thanksgiving and haven't had any of the issues you mentioned. Wifi and 4G have been rock solid as well as voice signal. My old Droid Incredible would consistently drop calls inside my house, the RMHD hasn't dropped a call yet. And I easily get 2+ days between charges.

I got my phone about a week ago and I am not getting that kind of battery life. Can you tell us more about how you use your phone? How much data things do you do, how much wifi browsing, youtube at all? Any good tips you have dicovered?

 

[hilmar2k]

Sorry fellas, swapped it out for a DNA. I'll miss those extra 1270 mAh, but love the DNA. I've always been an HTC guy, and I just think I couldn't get by the disappointing reception and the temper-mental wifi.

Glad you guys have good luck with the RMHD, judging by the reviews most love it. I tried, I really did, but at the end of the day it just wasn't the right phone for me.

 

[Methos1979]

Sorry fellas, swapped it out for a DNA. I'll miss those extra 1270 mAh, but love the DNA. I've always been an HTC guy, and I just think I couldn't get by the disappointing reception and the temper-mental wifi.

Glad you guys have good luck with the RMHD, judging by the reviews most love it. I tried, I really did, but at the end of the day it just wasn't the right phone for me.

Not every phone is for every guy. You definitely had some different problems then anyone I've ever encountered with this phone. Usually it's "I hate this camera" or "I hate the lag" - two issues with at least some validity, although the lag seems to be subjective. You are the first to have a problem with the radios.

But no worries, you've moved on and now you're happy and we are (still) happy as well. Initially, I thought you were probably just one of those crazy people or chronic whiners but then I noticed that even though your location says New York, you've got a N.E. Patriots logo for your avatar so obviously you're a man of impeccable taste and above average intelligence!