iPhone 3GS versus Motorola Droid

You can tell that Motorola’s Droid smartphone has just been released Stateside because the internet has been flooded with the now obligatory “iPhone Killer” comments that seem to surround any new mobile phone launch these days.

Apple’s ubiquitous device has given the mobile phone market’s old guard something to think about, and many manufacturers - Motorola, Sony Ericsson and Samsung, to name but three - have flocked to Google’s banner, or more specifically its much-hyped Android operating system.

Motorola’s Droid is possibly the most high-profile Android device yet, with more dollars than you could possibly dream of being expended to ensure that everyone in the US is fully aware of its presence.

But does the Droid have what it takes to bring down the incumbent iPhone 3GS or does it simply join the rapidly-increasing ranks of also-rans?

There’s only one way to find out: FIGHT!

Design Motorola Droid: The vast majority of Android-enabled phones we’ve seen thus far have been rather disappointing. The chunky T-Mobile G1 turned stomachs rather than heads and even the infinitely better-looking HTC Hero was lumbered with that ridiculous Jimmy Hill chin.

With this in mind, the Droid doesn’t really have to do all that much to impress.

Thankfully, it goes beyond the call of duty in this regard. It’s a gorgeous piece of hardware, with just the right balance of style and futuristic chic to make it desirable to both fashion-conscious users and the geeky types which hold the Android platform in such high regard.

In terms of dimensions, the Droid clocks in at 4.6x2.4 inches, which makes it slightly longer than the iPhone 3GS (4.5x2.4 inches).

The difference is hardly noticeable, and it's worth noting that the Droid showcased a sliding QWERTY keyboard. Despite this addition, it never feels like it’s in a different weight class to Apple’s phone.

The keyboard itself is something of a mixed blessing: it’s not as good as the one found on the G1, which had a decent amount of space between keys. On the Droid it’s frustratingly easy to press the wrong key because they’re packed in so closely.

The one area where the Droid scores a stunning victory over the iPhone 3GS is the screen. At 3.7 inches it’s something of a monster, but the 480x854 pixel resolution ensures that the image remains pin-sharp. Quite simply, the Droid boasts the best screen we’ve ever seen on a mobile phone.

iPhone 3GS: Apple’s iPhone is already regarded as a design classic thanks to its simplistic lines, tidy metal accents and glossy finish.

It’s also understated in a way that only the best technology can be - aside from the volume controls and power switch, the only other physical interface is the Home button. Everything else is handled by the touchscreen, and it still feels like a joy to use, even after all this time.

Naturally, the lack of a physical keyboard means that the iPhone loses out to the Droid in that particular area, but the virtual keyboard on Apple’s device is noticeably easier to use than the one on the Droid.

While we still hold a candle for the iPhone’s winning looks, when placed alongside the Droid it does tend to look a little tired now. Perhaps familiarity has bred just a little bit of contempt within us, but from where we’re standing Motorola’s phone is the one we’d rather been seen out with.

Winner: Droid Software Droid: The Droid is the first handset to use Android 2.0, the latest iteration of Google’s mobile operating system. This revision brings with it numerous enhancements, as well as offering the deep customisation that Android has become famous for.

The most notable introduction is the improved version of Google Maps which has SatNav companies quaking in their boots – essentially, it turns the Droid into a fully-fledged navigational tool. Sadly it won’t be available on the European version of the handset.

While Android 2.0 certainly comes with some welcome embellishments, Google’s fractured approach to operating systems is starting to count against it.

HTC’s Sense user interface - which made its debut on the aforementioned Hero - is arguably more attractive and offers more opportunities for the user to tailor their mobile experience to suit their personal preferences.

Droid’s 2.0 OS is still quite restricted: you can only have three different Home screens, compared to Sense’s seven. Speed is also an issue, despite the power the Droid packs under the hood. Opening applications sometimes takes longer than it reasonably should.

While 2.0 is still unquestionably brilliant in many ways, it does tend to feel as if Google is merely building a platform and expecting manufacturers to go the additional mile to create more attractive interfaces - see HTC’s Sense and Motorola’s MotoBlur, for example.

iPhone: We’re now well into 3.0 territory with the iPhone and Apple’s locked-down approach to updates has ensured that users enjoy a pretty stable experience with their phones.

None of the fragmentation that afflicts the Android sector is present here: iPhone users see the same kind of options regardless of their device, although there are obviously elements (such as video recording) that are exclusive to the newer 3GS.

Such steadiness comes at a price, though. Customising your phone is notoriously difficult: Apple doesn’t even allow you to select your own message tone, and using the music contained on your device as a ringtone is impossible without some nefarious jiggery-pokery via iTunes.

Whether or not this will annoy you is a matter of personal preference, but if you like to have control of every aspect of your mobile life then you’re likely to feel a little hemmed in by Apple’s restrictive OS.

However, for those users who don’t want to treat their phones like the USS Enterprise and have complete and utter dominion over its every CPU process, then the iPhone is going to be more appealing. It’s slick and intuitive, and sometimes simplicity can be a blessing rather than a curse.

Winner: Tie Gaming Droid: In what is arguably the most important arena (at least to us Pocket Gamers) the Droid struggles badly. It’s not the fault of the hardware - the phone has a fast processor and is capable of creating some gorgeous visuals - but rather the software.

Google currently does not allow developers to save their apps to anywhere outside the designated storage location, which is capped at a mere 256MB. To put this into perspective, some iPhone games take up more space than that.

As a result, the games available on the Android Market are fairly basic 2D affairs that occupy as little space in the phone’s memory as possible. That’s not to say they’re not playable - just download the excellent Radiant to see how great Android games can be - but it certainly poses an issue.

Another factor is the reality that the Android Market isn’t anywhere near as well supported as the App Store, which means fewer available games.

iPhone: With over 100,000 different apps available - and a large proportion of those being games - the iPhone App Store is the undisputed heavyweight champion of the digital download world.

We’ve seen some truly astonishing iPhone games over the past few months and that shows no sign of stopping as developers flock to the device.

Of course, as the old saying goes, the further you open the window, the more crap flies in, and that's certainly applicable here. There’s an awful lot of tosh currently being peddled on the store, although using sites like the very one you’re reading now will help you to sort the gold from the gunk.

There really is no contest in this respect: the iPhone is backed by one of the most vibrant and exciting development communities going, and so it beats the Droid hands down.

Winner: iPhone Conclusion

While Motorola’s Android effort is definitely one of the best uses of Google’s OS we’ve yet seen, it can’t quite topple the iPhone 3GS from its lofty perch. Apple’s device has attained a near-mythical status now, thanks to its fusion of classic design, great functionality and a solid variety of games and other apps.

The Droid is definitely a step in the right direction, though, and bodes well for future Android handsets. But for the time being at least, the iPhone remains undefeated.