Rooted RAZR vs. Galaxy Nexus -- which would you choose?

headbanger51 · Oct 28, 2011

So there have been several posts on this section of the forum and on the RAZR side, as well as the main Phandroid site all postulating the one question we've all asked: "RAZR or Nexus?"
But, and I realize I'm slow here, I just read that the RAZR will be sold unlocked overseas and that it's Verizon that is doing the locking; plus another article (a tweet, actually) stating that the RAZR has already been rooted and that the procedure will be posted the day the RAZR is released.
Because a locked-down bootloader is probably the biggest reason I immediately ruled out a RAZR, the possibility of it being hacked and rooted is making the traditional "RAZR vs. Nexus" argument extremely difficult for me to conclude with a clear winner. If the RAZR is rooted/rootable AND has a good camera, then I'm really FUBAR and may have to flip a coin.

So now I ask all you good people:
If the RAZR is rootable, where do you stand...
RAZR (rooted) or Galaxy Nexus?

Homan13PSU · Oct 28, 2011

Nexus.

moondrius · Oct 28, 2011

The Razr has already been rooted. The bootloader will probably never be unlocked unless some dev software leaks which is not very likely.

RichSz · Oct 28, 2011

I suspect the results of this poll will be skewed. You should make a similar poll over in the RAZR forum and compare results.

Deleted User · Oct 28, 2011

I'm not interested in only rooting.

I want the bootloader unlocked. Since the Verizon-bound RAZR will have an encrypted bootloader, no thank you.

As much as I have enjoyed my Droid X and the 2nd-init ROMs really breathed some great life into the phone, I'm tired of working around something that I don't agree with as a policy. I know I signed up for it when I bought the phone, but I am now speaking with my dollars and, in my own extremely tiny, insignificant way, I am sending Verizon and the Android vendors a message that says, "I like open phones and am willing to pay for them."

sean76 · Oct 28, 2011

I want to fuse them both together and make a super phone...Dr Frankenstein style...lol

headbanger51 · Oct 28, 2011

OK, I guess I need to do some research, since I thought having something rooted inherently meant that the bootloader had been unlocked.
Regardless, I read that the RAZR will have an unlocked bootloader on its versions sold overseas. What are the possibilities of porting that over to the locked down versions by Verizon?

redraider1 · Oct 28, 2011

Rooting really doesn't matter to me. I choose nexus for the updates right from google.

Deleted User · Oct 28, 2011

headbanger51 said:
OK, I guess I need to do some research, since I thought having something rooted inherently meant that the bootloader had been unlocked.
Regardless, I read that the RAZR will have an unlocked bootloader on its versions sold overseas. What are the possibilities of porting that over to the locked down versions by Verizon?

You can't port a bootloader over like that.

Some information for you:

- The Verizon-bound bootloader is encrypted and will only accept being overwritten by software that is signed with Motorola's private key. That means you can't just overwrite the bootloader unless Motorola releases it (or unless their private key is leaked, which is very unlikely). The signature is signing the installable ZIP file, so you can't just copy the bootloader from another phone since the install package isn't stored on that other phone.

- Rooting means you have file system access. The bootloader is not stored in the normal file system - it's in a separate, restricted partition. Consequently, rooting only means you can overwrite some files, and you can't delete any of the initialization files. Basically, you can modify the OS that came with the phone, but you can't replace it entirely.

- The new 2nd-init ROMs are possible on a system with a locked bootloader, which helps and allows you to basically replace the whole OS, but you STILL can't replace the kernel, and you can't replace all of the initialization files either. So you get a lot better with that, but it's still very restricted.

Highwayman · Oct 28, 2011

Personally I like the freedom I should get with the GN, I may want to root, i may not, I certainly like the idea of getting more frequent updates! but my biggest reason is the freedom to do what I want without having a big hassle...

Crashumbc · Oct 28, 2011

HEY, WHERE IS THE VIGOR(rezounds) in the POLL!

/cry

I'm not a big MOTO fan so probably the GN

or the Vigor

Android26 · Oct 28, 2011

Just the fact that its a Nexus is enough for me.

ZachMob · Oct 28, 2011

I don't care about the bootloader. The only reason I rooted my Droid was because Motorola stopped supporting it.

If I was confident that Motorola would provide timely updates to the RAZR for the next 2 years, I would buy it over the Nexus. I don't want to wait until August 2012 after months of delays to receive Ice Cream Sandwich.

Calvin35 · Oct 28, 2011

No extended battery equals no go for me. I'll take the Nexus and if they don't get an extended battery for that I'll get the Rezound our maybe wait for the LGR2.

Steven58 · Oct 28, 2011

Seeing as this is a Nexus section, I'm going to bet most folks say Nexus. Over in the Razr section, seeing as that's the Razr section, I'm going to bet most folks say Razr. Just a hunch.

One thing I'd like to pre-empt is any arguing and getting personal, which these threads tend to do.

However, not to be the killjoy that I can be, I'm just projecting... so carry on.

Edit: Nexus, btw.

HanSolo · Oct 28, 2011

Steven58 said:
. . . .One thing I'd like to pre-empt is any arguing and getting personal, which these threads tend to do.. . . . .However, not to be the killjoy that I can be, I'm just projecting...

Dude, you just projected all over my face. Wanna step outside?? :mad:

JK, you know I love ya, Stevie!

VJKotts · Oct 28, 2011

RAZR will get ICS in Q1 2012. But will it get Android Jelly Bean (or whatever they call it)?
Next year Oct 2012, you will be upset at Motorola and regret not purchasing a Galaxy Nexus. With Galaxy Nexus, you will be guarenteed an update within weeks of the release of the new Nexus phone.

bouchigo · Oct 29, 2011

VJKotts said:
RAZR will get ICS in Q1 2012....

Are you sure about that?

cereal killer · Oct 29, 2011

bouchigo said:
Are you sure about that?

According to a Motorola Mobility employee yes. Jellybean will also find its way onto the RAZR.

bouchigo · Oct 29, 2011

cereal killer said:
According to a Motorola Mobility employee yes. Jellybean will also find its way onto the RAZR.

I'll have to see that before I believe it, I'm thiniking Q2 for ICS, but I don't mind being proven wrong.

cereal killer · Oct 29, 2011

bouchigo said:
I'll have to see that before I believe it, I'm thiniking Q2 for ICS, but I don't mind being proven wrong.

January /February

But I get the see it before you believe it.

bouchigo · Oct 29, 2011

cereal killer said:
January /February

But I get the see it before you believe it.

Just like the release date of the Nexus, you'd think I'd know better by now...........lol

I've decided that I won't believe any release dates until VZW actually claims so

cereal killer · Oct 29, 2011

bouchigo said:
Just like the release date of the Nexus, you'd think I'd know better by now...........lol

I've decided that I won't believe any release dates until VZW actually claims so

You are a VERY smart man

bouchigo · Oct 29, 2011

cereal killer said:
You are a VERY smart man

We all have our moments I suppose

Szadzik · Oct 29, 2011

Calvin35 said:
No extended battery equals no go for me. I'll take the Nexus and if they don't get an extended battery for that I'll get the Rezound our maybe wait for the LGR2.

This is the most stupid reason not to get a phone. There are external battery packs that are 10x better than all extended batteries together.

Been using one for 2 years now and it is a million times better than another internal battery as it can charge multiple devices plus it has 3x the capacity of my battery in the phone. Also, there is no need to reboot the phone to get the battery to work.

Rooted RAZR vs. Galaxy Nexus -- which would you choose?

If the RAZR is, in fact rootable upon release, which phone will you get?

Droid RAZR (rootable)

Galaxy Nexus

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