Count me in the camp that loves the built-in software navigation buttons on both Samsung's Galaxy Nexus and Motorola's Atrix HD. They're easier to reach with a finger compared to hardware buttons below the screen, and they can adapt to the needs of the app, for instance by fading from view during video playback or rotating into landscape mode. Like the Atrix HD, the Razr HD will reportedly use software buttons, and its screen may be a tad larger at 4.6 inches.

NFC Goodies

Verizon Wireless hasn't been known to throw near-field communications capabilities onto its phones. The one exception was the Galaxy Nexus, whose Google Wallet capabilities were disallowed by Verizon until . However, an FCC filing for the Droid Razr HD claims that it'll have NFC capabilities, "functioning as both a tag and a reader," so this phone could support tap-based sharing or pairing with other devices.

There are a few things that don't sound so exciting about the Razr HD. It's Android 4.04 instead of the more recent Android 4.1, and if the 8-megapixel camera is the same one that appears in the Atrix HD, it could be a disappointment.

With tough competition coming from , and the usual slew of Android phone makers, Motorola needs more than just a rehashed Razr to make its mark. We'll find out if the Razr HD it's worth the hype in a couple weeks, when the company is expected to make the phone official.