HTC Rezound vs Motorola Droid Razr

ncampbell21 said:

I have the Incredible and love Swype. I was wondering if the Rezound has Swype installed?

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I don't have the phone yet but it has a similar keyboard called "trace ". It's just like the standard keyboard but you can swype your finger also.

Welp, I tested the Rezound again today, now that my area got 4G today. Some things I noticed in relation to the Razr:

1. I see what Sean means. The Rezound gets pretty toasty with LTE downloading and multi-tasking as well (does not get so hot in 3G). The Razr gets warm and pipes through the display, but the Rezound seems to bottle it all inside. I tested my own 32gb card with games and tunes and noticed it was baking when I removed the battery. Toasty!

2. Game emulators play a little faster on the Rezound, but they do not play as good as on the Razr for a few reasons:

1) The display is not as responsive as the Razr so direction changes are problematic.
2) Holding down on the display when using virtual buttons does not work. Case in point, I was testing racing games with N64Oid and the acclerator kept going to zero. This is because a constant sustained press does not appear to be registered by the display, so you have to keep re-pressing. No such issues on any previous devcie I have tested (I have tested a LOT of devices).

Perhaps this is due to the hi res display on a small screen, or the touch grid on the Rezound is weaker. None the less, game emulator playability is weak.

3. The display on the Razr is starting to look ugly when compared to the Rezound. No other way to put it. The dimness and grain REALLY stands out, as due the overblown colors. IMO, the Droid 3 display looks a lot better too, since the grain is less visible, brighter display and cartoon-free colors.

4. Sound output from the Rezound from 3.5mm and the speaker is a lot better than the Razr. Tested some Audioslave tunes. Cochise is one of the tunes.

5. Not sure what folks are saying that the Razr camera is better. It is slower and less detailed, plus had a photo buff comparing pics as well. IMO, the Razr is minor league compared to the Rezound for camera pics.

So there it is:

A. If you play game emulators, the little extra speed is offset in a bad way by the weak performance of virtual control response and behavior on the Rezound.

B. The Rezound gets warmer than the Razr in 4G mode and when muti-tasking at same time with this. Toasty!

C. Audio quality is better on the Rezound for 3.5mm and speaker (I did not bother with artificial Beat mode).

D. Though game emulators perform better on the Razr, the display compared to the Rezound is fugly. In the Razr's defense, a lot of displays fall into the same situation.

E. The camera on the Rezound is the real deal- not so much with the Razr.

IMO, this one picture sums up why the Razr display is a dim, grainy over-saturated mess compared to the Rezound:

ummm

ncampbell21 said:

I have the Incredible and love Swype. I was wondering if the Rezound has Swype installed?

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Nope, but it was easy to install.

rushmore said:

IMO, this one picture sums up why the Razr display is a dim, grainy over-saturated mess compared to the Rezound:

ummm

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You know, I've seen this pic many times now. But it still surprises me just how dramatic the difference is every time I see it.

I've seen this picture many times but find it very misleading because just looking at the screens I think they are both fine (as a potential buyer of one of these phone).

rushmore said:

IMO, this one picture sums up why the Razr display is a dim, grainy over-saturated mess compared to the Rezound:

ummm

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I dunno...I have bought nothing yet, but held the two phones in my hand today before I ever turned them on. It took about 15 seconds to put the Razr down, and I won't be picking it back up. Doesn't feel good at all. Yes it is light and thin compared to Rezound, but in a cheap, kid's toy kind of way. The Rezound fit my hand like a glove.

Opinions will vary, but the feel in my hand turned me off to Razr... instantly.

you2 said:

I've seen this picture many times but find it very misleading because just looking at the screens I think they are both fine (as a potential buyer of one of these phone).

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That is the point here in that the pic easily explains why the Razr is dim, grainy and oversaturated compared to the Rezound.

Not seeing how this can be disputed, since it its what it is. Based in my posts about Rezound issues, I am not a Rezound fanboy.

Well to be honest I just got back from a verizon store after comparing the two. The comparison is not complete; and the display connectors definitely spoil the experience of holding the phones. On the other hand the phones were side by side so i'll make these comments:

The rezound actually seemed a bit dimmer on max brightness (partly because max brightness is a bit low (compared to other lcds) and the razr having higher contrast - which is not brightness but increases the visiblity.
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The razr is definitely snappier (esp with things like maps and browser).
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The razr default browser is annoying (cannot pinch or tap zoom on mobile sites; have to go into settings and change text size).
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Both seemed to lock fast on gps
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My impression was that the rezound felt better in the hand with the previously mentioned caveat; the razr was a little uncomfortable due to width/sharp edge.
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The razr sound was better but max volume a bit low; the rezound sound was a bit harsh (esp phone calls).
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I had a pair of kliptch s4 headphones and both phones sounded equally well with the s4 (but the rezound could go a bit louder and maintain good fidelity)
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I cannot comment on reception (this is a verizon store wwith good reception )
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I cannot comment on battery life
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The razr was definitely better built (overall finish was tighter)
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Which do I prefer - not sure yet - I think the rezound fits better in the hand and I think sense helps in daily usage (esp the browser and cut past between windows) - I kind of prefer the razr display and I suspect strongly it is easier to use in very bright light (out doors sunny day).
The rezound can be louder but the quality of sound on the razr is definitely better - esp in the high tones.
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That's my 2ct (first impression) after using both phones side by side for about 45 minutes.

rushmore said:

That is the point here in that the pic easily explains why the Razr is dim, grainy and oversaturated compared too the Rezound.

Not seeing how this can be disputed, since it its what it is. Based in my posts about Rezound issues, I am not a Rezound fanboy.

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hovercraftdriver25 said:

I dunno...I have bought nothing yet, but held the two phones in my hand today before I ever turned them on. It took about 15 seconds to put the Razr down, and I won't be picking it back up. Doesn't feel good at all. Yes it is light and thin compared to Rezound, but in a cheap, kid's toy kind of way. The Rezound fit my hand like a glove.

Opinions will vary, but the feel in my hand turned me off to Razr... instantly.

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I always use a case for my phones - I wonder if a case would possibly make the RAZR more comfortable to hold? I looked at some RAZR cases online and I believe there was one that looked like it would make the edges more rounded, which along with the extra width, is why the RAZR isn't the most comfortable to hold.

Teegunn said:

I always use a case for my phones - I wonder if a case would possibly make the RAZR more comfortable to hold? I looked at some RAZR cases online and I believe there was one that looked like it would make the edges more rounded, which along with the extra width, is why the RAZR isn't the most comfortable to hold.

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Makes it even wider. There was a dude in the VZW who had a case and it made the device more awkward. He ended up exchanging the Razr for the Rezound and they waved the $35, due to some data connection issues the Bionic and Razr (an update is being worked on).

I bought my Rezound yesterday and did notice big push towards Razr. I even asked if they were instructed to push one over another. Denials all around.

odock said:

Its funny to see all this because I feel the same way I bought this phone as a place holder for the nexus and Im pretty sure this is going to be my phone for the next2 years. I dont understand why this phone isn't getting the advertising it deserves... It is hands down better then the razr IMO.

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Guys, I'm curious what your thought process is in terms of picking the Rezound over the Razr. I agree with what many of you have said regarding the Nexus. I've been waiting for it too, but having had two Samsungs (most recently the horrible Charge), I am really concerned about the Sammy hardware. Between their dismal radios and horrible GPS, it's a concern that none of those guys express about the Nexus.

I currently have the Bionic and have had no real problems with it...far better than the Charge.

I confess to liking the screen on the Razr more than the Rezound, but that's really a subjective thing (resolution vs better blacks).

So why did you pick the Rezound over the Razr? How's the battery life with the standard battery?

Ken7 said:

Guys, I'm curious what your thought process is in terms of picking the Rezound over the Razr. I agree with what many of you have said regarding the Nexus. I've been waiting for it too, but having had two Samsungs (most recently the horrible Charge), I am really concerned about the Sammy hardware. Between their dismal radios and horrible GPS, it's a concern that none of those guys express about the Nexus.

I currently have the Bionic and have had no real problems with it...far better than the Charge.

I confess to liking the screen on the Razr more than the Rezound, but that's really a subjective thing (resolution vs better blacks).

So why did you pick the Rezound over the Razr? How's the battery life with the standard battery?

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For me, the razr vs rezound came down to three things: screen, size and removable battery. I'm not a huge person. My hands are probably on the small size and the rezound just felt so much better and more comfortable in my hand. It's thicker for sure, but it's also noticeably narrower.

And like my response on the samoled post, I prefer the HD SLCD screen over the lower res samoled one in the razr. Coming from the D3, which was also pentile, my eyes notice the pixelation on the razr right away. I knew I would not get used to it since I never did on the D3 (which actually has higher pixel density than the razr).

Finally, because I'm a media whore, I really like the ability to swap out the battery on those days where I know I'll need it, like on long flights. Not a chance with the razr. From a practical, everyday use standpoint, I think both phones will probably hold up find. I know my rezound does after having had it for almost week.

It really comes down to what you value most in your phone. These are my reasons. Others may hate the rezound's form factor or not care too much that the razr has a non-removable battery. And I did give the razr a fair chance as I really like moto products. Just look at the devices I've owned/currently still own. With the exception of the rezound, they're all from moto.

Ken7 said:

Guys, I'm curious what your thought process is in terms of picking the Rezound over the Razr. I agree with what many of you have said regarding the Nexus. I've been waiting for it too, but having had two Samsungs (most recently the horrible Charge), I am really concerned about the Sammy hardware. Between their dismal radios and horrible GPS, it's a concern that none of those guys express about the Nexus.

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Well, I'll tell you why IMHO it was a no brainer for me to pick the ReZound over the Razr.(again this was a personal choice/opinion, I'm not knocking the Razr) I did research on all three phones(Razr, ReZound, G-Nex) and the Rezound stood out to me as the one that not only would suit me better but that was just plain better over all. When it was released I went to the Verizon store and compared the two phones.(by now the G-Nex had been knocked out of the running for several reasons which have nothing to do with this post) The first thing you should pay attention to with any phone is how it feels in your hand. I mean that's where it's going to be when you use it so if you ignore this it's like buying some awesome looking running shoes that fit to tight. It will kill your whole experience. I instantly noticed how awkward and uncomfortable the Razr felt in my hands, and it's not like I have small hands. The Rezound on the other hand fit like a gloves. It was actually smaller than I'd expected. When I played around with the phones the Rezound seemed slightly snappier to me. They were both pretty fast though. I am very in to music and when I listened to them the sound(media wise) was much better in the ReZound. The way i look at it is the whole Beats thing may be a gimmick but if you like music with some bass in it, it's actually pretty good. The free earbuds also added some extra value to the deal. Last but not least the screen. When I compared the screens it was over. I was just amazed at the ReZounds crispness and detail. Yes the Razr does have brighter colors but that's pretty much it's only advantage. On the ReZound I zoomed the screen in as far as it would go and put my eye on the screen and I still couldn't see a pixel. I mean come on! It was over after that. I do wish the ReZound had an NFC chip but I guess no phone is perfect and I will be honest and say I was favoring the ReZound when I went in the store but I wanted to compare the two in person to me sure. I was prepared to be surprised by the Razr so tried to be as unbiased as I could. I mean you never know. Oh yeah also the 4G on this phone is great. I live on the outskirts of town and I still get a good signal. As for battery life I don't know much about the Razr's and I was prepared to buy an extra battery for the ReZound since the rumor was it would be just like the Thunderbolt's or worse. I was pleasantly surprised. I didn't even need one. My battery last me through and entire day. I am a moderate user, well until I get home that is..lol. Once I'm on wifi I go a bit crazy. So anyway that's how and why I made my choice. I hope this helps you some. Remember most of these things I listed can be somewhat subjective. If you just don't like the phone for some reason then I say don't get it. If someone buys a phone just to prove they don't like it then most of the time they won't.

Thanks guys, some good feedback there on the Rezound vs the Razr. I'll give the Rezound a closer look and try to be as objective as I can.

Ken7 said:

Thanks guys, some good feedback there on the Rezound vs the Razr. I'll give the Rezound a closer look and try to be as objective as I can.

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No, don't be objective. Be subjective. You have the get the phone you like, not what looks best on paper.

Well I've spent close to two hours at various verizon stores playing with the two phones. I've played with the browser; viewing angle; video; made test phone calls. Mind you every phone has nuances that I was not exposed to nor did I get to test the phones under different signal strengths.

So far I'm leaning towards the rezound (for those who have read my various spam you can see i've waffled back and forth). I definitely prefer the razr screen (though it has a strong green tint when viewed from an off angle); the rezound gets louder; my friends said I sounded better (or louder) with the rezound (which is kind of contrary to reviews); and they sounded louder to me (though the razr has better fidelity). The two things that are pushing me towards the rezound are the browser (which i found much better than both the driod's or dolphin browser) and the fit in the hand.
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Yea I might spend the rest of life testing; no really I'll buy one friday - but the sales guy said he'd let me take it outside if I come back during the week so last test will be the 'sun' test
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Really the razr has four things I like: smart actions; amoled screen (which I think has better properties than the samsung; though the green tint is a bit annoying but goes away if head on); splash proof; and my guts said it is a better build (screen less likely to scratch or be vulnerable to water)

How's the shutter time on the Rezound?

brocktice said:

How's the shutter time on the Rezound?

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Almost too fast, I was a bit...happy last night at the bar and kept swiping my finger and the damn thing took the picture the instant I touched the button. I personally would like a half-second delay option for my adult-drink driven meanderings.

As each day goes by, I am more and more glad I chose it over the razr. I still don't knpw why Verizon is doing such a soft sell with it. I am not knocking the razr but really like the screen resolution and the removable battery.

I am looking forward to testing the Rezound in a few weeks. In spite of the weaker IMO display and less ergonomic one hand use, the Razr has been outstanding so far. Since I am also a media hound, the hot swap micro sd slot rocks.

How is the heat? I have put the Razr through some stress level stuff, but does not get hot like expected. The Rezound demos did get hot, but they have demo junk in them and charging all the time.

Both devices seem a mutual win IMO.

I have played with both in store and the Razr was not comfortable but the Rezound fit my hand much better.

I compared each display next to my iPhone 4 and while playing the same youtube videos, the Razr had a very noisy playback and looked like a low resolution display. The Rezound looked almost exactly like my iPhone in color and smooth, crisp playback. Rezound won in the comparison.

The earpiece on the Rezound sounded better but the speaker phone on the Razr was better. Since I don't use a speaker phone much, the rezound won.

I've never owned an Android phone so have no experience with Sense or Blur but the HTC UI looked so much more refined. Rezound won again.

I liked the default keyboard better on the Rezound as well.

I played with the cameras and did like the Razr's no lag shutter speed but the Rezound seemed to have more camera options. I suspect the cameras in both would make me out to be a better photographer than I am but reviews indicate the Rezound has better picture quality.

I originally wanted the Nexus but the Rezound has everything I'm looking for so I will probably pick up a Rezound tomorrow with the generous return policy they have in place now.

These are just my observations so take them with a grain of salt.

I'm looking at these phones too. As much as the Rezound looks great, I just get the feeling it's still a last generation device with a better screen and dual core. With the comments of it heating up on heavy usage I'm betting battery life is gonna be pretty bad. However at least you can change out the battery!

The RAZR to me appears to be the tip of Moto's next Gen stuff. I don't see much legacy tied into it say of the Bionic. Personally I think the Bionic was rushed out the door and was a testing ground for design of the RAZR. I need to get the RAZR in my hand again. There was a rep at VZW that actually had one out. I suppose if the thinness isn't all it's all cracked up to be, and that's it's main selling feature then there isn't much point?

Lastly, since the thickness was RAZR's main selling point, why bother with the Rezound and go straight to the Nexus? We know ICS won't have flash (Which could be important) but chances are it's a true next gen device. That is, when they finally RELEASE the damn thing! I'm getting tired of waiting, so I suppose that's why most are getting the Rezound when the RAZR doesn't suit them?

is the Rezound screen as easy to view outdoors as the Bionic that I returned?
Also, you mention the return policy...what is the return policy for Rezound/VZ?