Droid BIONIC purchase?

[underdonk]

I went to a Verizon store this evening and looked at the X2, Incredible 2, and the BIONIC. While the BIONIC is about $100 more than the other two devices at $560 (I will be buying the device at the non-subsidized price), it seems to be "future proofed" with a dual core processor and 1GB of RAM.

Question is, am I crazy paying $560 for the BIONIC right now? Just seems to have everything I want and will easily last me until next October when I am eligible for an upgrade. Looks like the BIONIC is getting ICS, too, which is great.

 

[moosc]

Maybe hold out and see what the nexus will cost. But bionic is good i like it. The razr is good it can't be that much more.

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk

 

[underdonk]

The RAZR is $90 more, but besides the weather proofing and Kevlar, I'm not sure what more I am getting? Phone in hand the BIONIC feels better to me. I've always like a little thickness in my phone, though, and the RAZR just feels too thin.

Here's another question: with gorilla glass, is it necessary to run the basic clear screen protectors? All of the info I have seen seems to make me believe its pretty tough to scratch it.

 

[moosc]

There is some type of film covering the screen on bionic and it gets a few swirl marks in it. I've never been one for screen proctors but my next phone will have it. Also if u don't plan on having phone long try swapa and buy u used u should pu around 300$

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk

 

[2defmouze]

Glass is glass and glass breaks and scratches, gorilla or no. Grab yourself a screen protector and slap it on that bad boy... nothing wrong with spending a few bucks for some extra protection for your pretty new device

 

[jroc]

Paying full price? I agree I would at least hold out til the G Nex drop. Its probably gonna be more. Nothing wrong with another phone to choose from tho.

Based on what you posted already vs the other phones in your posts. I would get the Bionic. ,

 

[mbentley3]

Crazy, no. love my bionic. But I agree you may want to wait for the nexus to drop. Out may even drop the bionic price down some if you still want it

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk

 

[luke31]

I purchased mine on ebay. Mint condition, zero problems, and only $325.

 

[celticfdguy]

Also... wait to see what is going on with the Bionic update... As of right now, I am PISSED I bought one!

 

[underdonk]

Also... wait to see what is going on with the Bionic update... As of right now, I am PISSED I bought one!

Can you explain or link, please? Not sure what you are referring too.

 

[2defmouze]

Can you explain or link, please? Not sure what you are referring too.

Just read through this very forum and you'll find your answer. Bionic has glitches (yep, all phones do) and needs a patch which has been supposedly coming forever. It really should be close, but its not out yet. Some of us are running leaked versions of it, but that's another story.

What it should fix are issues people are having with data dropping, headphone whine, apps randomly disappearing, and some other stuff, as you'll read. Note that not everyone has problems. My phone never had headphone wine and very minimal data drop issues (I've upgraded to the leaked update and its great antenna-wise, but still I personally never had much problem before I did). And to be fair it sounds like the Razr is suffering from very similar problems.
For the disappearing apps phenomenon, you just have to make sure no apps install themselves to your "media area" as some, like games, like to do. You go to Setting>Applications>Manage Apps>Click the Media Area tab, and anything with a checkmark next to it you need to click and then hit "Move to Phone". There, that problem is solved.

In any case I love the bionic. However, if I were deciding what to upgrade to RIGHT NOW as opposed to back in early september, I probably would have waited for the galaxy nexus because having an unlockable bootloader and something that devs can really sink their teeth into is important to me, now that I've gotten a taste of what that can bring to your phone. The bionic has some great dev support right now, don't get me wrong, and actually looks like it will be seeing CM9 and other goodies in due enough time... but that stuff might not even be important to you. Its hard for anyone to advise you because A. everyone has different wants and needs and B. some people you will find are very happy with their bionic, while others are very disappointed.

Sorry there's no easy answer.. but maybe I've at least given you some info that will help you make a good decision for yourself...

 

[underdonk]

I did read the forums and didn't notice anyone complaining about anything that I haven't seen with other phones. That is to say, like you said, all phones have problems. The previous poster made it sound like a show-stopping bug was present and somehow I thought I had missed it when reading this forum and others.

Thanks for summarizing!

 

[ManBearPig618]

Can you explain or link, please? Not sure what you are referring too.

For your reference (I saw you were talking about differences between RAZR and Bionic), the RAZR does have the AMOLED screen going for it. In terms of the screen specifically on the RAZR, some people seem to love it and some people seem to hate it and complain of a greenish tint at low brightness.

As for my Bionic's screen, it's OK, but nothing that I'm crazy about. I'll be buying the Nexus (hopefully on the 8th) and giving the Bionic to my wife.

 

[Tom in Bristol]

Can you explain or link, please? Not sure what you are referring too.

From the Moto Bionic forum at :

https://supportforums.motorola.com/community/google-android/droid_bionic?view=discussions&start=0

I know everyone is eager for updated software. We have been working diligently on a software update for DROID BIONIC and have a version in the testing stage; we expect to deliver it to users before the end of the year. The update is targeting issues identified through owner feedback and we?re confident it will improve device performance.
by Matt (Forums Manager) at Nov 23, 2011 12:00 AM

 

[underdonk]

Just wanted to let you guys know that I went to the Verizon store about a week ago and spent some time comparing the RAZR and the BIONIC. Feature-for-feature I didn't see what the RAZR gave me, give my personal usage of the device, over the BIONIC for the money (especially because a buddy was going to sell me one NIB for $400). I ended up buying the BIONIC.

I absolutely love the phone. Only issue I have that seems to be common place is the whine when listening to music through the headset. It either goes away or I don't notice when something is actually playing - I can hear it when nothing is playing, though. It's fast, screen is great, and I am loving the 4G. Two-thumbs up! Thanks for the info guys/gals...

Waiting for that patch...

 

[appmy]

Only issue I have that seems to be common place is the whine when listening to music through the headset...

...Waiting for that patch...

The good news is the most recent update does correct the annoying whine issue.

I am really liking this phone. It's gonna hold me off buying the Nexus for awhile. Probably going to wait until the CES phones arrive.

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk

 

[freeky1]

When can those of us who have not received the update expect to get it? I got my Bionic on release day, and I am still on 5.5.886.


Sent from my 4G Xoom using Tapatalk.