HTC DROID DNA review: Champion genes

21 November 2012
The HTC DROID DNA just couldn’t have come to the market at a better time. The Taiwanese company’s first smartphone in the United States with a 5” 1080p display is given the tall task of turning its maker’s fate around, and bring...

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  • D
  • AnonD-44302
  • vGe
  • 22 Nov 2012

Expert, 22 Nov 2012Optimus G Is running Android 4.0 so Benchmark will be Impro... morejust the way when optimus 4xHD and onex were updated to same version and Optimus saw no imporvement and onex improved to a extent even beating S3 in certain things

    • D
    • Denzo
    • sy9
    • 22 Nov 2012

    PadFone 2 is still the best phone out right now. Hands down. Battery and power specs. Style is awesome and build quality smashes these phones.

      • D
      • Denzo
      • sy9
      • 22 Nov 2012

      One thing worries me about this review.. the obvious elephant in the room is the screen. It is LCD3 tech.. should me mind shatteringly good.. and it gets 2 lines?? Good contrast and colours? Thats it??

      Ive got a feeling that a 1080P screen, on a phone, with quality better than the ONE X, should be a page of talk by itself.. unless, ofcourse, its a bit of a fail.

        • E
        • Expert
        • P}v
        • 22 Nov 2012

        Optimus G Is running Android 4.0 so Benchmark will be Improve after 4.1 Update.

          • D
          • AnonD-44302
          • vGe
          • 22 Nov 2012

          Talking about note 2: just see the build quality...its crappiest considering ITS A HIGH END DEVICE..
          then i would like to come to point:
          when last year S2 came out and it was being compared to sensation or evo 3d then everyone considered benchmarks and bashed that S2 killed all and blahh...
          This year S3 came out and again people bashed while comparing it with onex...ok
          Now after updating the onex to JB and considering one+ and DNA , I would like too know where are those losers hidden..
          I further know that now they would be saying " benchmarks means nothing and all that stuff u losers"
          Don't take me offensive because i am just discussing the critisizing nature of humans.
          One thing that Verizon did wrong(Not HTC), that they restricted the storage...
          Talking about optimization i will wait for the day that samsung or any other company gives me the Battery endurance rating of 49hrs 2020 mah with 1080p screen....
          And again i am referring this:
          Exynos processors don't have life, again i said life
          because there are 4 S2's in my family, a S3....S2 are 7-8 months old(mind you nothing more than angry birds is installed on them and merely 20 apps over the pre-installed) and S3....i couldn't believe how it lagged on 5-6th day of buying...even S2 was smoother in normal working like panning the homescreen etc...
          I know people are just liking NOTE 2 and S3 and talking about there features.
          Out of those 30 million S3 owners , even 1 million wont be able to explain me all the features of the phone...My brother who bought S3 doesn't even know that it has a feature called 'DIRECT CALL'....LAME
          and again the speaker grill on S3 and note 2..hahaha...chinese phones have those grills.

          One more thing:
          when iphone is compared to androids one biggest issue that comes in favour of Android was Flash support.
          Now with JB u don't get flash.I know that browser does work of flash ALMOST...not fully and DNA, ONE x + And one x are the only one's having flash with JB...
          So stop following marketing
          HTC is a very small company compared to samsung, apple,lg etc...due to which it is not able to market that well

            • D
            • AnonD-45523
            • YTE
            • 22 Nov 2012

            AnonD-62967, 21 Nov 2012Impressive to say the least. HTC have done a good job with ... moreDon't get me wrong but LG has really improved on their software part..they took months for the optimus 2x to deliver 4.0 update...they still haven't,
            but final builds have been leaked and they are supersmooth...plus lot of innovative features.
            they are getting better and better...

            looks like they really want to change their image of delivering top notch hardware with crappy software

              • D
              • AnonD-45523
              • YTE
              • 22 Nov 2012

              jr, 22 Nov 2012Battery will be the issue here and memory capacity it is ok... moredroid DNA and optimus G have same chipset and specs
              but optimus G has 720p screen and droid DNA has 1080p screen plus screen size is bigger.

              1080p screen requires more GPU power than 720p screen.hence benchmarks show optimus G ahead of droid DNA in nenamark

                • c
                • call of duty
                • B}n
                • 22 Nov 2012

                Guest, 21 Nov 2012J butterfly(Japan version) has 16GB ROM, but with SD card s... moreI don't think!!!

                  • ?
                  • Anonymous
                  • vaN
                  • 22 Nov 2012

                  Anonymous, 22 Nov 2012Well, it's great that we all have our own opinions otherwis... moreNote II has been praised by professional reviewers, i guess you know better? Whats wrong about its quality? Its same kind of plastic as Lumia 920. Note 2 also held up very well in drop tests.

                  Maybe you should spend some time with a Note 2, there is no better browsing or multimedia experience, it has no big weaknesses, it is the most complete phone in the market.

                  Yellowish white? Its yellow-magenta. And most people canont notice it, its so little that noone even care. You want really yellow-magenta whites? Try my HTC with its SLCD display, it is easily noticeable, much more so than the Note 2.

                  And its the only high end phone with a big battery that can actually last one day of heavy usage, thats a first for real smartphones. Sure RAZR MAXX is great but its barely a midrange device with its low res pentile crap display.

                  Battery alone is reason enough to go for a Note 2.

                    • j
                    • jtv
                    • t7X
                    • 22 Nov 2012

                    They released this very early so that at Q2 next year, they can release a DROID DNA+/XE or whatever. With same features except bigger battery and memory. When in fact, they can produce it right now. That next phone will be their phone to battle against Samsung Galaxy S4. So expect the price of this phone to become below sea level before then, that you might as well throw it away than sell it, as what happened to Sensation and OneX. I've learned that lesson the hard way, twice, never again to buy any HTC product. Worse, you are on a two year f**king contract! Hahaha. I highly advice against anyone who is considering to buy this. Don't even consider! Just dont!

                      • ?
                      • Anonymous
                      • v0X
                      • 22 Nov 2012

                      Just wait for HTC DNA+ it has 32gb of storage or sd expansion slot

                        • ?
                        • Anonymous
                        • v0X
                        • 22 Nov 2012

                        1080p display but with 11gb of locked storage. Haha its all yours..eat it!

                          • ?
                          • Anonymous
                          • P5J
                          • 22 Nov 2012

                          11GB and no card slot? Thgt this would be my next phone in a couple mth, but...skip...

                            • A
                            • Andy
                            • bJB
                            • 22 Nov 2012

                            I just don't get HTC. They know that they are targeting tech savvy crowd with this phone. 11 GB storage is laughable. One HD game can easily fill up 1 to 2 GB space. They have gone all that trouble including a 1080P screen so is it really that hard or costly to include at least 32 GB of space???

                            I want to like this phone like I wanted to like the One X. But HTC turns up to be a company with very poor insight on what the customers need.

                            Gosh, HTC. You better get your act together and include larger storage in the international version.

                              • ?
                              • Anonymous
                              • CpK
                              • 22 Nov 2012

                              Sad that HTC just doesn't seem to get it... 11 GB storage and no SD slot? Haven't they realised that a lot of people stop reading right there?

                              They have great-looking handsets, with a high quality finish, but all of that is useless if the storage isn't up to standard.

                              Either start adding SD slots to your phones or make sure you provide at least 32 GBs of storage.

                                • ?
                                • Anonymous
                                • Yar
                                • 22 Nov 2012

                                AnonD-62967, 21 Nov 2012Impressive to say the least. HTC have done a good job with ... moreWell, it's great that we all have our own opinions otherwise this world would be at a standstill with nothing to talk about. Because it isn't allows me to heavily disagree with you on the note 2. Number one device in your mind can be far different from how other thinks about the same device.

                                Don't get me wrong, the note 2 is an awesome device both in technology and functionality. But that's where it's stop. One- the build quality. Now we are talking about Samsung here with low quality materials with gaps and lines that looks like my little kid doodling a big mess drawing something that only he thinks good. Two- screen size. Although it could be a huge plus or it could be its biggest downside. Personal preference but difinately not attractive to the masses. Too big and not comfortable traveling with it from one place to the next. Three- super amoled screens. Yes, I have said it. Blacks looks awesome but about the worst in producing whites creating white backgrounds with yellowish stains. Not anyone's cup of tea if they want accurate colors. Four- well, this where I stop. Mainly this is my opinion as a reminder there is no perfect device out there. SO QUIT WORSHIPPING THESE DEVICES AS THEY WERE THERE TO CARE ABOUT THE DAY YOU WERE BORN.

                                  • D
                                  • AnonD-64869
                                  • JkI
                                  • 22 Nov 2012

                                  11 gb storage ONLY?? HTC, y u no put sd card support?? best hardware to date with slutty storage.. what a shame, HTC!

                                    • j
                                    • jr
                                    • t7X
                                    • 22 Nov 2012

                                    Battery will be the issue here and memory capacity it is ok to have a small internal but it must have a expandable memory card. This will be the main culprit of losng interest by the consumer and one thing that observe here is with such a highvspecs with lg new phone why is at nenamark I think the overall performance why is it that they are not the highest results on the test? im expecti ng they will above average than others

                                      • D
                                      • AnonD-70006
                                      • kJr
                                      • 22 Nov 2012

                                      Is it ip57 rated like the J?

                                        • D
                                        • AnonD-62967
                                        • HCq
                                        • 21 Nov 2012

                                        Anonymous, 21 Nov 2012The number one device in the market is the Nokia Lumia 920!!920 is number one device?
                                        Please expand on that instead of giving an evidence-lacking statement that clearly is derived from your personal preferences.
                                        Nokia have done great with the 920 and I will be the first to admit the device looks amazing. Pure motion HD and the Pure-Camera technology are some great enhancment on the device. I see it as a well built device with a great display and well polished camera. Yet to see a full overview of the handset so I won't be judgemental and conclusive on it by itself or in comparison to the Note 2.
                                        I do however "know" enough about the market and the Note 2 for that matter to make an educated "opinion"!

                                        I am fully aware that the 920 specs suggest a better camera then the Note 2 and sharper screen with a better build of the device. Audio quality is also very good on the 920! Is that enough? Is there more? No that's not enough and yes there probably a few things I haven't mentioned because of my lack of detailed know-how on the Lumia 920 at present.

                                        In no particular order; N2 has a SD slot the 920 doesn't. N2 has a longer battery life and accessible battery. Although 920 has PM HD tech the N2 is an inch larger which means the N2 offers better viewing experience when watching videos/games/web etc The difference in sharpness is not so apparent to the naked eye and these situations the larger screen of the N2 will always prevail.

                                        The N2 also exceeds the 920 in terms of productivity with the S pen as well as innovative software features/tricks Sammy have implemented; Pop up video play, Split screen multi-tasking, Smart alert, Smart rotate, Direct call. Android is also the most flexible and detailed OS at the present time with the N2 benefiting from custom ROMS, launchers, 3rd party apps/keyboards, widgets, live wallpapers!
                                        The N2 also has double RAM which is significant and more then "just a number".
                                        I am aware that the N2 has no rival in the market and it's not fair to compare the 920 or Droid DNA for example but regardless of the "phablet" title people still look and compare the Note 2 when buying or simply judging a phone!
                                        920 is solid and will be a hit but the Note 2 offers far more productivity and superior media performance.
                                        If anyone disagrees with my opinion then by all means reply, try me but keep in mind that I do admit one thing - I MAY have listed a mistake or I could have said more simply because I don't know as much of the 920.