Motorola’s long-awaited, dual-core, LTE-capable Droid Bionic, which was first unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January, has finally arrived at Verizon Wireless. One of the meatiest smartphones to hit the market yet, the Bionic is also going to be one of the most expensive at $299.99 with a two-year contract.
The reason for the price tag? The Droid Bionic is about as spec’d out as the modern smartphone can get. The Bionic will ship running Android 2.3.4 (Gingerbread) and is the first Verizon Wireless smartphone to combine LTE with a dual-core 1 GHz processor. Additional features include 1 GB of RAM, a 4.3-inch qHD touchscreen, 8-megapixel autofocus camera with flash and 1080p HD video capture, front-facing camera, HDMI out (1080p HD), Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
Verizon Wireless suggests users in LTE coverage areas will get download speeds of 5 to 12 Mbps and upload speeds of 2 to 5 Mbps.
If that’s not enough to satiate the power user, throw in Motorola’s line of optional, if pricey, accessories. Motorola has suited the Bionic up with a Lapdock (similar to the Atrix Lapdock), which will be available for $299.97, the HD Station ($99.99) and Adapter for Webtop Application ($29.99).
Additionally, Bionic users can pick up the Vehicle Navigation Dock ($39.99), which delivers access to maps, contacts, hands-free calling, music, navigation and more and supports streaming of audio and music via the 3.5 mm audio jack, if available, to play through vehicle speakers.
Lastly, Motorola will offer the Battery Dock, which is a pocket-sized accessory with an extra battery included to charge both the Bionic and an extra battery at the same speed as a wall charger. The Battery Dock will be available for $49.99.
With all of its accessories, a consumer could conceivably spend upwards of $800 for the Droid Bionic. Verizon and Motorola aim to soften the blow some. For a limited time, customers who purchase a Lapdock with their Bionic can receive a $100 mail-in rebate when subscribing to a $50, 5 GB data plan or higher.
