Droid Turbo: Power & Speed Wrapped in Kevlar (A Review)

I was having so much fun setting up my new phone that I’m just getting around to blogging today.

Verizon sent me an early upgrade offer via its Edge program, so I checked out my options. I’m an Android fan, and after some research, it came down to the Samsung Galaxy S6 and the Motorola Droid Turbo. I love Samsung products, and my last two smartphones have been from the popular manufacturer, but I also enjoyed the original Droid as my first smartphone.

Like most business professionals today, I’m on the go — working client conferences, running errands around town and managing my small business around the clock. Two things about the Droid Turbo stood out: power and speed.

Power

I need power, and this is one area where Motorola dwarfs Samsung. The Droid Turbo offers up to 48 hours of mixed use and 675 hours on standby in one charge. I’m heading to a client’s conference this week, so the term heavy usage applies. I’ll be thrilled to get one full day out of the battery (although I will have my mobile charger on standby). If this impressive power display isn’t enough, you can also pick up a Turbo Charger, which gives you 8 hours of battery life in only 15 minutes.

Speed

Speed kills, or in this case, makes you look like a rockstar. The Droid Turbo’s 2.7 GHz quad-core processor lets you jump back and forth between a multitude of apps with no lag. So now I really can be in 3 places at the same time, app-wise, and that’s huge for me (because cloning isn’t an option). I can engage with fans via Hootsuite and communicate with clients via email while keeping an eye on my banking.

After my two main needs were met, I was thrilled with a few additional features. The Ballistic Nylon models are wrapped in Metallized Glass Fiber reinforced with DuPont™ Kevlar® fiber, making the phone easy to grip while adding strength and durability. It’s like having bodyguards for your smartphone. The added protection won’t weigh you down; the Droid Turbo only comes in one ounce heavier than the S6. I like the weight in my hand.

The 21 MP rear-facing camera and Ultra HD video is perfect for capturing the action at events and snapping professional pictures that are ready for any social platform. Scratch-resistant Corning® Gorilla® Glass 3 guards the 5.2-inch display while a nanocoating helps to keep your phone dry when you’re caught in a downpour (or accidentally knock over your coffee). Motorola is so confident in its chemically-protected screen that the manufacturer will replace it once in the first two years if it’s damaged.

“Let’s go Droid Turbo, text Richard Branson and remind me to save the world tomorrow.”

Finally, I’m looking forward to this phone becoming the assistant I need. I’ve never really gotten into voice commands before, but this setup seems intuitive. I love how the screen comes to life when the phone senses you, and notifications peek through on the Active Display without interrupting your concentration.

There are cons of course, which there are with any phone (or gadget). The battery’s not removable, and the 32 GB memory isn’t expandable. I use cloud storage when I can, so I’m hoping it won’t be an issue. I did hear from a Twitter user who was concerned that Verizon has forgotten Motorola in the wake of Samsung’s popularity and hasn’t upgraded the operating system yet. While that does concern me, I’m happy with Android 4.4 Kitkat® for now.

I just got the phone today, so I’m sure I’ll come across other pros and cons when I head to a client’s conference this week. After 4 action-packed days of covering events, capturing memorable moments and creating a conversation, a follow-up review with more real world experience will be forthcoming.

Let’s Talk Tech, Mobile Style

What phone do you have?

What are your favorite features of the phone?

Are you an Apple or Android fan?

Do you primarily access social media platforms via mobile or desktop/laptop?

Your lovable gadget geek,
Jaime

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