[Rumor] Motorola DROID Bionic Gets Cancelled

[dgstorm]

There are some disturbing new reports right now that the Motorola Droid Bionic (codenamed Etna) has been cancelled and will not be released. The reasons cited for the demise of the superphone are actually a combination of factors. First, the phone has been plagued with battery and heat issues during its development phase. Additionally, the handshake between the CDMA, EVDO, and LTE radios was very problematic. Apparently, the Atrix experienced these same issues, but they were able to be fixed.

To further complicate the issues, the longer that Motorola delayed the release of the Bionic, the closer it would put it to the release of other more advanced phones in the third quarter, thus causing Motorola to compete with itself on its own products. Apparently, Motorola has instead decided to ramp up production on the Targa to replace the Bionic as their 4G phone.

Interestingly, this could actually end up being good news for two reasons. The first is that it is entirely possible that when Verizon actually gets the Targa, they will rename it the "Bionic" since "Targa" is just its internal codename. So, it's possible that we will still get a "Bionic", just in a different form, and a bit later than expected. Additionally, whether they name it the Bionic or not, the Targa is supposedly a much better phone. It too has a dual-core CPU, 4g LTE, and a 4.3" display, but it also has a 13MP camera and gets high praise from within Motorola testing circles. For now, we are calling this one a rumor, but several sources seem to indicate that it will probably be officially announced soon.

Source: Phonarena and MyDroidWorld

[kodiak799]

I see you're Bionic rumor and raise you another...
Leak Says Verizon to Launch DROID Charge on 4/28; Bionic Said to Have Been Scheduled for May

Leak Says Verizon to Launch DROID Charge on 4/28; Bionic Said to Have Been Scheduled for May 12th

[Chizzele]

I'm confused... i think i'll go offline for awhile till things will actually happen..

[johnomaz]

i see you're bionic rumor and raise you another...
leak says verizon to launch droid charge on 4/28; bionic said to have been scheduled for may

leak says verizon to launch droid charge on 4/28; bionic said to have been scheduled for may 12th

hahahahahah.

[dgstorm]

I see you're Bionic rumor and raise you another...
Leak Says Verizon to Launch DROID Charge on 4/28; Bionic Said to Have Been Scheduled for May

Leak Says Verizon to Launch DROID Charge on 4/28; Bionic Said to Have Been Scheduled for May 12th

That's hilarious, because I am just now working on that story too!

[IanG]

I've been seeing these rumors for a while now. I am just using a Thunderbolt as a replacement for my Droid until the Bionic comes out, but if the Bionic doesn't come out... ugh

[EFGantry]

this Bionic (ie, the Atrix' cousin) doesn't appear to be coming to market. but, a Bionic will be released - it's just most likely going to be the phone we've known as the Targa, and it will be renamed as the Bionic...

[loki993]

Wasnt the Targa supposed to be Quad core and releasing around xmas though?

[loki993]

It getting cancelled would explain why we havent seen any in the wild pics of it though.

[EFGantry]

there was a vague rumor (altho it appears to have been mostly wishful thinking) that the Targa might be quad core. however, once the Targa pics and rumored specs leaked, many people (including our very own and very reliable CK) concluded that it would be dual core and released Q3, since no Q4 phones had yet been leaked...