Motorola Droid 3 smartphone

Photo: The GameWay via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Motorola

Motorola Droid 3

July 2011 6/10 Rating Updated
In brief: The Motorola Droid 3 was a smartphone released in July 2011, featuring a 4-inch qHD display, an 8-megapixel camera, and a distinctive 5-row slide-out QWERTY keyboard. It ran on the Android 2.3 Gingerbread operating system and was offered by Verizon Wireless.
Display4.0-inch qHD (540x960) TFT display
ChipsetTI OMAP 4430 dual-core 1.0 GHz
Main Camera8 MP with 1080p video recording
BatteryRemovable 1540 mAh Li-Ion
Starting from $40

💰 Motorola Droid 3 Price

The Motorola Droid 3 lowest price is $40, based on current retailer listings.

📌 Full Specifications

Display

TypeTFT capacitive touchscreen
Size4.0 inches
Resolution540 x 960 pixels (qHD)

Platform

OSAndroid 2.3.4 (Gingerbread), upgradable to 2.3.6 (Gingerbread)
ChipsetTI OMAP 4430
CPUDual-core 1.0 GHz ARM Cortex-A9
GPUPowerVR SGX540 @ 304 MHz

Memory

Card slotmicroSDHC (dedicated slot), up to 32 GB
Internal16 GB, 512 MB RAM

Main Camera

Single8 MP, autofocus
Video1080p@30fps

Selfie Camera

SingleVGA
VideoYes

Battery

TypeRemovable Li-Ion 1540 mAh
Stand-byUp to 300 h (3G)
Talk timeUp to 9 h 20 min (3G)

Body

Dimensions124 x 64 x 13 mm (4.88 x 2.52 x 0.51 in)
Weight169 g (5.96 oz)
Keyboard5-row slide-out QWERTY keyboard
SIMMini-SIM

Comms

WLANWi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, hotspot
PositioningGPS, A-GPS
USBmicroUSB 2.0

Launch

Announced2011, July
StatusDiscontinued

⚖ Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Excellent physical QWERTY keyboard for tactile typing
  • HDMI output for easy TV connectivity
  • Global roaming capabilities for international use
  • Dual-core processor offered good performance for its era
  • 8MP camera with 1080p video recording was competitive at launch

Cons

  • Severely outdated Android 2.3 Gingerbread operating system
  • Limited RAM (512MB) by modern standards
  • Lacks 4G LTE support, limiting network speeds
  • Relatively small display compared to contemporary smartphones
  • Thick and heavy form factor due to the slide-out keyboard
★ Our Verdict

While innovative for its time with a physical keyboard and decent specs, its age, limited RAM, and lack of 4G make it largely obsolete for modern use.

The Motorola Droid 3 is a vintage smartphone, primarily of interest to collectors or enthusiasts of physical QWERTY keyboards. It is not suitable for daily use in 2026 due to its severely outdated operating system, lack of app support, and inability to connect to modern 4G/5G networks. Performance will be extremely slow, and security updates are non-existent. If you are looking for a functional smartphone, even a budget one, this device will not meet contemporary needs. Consider it only as a historical artifact, not a practical communication tool.

📦 In The Box & Warranty

  • Motorola Droid 3 Handset
  • Battery
  • Wall Charger
  • USB Cable
  • Quick Start Guide

Standard manufacturer's warranty at the time of purchase, typically one year.

❓ Questions & Answers

What is the Motorola Droid 3?

The Motorola Droid 3 is a smartphone released in July 2011 by Motorola and Verizon Wireless, known for its slide-out physical QWERTY keyboard and Android 2.3 Gingerbread operating system.

Does the Motorola Droid 3 have a physical keyboard?

Yes, one of its defining features is a 5-row slide-out physical QWERTY keyboard with a dedicated number row.

What operating system does the Motorola Droid 3 run?

It originally launched with Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread and could be updated to Android 2.3.6 Gingerbread.

Can the Motorola Droid 3 connect to 4G networks?

No, the Motorola Droid 3 is a 3G-only device and does not support 4G LTE connectivity.

Is the Motorola Droid 3 still a good phone to use today?

No, due to its severely outdated operating system, lack of modern app support, and inability to connect to current cellular networks, it is not recommended for daily use in 2026.

What are the main camera specifications of the Droid 3?

The Droid 3 features an 8-megapixel main camera capable of recording 1080p HD video.