Engadget managed to shake the high-tech world from its Google-Motorola Mobility (NYSE:MMI) merger fascination, if only for a second, with the revelation of a new smartphone from the very company the search-engine giant is trying to buy.
The gadget blog Aug. 17 received these high-resolution photos from an anonymous tipster showing what is labeled a Motorola Droid HD, which has long been rumored, alongside the forthcoming Droid Bionic 4G smartphone from Verizon Wireless (NYSE:VZW).
The side-by-side comparison with the delayed, much-anticipated Droid Bionic helps provide perspective for the Droid HD.
Based purely on information from the photos, the Droid HD is fueled by Google’s (NASDAQ:GOOG) Android 2.3 “Gingerbread” operating system on a beautiful 4.5-inch display.
While it’s unclear what the technical specifications behind the screen are, Engadget is guessing qHD (quarter high definition) or possibly a 1,280 by 720 resolution. That would put it in close company with the crisp 1,280 by 800 screens of the Motorola Xoom, Samsung Galaxy Tab and other high-end Android “Honeycomb” tablets.
The handset also features an 8-megapixel rear-facing camera that captures video in 1,080p and a front-facing camera of undetermined resolution. Also pictured is a microUSB and HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) port for porting content from the phone to HD televisions, and SIM and microSD slots.
Here’s the key factoid: The Droid HD is very thin, possibly 8.5mm to 9mm. This would seem to put the device on firm footing with the comparably thin, Super AMOLED Plus-armed (Super active-matrix organic LED plus-armed) Samsung Galaxy S II handset, which the phone maker is unveiling Aug. 29 in New York City.
Meanwhile, much, much more is known about the Droid Bionic, which was delayed a quarter, reportedly so Motorola could get the 4G radio right. This phone uses a TI OMAP 41GHz dual-core processor with a 4.5-inch display, an 8MP camera and 1GB of RAM.
Earlier this month, gadget blog IGN appeared to score a Verizon document revealing the carrier’s fall smartphone and tablet lineup. This includes the Bionic, slated for a Sept. 8 launch.
It’s unclear whether Google’s bid to buy Motorola for $12.5 billion, which the search company announced Aug. 15, will affect the release timing of Motorola’s forthcoming lineup, including the Bionic and Droid HD.