[Review] Motorola RAZR MAXX

Motorola has a knack for setting standards, albeit not always in areas we look thoroughly into (which at times, are just as important). The Motorola RAZR MAXX is no exception. The RAZR MAXX may not bring a slew of new tech onto the table, but I can guarantee that you will be satisfied.

Design

The RAZR MAXX XT910, takes much of its design from its RAZR brethren, with a slight increase in thickness but for good reasons. It comes with extended battery life, so much so that it can last a few days under normal usage without a recharge. It took 3 days to run out during our initial tests. With 18 hours of talk time, 17.5 hours of HD+ video playback, coupled with a 25 day standby time, you’d be able to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Path without worry.

This phone is MADE for social networking and probably the first to be able to fully utilize Android’s features, so if you’re into being connected for long durations of the day (or in MAXX’s case – days), this would be your smart phone.

Click here for the full specs: Motorola RAZR MAXX Specs

Physical & Internals

The RAZR MAXX comes with an 8MP rear camera with HD video recording (1080p) and a 1.3MP front camera. The extended battery adds some weight and increases its thickness but retains its overall RAZR design. The MAXX weighs just 145 grams and is 130.7 x 68.9 x 8.99 mm with a 4.3 inch Super AMOLED Advanced qHD (540 x 960) screen with scratch-resistant Corning® Gorilla® Glass and the back protected with Dupont™ KEVLAR fibre.

What’s important is that it runs on a dual-core 1.2Ghz processor, has 1GB ram and has 16GB of internal memory, supporting an extension of a memory card (microSD). Both the SIM and memory card are easily accessible which is also a plus.

Water? Hah, no problem

All of the RAZR MAXX components have been treated with a special water-proof nano-coating that will give the user some peace of mind if ever they accidentally splash water on the razor-thin phone. There is an increasing trend for water-resistant phones, and expect to see even more in the market. Water-resistant doesn’t mean the phone can be completely submerged, however (unlike a certain Acer Aspire S3 we own), so don’t try that at home!

Software

Smart Actions is a native software enhancement for the Motorola RAZR MAXX. The Smart Actions feature is a utility that can automatically perform actions based on criteria set by the user, such as time of day, battery percentage and more. Battery saving modes can automatically activate once your battery life reaches a certain amount, for example. Have different settings when you’re in different locations? No problem, Smart Actions can turn your phone silent in certain locations you set or turn on or turn off phone features when you’re at home or at work automatically. Pretty nifty tool.

The Motorola RAZR MAXX is also business ready, with in built apps (MotoPrint, QuickOffice) for document editing, printing and sharing. The images below show some Actions and Triggers that are available in the Smart Actions menu.

Tests – Battery Life

10 – 12 Hours of gaming, up to 3 days of standard usage (calls, 3G on, Twitter and Facebook widgets on)

17.5 Hours Video Playback – tested this by looping a HD video. Interesting test, had to watch Lord of the Rings a lot.

The games that were tested weren’t graphically intensive, but they were addictive enough that I could stand playing them for days. Kairosoft Games!

Tests – Video & Camera

Here’s a sample 1080p video that was taken in the hot sun, in Penang and some indoor photos.

Sample video shot during The Car Guys Malaysia stint at Hot Import Nights 2012 (HIN) Penang:

How exactly is the Motorola RAZR MAXX better?

The Motorola RAZR MAXX is well built, runs on a 3300mAh battery and has a 4.3inch screen. It delivers all aspects of quality without being too costly, too heavy or UGLY, which, is a huge plus in this day and age. The Kevlar is a nice touch too and video quality is excellent. No complaints from the tech department really. The Motorola RAZR MAXX can easily be a blogger’s companion, an in-flight entertainment device or that perfect sidekick to your not-so-long-lasting smartphone.

It’s ICS-powered (and Jelly Bean ready), costs approximately RM16xx, it’s relatively thin, fast and has an extremely long battery life.

Conclusion

The Motorola RAZR MAXX will satisfy your daily needs as a social network junky, gamer or frequent traveller. The long battery life may not sound important until you realise how much you can do with it. It may not have that 13-megapixel camera or an extremely slim build, but what other smartphone will allow you to use all its features for the entire duration of the day (or more) without having a separate battery pack or an ugly battery attachment, which is the norm of smartphones these days. I enjoyed every moment of using it and would recommend this to anyone.

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