Motorola Droid Turbo 2 And Droid Maxx 2 Review: Shatterproof And Value Android
While the phone didn't take the crown in benchmarks, it won a more understated victory -- the "bang for the buck" award. The Snapdragon 808 churns through tasks that matter with aplomb, and one has to remember that phones at the top of the benchmarking heap cost anywhere from 25 to 40 percent more than the Moto X Pure Edition tested here. To put it all in perspective, this handset didn't miss the benchmarking crown by 25 to 40 percent, oftentimes only falling behind by 5 or 10 percent. Is it worth spending hundreds more to squeeze out a few more frames per second? For the average, mainstream phone buyer, that answer is likely "no."
What this handset does right is nail the essentials for the everyman. There's Moto Maker, which enables consumers to build the phone that perfectly suits them at no additional cost. There's the carrier-free approach, which allows Moto to sell directly to you at a lower cost, while you avoid carrier bloatware and contracts. Every Moto X Pure Edition is sold unlocked, so you can use it with any major U.S. carrier, and you can utilize local SIMs from foreign carriers when you travel overseas.
The Droid Turbo 2, on the other hand, is a well-rounded smartphone. It’s not cheap, but you get some serious hardware for the money – and the display is both gorgeous and drop-it-on-cement-for-fun kind of tough. If you can overlook the big Verizon logo smack on the front of the device, the Turbo 2 might be the kind of classy, powerful Galaxy-alternative you’ve been looking for. And, it has some serious gaming chops too. 
The Maxx 2’s biggest failing is that it starts with a measly 16GB of storage, which shouldn’t be the starting storage for any midrange smartphone. And although it can handle most tasks just fine, the phone’s processing power will leave some customers flat. But the phone’s price tag will make it attractive to plenty of shoppers looking for value.
If we were making holiday gift suggestions (and we will be soon), we’d recommend both the Droid Turbo 2 and the Maxx 2, but for different people. With its beefy hardware and high-resolution (and tough) display, the Turbo 2 is clearly the better choice for the enthusiast set in our audience. If you’re shopping for family, though, the Maxx 2 is a perfectly serviceable as well, and one that’s much easier on the wallet.
Motorola Droid Turbo 2
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Motorola Droid Maxx 2
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