Motorola Droid X2 First-Look Review: Blazing Fast

The X2 is, rather obviously, the successor to the Motorola Droid X released on Verizon last summer. Physically the two are almost identical: same design, same dimensions, even the same weight. The only way to tell the difference between them is to read the model name on the back battery cover. Like its predecessor, the X2 is somewhat broad and flat, although not as much as competing models like the Samsung Infuse 4G. It also features aluminum trim around the screen, which gives it a bit of a hefty, solid feel.

The Droid X was originally one of the forerunners of the "big-screen smartphone" trend, and the new version has the same size display -- although it's since been surpassed by models like the Infuse and Dell Streak. That said, its 4.3 inch screen still puts it in the top tier in this area, and it's now been upgraded from the "old" WVGA (800 x 480) to a cutting edge qHD (960 x 540) resolution. This change is definitely visible when you're looking at icons and zoomed web pages, although it's not as major a shift as going from the older HVGA (320 x 480) Android devices to the current standard WVGA.

PERFORMANCE
Once you get to the internals you really start to see the differences between the X2 and its predecessor. The Droid X2 has been upgraded with a dual-core processor for more speed, and it really delivers -- if processor power is important to you, the Droid X2 has it in spades. Not only does it outperform it's predecessor on benchmarks, it does so by a more than two to one margin.

The processor is definitely the main draw though, as the X2 has the same internal memory, same wireless options, and almost the same specs in every other way as the older Droid X. I would go so far as to call it more of an update than an upgrade, providing a few software benefits and improved performance, but otherwise providing nothing too revolutionary.

PRELIMINARY CONCULSION
If you were about to buy a Droid X, there's certainly no reason not to choose the Motorola Droid X2, although I'm withholding judgment as to whether it outpaces similar competing models until I've had more time with it. That will come with the full review, available soon, along with full benchmarks, more photos, battery life tests, and the works.

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