Pros
- Relatively higher resolution and pixel density
- Two internal amplifiers – one for the speakers and the other for the headphone jack
- Wireless charging
Cons
- Small embedded battery
- Lack of option to expand storage
- Inconvenient positioning of power button
Launched by HTC for the Verizon network,Droid DNA has a solid build with a 5-inch display.With special features such as Beats Audio and wireless charging, this amazing device has a sleek and thin profile that feels good in your hand and pocket.Droid DNA’s design,features and performance are discussed below.
Design
Made of a plastic body, Droid DNA is light, weighing 140g (4.94oz).With a thickness of 9.73mm, the phone is 141mm broad and 70.5mm long.While the thickness is slightly higher than most high-end smartphones,Droid DNA features tapered edges that render a friendly profile,which fits well in your hand and pocket.The microUSB port is covered with a tethered cap made of plastic,and is something that gets in the way.
The attractive red and black color combination is typical of Verizon and accentuates the overall design.The front features Corning Gorilla glass, which renders a clean look.The navigation keys occupy minimal space and the entire display is nice in terms of brightness,contrast and color saturation.The wide viewing angles are a plus.
The power button is placed at the top of the device in a central position.Unless the user has larger hands,the position of the power button is rather uncomfortable,given the bigger length of the device.
The interface features HTC’s Sense 4+ and a multitasking button that gives quick access to recent apps in a tile view.
Features
Display
With a resolution of 1080p and a pixel density of 441 ppi, the display of HTC Droid DNA is among the best.The 5-inch super LCD3 screen features rich colors with good black levels,and an appreciable brightness that does not give a washed out look.
Software
HTC Droid DNA runs the Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean.It also features HTC’s Sense 4+, an overlay that has received positive reviews.
It is powered by the 1.5 GHz-Snapdragon S4 System-on-Chip (SoC) processor,a quad-core processor of Qualcomm.
It also features an Adreno 320 graphics core.
It comes with pre-installed Google apps,Verizon apps and a few Amazon apps.Additional apps include Facebook and Slacker Radio.
Camera
The phone comes with an 8 MP main camera and a 2.1 MP front-facing camera.The main camera features auto focus, BSI sensor,LED Flash, 28mm lens, f/2.0 aperture,and 1080p HD video recording.HTC ImageSense,HTC ImageChip and Beats Audio contribute to the phone’s special features.
Memory
Droid DNA comes with a 16 GB memory and 2 GB RAM.
The phone lacks a microSD slot, meaning that the user is stuck with the usable internal memory.Perhaps,Verizon wants its users to choose cloud-based solutions.
The front and rear cameras perform better than the usual smartphone cameras.Photos are crisp and vivid with natural color,and video capture offers a smooth motion with a firm frame rate,dealing well with the shakiness associated with a lightweight device.
Battery
Droid DNA comes with a 2,020 mAh embedded battery, which is low in capacity for a 1080p display.The battery is not removable,meaning that it cannot be replaced with a better capacity unit.
Wireless charging is a convenient feature.
Performance
The performance of Droid DNA is excellent, keeping pace with the top-line phones in the market.Using the apps menu or scrolling through the screen is quick and effortless.Games run smoothly as well.
Conclusion
The presence of two internal amplifiers is a welcome feature that is not present in most high-end smartphones in the market.The attractive and friendly profile,high screen resolution and processing features are a plus. But,the phone offers limited internal storage and no option to expand the storage.Lack of microSD slot and the low-capacity battery are also to be considered.