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The Droid Eris is a worthy entry-level Android contender
Pros
- Cheapest Android phone
- Sleek design
- Sophisticated, customizable interface
- Display supports multitouch pinch-to-zoom
- Good call quality
Cons
- Runs on older Android 1.5 OS
- Mediocre camera
- Choppy video playback
- Short battery life
A budget-friendly Android-based handset steps into the ring
On the heels of releasing the powerful yet pricey Motorola Droid (*Est. $150 with contract), Verizon has delivered a one-two punch with the HTC Droid Eris -- the cheapest Android device on the market. While experts are unanimous that the Eris is no match for the formidable Droid, it nevertheless nudges out its rival clone -- Sprint's HTC Hero (*Est. $180 with contract) -- as the top Android-based handset for anyone willing to settle for toned-down power. "Want a Verizon Droid, but, you know, with less Droid?" asks PCMag.com's Sascha Segan, while Eric M. Zeman and Rich Brome of PhoneScoop.com deem the Eris an "enticing alternative to the Droid."
A refined HTC Hero on the outside, the Eris is trimmer, lighter and less powerful than the Motorola Droid. The Eris chugs along on Android's slightly stale Cupcake 1.5 update, whereas the Motorola Droid throttles ahead with the newest Android 2.0 and a beefier 550 MHz processor. The Eris, says Wired's Priya Ganapati, "feels sluggish" next to the Droid and iPhone 3G (*Est. $200 and up with contract) -- and some CNET users agree -- but it's faster than the Hero in Segan's tests. Despite being pokey, the customizable HTC Sense interface is a hit. It "never leaves you wanting more because there is always a deeper level," says Philip Berne of InfoSyncWorld.com, although he admits newbies may find the extreme customization "daunting." The Eris has seven home screens, the Motorola Droid three; each can be tailored with widgets for speedy access to email, the web and integrated social networking features. But the Motorola Droid has the advantage of GPS with Google Maps' turn-by-turn directions, and it doubles as a tethered modem.
Displays and keyboards also differ. The Eris' 3.2-inch, 320-by-480-pixel screen "pales in comparison" to the Motorola Droid's stunning 3.7-inch, 480-by-854-pixel screen, say Zeman and Brome. The Eris also has a virtual keyboard, the Droid a physical one. Todd Haselton of Laptop Magazine deems the Eris' keyboard as "one of the better" he's seen, and a few users at PhoneScoop.com agree. But CNET's Bonnie Cha and Kent German say "it's slightly behind the iPhone's in terms of precision," even with pinch and zoom for smooth web browsing. The touch-sensitive control buttons don't fare as well. "Temperamental," says Ganapati, adding that "you're pretty much hosed if vibrating feedback annoys you," since it can't be turned off.
Solid calls, productivity and multimedia while the battery lasts
Most experts and users find the Eris to have very good call quality and reception on Verizon's highly rated, fast 3G network. Berne also finds it to be a "surprisingly capable" business device. There's email support for Google, POP3, IMAP and Microsoft Exchange with contact syncing, text and multimedia messaging, plus QuickOffice productivity software and an Adobe PDF reader. However, there's no file manager or unified inbox, and Google Talk is the sole instant messaging client. Multimedia functionality is mixed. The Eris has the Motorola Droid's nice music player, but the 5-megapixel camera stumbles in tests, especially with choppy video. Battery output also falls short. While it lasted for five hours and 44 minutes of talk time in tests at PCMag, its 3.5-hour rating is 30 minutes less than the Hero and a 50 percent drop from the Droid. "Abysmal," says an owner at CNET.
Many top mobile tech experts have reviewed the new HTC Droid Eris, comparing it to market rivals such as the Motorola Droid, iPhone 3GS (*Est. $200 with contract) and HTC Hero. The most detailed evaluations come from PCMag.com, InfoSyncWorld.com, CNET, Wired and Laptop Magazine. Lighter yet still helpful reviews are offered by DigitalTrends.com and PC World, while user reviews from CNET and PhoneScoop.com help to verify expert findings and reveal problems with heavy use.
Our Sources
1. CNET
CNET reviewers Kent German and Bonnie Cha deliver a detail-packed review of the HTC Droid Eris, comparing it to the Motorola Droid and HTC myTouch 3G. They praise the slim design, generous feature set and unbeatable price, but they long for a more recent Android OS. User comments about the Eris are trickling in, with most confirming German's and Cha's conclusions. The few negative reviews report issues with performance and the poor camera.
Review: HTC Droid Eris (Verizon Wireless), Bonnie Cha and Kent German, Nov. 6, 2009
2. PCMag.com
PCMag.com's Sascha Segan likens the HTC Droid Eris to a "slightly watered-down" version of the Motorola Droid, which nabbed PCMag.com's Editors' Choice award. Nevertheless, the Eris has a "pleasantly glossy interface," supports multitouch pinch to zoom and is faster that the HTC Hero. "This is a good device, but the Motorola Droid is a great one," he says.
Review: HTC Droid Eris (Verizon Wireless), Sascha Segan , Nov. 6, 2009
Philip Berne is smitten by the addition of HTC Sense on the Eris' Android interface, and he says it "never leaves you wanting more because there is always a deeper level." At the same time, this asset is also a liability, and Berne admits it might be too complicated for newbies to use. The lack of GPS with turn-by-turn navigation and "horrible" camera are also setbacks, but not enough to diminish the "delightful" Eris.
Review: HTC Droid Eris review, Philip Berne, Nov. 11, 2009
4. Wired
"Naming a phone after the Greek goddess of discord and rivalry is a bold, possibly crazy move," says Priva Ganapati in regards to the HTC Droid Eris. Despite the "cutthroat" design, brilliant price screen, and budget-friendly price, the Eris suffers from voice quality that is "stained" by background noise, a lagging processor and a dated interface.
Review: HTC Droid Eris, Priya Ganapati, Nov. 12, 2009
The HTC Droid Eris is the "smart phone" for Verizon customers looking for a wallet-friendly alternative to the Motorola Droid, Todd Haselton says. The intuitive HTC Sense interface, Facebook and Twitter integration, and "rock solid industrial design" excel, but Haselton isn't convinced that it's a better deal than the HTC Hero, which has an edge with Sprint's far more affordable calling and data plans.
Review: HTC Droid Eris (Verizon Wireless), Todd Haselton, Nov. 16, 2009
As a "spruced up" version of Sprint's HTC Hero, Stewart Wolpin considers the HTC Droid Eris a "quick powerhouse" that's a viable choice for anyone needing a cheaper and less powerful version of the Motorola Droid. The Eris can't compete with the Motorola Droid's high-resolution display screen, GPS with Google Maps navigation, or "lofty aural level," but its multitouch zoom feature and extra homepages make it a compelling iPhone rival.
Review: HTC Droid Eris Review, Stewart Wolpin, Nov. 7, 2009
7. PC World
Robert Anthony highly recommends the HTC Droid Eris as an alternative to the pricier Motorola Droid for anyone who "can live without a hardware keyboard." Like other reviewers, he finds the embedded keys a challenge to activate, but the added business touches along with a brighter, larger display than the myTouch 3G make the Eris a viable contender.
Review: HTC Droid Eris, Robert S. Anthony, Nov. 5, 2009
Although not as detailed as other expert reviews, Eric M. Zeman and Rich Brome compare some of the key differences between the HTC Droid Eris and its closest rivals, the HTC Hero and the Motorola Droid. "The slightly smaller footprint and solid software on the Eris make it an enticing alternative to the Droid," they conclude, especially given its cheaper price tag.
Review: Verizon's Holiday Line-Up, Eric M. Zeman and Rich Brome, Nov. 5, 2009
Just about a dozen owners have weighed in on the new HTC Droid Eris, and most like what they see. "A fantastic alternative," says one, while the seven customizable home screens blow one user away. Still, more than a few cite problems with the phone locking up and picking up background noise during calls.
Review: HTC Droid Eris, Contributors to PhoneScoop.com, As of Dec. 2009