Unveiling the Motorola DROID 3 Specs Pricing Pros & Cons

Introduction to Motorola DROID 3

The Motorola DROID 3 is a smartphone that marked an era of innovation when it was announced in July 2011. Released in the same month, this device quickly became a choice for tech enthusiasts seeking a blend of power, functionality, and style. Although now discontinued, the DROID 3 still holds a special place in the mobile phone legacy, offering a glimpse into the trajectory of Android smartphones in the early 2010s.

Design and Build

With dimensions of 124 x 64 x 13 mm and weighing in at 167 grams, the DROID 3 was robustly designed. It offered a sturdy build, typical of Motorola’s craftsmanship at the time, lending an air of durability and premium feel. One of its standout design features was the slide-out QWERTY keyboard which made typing more intuitive and comfortable, especially for those who were accustomed to physical keyboards. The phone used a Mini-SIM, and was available in a classic black color that added to its professional look.

Display

The Motorola DROID 3 was fitted with a 4.0-inch TFT display. Its resolution of 540 x 960 pixels, with a 16:9 ratio, provided a pixel density of approximately 275 ppi. This ensured that the visuals were sharp and clear, making it suitable for media consumption and day-to-day tasks. The screen-to-body ratio was around 55.6%, a typical figure for smartphones of its time, implying a considerable area dedicated to the display.

Platform and Performance

Running the Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) operating system, the DROID 3 was not upgradable to newer versions like Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean). It used the TI OMAP 4430 chipset combined with a dual-core 1GHz Cortex-A9 processor and PowerVR SGX540 GPU. This setup provided a decent performance for multimedia and multi-tasking tasks, making the device capable of handling most applications available during its peak.

Memory and Storage

The DROID 3 was equipped with 512MB of RAM, a standard for most smartphones at the time. It offered 16GB of internal storage, but thankfully, users could expand this further using microSDHC cards via a dedicated slot. This option was especially useful for users who needed more space for media files, applications, and other data.

Camera

Photography enthusiasts could find solace in the DROID 3’s 8 MP rear camera, which came with autofocus and an LED flash for night and low-light conditions. It supported video recording at 1080p@30fps, which was considered premium given the standards during its launch period. On the front, there was a VGA selfie camera, though relatively basic, it was sufficient for video calls and casual selfies.

Network and Connectivity

The phone supported GSM, CDMA, HSPA, and EVDO networks, ensuring comprehensive connectivity across various network frequencies. With HSDPA bands of 850/1900/2100 and 2G bands of GSM 850/900/1800/1900, it could maintain reliable internet speeds and call quality. It also came with Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, DLNA, and hotspot capability, allowing easy sharing and receiving of internet without cables. For device pairing, Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP and EDR was available.

Battery Life

The DROID 3 was powered by a removable Li-Ion 1540 mAh battery. On a full charge, it could last up to 300 hours on standby and provide up to 9 hours and 16 minutes of talk time. This battery performance was competitive and served adequately for day-long use with moderate to heavy tasks.

Additional Features

The smartphone included several sensors like the accelerometer, proximity sensor, and compass, enhancing user interaction and applications that utilized these features. It also supported GPS and A-GPS positioning, which was essential for navigation purposes.

Conclusion

Ultimately, the Motorola DROID 3 was a testament to the innovative spirit of early Android smartphones. Although it has been discontinued, it still provides valuable insights into the trends and technologies that shaped the industry. Its combination of a physical keyboard, decent hardware, and elegant design reflect an era when manufacturers were actively experimenting with form factors and capabilities, laying the groundwork for future developments.