Launch report · Motorola
Motorola Droid: The Verizon slider that made Android a real iPhone rival in the US.
SpecEagle Editorial·Nov 2009·$560·Score 46/100
The original Motorola Droid was the breakthrough Android phone in the US — Verizon's "Droid Does" campaign positioned it against the iPhone, and Android 2.0 with free turn-by-turn navigation made it a genuine alternative. It kick-started the Droid brand and Android's US momentum.
Key specs at launch
Display
3.7" LCD
OS
Android 2.0
Memory
256 MB · 16 GB
Main cam
5 MP
Battery
1,400 mAh
Weight
169 g
What stands out
- Launched Android 2.0 with Google Maps Navigation.
- Physical QWERTY slide-out keyboard.
- FWVGA was sharp for 2009.
- microSD + jack.
What to watch
- Slider keyboard was cramped.
- Single-core 550 MHz.
- CDMA/Verizon-locked.
- Average camera.
The phone it has to beat
HTC Desire (original 2010)
$500 · score 74/100