HTC DROID DNA Pro Reviews

On paper, the HTC Droid DNA has some spectacular specs. The 1080P screen certainly is pretty, even if it doesn't improve that much on 1280 x 720, and the quad-core processor provides a huge amount of push no matter what you decide to do. I'm not wild about the ergonomics, but it's something that you can learn to live with, especially given the drawbacks inherent in any device with a 5+ inch screen. And it does have the notable advantage of coming in $100 below the flagship Motorola Droid RAZR MAXX HD, which is a pretty significant savings. When it comes down to it though, the biggest weakness of the DNA is its memory configuration. For such a high-end device, particularly one which goes out of its way to show off its media capabilities, having only 11 GB of storage capacity and no possibility for expansion is pretty much an unforgivable sin. A decent music collection and a few large apps would leave the DNA with precious little available memory, and the cost of data makes cloud storage or media streaming a not so great alternative. Having so little memory makes it very hard to recommend the DNA to anyone really looking to harness the power of a very high-end device.

Using the Incredible's design, the area the DNA really challenged the smartphone market is with that amazing screen. The device is speedy most of the time, and the screen is really impressive. The area holding the handset back is the Sense overlay. We wish HTC would allow customers the choice between stock Android and any shenanigans HTC has thrown on, because Jelly Bean alone is a solid mobile operating system. Given the DNA is about to replaced by the M7 in the next month, we'd advise you to hold off for now, but it's obvious that the M7 is going to borrow from the DNA's hardware. It's also apparent HTC is gearing up for 2013 with some serious plans that we will be on the look out for. The Droid DNA may be the perfect handset for anyone looking for a 5-inch handset, and given the $199 on-contract pricing, Verizon and HTC hit the sweet spot.

At present time, it's pretty tough to convince us that you can do much better than the Droid DNA on Verizon's lineup. For $200, you're getting the absolute best display on the market, a great camera, Android's Jelly Bean OS and the best quad-core processor you can get. Sure, you can't go wrong with many of the other powerhouses we mentioned earlier, but HTC isn't letting a few rough quarterly earnings reports get in the way of making a high-quality product with top-end components and a gorgeous design. It's easy to tell that HTC put a lot of TLC into the DNA, and it pays off -- let's just say that you don't need a geneticist to lecture you on why this kind of thing matters.

The HTC Droid DNA has a few quirks but they're mostly minor. The hardware is very well built but a few design choices, like the top-center mounted power button, hold this otherwise amazing device back. It’s great to see Android 4.1 on board but Sense tends to get in the way more often than not. Then again the DNA delivers arguably the best display on any smartphone out there right now, so there's a lot of forgiveness in that feature alone. The Droid DNA also boasts one of the fastest processors on the market currently, with Qualcomm's venerable Snapdragon S4 quad-core at 1.5GHz serving up best in class benchmark numbers in many test cases. It's a potent combination to be sure and for $199 on contract, if you like 'em big, the HTC Droid DNA is bodacious and beautiful.

This is unquestionably the highest-specc’ed phone on the market. But if you’re a Verizon customer with an upgrade, is this the phone you should get? Well, if you’re reading this review, I’m assuming that you’re down with big phones. That’s a prerequisite. But even if you like big phones, Verizon is offering basically every major phone this holiday season: you can get the iPhone 5, the Samsung Galaxy S3 and Note II, the Motorola Droid RAZR Maxx HD, and the Droid DNA’s Windows 8 cousin, the 8X. That’s a murder’s row of high-end handsets. We’re going to skip the iPhone and 8X in this comparison, because they run different operating systems, and that’s the most important consideration when buying a phone and one we’ve gone into in the past. But you’re still given four legitimate Android contenders: the Droid DNA, two Samsung handsets, and Motorola’s offerings.

The HTC DROID DNA rates highly on almost every standard used to judge smartphones. Its display is unreal, its camera is very good, and its physical design is simple but effective. By most measures, the DROID DNA almost perfect. Almost. The breathtaking display is occasionally a handicap because a few apps will not display correctly or the virtual Menu button will inexplicably pop-up when it is not needed. It also wouldn't hurt to see the battery have more staying power, especially when one considers that the DROID DNA's screen inherently encourages more Netflix and YouTube viewing. The phone also has the misfortune of debuting just as Google has released a new set of Android features and optimizations that will not trickle down to this device for several months. That's a pitfall for most Android devices, but anyone considering the DROID DNA should be aware of it. With that said, there's a good chance that people will gladly put up with those shortcomings. The pros outnumber the cons, and whatever complaint someone can levy is soon less meaningful when gazing at the handset's screen. There have been many DROID's at Verizon, but none quite like the DNA. The DROID DNA is a sight to behold and well worth holding on to.

The HTC Droid DNA does a good job of impressing you on the surface. The 1080p screen is to die for, the svelte design minimizes the phone’s large footprint, and it sports one of the fastest processors you can get in a smartphone today. It’s also the best smartphone HTC has had on Verizon in a long time. But once you get beyond those initial impressions, the cracks begin to show. The DNA offers a lot for the $199 asking price, but the miserable battery life and occasional performance hiccups are reason to pause before hitting that purchase button. A great display alone unfortunately cannot make up for the DNA’s other problems. Verizon users looking for a new Android smartphone have a number of other options at their disposal, including Samsung’s still relevant Galaxy S III and Motorola’s pair of Droid RAZR HDs. But if you must be the guy with the highest resolution display on the block, the Droid DNA is the one to get.

The Droid DNA looks to take Verizon’s storied Android brand back to its roots with a spec-laden, aggressively designed smartphone packing a headline-worthy feature set. In some respects, like the beautiful hardware, blazing processor, and best-in-class display, that’s just what HTC has accomplished. In others, like the lackluster camera optics, non-expandable memory, and non-removable battery, it feels a bit like a step back. As with all smartphones, then, the story of the Droid DNA is one of compromise; whether it appeals to you will depend on where your priorities lie. If you need excellent camera performance, all-day longevity, and a ton of on-board storage, this isn’t the phone for you. But if you’re the type who’d consider shifting some storage to the cloud, who only relies on a smartphone for casual photos, and who doesn’t mind pinching milliamp-hours here and there, the Droid DNA is definitely worth a look. Careful, though: once you lay eyes on that display, everything else starts to pale by comparison. And once you hold it in your hand, everything else feels just a little chintzier than it did before. If we can expect more in this vein from “the new HTC,” there’s a lot to be excited about in 2013, and we’ll look forward to the company’s relentless efforts to “try, try again.” While the Droid DNA may fall a bit short of the company’s claim that it’s the ultimate smartphone, there’s an awful lot to like here for the right kind of customer.

HTC has ticked all the right boxes with the DROID DNA, creating one of the most attractive offerings currently available on the US market. The combination of the handset's 5" 1080p display and Qualcomm's quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro not only guarantees bragging rights, but also really takes the overall user experience to a whole new level. Android 4.1 Jelly Bean with HTC's latest Sense UI is a great combination as well, providing a great blend of functionality and eye candy. The DROID DNA's camera performance was good if unspectacular, while its build quality is great and should please all but the most demanding users out there. Much to our surprise, battery life came out pretty good - the powerful chipset and huge high-res screen turning out pretty efficient. We must warn you, though, once you switch to LTE only, making it through a full day becomes a lot more difficult. What came the closest to spoiling the deal for us were the 11GB of user-accessible non-expandable internal storage. The device is a multimedia powerhouse and can show 1080p videos in their native resolution, but it can only fit a couple of movies at a time.

The HTC Droid DNA for Verizon Wireless is a heck of a phone. The performance of nearly every feature bests the competition. The display is simply incredible and the quad-core processor generates real-world results in performance and speed. Toss in good performance on Verizon's network, excellent call quality, and good battery life and you have a solid foundation on which HTC builds an excellent smartphone. The camera functions very well and produces good results. The DNA offers plenty of avenues through which to consume media. And the Sense user interface leaves the use with an abundance of customization options. Probably my biggest gripe with the phone is HTC's software, which feels more intrusive on the DNA than on other phones. That's a small price to pay, however, for all the good features this phone offers. The Droid DNA is HTC's best phone yet.

Simply put it folks, the outcome basically boils down to personal preference – even more when they perform similarly in nearly all departments. It’s Android or iOS, so you just have to pick your poison. Also, it’s a matter of big versus smaller in this comparison, which is another thing that might factor into your decision. With the two priced at $200 on-contract, some might see the value in the DROID DNA’s impressive specs sheet, but then again, the iPhone 5 matches its rival’s performance with hardware specs that don’t appear to be drool worthy amongst the masses. In the end, whichever you decide to go with, we’re certain they’re two hot devices that are going to be on the gift list of many people this holiday season.

Depending on how much you’re willing to fork over, both handsets prove their value against one another. Considering it’s the newer kid on the block, the HTC DROID DNA’s $200 on-contract point is justified, which is especially notable for its killer specs sheet. Therefore, if money isn’t an issue, we’d recommend picking up HTC’s beast knowing it’s one smartphone that has some astounding qualities. Although it’s no longer the shiniest thing around, the Samsung Galaxy S III is a very well-rounded option that continues to be a relevant item. At the same time, you can probably snag the handset for much less than HTC’s offering, which should no doubt appeal to some people looking to save money without making any dramatic compromises with performance and features.

Without a doubt, the competition is fierce, even from within the Android camp! And not surprisingly, these two premier smartphones show us that exactly. In the end, though, pricing is something that manages to come around – getting us to think which of the two provides for the most value. Looking at their outright off-contract pricing, it’s a unanimous win for the Nexus 4, rightfully so, seeing that $300 will nab you one heck of an awesome device that’s blessed from el Goog as being part of the Nexus family. Knowing that, it’s the experience of Android 4.2 Jelly Bean that makes it so very compelling right now, as few devices at the moment offer it. And as we look down the road, there’s no question that it’ll get software updates considerably faster than its rival. On the flip side, if we were to look at contract pricing, we’d vouch to invest in the DROID DNA more – even though the two are selling for $200. Why so? Well, it’s hard to not fall in love with its impressive 1080p display, and on top of that, it’s sporting LTE connectivity that most top-tier smartphones offer in this day and age. Indeed, it might take some time for it to see certain software updates, but nevertheless, the Sense experience has always been a delightful one.

Indeed, the HTC DROID DNA is one attractive looking handset that’s setting the bar with its 1920x1080 display. More importantly, though, we’re grateful to find it priced at $200 with a 2-year contract, which makes it a solid buy for anyone in the market for a premier smartphone. However, if you’re willing to dish out the extra $100 to pick up the Samsung Galaxy Note II for $300 on-contract, it’s still an alluring option to go with considering the wealth of functionality it has to offer over its rival. Above all, it’s the bigger 5.5” display and the TouchWiz Nature UX experience of the Note II that makes it such a prolific offering – especially when we see the advantageous benefits of the S-Pen. Not only that, it proves its worth in key categories, like taking photos/video and battery life, to make it a tangible selection worth the money spent on it.

If the Droid DNA is a glimpse at the phones coming in 2013, sign us up. HTC has managed to cram an amazingly dense 1080p screen into a 5-inch frame and do it without severely harming battery life or processing power. We wish that a microSD card was included, the power button wasn’t way up on the top, HTC Sense was gone, and that the battery life was better, but these are problems that plague other phones besides the Droid. Overall, HTC has created one of the best looking phones on the market before and after you turn it on. If you’re a Verizon subscriber, you’d be silly not to check this one out.

We’ve criticized HTC in the past for taking what has felt like the safer route through the mobile landscape, and its decisions have seen it struggle to stand out while rivals like Samsung dominate Android device sales. The DROID DNA, though, is a return to the trail-blazing form of HTC’s earlier days in Android: those times when the company had the best screens, and the fastest processors, and were legitimately “the phone to have” if you were a power user. Chasing the cutting edge demands some compromises, however, and the DROID DNA has two significant ones. The first is storage, with the 11GB of usable capacity being simply too little for a modern flagship when there’s no microSD support; we’re tempted to blame Verizon rather than HTC for that decision, but whoever is at fault, it’s the user that loses out in the end. Expect to go through your monthly data allowance more quickly if you rely on the cloud to make up the difference. More worrying, though, is battery life. Superlative display and processor performance needs a power source to match, and the DROID DNA’s 2,020 mAh, non-removable battery is a compromise that’s likely to cause owners headaches. Yes, you can tweak better runtime out of it, but it’s frustrating to have a powerhouse of a phone that can’t be run at its best all the time unless you’re willing to charge it up twice a day.

The HTC Droid DNA for Verizon Wireless gets you the fastest performance and the sharpest display we've seen on a phablet yet.

Slithering its way out of nowhere, surprisingly enough, we have to admit that HTC has a winner in the DROID DNA. Right now, it’s rather difficult to stand atop of the crowd knowing that you have other venerable smartphones out there to compete against, but HTC is able to head into the crucial holiday season knowing they have a standout contender. Without question, the HTC DROID DNA has all of the elements to make it a promising smartphone – though to its credit, its 5-inch 1920x1080 Super LCD 3 display is a groundbreaking beauty to behold on its own. Someone really needs to pinch us, mainly because we can’t believe this handset is attached with that golden price point of $200 with a 2-year contract. We’re happy to report that this is a well-rounded performer, and when we think about its beefy hardware, it only fills us with this warm feeling of satisfaction that blissfully convinces us that it’s worth every penny spent on it. DNA is the building blocks of life, but with this, the DROID DNA reestablishes HTC as a dominant figure that’s aiming for perfection – regardless of how small the detail is.

HTC has tried to make a serious A-list smartphone for quite some time but hasn’t caught a break. The thunder of the One series -- HTC One X and HTC One S -- was rudely stolen by Samsung’s Galaxy S III and even the Galaxy Note 2. And the HTC Evo 4G LTE shipped without a robust Sprint LTE network to support it. Well it’s payback time as they say, and the $199.99 HTC Droid DNA has a winning combination of stylish design, devilish good looks, blazing performance, and a lovely screen, all for a good price. Its great camera is icing on the cake but enough to edge out the Motorola Droid Razr HD. Frankly the DNA is HTC’s best smartphone -- and Verizon's best Droid -- yet.