The Motorola Droid 3 is the third generation of Droid smartphones, and brings a few new features to the table. While the phone looks about the same as the previous two generations, the Droid 3 is thinner, which makes it easier to slip the phone into a tight pocket. The Droid 3 is also heavier than its predecessors, thanks to a slightly larger screen. This is not the phone to buy if you cannot stand to use bigger phones. However, its heft does make the phone more durable than smaller phones. It features polished metal on the sides, rubberized plastic on the back, and a Gorilla Glass screen.
The Droid 3 also offers upgraded hardware. The QWERTY keyboard is back and is very high quality. If you text or send a lot of e-mails, it really pays to have a QWERTY keyboard instead of using the touch screen. The phone also features a high-resolution qHD display, which is easy on the eyes, and a dual core processor. The processor makes the phone snappy, but the Droid 3 cannot match up against the raw speed of the top dogs on the market.
Battery life is somewhat disappointing. If you are away from home for more than a few hours, remember to bring your charger. If this is not possible, you probably would be happier with another phone that offers stronger battery life. The camera is also lackluster at best and has buggy software which can make the camera freeze up. It also takes a very long time to focus in low light conditions.
Not all is bad though. If you are a heavy user of the keyboard and want a durable phone, there really is no better option than the Droid 3.
Need to Know: Motorola Droid 3
1. QWERTY keyboard is easy to use and high quality. (The Good)
2. Durability is much higher than most smartphones. (The Good)
3. Battery life is weak. (The Bad)
4. Camera software is buggy and the camera itself does not take the highest quality photos. (The Bad)
What the Critics Are Saying...
- Sandy Berger, Hardware SecretsThe Droid 3 has three things going for it: the top-notch keyboard, the latest Gingerbread Android operating system, and it can easily be used outside the United States.The well-thought-out keyboard with its offset keys, dedicated number row, and useful arrow keys is a wonderful addition to the Droid...
- Daniel Bader , Mobile SyrupThe final device in the Superphone quattro, the XT860 had the quietest release and the least fanfare. We have yet to see a single advertisement for a device that has nestled itself into our hearts over the past few weeks as one of the best QWERTY sliders ever released. What it lacks in finesse it ma...
- Christina Bonnington, WiredBut in its latest incarnation, the Droid 3, Motorola’s marquee smartphone really shines. The handset, which runs Android Gingerbread, is equally suited for work or play, with a larger screen, an even better keyboard and enough brawn to give you a satisfying experience across a variety of apps...
- Chris Burns, Android CommunityFans of the DROID line of devices made by Motorola will not be disappointed, those upgrading from a feature phone will freak out over how amazing this device is, those moving away from a device with the same size screen with a lower resolution will be joyous over their decision.
- Jonathan S. Geller, BGRThe Motorola DROID 3 was rushed and I’m betting pushed to the side in favor of the upcoming Motorola DROID Bionic. There is no other explanation. The fact that Motorola and Verizon could release the third major iteration of the original Motorola DROID and have most of the handset’s usabi...
Prices (Where to Buy)
Common Questions
We've got you covered! Download a free PDF copy of the Motorola Droid 3 user manual here.
Motorola backs up the Droid 3 with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.
If your Droid 3 has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact Motorola support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find Motorola's contact information here. If your phone is off warranty and needs repair for a physical problem such as a broken screen or bad battery, you should visit an authorized service centre or a local phone repair shop. You can also connect with others in The Informr Community Forum to find and share answers to questions.
Resources
Manuals / User Guides
- Motorola Droid 3 Manual (PDF)
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