Motorola and Verizon on Tuesday unveiled their newest additions to the Droid lineup: The Android-powered Droid Turbo 2 and the Droid Maxx 2. Motorola claims the Droid Turbo 2 is shatterproof, meaning you can drop it face down on the ground without cracking its screen.
That extra screen protection comes by way of a technology Motorola calls “Shatter Shield.” The Droid Turbo 2 has a flexible 5.4-inch screen that absorbs shock and an extra protective layer that prevents the touchscreen from disabling after a bad drop. Motorola President Rick Osterloh demonstrated the feature during a press event Tuesday, dropping the phone face-down on a concrete block before showing off the lack of damage.
The Turbo 2 lasts for 48 hours on a single charge, according to Motorola. It supports fast-charging tech that allows users to get 13 hours of battery life after charging the phone for 15 minutes, the company claims. Meanwhile, the Maxx 2’s battery also lasts for 48 hours, but Motorola says users will get eight hours of battery life after re-charging for 15 minutes it versus 13 with the Turbo 2.
Top 10 Tech Product Designs of 2014
Nest
Acquired by Google in Jan. 2014, Nest Labs wants to turn your home into a smart device. The home automation system includes Internet-connected smoke detectors and thermostats, which have screens and chic, round designs — a huge design boost for devices that haven't really changed in recent decades. Aya Brackett—NestDJI Inspire 1
The latest DJI quadcopter retains the simple style that's made their drones so popular, but adds 4K video capability — and the ability to transmit the HD video wirelessly to an on-the-ground devices. A new ground-facing camera also allows Inspire 1 to fly steadily to keep the video footage clean.DJIiPhone 6 and 6 Plus
Bigger is better, or so the critics cried, calling for Apple to make a supersized phone. That was before Apple quieted them with the release of the iPhone 6 Plus in September, the company’s largest iPhone ever. With an alluring 5.5-inch display that makes it feel something like a portable iPad, the phone is is a challenge to Samsung’s larger models. Along with a powerful 8-megapixel camera and longer battery life, the phone is more a statement than an answer.AppleOsmo Tangram
Tired of seeing your kids staring at screens like zombies? This iPad game brings virtual play to life. A reflector equipped with artificial intelligence snaps over your iPad's camera and can sense when objects are moving (or being drawn) on a pad in front of it. Osmo comes with three games, all of which promote creativity and—because it’s best played in groups—social intelligence. The best way to understand how Osmo works is by watching the video of kids who have never played with the device before testing it out for the first time.OsmoTesla 2014 Model S
Tesla 2014 Model S has been praised both for its luxury feel and high-tech interior. The electric car offers instantaneous acceleration from a stop, a function very few other cars on the market provide. TeslaJawbone's UP3 Wristband
Depending on your view, Jawbone is on the road to making us all super fit athletes or brutally efficient cyborgs who operate by data alone. How many minutes of REM sleep did I get last night? What’s the difference between my heart rate while resting and during a workout? How hydrated am I? How many calories did I burn on my last run? Jawbone UP3 answers all those questions better than any other Jawbone did before. The $179 wearable fits on your wrist and comes in black and silver.JawboneSquare Stand
The iPad holder and credit card reader launched last year with the goal of transforming an iPad into a point-of-sale. The sleek, white stand also offers an enhanced credit card reader, and can be adapted to include a cash register.Square Nerf Rebelle Rapid Red Blaster
Last year, Nerf decided to even the battlefield and create a new line of guns, arrows and crossbows specifically for girls. The resulting Nerf Rebelle line takes a cue from the success of The Hunger Games: The box is covered with tweens styled like that series' hero, Katniss Everdeen.HasbroOculus Rift Crescent Bay
The latest Oculus Rift prototype, Crescent Bay, marks one step further before the commercial release of the virtual reality handset. Crescent Bay features upgrades like 360-degree head tracking, a lighter weight, and high-quality audio. Lucky participants in the demos recalled the mind-boggling immersion in the scenes they were watching. The consumer version, Oculus Rift, is expected to launch as early as April 2015.Oculus VRQualcomm WiPower
Sick of tangled phone charging cables? Qualcomm WiPower allows you to power up your phone without plugging it in — a function that, to most people, is basically magic. The wireless charging pad eliminates the fuss of power chords, while also allowing you to turn everyday furniture like tables and chairs into charging surfaces.Qualcomm
Both phones also have 21-megapixel main cameras and 5-megapixel front-facing cameras. To put that in perspective, the Samsung Galaxy S6 features a 16-megapixel camera, while the iPhone 6S comes with a 12-megapixel camera. On paper, this means the Droid Turbo 2 and Maxx 2 should capture better photos, but it’s impossible to tell for sure without testing the cameras side-by-side.
Motorola wants to make its new Droid phones just as customizable as its Moto X phones, as well. The company’s Moto Maker feature is now available for the Droid Maxx and Droid Turbo, meaning shoppers will be able to choose from various color combinations and textures for the phone’s back shell. If customers change their mind about their design, they can choose a new look for their Droid after two years.
The new devices look and feel similar to Motorola’s Moto X Pure, which debuted back in July. The overall design is the nearly the same, but the new Droids feel a bit lighter and less bulky. One key difference, however, is that the new Droids are exclusive to Verizon since it’s the carrier’s branding. Verizon has been working with companies such as Motorola and HTC to make Droid phones that run on Android since as far back as 2009.
The Droid Turbo 2 and Droid Maxx launch on Thursday, with the Turbo 2 launching at $624 full price ($20/month under Verizon’s payment plan) and the Maxx 2 costing $384 full price ($16/month under that plan). Customers trading in a phone with a cracked screen get a $300 credit towards the Turbo 2.
