[RAZR HD Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] majorpay:
Reality check...

OK, so I've been through a LOT of Android devices, and this one has some poo that goes along with it (as many others have).

1. The radios have become worse over the generations. While LTE is technically faster now on this device, I had WAY more coverage on my POS Revolution, but this device smokes the Galaxy Nexus for LTE coverage hands down (SGN is a joke as an LTE device).

2. Phone is mediocre. This is where the SGN showed what it was supposed to really sound like on a phone. On a call to my dad, he stated in my car that it sounded like I was in a quiet room by myself. He definitely doesn't say that with this phone.

3. Gaming. This one irritates me the most. Every few minutes there is lag. Sometimes it's short lag, sometimes you drop to 5fps for 6-7 seconds. Try Subway Surfers - you'll want to chuck the phone at the wall. I'm guessing this is an IO issue as I saw this in the TF300, and whatever CleanROM did for the TF300, it made the term "buttery smooth" no longer tongue and cheek. I'd give anything (except stability and features) to see that on this phone.

4. ROMs - I can't comment on this one, but I've been following the threads for a while now, and there's still some dealbreaker trade-offs going on - hopefully we'll see less of that as time goes on (great improvements over just the past few weeks). I've been waiting for the right time to make the move.

5. Tethering - Interesting that less people have seem interested in this problem, but as an unlimited user, I have found NO possible way around VZW. I'm rooted and have tried WiFi tether in the configurations people have suggested in multiple forums with no luck. I've tried the SQL hacks, I've tried other programs, I've tried WFT 3.2b, I've tried every configuration you can think of. The best I have had was a connection, but no internet. Every thread suggests something, but from my experience, nothing works.

6. A little lag in Nova Launcher when waking up and switching between screens.

7. VZW and Motorola seem more interested in blocking the devs from cleaning up Moto's mess than fixing their own crap. With the Ultra coming out, I figure that they'll block it from devs the best they can with a few more updates, then jump ship to create a shinier turd and repeat the cycle.

8. Browsing is still slow, even on WiFi, but show me a phone where this isn't true?

The pros?

1. Battery life. This is hands down the best phone I've had for battery, and it's only the HD, not the Maxx.

2. Better LTE than an SGN? LOL...

3. Depending on your usage, it's a decent phone I guess. It's ok in between downright irritating lagging for games(laugh), the WiFi works, albeit a little slow in areas, it's average as a phone, and if you're just interested in checking your e-mail and doing navigation, it's not bad.

4. Decent built in storage space stock.

5. Pretty good sound - no complaints on the music front.

Just don't EXPECT tethering, or a decent, lag-free gaming experience.

I either have a knack for choosing bad phones, or Android just STILL isn't there in the phone arena yet, even with the greater specs. If the former is true, I wouldn't follow my devices (minus the TF300 - that was excellent with CleanROM).

I paid in cash, and if I had to do it all over again, I have no idea what I'd do... I'm starting to believe that the big V along with these manufacturers, they are just slapping coats of wax on turds, then high tailing off to put the next, bigger, and shinier turd in front of people. There's no pride put into the devices past the marketing strategy. I'm never going Apple, MS is still hard to take seriously, and Android? Maybe I'm just really bad at choosing phones.

Edit: as an aside, my dad loves his (late 50s), but he doesn't game or care about tethering (with me, it's not often as well, but when I do, I expect it to work well). For him, it is mostly just navi, e-mail, and on rare occasions, browsing.

Edit 2: why do we not see more reviews like this instead of "omg it's the bestest octacore beast with terapixel camera that makes poking your friends on FaceBook a breeze?" I think we need "pro" reviewers at well known sites to dig a little deeper, and actually use devices as hard-core daily drivers for a week or so before passing judgement.