Samsung Galaxy S4 Vs. Motorola DROID Maxx – The Galaxy And The Droid, Part 2
A couple of days ago, Motorola and US Carrier Verizon unveiled three new DROID smartphones: the DROID Ultra (the high end version, with a very thin build), the DROID mini (that offers the same experience only with a smaller form, without sacrificing too much of the performance) and the DROID Maxx. The Motorola DROID Maxx kind of stole the show with its advertised battery life of 48 hours. In this article we will compare the recently announced Motorola DROID Maxx with the now old (though it was released this April) Samsung Galaxy S4 and see which one will win.
Size
Regarding the two smartphones’ dimensions, they are similarly sized (so much so that there is not much difference between them), with the mention that the Motorola DROID Maxx is 9% thicker than the Samsung Galaxy S4.
Weight
While it is not the heaviest smartphone available, the Motorola DROID Maxx is also not a light smartphone. In fact it is quite a bit heavier than the Samsung Galaxy S4 – twenty eight percent heavier to be exact weighting 166 grams, while the Samsung Galaxy S4 weights only 130 grams.
Build
The Motorola DROID Maxx features a Kevlar build. The DROID Maxx’s Kevlar isn’t going to work as bulletproof protection but even so it does offer more protection than other smartphones. Motorola has been consistent in using Kevlar for its DROID Razr line and this time Kevlar covers the biggest chunk of smartphone’s body, more so than any other DROID. The Samsung Galaxy S4 on the other hand is made of plastic, which is not as sleek as Motorola DROID Maxx’s Kevlar build.
Display
Both the Motorola DROID Maxx and the Samsung Galaxy S4 feature 5 inch displays, however this is where the similarities end. While the Motorola DROID Maxx’ display is capable of a resolution 1280 x 720 pixels and a pixels per inch density of 294 (which is good, but low by comparison with other 2013 smartphones’ displays), the Samsung Galaxy S4 has a display capable of Full High Definition resolution (1920 × 1080 pixels) and a much higher pixels per inch density of 441. Samsung Galaxy S4′s display is also sharper thanks to its increased pixels per inch density.
CPU
The Motorola DROID Maxx (as well as the other two Motorola DROID smartphones recently announced) makes use of the Motorola X8 SoC (system on a Chip). Its CPU is a variation of the Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro SoC that powered quite a few smartphones in late 2012. This means that both Samsung Galaxy S4 SoC versions (the one being powered by the Exynos 5 Octa So Cand has a quad core CPU clocked at 1.6 GHz and the one powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 SoC that comes with a quad core CPU clocked at 1.9 GHz) are more powerful than what the Motorola DROID Maxx can offer.
While the Samsung Galaxy S4 is faster and more powerful, the truth is both smartphones are faster than even the fastest smartphones from a year or two ago and the powered offered by any of the Samsung Galaxy S4 and the Motorola DROID Maxx is going to be enough for most users.
RAM
In this category things are looking pretty simple as it is a tie between the two smartphones. Both the Motorola DROID Maxx and the Samsung Galaxy S4 come with 2 GB of RAM.
Storage
The Motorola DROID Maxx comes in only one storage variant – 32 GB of internal storage and it does not include an SD card. The Samsung Galaxy S4 on the other hand comes in three storage variants: 15 GB, 32 GB and 64 GB and it also includes expandable storage thanks to a micro SD card slot. While the Samsung Galaxy S4 has a clear advantage due to more options, it is worth pointing out that the 32 GB of internal storage offered by the Motorola DROID Maxx should be enough for the vast majority of users.
Battery
And this is where the Motorola DROID Maxx shines: its 3,500 mAh battery. If we are to believe Verizon’s claims, the battery life of the Motorola DROID Maxx is quite extraordinary. What could be its killer feature, the battery life of the new Motorola DROID Maxx is said to last 48 hours with average use. While the number can vary (though probably not drastically) and while we did not have a chance to test Verizon’s claims, Samsung Galaxy S4′s 2,500 mAh battery does not last as long – it doesn’t even come close.
However, even in this category, the Samsung Galaxy S4 does have an advantage over the Motorola DROID Maxx and that is represented by its removable battery.
Wireless
This is another category that will end in a tie, as both smartphones offer the best wireless performance with LTE networks support (that of course if it is available in your area and on your carrier).
Cameras
The Motorola DROID Maxx has a rear camera with a 10 MPG sensor, while the Samsung Galaxy S4 has a rear camera with a 13 MP sensor. It is obvious that the Motorola DROID Maxx has a lower resolution camera but that could not translate in a day and night difference. We haven’t got the chance to test the DROID Maxx’s camera, but it shouldn’t be too far behind Samsugn Galaxy S4′s camera.
Software
Both the Motorola DROID Maxx and the Samsung Galaxy S4 run Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean. Samsung’s Galaxy S4 smartphone features Samsung’s own TouchWiz user interface (with all of its features that can be hit or miss sometimes). The Motorola DROID Maxx is closer to stock Android. There are a few tweaks here and there – otherwise it is as close as you can get to pure Google. Which can’t really be said about TouchWiz.
That’s not to say the Motorola DROID Maxx does not have its own set of unique features. It does come with many features, like the ability to take a picture by shaking the smartphone twice and then tapping the screen. You can also share things with nearby friends via a two fingered swipe up on the display to upload and a two fingered swipe down on the display to download. While it sounds like a gimmick, they could come in handy when you’re in a hurry.
Hands free voice control
A feature that Motorola DROID Maxx has but Samsung’s Galaxy S4 doesn’t have is hands free voice control. While the Galaxy S4 does let you control some functions via voice command, the DROID Maxx is on another level. For example, if your smartphone is in sleep mode (its screen off and all that) you will be able to trigger many voice actions by saying “Okay, Google Now”. It is a new way of using your smartphone and it seems to be working very well.
Price
What you will notice immediately is that on Verizon, you will pay one hundred bucks more for the new Motorola DROID Maxx, as it will cost $300 with a two tear contract, while the Samsung Galaxy S4 will cost $200. Of course, you can find many offers on the Samsung Galaxy S4 as it is available on many carriers around the world, but this comparison is made for the US Verizon versions of these two smartphones, as the Motorola DROID Maxx is Verizon exclusive.
In case Motorola will follow the same price and release patterns as previous years (and there is no reason to think that they won’t) customers from outside the US market will also get the Motorola DROID Maxx, albeit the DROID brand will be dropped, in the following months.
Conclusion
If you are the kind of smartphone user that values battery life more than the best display resolution available or a cutting edge CPU with immense performance, than you will love the Motorola DROID Maxx as its main feature is an incredibly long battery life. If the advertised battery life will turn out to be 48 hours or anywhere near that number, than the Motorola DROID Maxx will break all records regarding smartphone uptimes. Let us not forget about the voice control feature that should come in handy in more than one occasions. These two are the Motorola DROID Maxx’s killer features.
Please keep in mind that this side by side comparison is based on the first look of the Motorola DROID Maxx’s features. Before deciding on a purchase, it is also best to wait for hands on impressions, as this will be a $300 investments over a two year period.
Feel free to also check our other in depth comparison between the other newly announced DROID model, the Motorola DROID Ultra and Samsung’s flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S4. You can read it here.
