The Motorola Droid Razr

Both the Motorola Droid Razr and the Galaxy Nexus feature dual-core processors, LTE (Long Term Evolution, latest standard in the mobile network technology) connectivity and cameras capable of shooting 1080p HD video. However they as well have key differences that make them unequalled on the ever-competitive smartphone market. In this article we'll break down the devices' internal and external specifications as then as the differences in the mobile platforms loaded onto each one.

External design and display screen: The Droid Razr is now the thinnest smartphone on the market at just 7.1mm thick, or more than 2mm thinner than the iPhone 4S. It as well features a 4.3-inch display screen made from Corning Gorilla Glass and a sturdy frame made from laser-cut Kevlar fiber. Any way you slice it, the Droid Razr's design is state-of-the-art. The Galaxy Nexus aims to be bigger, at this stage 8.84mm thick and features a 4.65-inch HD display screen with edge-to-edge 720p resolution.

Both devices have cameras that can shoot video at 1080p, however the Razr's 8-megapixel camera has a stronger standstill resolution than the Galaxy's 5-megapixel camera. Clearly, the Galaxy as well has the ability to shoot panoramic photographs with the help of the new Android 4.0 operating system, so that makes the comparison a bit of a push.

Although both have terrific designs, we're going to give the edge to the Razr because, let's face it, how often do you get to boast that your smartphone is made from Kevlar?

Software and operating system: Now this is where the differences between the two devices as a matter of fact become apparent. The Galaxy Nexus is the first device to come loaded with the Android 4.0 platform that Google hopes will unify the Android experience on smartphones and tablets alike. As you might expect, this new operating system comes with nifty new features including a lock screen that can unlock using facial recognition software; Android Beam, a new research that lets users send contact information, directions, Web pages and more although near-field communications innovation by tapping their phones at the same time; and integration with the Google+ social network that lets users host online video chats among their circles of friends.

The Droid Razr runs on the older Android 3

While the Droid Razr runs on the older Android 3.2 platform, Motorola has made sure to preload goodies of its own onto the device to differentiate it from past Droid models. The most notable is MotoCast, an application that creates a private cloud for data stored on your personal computer and makes it available for use on your smartphone. So if you want to access your favorite workout playlist without wasting storage space, you can simply stream it from your personal cloud right to your device. The other key apps are Smart Action, which provides multiple ways to conserve battery power, just as automatically shutting down your GPS and Bluetooth connections once it's connected to your home Wi-Fi network, and the Webtop application that integrates your device into your laptop dock and makes the phone in substance serve as a mini PC.

The bottom line: You can't go wrong with either of these devices. They both have top-notch hardware, the fastest mobile connectivity available and in a class by itself features and applications that set them apart from other big-name smartphones. Any other manufacturer contemplating releasing an Android phone in the nearly future should know that these devices are the new standards they'll have to meet.