Verizon has managed to create impressive hype for the Droid (with Google’s support thrown in). Partly the drama before launch and feature set including first time Android 2.0 with Google Navigation helped. So how does the Droid do against the iPhone 3GS? Lets take a quick look at the spec sheet first:
Apple iPhone 3GS vs Motorola Milestone / Verizon Droid
| Feature | iPhone 3GS | Droid / Milestone |
| Network | 2G NetworkGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 3G HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100 HSDPA supported 7.2 Mbp |
WCDMA/900/2100, GSM 850/900/1800/1900, HSPA, GPRS Class 12, WiFi |
| OS | iPhone OS 3.0 | Android OS 2.0 |
| Display | TFT capacitive touchscreen,16M colors 320 x 480 pixels, 3.5 inches | 3.7″ Capacitive touchscreen854×480 (16:9 widescreen) |
| Camera | 3.15 MP / Autofocus 30 fps Video recording with audio |
5MP, Autofocus / LED Flash Video recording 30 fps with audio |
| Internet Browser | Mobile Safari Full HTML without Flash | Location enabled, multi window HTML5 webkit browser |
| Messaging | SMS (threaded view), MMS, Emails | SMS, MMS, Email |
| FM | No | No |
| Processor | 600 MHz CPU | 550 Mhz CPU |
| Battery | Unknown Talktime Up to 12 hours on 2G / 5 hours on 3G |
1400 mAh Li-ion GSM: up 350 hrs; 3G: up to 380 hrs standby. No info on talktime |
| Colours | White and Black | |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth AD2P (headset support only) Bluetooth P2P games WiFi, aGPS |
MicroUSB Stereo Bluetooth 2.1 aGPS, WiFi |
| Memory | 256MB RAM 16 GB/ 32 GB internal storage |
256 MB Ram 512 MB Rom (MicrosSD card slot) |
| Weight | 135 gms | 169 gms |
| Others |
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Motorola Droid brings with it a renewed Android 2.0 OS that supports much better games and matches up with the iPhone by bundling multitouch support. With a maturing Android Market you will surely see much better apps / games for the Droid / Milestone in the coming months. Though probably the gaming won’t match up to the level that 3GS supports, but there are rarely any games that use the 3GS GPU to the fullest. A bigger touchscreen and high resolution on the Droid 3.7″ is a win. Though the iPhone 3Gs would feel much lighter and somewhat sleek.
Droid is the slimmest handset out in the market with a physical QWERTY, and it does well to, please a large segment of the market that Blackberry holds. However, I prefer the Palm Pre style qwerty which comes right below the screen. The onscreen keyboard of the iPhone (though very good), lack of Flash, MicroSD card or a usb mass storage option works against the 3GS and I won’t be surprised if the Droid/Milestone actually does better business in some parts of the world. The pricing of the Motorola Droid is competitive (and does better than Cliq in terms of features) and helps Verizon compete with the iPhone. Google has already blessed the Android 2 with its Navigation app and it will take some time for the same to hit the iPhone or probably we would need to see the PlaceBase solution to come up.
iPhone 3GS counters the Verizon Droid / Motorola Milestone only by its multitouch UI and the amazing App Store application (at the same time we do know a little issue with Apps on the Droid). It would take time for Android to catchup to that. But Droid is certainly something that will attract Verizon a lot of customers.