We’re live at today’s top-secret Droid event, and Verizon and Motorola just made the Droid X official. The handset has been the subject of numerous leaks, but it’s only now that we’re getting all the specs, not just ones hidden in video frames. With a monstrous 4.3″ 854×480 screen, gorgeous metal casing, and the coveted 2.2 arriving later in the summer, we wonder whether this thing isn’t going to eat the Incredible’s lunch.
The 8-megapixel camera on the back is impressive with its mechanical shutter, but of course, the quality won’t be any better than 5-or-6-megapixel camera with that lens and tiny aperture. The Droid X will also shoot 720p video. Anybody else feel the reign of the pocket cam is ending? The X will even do “super slow mo.”
Media playback is obviously a major priority here: between the EVO 4G and the iPhone 4, the superphones out there need some serious chops to compete. The X sports HDMI out, and will play back non-DRM’ed media in HD on your TV. And not just local media. As Google’s CEO, Eric Schmidt, said: “The Droid X expands our commitment to mobile video.” It’s got Blockbuster, VCast video, NFL Mobile, and Skype. Woo-hoo, VCast, my favorite! Seriously, though. Your media capability is mainly in the apps — and with its generous storage space, it could be a nice little mobile theater.
It has the ability to create a wireless hotspot with up to five slots — it won’t be as fast as the EVO 4G, but it’s still a nice ability to have. The $20 fee for 2GB seems a bit restrictive. 5 cents per megabyte overage. Why not just get an app and tether with that on your unlimited data plan?
The Droid X will support Exchange, Gmail Enterprise, and of course push and all that. It’ll ship with Android 2.1, to the dismay of many, but will definitely receive 2.2 (Froyo) and Flash 10.1 later in the summer. It’s got Motoblur on top, which they say has dramatically changed. It’s shipping with Swype, though, which could be really nice on this big multitouch screen.
Here are the specs all together in one place:
- Display: 4.3″, 854×480
- CPU: 1GHz TI OMAP
- Storage: 8GB onboard, 16GB microSD card included (32GB max)
- Camera: 8-megapixel, dual LED flash
- Ports: HDMI out
- Battery: 1500mAh
- Other: 3 microphones (one noise-canceling), GPS, Bluetooth
Pricing and availability: the Droid X will be available on July 15th for $199 after a $100 mail-in rebate. $30 for unlimited data and an extra $20 for hotspot functionality (2GB cap). Any Verizon customer with a contract ending in 2010 is eligible for the upgrade.
The Droid X will be Verizon-only (i.e. CDMA) but it was hinted that there will be a similar phone for international purpose available later.
We’ll have a hands-on post in just a few minutes.
Will the Droid X be a “World Phone”? That is a key feature for me…and I am sure others.
Nope.
Any idea if the X will have a GSM chip for overseas as well as CDMA (like the BB Storm)?
They said(during the Q&A) that this one won’t, but that they may well make a GSM version that looks similar.
No it will not be. Moto CEO said Verizon Only.
There will be no GSM chip in this phone. Thus, no worldwide roaming. =(
can you pre order this phone? if so how and when?
wait, does it will the GSM version later?? like Droid/milestone version for GSM ??
i love it all, gimme gimme gimme! oh crap my contract ends in 2011- wtf no love for me!?!? i hate it, take it away- i say goo’day!
Q: When will the device be available worldwide?
A: This is only for Verizon.. in the US. We might have a device that looks similar outside of the US in the future, but this is for Verizon right now.
so, what does this mean?? Moto will make the GSM version later rite??
Sounds almost exactly like the EVO.
I’ll still take the Incredible. What’s with all these massive screens? How are they going to fit in my skinny jeans?
A geek with skinny jeans… that’s a good one.
Droid X vs EVO specs post please
It’s usually a bad sign when they don’t boast about battery life. What good id a cool device that’s always on the charger?
More talk time battery than the iphone4…8 hrs. but less standby.
Wayyyyy better than the incredible’s battery.
huuuuuuge! other than that: yummy :)
Can you see the screen in sunlight? Does the battery last longer than a day? These are the only criteria I care about anymore when it comes to these new phones. What is the point of a phone that you can’t see outside and can’t use for more than a few hours without recharging? That’s not very “mobile,” is it?
Good post. I like it.
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I was told by a Verizon Wireless rep today that it will be a world phone.
It will not be an international phone.. that verizon guy must be new or not paying attention.
Glenn: The guys was ‘probably’ wrong. the CDMA technology will cover you in about 40 countries, so in a way he was right, but the GSM capable phones (which it sounds as thoguh this is not one of them) go to 220 countries.
So, it will go internationally, but not to many places, like nearly all of Europe.
What drives me crazy is all these phones keep coming out which are great, but limit international roaming. Is it so darn hard to make these “smartphones” world phone capable? That doesn’t seem so smart. I travel a lot internationally and I can’t seem to get a cool phone that will go with me on the road. For now, I am stuck with this BB Storm which I just want to throw against the wall simply because it works for me on the road.
For the love of God, please start making these smartphones a world phone please!
I will probably buy this phone because it’s Verizon, world phone, sexy camera, and android.
Also great marketing with the hidden messages.
How come we get no love from all the the cool new droids here in the uk? :(
I’d like to echo JohnM’s comment… make it CDMA and GSM capable. Great, CDMA gets 40 countries… but not Europe…
This is, in my mind, the only major inadequacy of the Droid series.
It not being able to used when I travel outside the U.S. is a killer…..
Unless SKYPE with the Wi-Fi connection will allow this????
Will SKYPE with a Wi-Fi connection allow international calling?????
Will SKYPE with a Wi-Fi connection allow international calling?????
which 802.11 spec is it rockin’?
Verizon Rep said she traded her Droid Incredible back in for the first Droid model because of the short battery life.
I’m having an issue with the plugin where all the calendar entries added on the mac appear after sync one hour earlier on the phone calendar. When I add an event on the phone it appears correctly on the mac after the sync, but at the same time it moves three hours earlier on the phone.
http://www.gsmcellulars.com/