iphone

From strictly a hardware perspective, the Droid cannot beat the iPhone. (For those who don't yet know: the Droid is Motorola's 'savior phone,' which they hope will make them a prominent phone handset maker again). How can I be sure? Well, look at the below diagram:

Basically, it comes down to originality, memorability, and design.

Feature for feature, the Droid competes well with the iPhone. Google Android 2.0 is pretty cool, too. But look at the above marketing images:

• The Droid screams 'corporate' and 'dull' – look at all those buttons, and squared-off corners! Not to mention the run-of-the-mill icons all along the edge of the screen (undo, menu, home, and search).
• The iPhone screams 'iconic' and 'holdable' – even though, for all practical purposes, it's the most boring and simple design—only one button on the face—but take a second glance, and you notice the shiny little indentation in the single button on the bottom. Look further and see the svelte and cool curves on the edges, and the look of a light shining from the top of the phone on all the UI elements.

The reason why Motorola's Razr was so popular was it's physical desirability and simplicity. Doesn't Motorola get that? Is Apple the only consumer company that realizes people would rather use a device that's appealing to them in both features and design?

I would love for the iPhone to have a good competitor... I really would. But we still haven't reached that point. Someday, maybe, but the Droid isn't the iPhone killer.