Connect with us

Mobile

5 Things We Know For Sure About The Motorola Droid Bionic

Published

on

Yesterday, we got our first semi-official look at the new and improved Motorola Droid Bionic via a leaked Best Buy advertisement that showed off the transformation that the phone has taken since it was first introduced all the way back at CES in January. And while many aspects of the device remain unknowns – the price, the exact release date, many of its features – there are now some things that we now know will be coming with the device for sure.

Motorola Droid Bionic?

So, let’s take a look at five things that we know will be coming with Verizon’s Motorola Droid Bionic.

4G LTE Speeds

Before yesterday’s leak, I was told several times that Verizon reps had said that the Motorola Droid Bionic would be a 3G device and not a 4G LTE one. We now know that those Verizon employees were either misinformed or were just blowing smoke of people’s rear-ends to get them to purchase a phone not called the Droid Bionic. If that’s true, that’s absolutely shameful.

Yes, the Droid Bionic will be a 4G LTE device and yes, it will be the one that you’ll want to hold out for. You have seen how ridiculously fast 4G LTE is, right? The Motorola Droid Bionic will do those speeds justice.

Dual-Core ProcessorOMAP4

People had been skeptical about the Droid Bionic’s processor. I don’t blame them. There has clearly been issues with the Motorola Xoom – which is powered by a Tegra 2 dual-core processor – and 4G LTE, so those suspicions weren’t entirely out of line. However, we now know that the new Droid Bionic will in fact have a dual-core processor when it arrives.

What we don’t know is whether or not it will have a Tegra 2 or an OMAP4. Recent benchmarks indicate that it’s going to be an OMAP4 over the Tegra 2 and to be honest, that’s not such a bad thing considering the OMAP4 just recently got certified for Netflix HD support (1080p video), the first processor to get that distinction.

Two Cameras

Unlike the Motorola Droid X2, Motorola has seen it fit to include two cameras on the Droid Bionic. Not shocking but definitely comforting for those that were hoping to take advantage of video chatting using a front facing camera. Let’s just hope that the Droid Bionic can shoot 1080p video, something that the Droid X2 simply cannot do.

HDMI Mirror Mode

We now know that the Droid Bionic is going to feature an HDMI port which will also allow for Mirror Mode, something that I greatly enjoyed on the Droid X2.For those unfamiliar with Mirror Mode, it lets you display what’s on your phone on your device provided you have an appropriate HDMI cable. It’s absolutely lovely and is honestly more than a gimmick.

Those Not Currently On Verizon Will Get A Tiered Droid Bionic

Today, July 7th, is the day that Verizon killed unlimited data for new customers. The Droid Bionic isn’t out and that means that if you’re not on Verizon this moment with an unlimited plan locked in, you’re going to have to snag it with a tiered data plan. For some people (like me), that is not that big of a deal. For others, especially those of you who like to stream HD content, that’s devastating.

So, this is probably looking like a real appetizing phone to current Verizon customers with upgrades but, how about those of you not currently on Verizon? Is anyone going to look past the tiered data and pick this up? I think it’s definitely still worth consideration.

62 Comments

62 Comments

  1. Adam Mills

    07/07/2011 at 6:35 pm

    Love the Droid Bionic, hate the fact that it’s coming out after July 7th.

  2. Me

    07/07/2011 at 6:55 pm

    Wish there was something new in this article. It’s getting a little tiring reading the same thing for the last 30 or so days.

  3. Alwild

    07/07/2011 at 6:58 pm

    Does a dual processor mean voice is handled by one and data by the other, so that we can access the internet while on a call?

    • Adam Truelove

      07/07/2011 at 7:14 pm

      You’re kidding right.  The “no data while on a call” has nothing to do with the CPU.  If that were the case, you could just handle those two tasks in two threads.

      The Bionic looks good, but that pentile display on the qHD screens Motorola is using is something awful and I really wanna see the SGSII.

      • Alwild

        07/07/2011 at 7:27 pm

        Sorry, just a legit question.  I know its limited by the LTE network, and not the case on AT&T.

        So, given that I’m not kidding and you seem to know all the technical details, what does the second processor provide?

        • Porty

          07/07/2011 at 7:43 pm

          That was a brusque reply to an honest question, Adam.

          Alwild — 

          The “can’t-talk-and-surf” limitation is a function of the radio technology that Verizon uses to send signals from their phones. AT&T’s network doesn’t have that problem because it uses a different radio. In the next few years, it’s anticipated that Verizon will switch from having voice and data being distinct things to having everything be data on its LTE network — it will start rolling out in 2012. https://www.engadget.com/2011/02/09/verizon-successfully-completes-first-volte-call-in-the-world-pl/When that switch happens, you’ll be able to do everything simultaneously.

          The dual-core processor allows the phone to work on two things at the same time, rather than using one core to switch back and forth between programs. If you have, say, the music player running in the background playing a song and you go to do something else in the foreground, the phone will be much more responsive because it can dedicate a processor core to either task. You should also see some benefit to your battery life. Doing two tasks at once means that your processor will finish its jobs faster. That allows it to idle more often, in turn cutting down on battery drain. However, in light of  the Bionic’s huge screen and LTE radio, the battery life will probably still be fairly limited.

          I hope that helps. (I further hope that I have my facts straight. Corrections welcome!)

        • Adam Truelove

          07/07/2011 at 7:55 pm

          I apologize.  I realize that response sounded rather jerky.  Sorry about that.

        • Anonymous

          07/16/2011 at 1:47 pm

          LTE does support voice and data, the revolution for sure does, and I’m fairly certain about the Thunderbolt

      • ksamp

        07/09/2011 at 6:40 am

        Not everyone is a geek like you Truelove…give people a break if they don’t have the same level of knowledge as you.

      • Loki

        07/10/2011 at 12:05 pm

        prick

      • mannw1977

        07/16/2011 at 9:10 pm

        You could of been a little nicer on the reply. Just maybe Alwild is new to this type of talk. Can you say that no one showed you how to use the bathroom? NO 

        Alwild it means that there is two core processors and in turn it makes it easier for the phone to do two things at once. It will be better for gaming and heavy use with the phone.

    • Awilder

      07/07/2011 at 8:06 pm

      My wife has a 4g LTE Samsug Charge from Verizon and it can call and use the internet at the same time.

      I have verified this.  Also, the Verizon rep told us that all 4g LTE phones support this.  We do have 4g support in our area.

    • Asdf

      07/07/2011 at 8:41 pm

      Complete fail. If you don’t know what a dual core processor means then you don’t need the bionic.

      • Angsumerlin2

        07/09/2011 at 2:56 am

        The greatest athlete, musician, artist, cell phone tech had to start somewhere.  And, that was at the beginning.

      • Ksamp

        07/09/2011 at 6:44 am

        A “complete fail” is someone like you who has to put others down to feel intelligent and superior.  What’s wrong? Bullied when you were a snot-nosed kid on the playground? Grow up…

  4. Wazoo

    07/07/2011 at 7:22 pm

    Calling simultaneously while web browsing (AT&T iPhone style) is not a function of the phone or the network.  It is solely a decision by Verizon, not to allow simultaneous data & voice.  This is done in an effort to maintain network integrity.

    It is one on the primary reasons sited by network specialist why Verizon’s network appears to function better, drop fewer calls & overall seem more robust the all other US carriers.
    https://www.phonedog.com/2011/06/27/verizon-s-4g-lte-network-takes-the-speed-test-crown-in-nationwide-study/

    • John Chen

      07/07/2011 at 7:35 pm

      Browsing while calling works for 4g phones. My tbolt can do this. Whether it’s a 3g vs 4g diff I don’t know but there are phones on vzw that can do this.

      • Alwild

        07/07/2011 at 7:41 pm

        Thanks guys.  Now I understand

    • Geeksbsmrt

      07/07/2011 at 8:30 pm

      Actually, it is NOT a decision made directly by VZW.  It is in the sense that they chose to develop a CDMA network.  However, the data or voice choice is a limitation imposed by the CDMA technology.  There is however a new revision of CDMA which will allow for Voice/Data simultaneously.  Verizon has confirmed that they plan to roll this technology but have not given a date.  This new technology is being developed by the CDMA community and is called SVDO.  Keep in mind this only applies to the 3G radios, any 4G enabled device can do voice and data at the same time as they use different radios.

    • Geeksbsmrt

      07/07/2011 at 8:30 pm

      Actually, it is NOT a decision made directly by VZW.  It is in the sense that they chose to develop a CDMA network.  However, the data or voice choice is a limitation imposed by the CDMA technology.  There is however a new revision of CDMA which will allow for Voice/Data simultaneously.  Verizon has confirmed that they plan to roll this technology but have not given a date.  This new technology is being developed by the CDMA community and is called SVDO.  Keep in mind this only applies to the 3G radios, any 4G enabled device can do voice and data at the same time as they use different radios.

    • Geeksbsmrt

      07/07/2011 at 8:30 pm

      Actually, it is NOT a decision made directly by VZW.  It is in the sense that they chose to develop a CDMA network.  However, the data or voice choice is a limitation imposed by the CDMA technology.  There is however a new revision of CDMA which will allow for Voice/Data simultaneously.  Verizon has confirmed that they plan to roll this technology but have not given a date.  This new technology is being developed by the CDMA community and is called SVDO.  Keep in mind this only applies to the 3G radios, any 4G enabled device can do voice and data at the same time as they use different radios.

    • Richard Taylor

      07/07/2011 at 8:31 pm

      Not quite true.  It a function of the technology behind the network.  Verizon went with CDMA years ago which can not support (or at least can not economically support) Voice and data at the same time.  ATT has been GSM which can.  In moving to LTE you will be able to do both, but only when in LTE coverage as I understand it.

      • Geeksbsmrt

        07/07/2011 at 8:40 pm

        Well, yes, you would have to have 4g coverage in order to make use of that technology.  However, back in January Verizon did announce that they plan on rolling the SVDO technology which would enable voice and data over the 1xRTT/EVDO.  The TB is supposedly the first phone that supports this feature but they did not promote it because of the limitations of the CDMA technology.

      • Christopher Elliott

        07/08/2011 at 1:20 pm

        You are basically correct, but missing the technical why Voice & Data will only work in LTE areas. The LTE (at least initially) will be used exclusively for data. Voice will still be over CDMA, so the phone will be able to do both Voice and Data when it is in areas where it can do both CDMA and LTE. Verizon was announcing a little while ago (and I think implemented on the Revolution, but my facts may be a bit hazy on the model) a technology called VoLTE. That packetizes the voice as a “data” stream to transmit over the LTE network.

        A good (but not perfect) analogy would be a landline phone with DSL. You can make voice calls on your landline phone while browsing the web on the DSL side. They use different frequencies and protocols to keep the two different signals separate and identifiable. The voice calls would be analogous CDMA, and the DSL would be analogous to LTE. The VoLTE then would be like using a VoIP (like Skype or Vonage) program on your computer over the DSL part of your service.

        • THAKILLEFFECT

          07/11/2011 at 9:31 pm

          I LIVE IN BHAM AL AND I HAVE AN HTC THUNDERBOLT. WE DONT HAVE 4G HERE YET AND I CAN BROWSE THE INTERNET AND TALK AT THE SAME TIME IF YOU HAVE A 4G PHONE YOU CAN TALK AND SURF NO MATTER WHAT KIND OF COVERAGE YOUR IN

    • Richard Taylor

      07/07/2011 at 8:31 pm

      Not quite true.  It a function of the technology behind the network.  Verizon went with CDMA years ago which can not support (or at least can not economically support) Voice and data at the same time.  ATT has been GSM which can.  In moving to LTE you will be able to do both, but only when in LTE coverage as I understand it.

    • Richard Taylor

      07/07/2011 at 8:31 pm

      Not quite true.  It a function of the technology behind the network.  Verizon went with CDMA years ago which can not support (or at least can not economically support) Voice and data at the same time.  ATT has been GSM which can.  In moving to LTE you will be able to do both, but only when in LTE coverage as I understand it.

  5. Csimme01

    07/07/2011 at 7:48 pm

    I will definitely wait for the Bionic. Luckily for me both my wife and I are on unlimited data plans. I just wish they would make Aug 7th official and start taking pre orders! I have been saving my pennies since the first Bionic was shown at CES

    • BrianB13

      07/07/2011 at 8:11 pm

      So you want to go out and blindly buy the Bionic?  Then if it has issues, you will either have to live with them, hope they can be resolved or return the phone.  Return the phone and get what?  I’m glad there are people like you out there that will do that and hopefully you will review the phone once you have it.  I’m not on VZW so I may want to pass on the Bionic if it turns out to have to many issues.  

      • Christopher Elliott

        07/08/2011 at 1:28 pm

        I, like Csimme01, am waiting on the Bionic. I don’t know about Csimme01, but I’m also waiting for my last new-every-two(really-20-months) to kick in on August 24. If the rumors of the Bionic being released on August 4 are true, then I am glad that I will be forced to wait 20 days before getting the Bionic so I can see what the initial reaction is. My biggest concern about the Bionic is the battery life, everything else looks like (at least via rumor) a winner (or acceptable compromise) in my book. If the battery life is a killer, I might have to wait to see if/when Seido comes up with an Innocell battery and how the Extended battery would change the form factor of the phone.

        But, in reality that would really only force me to hold off on accessories… I would probably buy the Bionic on launch day if I wasn’t forced to wait 20 days because of contract.

        • Gmoneyinc2011

          07/14/2011 at 9:32 am

          I feel the same way. Its best to get the Droid Bionic or any other cell phone weeks after its release,so you can find out from other customers if there are any problems with the phone. Then you can figure out if you want to get that phone or another phone. Cause you don’t want to get stuck with a phone for another 2 years that has problems with it. Patience has it rewards. I learned my lesson from the Original Droid. The Original Droid suck,I have went through about 4 or 5 of them. It shuts off for no reason sometimes,it calls my contacts on its own. Never listen to an cell phone employee. They just tell you that the cell phone is great,so you can buy it,and they get the commission from the sale. A Verzion customer service guy told me that the Original Droid was great,after I told him that I went through 3 of them & that I have always problems with it. I told him that Verizion does this on purpose to lock you in the contract,so if you want to get the sequel to that cell phone,you have to pay full price for it. He got all mad and said that him,his wife,& two kids got the Original Droid. He was probally lying. He probally doesn’t even have Verizion. He has to lie to convince people that the product and company is good. Thats why I hate Customer Service. I should have waited for the Droid X. It didn’t came out that much long from The Original Droid

  6. Tom

    07/07/2011 at 8:01 pm

    Ive been waiting for 6 months for this dang phone. They ned to give us some information on the release date or Ill just choose something different. Tired of walking around with a crappy laggy old school droid.

    • Yuriy Shikhanovich

      07/07/2011 at 8:22 pm

      Completely agree, I’m in the same boat (i even tried custom roms and the OG Droid is still slow). With all this waiting, at one point I was seriously considering getting the LG Revolution, but considering the software on it, I didn’t.

    • Mikey

      07/07/2011 at 9:12 pm

      I too am still sporting the old moto droid and I’m ready for something that can handle all that I want to do with it.  Its sooo laggy now that I would have to wipe it clean to get it back to its original speeds but I shouldn’t have to and I’m too lazy to do it.  Can’t wait to get my hands on the Droid Bionic.

    • BrianB13

      07/07/2011 at 9:31 pm

      The release date is August 4th.  Moto said they would release the Bionic in Q3 and that’s what they are going to do.  They have until the end of September to make good on that statement.  August 4th will roll around before you know it.  I have been waiting 6 months as well so I feel your pain.  

    • Trob6969

      07/08/2011 at 3:42 am

      I agree, I have the original Droid & have been waiting for the bionic since I 1st read about it. However, I just found out that the Droid 3 DOESN’T have expandable memory & if the bionic doesn’t have an SD slot either, I’ll be EXTREMELY pissed! I DEFINITELY wouldn’t buy it. That’s the main reason I never bought an iPhone.

    • David

      07/09/2011 at 4:44 pm

      :) You think YOU have it bad–I’ve got a POS Storm 2 that I despise!   I’ve been waiting for a Bionic to hit the stores so I can give it the once-over; otherwise my next choice would be a SGS II (as long as it’s 4G and has a gorgeous screen like the Fascinate).   I don’t like the screens on the LG Revolution, the Charge, or the Thunderbolt.   The worst of the lot is the Charge—too dim and the whites are dingy, tinged greenish-yellow.    My Storm2 has a nice bright screen.   The rest of the phone is the pits though.   Too slow on the ‘net.   Too many battery pulls to keep it functional.  OS reloads when even a battery pull doesn’t fix it.   Worst phone I’ve ever owned, other than the brightness of the screen and loudness of the speaker.

      • daniel Phillips

        07/15/2011 at 6:29 am

        You think you have it badd?? Im stuck with a droid Eris until january of 2012!! you know what it feels like to have your cheap ass phone left behind? I cant even get youtube to work properly on this pos! eris got 1 update to eclair. after that vzw eol’d it and we never got up to froyo! just for 100$ more i couldve had gingerbread happily waiting on nexus prime! i was looking towards the bionic but the release date, form, and features keep changing

        • David

          07/15/2011 at 2:40 pm

          :)   You have my sympathies (as long as you sympathize with me, too.  LOL!  )

        • droid wins

          07/16/2011 at 5:43 am

          I had the Droid eris forever and was waiting for the bionic…. I ended up buying the thunderbolt two weeks ago :-) . It’s awesome compared to the Eris. Although the tbolt hasn’t gotten the upgrade to GINGERBRRAD(!) It has gotten an upgrade that stopped the reboots and added some other features. But for my Eris, that things a beast… You can’t hate it. It’s just, old.

  7. GuntherSp

    07/07/2011 at 8:02 pm

    Unless it comes with an unlocked/unlockable bootloader and without that Blur crap, I’m getting a Galaxy S II

    • Brian Durden

      07/07/2011 at 8:28 pm

      Yet the S2 will probably be locked on Verizon and has TouchWiz.  If you’re wanting an unlocked bootloader phone, you’re probably on the wrong network nowadays.

      Motorola recently stated the upcoming devices will have unlockable bootloaders.  The Atrix has been unlocked with a leaked but planned update from Motorola.

      As for the Blur, use a custom launcher like one of the dozens available for free now.

  8. Muclusplug

    07/07/2011 at 8:52 pm

    BrianB13   your on every bionic thread…..whats going on dude…do you have a job?

    • Dogberry Poo Fart the 3rd

      07/07/2011 at 9:23 pm

      I like turtles!

    • Andrei3sss

      07/10/2011 at 11:12 pm

       This is his life, he is definition of moron

  9. duh

    07/07/2011 at 9:07 pm

    Yes to answer your question it WILL surf and talk at the same time

  10. Reillyfactor

    07/07/2011 at 9:12 pm

    cant wait.. getting rid of my tbolt.. piece of crap.. fast when its not sending texts to wrong person or rebooting whenever it wants..

  11. Lemmy_Caution

    07/08/2011 at 3:16 am

    I love 4g LTE phones… take my Thunderbolt. Please.

  12. Kohlton22

    07/14/2011 at 12:11 pm

    i have hada upgrade for a few months nowandam getting impatent or the motodroi bionic. my original droi recently broke due to a kernal i flashed, constant reboot and somehow got removed.anyways does nyone know an official release date?

  13. Kohlton22

    07/14/2011 at 12:12 pm

    sorry for typos pc keyboard is really messed up

    • Engmit2009

      07/16/2011 at 4:42 am

      I tired if waiting and got the EVO3d. Great phone. I am with Verizon as well, so if it is not out by July 24 I’ll keep the evo

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.