Motorola DROID 4 (Verizon) QWERTY Android smartphone review

Score

4.0 stars
"Good"

(How we score)

Best keyboard ever, fast LTE data speeds, solid build, respectable camera

Non-replaceable battery, unimpressive LCD display, previous DROIDs didn't use plastic, global roaming not yet active

Summary

While T-Mobile might have fired the first Android salvo with the G1, it was Verizon and Motorola's DROID that really got the notice of the U.S. market. It featured a rock-solid build, a large (for the time) display, and a hardware keyboard. It was, and remains today, a great device.

A few iterations later and we have ourselves the new Motorola DROID 4. It runs on Verizon's speedy 4G LTE network and is powered by a dual-core 1.2GHz processor. The touchscreen display received a boost in size and resolution (4 inches, qHD) and the phone comes equipped with dual HD capable cameras (720p up front, 1080p in the rear). That's a lot of 'more' for the DROID line, to be certain.

But it's the DROID 4's amazing new 5-row QWERTY keyboard that will make tongues wag. It features edge-lit keys that are large, provide great feedback, and are laid out in the right way. It's the gem of the DROID family.

We've got a video of the Motorola DROID 4 in action after the Table of Contents, below.