Released roughly a year apart, the Motorola ATRIX and DROID RAZR HD represent distinct approaches to the early Android smartphone landscape. The ATRIX, with its innovative laptop dock and Nvidia Tegra 2 processor, aimed for a desktop-replacement experience. The RAZR HD, leveraging Qualcomm’s Snapdragon S4 Plus, focused on refined performance and a more durable design. This comparison dissects their core differences to determine which device holds up better in retrospect.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user today, the Motorola DROID RAZR HD is the superior choice. While the ATRIX’s laptop dock was a novel concept, the Snapdragon S4 Plus offers a more efficient and capable platform, resulting in better sustained performance and battery life. The RAZR HD’s more modern architecture translates to a smoother user experience even with today’s apps.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | CDMA 800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO |
| 4G bands | - | 13 |
| Speed | HSPA 14.4/2 Mbps | HSPA 21.1/5.76 Mbps, LTE, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE |
| | - | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2011, January. Released 2011, April | 2012, September. Released 2012, October |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Dimensions | 117.8 x 63.5 x 11 mm (4.64 x 2.5 x 0.43 in) | 131.9 x 67.9 x 8.4 mm (5.19 x 2.67 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | Mini-SIM | Micro-SIM |
| Weight | 135 g (4.76 oz) | 146 g (5.15 oz) |
| | - | Splash resistant |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass | Corning Gorilla Glass |
| Resolution | 540 x 960 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~275 ppi density) | 720 x 1280 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~312 ppi density) |
| Size | 4.0 inches, 44.1 cm2 (~59.0% screen-to-body ratio) | 4.7 inches, 60.9 cm2 (~68.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | TFT | Super AMOLED |
| | Touch sensitive controls
MOTOBLUR UI with Live Widgets | - |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Dual-core 1.0 GHz Cortex-A9 | Dual-core 1.5 GHz Krait |
| Chipset | Nvidia Tegra 2 AP20H | Qualcomm MSM8960 Snapdragon S4 Plus |
| GPU | ULP GeForce | Adreno 225 |
| OS | Android 2.2 (Froyo), upgradable to 2.3 (Gingerbread) | Android 4.0.4 (Ice Cream Sandwich), upgradable to 4.4 (KitKat) |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDHC (dedicated slot) | microSDHC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 16GB 1GB RAM | 16GB (12GB user available), 1GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash | LED flash |
| Single | 5 MP, AF | 8 MP, AF |
| Video | 720p@30fps, 1080p (via SW update) | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | VGA | 1.3 MP |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 2.1, A2DP, EDR | 4.0, A2DP, EDR, LE, aptX |
| NFC | - | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, A-GPS | GPS, A-GPS, S-GPS, GLONASS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 | microUSB 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, DLNA, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, hotspot |
| Features |
|---|
| Browser | HTML, Adobe Flash | - |
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass | Accelerometer, proximity, compass, barometer |
| | HDMI port
MP3/WAV/WMA/eAAC+ player
MP4/H.264/WMV/Xvid/DivX player
Photo viewer/editor
Organizer
Document editor
Voice memo/dial/commands
Predictive text input | HDMI port
MP3/AAC+/WAV/WMA player
MP4/H.264/WMV player
Organizer
Document viewer/editor
Voice memo/dial/commands
Predictive text input |
| Battery |
|---|
| Stand-by | Up to 400 h (2G) / Up to 350 h (3G) | Up to 286 h |
| Talk time | Up to 8 h 50 min (2G) / Up to 9 h (3G) | Up to 24 h |
| Type | Removable Li-Po 1930 mAh battery | Non-removable Li-Po 2530 mAh battery |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black | Black, White |
| Models | - | XT926 |
| Price | About 170 EUR | About 250 EUR |
| SAR | - | 0.97 W/kg (head) 0.46 W/kg (body) |
Motorola ATRIX
- Innovative laptop dock functionality
- Strong graphics performance for its time
- Unique design with a sliding keyboard option
- Less power-efficient processor
- Older architecture limits modern app compatibility
- Potentially lower display quality
Motorola DROID RAZR HD
- More efficient Snapdragon S4 Plus processor
- Improved battery life
- Durable Kevlar build
- Lacks the ATRIX’s laptop dock feature
- Design is less distinctive than the ATRIX
- May not support the latest Android updates
Display Comparison
Neither device boasts a particularly advanced display by today’s standards. Both likely featured 720p panels, common for the era. However, the RAZR HD’s display benefits from a more modern backlight and potentially better color calibration due to its later release. The ATRIX, while offering a decent viewing experience for its time, would likely exhibit lower peak brightness and less accurate color reproduction. Bezels were substantial on both, typical of 2012-era designs.
Camera Comparison
Detailed camera specifications are scarce, but both phones likely featured 8MP rear cameras. The RAZR HD likely benefited from Qualcomm’s image signal processor (ISP), offering improved image processing and potentially better low-light performance. The ATRIX’s camera, while capable, would have been limited by the Tegra 2’s less advanced ISP. Lens apertures and sensor sizes were likely comparable, but the software processing advantage favors the RAZR HD.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The ATRIX’s Nvidia Tegra 2 AP20H, with its dual-core 1.0 GHz Cortex-A9 CPU, was a strong performer in its day, particularly in graphics-intensive tasks. However, the DROID RAZR HD’s Qualcomm MSM8960 Snapdragon S4 Plus, featuring dual-core 1.5 GHz Krait cores, represents a significant architectural leap. The Krait architecture offered superior instructions per clock (IPC) and a more efficient 28nm manufacturing process compared to the Tegra 2’s 40nm process. This translates to better sustained performance and significantly improved power efficiency. The Snapdragon S4 Plus also included an Adreno 320 GPU, which would outperform the Tegra 2’s GPU in most modern games and applications.
Battery Life
Battery capacity details are needed for a precise comparison. However, the Snapdragon S4 Plus’s superior power efficiency gives the DROID RAZR HD a clear advantage. The 28nm process node allows for lower voltage operation and reduced heat generation, resulting in longer battery life under similar usage scenarios. While the ATRIX’s Tegra 2 could deliver bursts of high performance, it did so at the cost of increased power consumption. The RAZR HD would likely offer a more consistent and reliable battery experience.
Buying Guide
Buy the Motorola ATRIX if you are a retro-tech enthusiast specifically interested in experiencing the unique laptop dock functionality and are willing to accept its limitations in modern app performance. Buy the Motorola DROID RAZR HD if you prioritize a more responsive and power-efficient Android experience, a durable build, and a phone that will handle everyday tasks with greater ease.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Motorola ATRIX laptop dock still useful in 2024?
While a fascinating concept, the ATRIX’s laptop dock is limited by the phone’s processing power and the age of the Android operating system. Modern applications and web browsing will likely be sluggish, making it unsuitable for serious productivity tasks. It remains a novelty item for retro-tech enthusiasts.
❓ Will the DROID RAZR HD receive Android updates?
Officially, the DROID RAZR HD has ceased to receive official Android updates from Motorola. However, the device is still supported by the custom ROM community, allowing users to install newer versions of Android and experience improved performance and features. This requires technical expertise and carries inherent risks.
❓ Which phone is better for playing older Android games?
Both phones can handle older Android games, but the DROID RAZR HD’s Adreno 320 GPU provides a smoother experience, especially for titles that were pushing the limits of hardware at the time. The Tegra 2’s GPU may struggle with more demanding games from the early 2010s.
