Around this time of year, when users are swamped with countless new smartphones to choose from, vendors have to find some way to distinguish themselves. This can be especially difficult for an Android device released at the end of October, but Verizon and Motorola found a way to pique my interest with the unveiling of the Droid Turbo 2 on Tuesday.
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The key feature of the Droid Turbo 2 is that you’ll never have to replace its display. Moto ShatterShield is what Motorola has dubbed its new screen, and after seeing it dropped on concrete in person, I can attest to the name’s accuracy.
There’s no question in my mind that this will be the standout feature of the new Droid flagship device, but a shatterproof screen isn’t the only thing it has going for it.
First and foremost, the Droid Turbo 2 features a 5.4-inch Quad HD AMOLED display, which looks just as sharp as you’d imagine. I know that there are skeptics who say 2560 x 1440 is overkill for a smartphone, but stacked next to my iPhone 6, it’s basically night and day.
The flagship phone also comes equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor and Adreno 430 GPU, 3GB of RAM, 32GB or 64GB of internal storage (with microSD expandable card slot), 21-megapixel rear camera, 5-megapixel front-facing camera, 3760 mAh battery and runs on Android 5.1 Lollipop.
It might not be the most powerful phone on the market, but with its massive battery and impressive camera specs, it should be in the conversation when Android power users are deciding on a new phone this holiday season.
The design hasn’t changed drastically from the first Droid Turbo, but after seeing countless Android phones that I could hardly distinguish between for the past few months, it’s a nice change of pace to see a relatively distinctive design. The curved edges, the dual mics, the stacked camera and flash that actually sit flush on the phone.
Plus, you’ll be able to customize the Droid Turbo 2 to your liking with Moto Maker. This is the first Droid phone that Motorola has brought to its popular service, so if you prefer leather to soft grip material on the back of your phone or if you simply prefer red to black, you can do it on Moto Maker.
Motorola is throwing in something extra for 64GB Droid Turbo 2 owners as well — after two years with the device, you can redesign your Turbo 2 with a fresh new look for free. Not a bad option for phone owners who aren’t concerned with upgrading every other year (though it’s worth noting that the redesign offer is only available if you buy your phone before 2016).
It’s a little bulky, it’s running on old software and it’s not going to win any aesthetic design awards, but with its massive battery, shatterproof screen and customization options, I think it’s going to be an attractive option for Android fans this holiday.
The Droid Turbo 2 will be available starting this Thursday, October 29th. You’ll pay $26 a month for the 32GB model and $30 a month for the 64GB model, but you can also pick up the phone starting at $624 off contract.
