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Jet-setting Motorola Droid Turbo joins top specs with new materials (pictures)

The first smartphone dressed in ballistic nylon is about more than just looks. Top-notch specs give it a boost in the cutthroat smartphone race.

Jessica Dolcourt
Jessica Dolcourt is a passionate content strategist and veteran leader of CNET coverage. As Senior Director of Commerce & Content Operations, she leads a number of teams, including Commerce, How-To and Performance Optimization. Her CNET career began in 2006, testing desktop and mobile software for Download.com and CNET, including the first iPhone and Android apps and operating systems. She continued to review, report on and write a wide range of commentary and analysis on all things phones, with an emphasis on iPhone and Samsung. Jessica was one of the first people in the world to test, review and report on foldable phones and 5G wireless speeds. Jessica began leading CNET's How-To section for tips and FAQs in 2019, guiding coverage of topics ranging from personal finance to phones and home. She holds an MA with Distinction from the University of Warwick (UK).
James Martin Managing Editor, Photography
James Martin is the Managing Editor of Photography at CNET. His photos capture technology's impact on society - from the widening wealth gap in San Francisco, to the European refugee crisis and Rwanda's efforts to improve health care. From the technology pioneers of Google and Facebook, photographing Apple's Steve Jobs and Tim Cook, Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg and Google's Sundar Pichai, to the most groundbreaking launches at Apple and NASA, his is a dream job for any documentary photography and journalist with a love for technology. Exhibited widely, syndicated and reprinted thousands of times over the years, James follows the people and places behind the technology changing our world, bringing their stories and ideas to life.
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Jessica Dolcourt
James Martin
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1 of 9 James Martin/CNET

Hello, Turbo

Verizon's Motorola Droid Turbo bursts onto the scene with all engines revving. Will its top specs and eye-catching finishes pull it to the front of the pack?

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2 of 9 James Martin/CNET

Black and red

There are two colors to the high-end handset: black, which is made of ballistic nylon, and red with a Kevlar finish.

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3 of 9 James Martin/CNET

Nylon up close

The nylon weave on the black Turbo's backing sure looks cool, but feels a bit more slippery than expected. It won't amass any visible fingerprints, but it might make you wonder where all that finger grease is going.

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4 of 9 James Martin/CNET

Cherry red Kevlar

On the other hand, the red Kevlar-vested option has a neat holographic effect on its also-smooth backing that mimics the nylon weave.

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5 of 9 James Martin/CNET

Full-throttle specs

With a 5.2-inch 1,440p HD display and a 2-,7-megapixel camera, the Turbo is ready to blow past the competition. Its high-capacity 3,900mAh battery and quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 processor give it some top-notch guts.

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6 of 9 James Martin/CNET

Sharp chin

The phone's pointy bottom chin makes it uncomfortable to hold if your one-handed grip includes the phone's most southern edge.

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7 of 9 James Martin/CNET

Side press

Look closely and you can see that the power/lock and volume rocker buttons are ridged for easy purchase.

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8 of 9 James Martin/CNET

Rounding it out

Viewed from the top, you can see the Droid Turbo's rounded backing.

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9 of 9 James Martin/CNET

Catch all the pros and cons in CNET's full Motorola Droid Turbo review.

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