Google To Make Rumored Atrix 3 Flagship Smartphone Rival To iPhone 5

Posted by Michael Nace on Friday Feb 17, 2012 Under Android, iPhone 5 Opinion

rumored google motorola atrix 3 to take on iPhone 5In the wake of Google gaining approval for acquiring Motorola Mobility, the rumored Atrix 3 might become Google’s first serious contender against this year’s iPhone 5.

What you are looking at here are purported photos of the newest potential “iPhone 5 killer,” the Motorola Atrix 3. At present, there isn’t much to look at — a monolithic black slab ‘o smartphone, with rounded edges and what looks to be a buttonless front with a large screen. But gives the rumored specs for this new iteration of the Motorola Atrix, together with the recent news that Google will indeed purchase Motorola Mobility, conspires to suggest that the Atrix 3 could be Google’s first foray into building a smartphone that can take on the iPhone 5 mano e mano.

The photo itself is purported to be a true prototype, and not a production-ready device. But the features for the proposed Atrix 3 seem very real, and impressive enough to rival the iPhone 5′s possible quad core A6 chip, larger screen, 4G LTE, et al. Rumored specs for the Atrix 3 include the impressive Quad-core Tegra 3 processor and 2 GB of RAM, as well as a beefy 4.3 inch 1280 x 720 display and 10 megapixel camera with dual-LED flash, which may or may not trump the Sony camera sensor that is rumored to be slated for the iPhone 5.

The Atrix 3 would also ostensibly include Android 4.0.


If the Atrix 3 turns out to feature these specs, what will the ramifications be for the iPhone 5? There has been talk that the A6 chip will not turn out to be quad core after all — and we should this by the time the iPad 3 is released. There are an equal number of iPhone 5 perspectives that suggest the augmentation of the iPhone 5′s screen could be less than 4.3 inches. In fact, some even believe that Apple could opt to keep the overall dimensions of the iPhone 5 chassic in line with previous iPhone models, and increase the screen only from 3.5 to 3.7 inches.

It also appears that, if rumors prove to be true and the iPhone 5 is released in June, it is likely that the Atrix 3 could be released around the same time, shaping up a major smartphone war to begin the Summer.

Fortunately for Apple, their customers don’t make iPhone purchases based solely on processors, RAM, and other tech elements. The iPhone 4S is a testament to this reality, with Siri, the innovations of iOS 5, and the coolness factor associated with the iPhone springboarding iPhone 4S sales, in spite of having no 4G LTE and the same screen and form factor as the iPhone 4.

Conversely, Google will have an uphill battle to re-imagine Motorola as a brand that can compete with Apple in terms of coolness and leading-edge technology. Though Motorola has a proven track record of innovation, the company has never had a product that has made a cultural impact like the iPhone.

It remains to be seen if Google’s Motorola experiment will work, and that their Atrix 3 could even come close to competing with the iPhone in 2012. Fortunately for Google, there are enough Motorola patents that they will suck up in the acquisition process that the investment will at the very least have a hedge against Motorola failing miserably to compete one-on-one with Apple’s iPhone 5. But the prospect of “winning” via cynical courtroom battles against Apple is a far cry from Google’s dream of making Motorola into the next ultra-hip smartphone manufacturer.

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3 Responses to “Google To Make Rumored Atrix 3 Flagship Smartphone Rival To iPhone 5”

  1. ALM Says:
    February 17th, 2012 at 7:45 pm

    About the iPhones screen size. It would still be a big improvement if Apple only enlarged the next iPhones screen to 3.7 inches. I mean come on, lets not complain. If Apple increases the screen size to lets say 4+ inches, then the retina display would be crap. I think a 4 inch screen is plenty, 4.5 max. These phones that are 4.5+ and just too bulky. Sure they are cool to show off but too big. As long as Apple slowly keeps up (with the screen size) every year or two, then thats fine. 3.5 inches in bare minimum, so even if they upgrade it just a little, then thats great! Your paying for a large enough screen and a great phone. With a huge 4.5 inch Android phone, your like hey everyone check out the massive phone, but its an Android, they crash and freeze and you lose your data and that sucks. So quit complaining, the iPhone is Perfect.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 2


  2. Michael Nace Says:
    February 17th, 2012 at 8:49 pm

    I totally agree, ALM. People think that bumping up the screen from 3.5 to 3.7 would be nominal, but those .2 inches would actually make a really big difference. And it would allow Apple to keep the traditional iPhone dimensions, which I think they are quite fond of. I would rather see an edge-to-edge 3.7 screen on the iPhone 5 then some absurdly big-screened new design that doesn’t even look like an iPhone.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1


  3. Cristian Says:
    February 17th, 2012 at 9:56 pm

    Actually my friend has a 3.7″ screen on her windows phone and it’s basically the same. I would like the screen to be at least 4″. I would also like to have better colors on the new iPhone screen, not like Amoled which just makes it look like a rainbow, but less monochromatic like the iPhone 4.

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