Motorola Atrix 2

[kyrax12]

The phone just recently came out for AT&T a couple of days ago and after some brief research on the phone's hardware and software it seems that it is somewhat better than the first motorola Atrix.

Getting rid/ameliorating the Motoblur was a pretty significant change to the phone's performance I assumed.

A higher performing camera is always a good thing on a smart phone. 8 megapixel nowadays is really a must for a good smartphone.

The processor speed stayed the same if I recalled.. They simply replaced a different brand of processor.. I am guessing a better one? Don't know how Tegra compared to Ti-OMAP. (Which is better)

The screen size changed from 4.0 inches to 4.3 inches which I find is relatively perfect. 4.0 seems a bit small and the 4.5 on the Galaxy SII is a bit big therefore 4.3 is perfect for me.


So what do you guys think about the phone? Computing all the improvements from the first Atrix, and the price do you think this smartphone is the "best" out of the AT&T line currently?

 

[_Aurel_]

There's nothing wrong with the new version of MotoBlur (or at least anymore than the other skins). It's hardware-accelerated, which means there's no delay/lag in input. The multi-touch keyboard Motorola packages with the phone is one of the best out there, and lastly most of the apps outside of the launcher look pretty close in terms of feel and function to their stock parts.

 

[kyrax12]

There's nothing wrong with the new version of MotoBlur (or at least anymore than the other skins). It's hardware-accelerated, which means there's no delay/lag in input. The multi-touch keyboard Motorola packages with the phone is one of the best out there, and lastly most of the apps outside of the launcher look pretty close in terms of feel and function to their stock parts.

I always heard motoblur was the worst UI out of HTC sense, Touch Wiz.

Did they improve Motoblur significantly?

How are you feeling about the phone?

 

[webdave]

The Atrix 2 also has half of the built-in storage and is missing the finger print reader from the first one (con IMO). Atrix 2 does not have a pentile display as well (pro IMO).

 

[kyrax12]

The Atrix 2 also has half of the built-in storage and is missing the finger print reader from the first one (con IMO). Atrix 2 does not have a pentile display as well (pro IMO).

Why did they take out the finger print reader?

I thought it was a pretty good feature.

Overall for 99$ do you think it is worth it?

 

[webdave]

Yeah I really liked the finger print reader. I haven't seen the Atrix 2 in person yet.

 

[_Aurel_]

I always heard motoblur was the worst UI out of HTC sense, Touch Wiz.

Did they improve Motoblur significantly?

How are you feeling about the phone?

All I can say is watch a video of the Atrix 2 or Bionic on youtube (since they both share the same UI). Most of the changes Motorola made are pretty much cosmetic now, and they've left the core of Gingerbread alone. I think that explains why they're going to be able to push out ICS sooner than the other manufacturers.

 

[kyrax12]

All I can say is watch a video of the Atrix 2 or Bionic on youtube (since they both share the same UI). Most of the changes Motorola made are pretty much cosmetic now, and they've left the core of Gingerbread alone. I think that explains why they're going to be able to push out ICS sooner than the other manufacturers.

Well considering AT&T shitty selection of Android phones I want to wait till the Samsung Captivate glide comes out before I make my decision.

That phone looks promising.
What do you think of it?

 

[poofyhairguy]

So what do you guys think about the phone? Computing all the improvements from the first Atrix, and the price do you think this smartphone is the "best" out of the AT&T line currently?

I think it is a good phone. It fixes many of the issues with the Atrix 1, and they moved to more capable TI hardware.

As for it being the "best" in AT&T's lineup, well that is not so clear. It has real competition from the SGS2 (which has a 4.3 inch screen BTW).

The SGS2 has a more powerful CPU and GPU- that is a clear advantage. The SGS2 has a SAMOLED screen that really makes colors pop, but the resolution is less than the Atrix 2. The SGS2 has an unlocked bootloader (if you like hacking), but I expect it to get official OS updates slower.

I personally really like my SGS2, but I have already hacked it some (rooted) and I expect to hack it more. If you are not the hacking type, and you want a phone that will be relevant for a while technologically the Atrix 2 is a good choice.

 

[smartpatrol]

Honestly I see no reason to pick the Atrix 2 over the GS2 unless you really like the higher resolution screen. I suppose the build quality of the Atrix 2 might feel more solid than the GS2.

Try them out side-by-side. I have a feeling you'll have a hard time saying no to the SAMOLED+ screen on the GS2.

 

[Bateluer]

There's nothing wrong with the new version of MotoBlur (or at least anymore than the other skins).Yes there is It's hardware-accelerated,No more than whats built into Android which means there's no delay/lag in input.Its noticeably slower than Launcher Pro or ADW, which aren't hardware accelerated, just well coded. The multi-touch keyboard Motorola packages with the phone is one of the best out there,Their MT keyboard is decent, but on screen keyboard quality is like a religious war. and lastly most of the apps outside of the launcher look pretty close in terms of feel and function to their stock parts.

Oy! Blur is truly awful, even on the newer versions on the the Bionic and Droid 3. TW4, on the SGS2, I have no experience with. TW on the Charge blows. Sense is probably the spawn of Satan, the T-bolt is unusable with Sense.

If you want an Android phone on AT&T, go with the SGS2 or wait a little while for the Gnex.

 

[_Aurel_]

LauncherPro is hardware accelerated, that's one of the selling points for it. I could be wrong, but that was the general consensus. Also, I tried ADW myself and it always felt like it got a little choppy and laggy after you started adding widgets to a few of your screens. My experience with the Bionic was that it ran just fine with widgets filling up the home screen, and besides even if you didn't want motoblur interface you could install LauncherPro over it and use that since motoblur is basically nothing more than home-screen launcher with a few re-size-able widgets at this point.

 

[Bateluer]

I thought LauncherPro is hardware accelerated, because that's what I've been hearing people say about it. I could be wrong, but that was the general consensus. Also, I tried ADW myself and it always felt like it got a little choppy and laggy after you started adding widgets to a few of your screens. My experience with the Bionic was that it ran just fine with widgets filling up the home screen, and besides even if you didn't want motoblur you could install LauncherPro over it and use that since motoblur is basically nothing more than a glorified launcher at this point.

When I asked Federico over Twitter if LP was hardware accelerated, he replied no. Didn't ask Ander Web, the ADW dev.

AT MD&G 'Censensus' also changes over time, from rose colored glasses, public opinion, etc. There's still people here that believe no version of Android has any GPU acceleration, despite 2.3, 3.0-3.2, and 4.0 all adding more acceleration with each update.

 

[Anubis]

on the random topic of launchers try out GoLauncher, its very very snappy and has just as many options and such as the others

 

[gorcorps]

on the random topic of launchers try out GoLauncher, its very very snappy and has just as many options and such as the others

Yup. I'm using it on my original Atrix and it's the snappiest launcher with the best built in widgets and options. Other launchers require money to have all these options. I'm a big fan.

 

[ew915]

Seems like they changed the screen on the photon and call it Atrix 2

 

[kyrax12]

I think it is a good phone. It fixes many of the issues with the Atrix 1, and they moved to more capable TI hardware.

As for it being the "best" in AT&T's lineup, well that is not so clear. It has real competition from the SGS2 (which has a 4.3 inch screen BTW).

The SGS2 has a more powerful CPU and GPU- that is a clear advantage. The SGS2 has a SAMOLED screen that really makes colors pop, but the resolution is less than the Atrix 2. The SGS2 has an unlocked bootloader (if you like hacking), but I expect it to get official OS updates slower.

I personally really like my SGS2, but I have already hacked it some (rooted) and I expect to hack it more. If you are not the hacking type, and you want a phone that will be relevant for a while technologically the Atrix 2 is a good choice.

I would get the SGII but the price is 199$.. heh

 

[poofyhairguy]

It is $150 at Wal Mart:

http://www.walmart.letstalk.com/product/product.htm?prId=39771

 

[ew915]

It is $150 at Wal Mart:

http://www.walmart.letstalk.com/product/product.htm?prId=39771

$50 at amazon

 

[hanoverphist]

Oy! Blur is truly awful, even on the newer versions on the the Bionic and Droid 3. TW4, on the SGS2, I have no experience with. TW on the Charge blows. Sense is probably the spawn of Satan, the T-bolt is unusable with Sense.

my mom and stepdad disagree with that. they both have them and love their phones. they have no idea what root IS let alone how to alter system level stuff.

i think youre being very over dramatic, to say the least.

 

[gorcorps]

$50 at amazon

$50 at amazon?!!?!! I'm very upset that I can't upgrade yet

 

[s44]

$50 at amazon

And... that rules out any other Android phone.

(Well, if you need a keyboard AT&T doesn't have any good options yet. Captivate Glide -- Galaxy R with keyboard -- soon.)

 

[Strk]

Seems like they changed the screen on the photon and call it Atrix 2

The Photon uses Tegra 2

 

[kyrax12]

$50 at amazon

What is the catch?

 

[Red Storm]

What is the catch?

AT&T.





(2 year contract)