How do you zero in on the best that Android can offer? Take for instance Sony's Xperia Acro S and Motorola's Droid RAZR HD, which are slated to hit the global market in full force just in time when people are in the mood for spending - the holiday season.

Setting the two devices together should give the impression of a contest between two brute bricks that were engineered to withstand abuse, deliberate and accidental, while being enjoyed by their owners.

Both handsets have the standard sheen on the front, with the Acro S sizing up at 4.3-inch while that of the RAZR HD was stretched a tad further at 4.7-inch, and sturdy back coverings.

Motorola, however, has decided that adding Kevlar, the same material used in bullet-proof vests, on the rear protection of the RAZR HD could give it more durability and possibly more buy figures, though it is a proposition still wanting solid backing.

Beneath the looks, the upcoming smartphones are virtually identical - employing the same Snapdragon dual-core processor that reaches a speed of 1.5GHz, which should amply support the crisp image and cinema-like video renderings that the Acro S and the RAZR HD had pledged on initial press releases.

Take note that the Sony mobile phone will use BRAVIA technology to deliver entertainment pleasure on its screen while the Motorola smartphone will depend on a Super AMOLED screen that was popularly attributed to Samsung's top-of-the-line Galaxy handsets.

Storage capacities that come with the competing Android toys are within the prevailing standards known for the dominant smartphone platform - 16GB of internal drive with expansion options of up to 32GB plus 1GB of RAM.

Right out of the box, the two phones stand on Google's Ice Crean Sandwich but are geared for the Jelly Bean updates, both of which reviewers have been praising for their optimal interaction with hardwares cramped by handset vendors on the open platform.

Sony is marketing its fresh Xperia gadget as a respectable camera alternative that consumers can rely on with a sensor of 12MP, which overwhelms the RAZR HD's 8MP rear cam shooting capability.

Beyond that allure, the Japanese consumer electronic firm also intends to package the Acro S as an extension of its amusement offerings. In short, consumers can use the new smartphone as the new Walkman or maybe a PSP if only to kill time, with music, movies and games easily accessible on Sony's full entertainment network.

Acro S owners wouldn't have to worry that much on scratching or spilling water on the device, Sony said, as it is scratch and water resistant.

The RAZR HD, on the other hand, is geared for long hours of online and offline entertainment since its 2500mAh battery is able to provide juice power of up to 10 hours solidly playing back movies. For regular talk time and net surfing, the handset can last at least six hours, which is pretty much the same amount of time to be expected from the Acro S prior to faltering.

Yet internet life is snappier on the Motorola phone because it is LTE-capable while the Sony device remains stuck on 3G. Both are with NFC chips, which give owners more options to conduct their shopping habits.

Pricing for the RAZR HD has yet to be issued by Motorola Mobility, which was recently acquired by Google, while prices for Acro S can be easily found through online search. It's safe to say though that anyone planning to grab the Sony product needs to set aside at least $700.