CES 2011: Motorola debuts Droid Bionic, Cliq 2 smart phones

Consumer Reports News: January 06, 2011 09:48 AM

The Motorola Droid Bionic
Photo: Motorola

At the 2010 CES, Motorola introduced two intriguing models to its popular Droid and Cliq smart-phone lines. The Droid Bionic will be one of the first phones that capitalizes on Verizon's high-speed 4G LTE network, while the Cliq 2, available on T-Mobile, gets a larger display and more advanced features to appeal to business users.

Besides being one of Verizon's first-announced 4G phones, the Android-powered Droid Bionic features a dual-core processor with each core running at 1GHz, support for multiplayer, live peer-to-peer gaming, and a 4.3-inch HD-quality screen. Its dual-core processor promises to enable the Bionic to run faster and render graphics faster than previous generation single-core devices, particularly from the Web. It supports both HTML 5 and Flash 10.

The Droid Bionic is also one of the first phones capable of outputting video content at 1080P to an HDTV via its HDMI port (although its 8-megapixel camera can only record video in 720P). In mirror mode, you can simultaneously watch the content on the Bionic and an HDTV. A front-facing VGA camera facilitates video chats.

Besides support for corporate e-mail, the phone will also come with native support for remote-wipe and data-security and encryption capabilities. Other features include Quickoffice and one-click access to conference calling. No word yet on pricing and availability.

Available on T-Mobile on January 19 for a yet-undisclosed price, the socially adept Cliq 2 features a 3.7-inch display, a now-quaint 1 GHz processor, and a slide-out keyboard for easier texting. The keys, however, seem to be squeezed into a smaller space than the slide-out platform would allow. Although Motorola called the Cliq 2 a 3G phone, the phone maker said it will "benefit" from the higher speeds of T-Mobile's 4G network.

Running Android 2.2, the Cliq 2's Motoblur interface has been beefed up, allowing you to create up to three sets of home screens emphasizing different applications and shortcuts. The Cliq 2 is DLNA-enabled, allowing you to beam content to a nearby HDTV or computer screen. And the Cliq 2 can also act as a 3G mobile hotspot for several devices.

Like the Droid Bionic the Cliq 2 has increased business functionality that include robust calendar capabilities, corporate directory access, and advanced security features.

—Mike Gikas