HTC DROID DNA review: Is it the Ultimate DROID?

Earlier in the year, HTC redefined themselves with the One X and One S. While both phones landed in the U.S., for whatever reason Verizon Wireless didn’t offer either one. Instead they opted to take the One S, destroy it, and call it the DROID Incredible 4G LTE. The One X should have been the 3rd chapter in the DROID Incredible series, just like it was for Sprint’s EVO series. How was it possible that probably the best phone of the year wasn’t on Big Red? When the One X+ was announced a couple of months ago, I assumed that’s what Verizon was waiting for, but there was no indication. As a Verizon customer, I was severely disappointed and annoyed, but all good things come to those who wait. Apparently HTC and Verizon were readying the crème de la crème to finish off the year with a bang. Based on the J Butterfly, The DROID DNA appears to be the most cutting edge phone to date and promises to have the same quality of materials and camera that HTC has been known for. Is this the ultimate DROID? Hit the break to find out, but you can also check out my initial hands on review as well as our hands on at the launch event.

Design

HTC is one of the leaders when it comes to fit and finish and the DROID DNA is no exception. The One X was already one of the most superior phones in terms of quality, but somehow they were able to step it up. It has a similar polycarbonate back, but it sports more of a soft rubbery touch. The one downside is that it’s a fingerprint and smudge magnet. It’s almost impossible to keep it smudge free, but hey, who plans on staring at the back of their phone all day? The rubberized feel is non slippery and gives you a fantastic grip.

It’s not the thinnest phone in the world because at the highest point it’s 9.73mm, but it still feels pretty thin because of the rounded back. The edges are only 4mm thick, but it expands to the center where it hits 9.73mm. It kind of feels like a Hershey’s candy bar. That’s not a bad thing because when you hold the phone, you place your fingers at the sides which is the thinnest part, while the thickest part rests in your palm and fits perfectly. I know it’s a cliche, but it really does feel great in the hand considering it has a whopping 5-inch display. The Samsung Galaxy Note II sports a 5.5-inch display, but is so much bigger when comparing the two. When comparing it to the One X, it’s about the same width, but it”s a little taller. My hands are on the smaller side and I had no issues with the size whatsoever. I’m starting to wonder if 5-inches is the new sweet spot.

What really makes the DROID DNA a thing of beauty is the Lamborghini-inspired aluminum red grill that you will find along the right and left sides. Most manufacturers would have gone with the color silver, but HTC has used red a lot in the past, and it makes the perfect accent on a black phone. You will also find a similar red accent around the 8MP rear camera lens. Overall, the DROID DNA has an EVO type of look, but more polished.

As with most HTC phones, you will find the power button at the top, but this time it sits in the middle. To the left of it is the microphone jack and the SIM slot is to it’s right. Along the right side towards the top you will find the volume rocker that sports the same red color as the aluminum red grill. The microUSB port is usually found on the left side on HTC phones, but they finally decided to move it to the bottom, which is the better place. Unfortunately they put a cover on it, which is a little annoying. It’s kind of a pain to put back in place, but I guess if you’re going to include it, you might as well make it a tight fit. They decided to include the cover because the phone is splash resistant.

Another nice addition is the notification light on the back to the left of the camera lens. It serves two purposes. It lights up for your notifications, but is also lights up when taking a picture.

You won’t find a microSD slot for expanding storage, which is a downer for some folks. You get 16GB of storage, which is more than enough for the average user. The other negative is that it’s a unibody design, so you won’t be able to remove the battery. This could be a deal breaker for some, but more on that later.

In terms of fit and finish, you won’t find a better phone than the DROID DNA. The only other phones that are in the same ballpark is the DROID RAZR HD / RAZR MAXX HD and the iPhone 5.

Hardware

If you’re going to make a high quality phone, you need to back it up with hardware, and HTC did just that. It packs a 5-inch (1920 x 1080) Super LCD 3 display at 440ppi, a 1.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro CPU, 2GB of RAM, an 8MP rear camera with ImageSense, 2.1MP front facing camera with an 88 degree wide angle lens, 16GB of internal storage, 2020mAh battery, NFC, 4G LTE with worldwide GSM capability, and Beats Audio.

Performance

I already had a chance to try out the Snapdragon S4 Pro on the LG Optimus G so I already had a good idea what to expect. I am happy to report that Sense 4+ doesn’t in any way degrade the performance of the quad-core. Coupled with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, it’s blazing fast. It seriously shreds anything you want to throw at it. I know many of you are benchmark fans so I did the obligatory AnTuTu which came in at 14,544. That’s considerably higher than the Optimus G’s 11.213. Seriously, I’m not sure who can tell the difference, but if you crave power, the DROID DNA will satisfy everything you desire.

HTC already had the finest display ever with the One X so what could they possibly do for an encore? The One X sported a Super LCD 2 display at 720p, and the DROID DNA is now a Super LCD 3 at 1080p. It sports 440ppi which is higher than your TV. Some may say it’s overkill for a phone, but that’s nonsense. It truly is breathtaking as the colors are vibrant, blacks are deep, and everything just pops out at you. As you would expect, the viewing angles are amazing and it performs very well in sunlight. Now if you’re familiar with the One X, you will probably find this display to be only marginally better, but it’s still an improvement. So to recap: HTC now has the two best displays ever on a smartphone. Not bad at all.

As with all the latest HTC phones, the audio is enhanced with Beats. On top of that, HTC included two amplifiers in the phone. The microphone jack gets its own dedicated 2.55 volt amplifier and the other pushes the rear speaker. This helps minimize distortion at higher volumes. I think HTC is a little underrated when it comes to sound quality. The Beats partnership has always been considered a “marketing” gimmick, but I would rather have it on my phone than not.

Another area I found to be outstanding was the radio. I have LTE in my area, but my house is right at the fringe. All the Verizon phones I have tested always switch back and forth from LTE to 3G, but this phone rarely was on 3G.

Battery

No matter how amazing a phone is, there always seems to be something holding it from being perfect, and the battery just might be the DNA’s Achilles heel. I knew going into this review that it was the key, so I spent a considerable amount of time analyzing it. A 1080p screen is going to take its toll on any battery, and a 2020mAh battery is average based on today’s standards. HTC reps seemed confident that the Snapdragon S4 Pro is efficient enough to make it work. Unfortunately it’s not the case, but it’s not complete doom and gloom. It’s not like it’s as bad as the Verizon Galaxy Nexus, but there are a number of phones that are better. My main test is to run continuous video while connected to 4G LTE, while the display is set at 2/3 brightness, GPS on, WiFi on (not connected), and Bluetooth on (not connected). It yielded 6 hours and 11 minutes. In comparing it to some of the latest phones that I did the same test on, it didn’t fare too well:

• Motorola ATRIX HD – 4 hours 45 min (this was really bad)
• Sony Xperia Ion – 6 hours
• DROID DNA – 6 hours 11 minutes
• AT&T HTC One X – 7 hours
• Sprint LG Optimus G – 7 hours 30 min
• DROID Incredible 4G LTE – 7 hours 45 min
• DROID RAZR M – 8 hours
• AT&T LG Optimus G – 8 hours
• Samsung Galaxy Note II – 9 hours 30 min
• DROID RAZR HD – About 10 hours
• DROID RAZR MAXX HD – 13 hours 30 min

So what does this mean in terms of daily use? With moderate use, you should get about double the times you get in the rundown tests and sometimes more than that with the better performing phones. I was able to get 13 hours while connected to 4G LTE full time, which isn’t great, but after living with the Verizon Galaxy Nexus for the past year, it’s an improvement. I also tried it while connected to WiFi 90% of the time, and I was able to get a little over 14 hours with about 15% to spare. I then let it sit idle without turning on the display for about 6 hours and it had 4% left. So yes, it made it to 20 hours, which isn’t bad, but 6 hours of it was idle time.

Now obviously the display is the biggest culprit here, and all of my tests are done at 2/3 brightness. Some may consider that high, but I like to run tests that are at a level that people would like to see their phone set at with the option of scaling it back. I’m going to see how things go with the display at around 40% brightness and update my results.

The bottom line is that the battery is certainly not the main selling point of the DROID DNA, but depending on your situation, it’s not too bad if you are able to charge it regularly. For example, I always have a charger in my car and the plus side is this phone is compatible with Qi wireless chargers. There will be an accessory available, but it’s also compatible with other 3rd party pads. While in the office, you can conveniently give it a little extra juice. Unfortunately, if you’re a hardcore traveler, this phone might not be for you since you won’t be able to swap batteries. If there is one thing I am disappointed in with the DNA, it’s the battery, but based on my lifestyle, it’s not a deal breaker for me.

Software

The DROID DNA features the latest version of Sense, which is 4+ on top of Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean. It’s not the latest version of Android, but it should satisfy most people. Sense 4+ hasn’t changed all that much from what we saw on the One X and One S, but there are some differences. Navigating between home screens now has the circular carousel that was found in Sense 3, but thankfully it doesn’t have the 100 mph spinning animation. The biggest improvement is the keyboard. I hated the Sense keyboard, and now it’s more like the keyboards you see on other Android phones. The big change is the numbers/symbol key is to the bottom left instead of the bottom right, which makes a big difference. Other changes are more subtle like more refined fonts and icons, along with some changes to the camera app. Of course you will also get the newer stock Android features like Google Now, expanded notifications, and easier widget placement on home screens. Sense isn’t something I desire on a phone, but it’s livable when you consider what this phone offers.

As far as running certain apps, such as games, you could run into a problem with the display and compatibility. Brad Molen from Engadget found issues with Need For Speed: Most Wanted and Angry Birds. This is probably due to the display ratio and some games not supporting it. It’s probably a temporary issue since more and more phones will be released with similar displays in the near future. As with many of the newer phones, it’s expected that a few apps might need to be updated.

As far as bloatware goes, you will find your usual suspects, but they also included a new Amazon app suite. It’s similar to the Nexus 7 media widget that shows your recent purchases of books, magazines, and videos. If you are hooked into Amazon, you might appreciate it, otherwise it’s just one more annoying carrier add on.

Camera

In my opinion, the One X has the best camera in a smartphone, so I was expecting the same with the DNA. It has the same F/2.0 aperture lens along with ImageSense. I found the pictures to be as good, but no better than the One X. There is at least one improvement with the DNA that I don’t believe the One X has, and that’s the flash. There are now five levels of brightness for the flash depending on the surroundings. You will also find some differences in the app itself. Some of the menus look a little different, but nothing too drastic. You can change settings for ISO, white balance, shutter, etc., but you can’t save them. Here are some example photos.

HTC also brought the same f/2.0 aperture lens to the 2.1MP front camera and it’s a full 88 degrees, which means you can get a lot more in a photo or a video chat. After hitting the shutter button, there is a countdown from 3 to make sure your and/or everyone is ready for the photo. In the below photos, you can see the difference. The left one is from the DROID RAZR MAXX HD and the right one is from the DROID DNA. As you can clearly see, the DROID DNA shows a lot more bottles.

Video quality is on par with any Android phone. You can shoot 1080p video from either the rear or the front camera at a 10Mbps bitrate and 30 fps.

Closing

I consider myself lucky that I get to review a lot of different phones, but on the flip side, it can be a little boring since there are so many. Only a few phones really excite me, and I have to say that HTC really excelled this year. Looking back at 2012, I would say I thoroughly enjoyed reviewing the One X and the DROID DNA over any other phone. With that said, is the DROID DNA the ultimate DROID? HTC delivers in just about every category: build quality, display, power, and the camera. Notice how I said “just about”? For me, the battery is the only issue. If it could have had either the DROID RAZR HD or DROID RAZR HD MAXX battery, it would truly be complete, but nowadays it seems as though there is always going to be something missing. For some of you, the lack of a microSD slot is enough to not call this the ultimate DROID, but 16GB is plenty for the average person. Since I am just about 100% in the cloud, it’s plenty for me. As I mentioned earlier, the battery isn’t a deal breaker for me based on my lifestyle, but because of it, I can’t call it the ultimate DROID or even the ultimate smartphone for that matter. What I can say is what I said about the One X when I reviewed it: “This is the best Android phone hands down.” So it’s not the ultimate, but it’s oh so close, and I will highly recommend it to anyone that tells me they have $200 to spend on their next smartphone.

HTC DROID DNA review: Is it the Ultimate DROID?

Earlier in the year, HTC redefined themselves with the One X and One S. While both phones landed in the U.S., for whatever reason Verizon Wireless didn’t offer either one. Instead they opted to take the One S, destroy it, and call it the DROID Incredible 4G LTE. The One X should have been the 3rd chapter in the DROID Incredible series, just like it was for Sprint’s EVO series. How was it possible that probably the best phone of the year wasn’t on Big Red? When the One X+ was announced a couple of months ago, I assumed that’s what Verizon was waiting for, but there was no indication. As a Verizon customer, I was severely disappointed and annoyed, but all good things come to those who wait. Apparently HTC and Verizon were readying the crème de la crème to finish off the year with a bang. Based on the J Butterfly, The DROID DNA appears to be the most cutting edge phone to date and promises to have the same quality of materials and camera that HTC has been known for. Is this the ultimate DROID? Hit the break to find out, but you can also check out my initial hands on review as well as our hands on at the launch event.

Design

HTC is one of the leaders when it comes to fit and finish and the DROID DNA is no exception. The One X was already one of the most superior phones in terms of quality, but somehow they were able to step it up. It has a similar polycarbonate back, but it sports more of a soft rubbery touch. The one downside is that it’s a fingerprint and smudge magnet. It’s almost impossible to keep it smudge free, but hey, who plans on staring at the back of their phone all day? The rubberized feel is non slippery and gives you a fantastic grip.

It’s not the thinnest phone in the world because at the highest point it’s 9.73mm, but it still feels pretty thin because of the rounded back. The edges are only 4mm thick, but it expands to the center where it hits 9.73mm. It kind of feels like a Hershey’s candy bar. That’s not a bad thing because when you hold the phone, you place your fingers at the sides which is the thinnest part, while the thickest part rests in your palm and fits perfectly. I know it’s a cliche, but it really does feel great in the hand considering it has a whopping 5-inch display. The Samsung Galaxy Note II sports a 5.5-inch display, but is so much bigger when comparing the two. When comparing it to the One X, it’s about the same width, but it”s a little taller. My hands are on the smaller side and I had no issues with the size whatsoever. I’m starting to wonder if 5-inches is the new sweet spot.

What really makes the DROID DNA a thing of beauty is the Lamborghini-inspired aluminum red grill that you will find along the right and left sides. Most manufacturers would have gone with the color silver, but HTC has used red a lot in the past, and it makes the perfect accent on a black phone. You will also find a similar red accent around the 8MP rear camera lens. Overall, the DROID DNA has an EVO type of look, but more polished.

As with most HTC phones, you will find the power button at the top, but this time it sits in the middle. To the left of it is the microphone jack and the SIM slot is to it’s right. Along the right side towards the top you will find the volume rocker that sports the same red color as the aluminum red grill. The microUSB port is usually found on the left side on HTC phones, but they finally decided to move it to the bottom, which is the better place. Unfortunately they put a cover on it, which is a little annoying. It’s kind of a pain to put back in place, but I guess if you’re going to include it, you might as well make it a tight fit. They decided to include the cover because the phone is splash resistant.

Another nice addition is the notification light on the back to the left of the camera lens. It serves two purposes. It lights up for your notifications, but is also lights up when taking a picture.

You won’t find a microSD slot for expanding storage, which is a downer for some folks. You get 16GB of storage, which is more than enough for the average user. The other negative is that it’s a unibody design, so you won’t be able to remove the battery. This could be a deal breaker for some, but more on that later.

In terms of fit and finish, you won’t find a better phone than the DROID DNA. The only other phones that are in the same ballpark is the DROID RAZR HD / RAZR MAXX HD and the iPhone 5.

Hardware

If you’re going to make a high quality phone, you need to back it up with hardware, and HTC did just that. It packs a 5-inch (1920 x 1080) Super LCD 3 display at 440ppi, a 1.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro CPU, 2GB of RAM, an 8MP rear camera with ImageSense, 2.1MP front facing camera with an 88 degree wide angle lens, 16GB of internal storage, 2020mAh battery, NFC, 4G LTE with worldwide GSM capability, and Beats Audio.

Performance

I already had a chance to try out the Snapdragon S4 Pro on the LG Optimus G so I already had a good idea what to expect. I am happy to report that Sense 4+ doesn’t in any way degrade the performance of the quad-core. Coupled with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, it’s blazing fast. It seriously shreds anything you want to throw at it. I know many of you are benchmark fans so I did the obligatory AnTuTu which came in at 14,544. That’s considerably higher than the Optimus G’s 11.213. Seriously, I’m not sure who can tell the difference, but if you crave power, the DROID DNA will satisfy everything you desire.

HTC already had the finest display ever with the One X so what could they possibly do for an encore? The One X sported a Super LCD 2 display at 720p, and the DROID DNA is now a Super LCD 3 at 1080p. It sports 440ppi which is higher than your TV. Some may say it’s overkill for a phone, but that’s nonsense. It truly is breathtaking as the colors are vibrant, blacks are deep, and everything just pops out at you. As you would expect, the viewing angles are amazing and it performs very well in sunlight. Now if you’re familiar with the One X, you will probably find this display to be only marginally better, but it’s still an improvement. So to recap: HTC now has the two best displays ever on a smartphone. Not bad at all.

As with all the latest HTC phones, the audio is enhanced with Beats. On top of that, HTC included two amplifiers in the phone. The microphone jack gets its own dedicated 2.55 volt amplifier and the other pushes the rear speaker. This helps minimize distortion at higher volumes. I think HTC is a little underrated when it comes to sound quality. The Beats partnership has always been considered a “marketing” gimmick, but I would rather have it on my phone than not.

Another area I found to be outstanding was the radio. I have LTE in my area, but my house is right at the fringe. All the Verizon phones I have tested always switch back and forth from LTE to 3G, but this phone rarely was on 3G.

Battery

No matter how amazing a phone is, there always seems to be something holding it from being perfect, and the battery just might be the DNA’s Achilles heel. I knew going into this review that it was the key, so I spent a considerable amount of time analyzing it. A 1080p screen is going to take its toll on any battery, and a 2020mAh battery is average based on today’s standards. HTC reps seemed confident that the Snapdragon S4 Pro is efficient enough to make it work. Unfortunately it’s not the case, but it’s not complete doom and gloom. It’s not like it’s as bad as the Verizon Galaxy Nexus, but there are a number of phones that are better. My main test is to run continuous video while connected to 4G LTE, while the display is set at 2/3 brightness, GPS on, WiFi on (not connected), and Bluetooth on (not connected). It yielded 6 hours and 11 minutes. In comparing it to some of the latest phones that I did the same test on, it didn’t fare too well:

• Motorola ATRIX HD – 4 hours 45 min (this was really bad)
• Sony Xperia Ion – 6 hours
• DROID DNA – 6 hours 11 minutes
• AT&T HTC One X – 7 hours
• Sprint LG Optimus G – 7 hours 30 min
• DROID Incredible 4G LTE – 7 hours 45 min
• DROID RAZR M – 8 hours
• AT&T LG Optimus G – 8 hours
• Samsung Galaxy Note II – 9 hours 30 min
• DROID RAZR HD – About 10 hours
• DROID RAZR MAXX HD – 13 hours 30 min

So what does this mean in terms of daily use? With moderate use, you should get about double the times you get in the rundown tests and sometimes more than that with the better performing phones. I was able to get 13 hours while connected to 4G LTE full time, which isn’t great, but after living with the Verizon Galaxy Nexus for the past year, it’s an improvement. I also tried it while connected to WiFi 90% of the time, and I was able to get a little over 14 hours with about 15% to spare. I then let it sit idle without turning on the display for about 6 hours and it had 4% left. So yes, it made it to 20 hours, which isn’t bad, but 6 hours of it was idle time.

Now obviously the display is the biggest culprit here, and all of my tests are done at 2/3 brightness. Some may consider that high, but I like to run tests that are at a level that people would like to see their phone set at with the option of scaling it back. I’m going to see how things go with the display at around 40% brightness and update my results.

The bottom line is that the battery is certainly not the main selling point of the DROID DNA, but depending on your situation, it’s not too bad if you are able to charge it regularly. For example, I always have a charger in my car and the plus side is this phone is compatible with Qi wireless chargers. There will be an accessory available, but it’s also compatible with other 3rd party pads. While in the office, you can conveniently give it a little extra juice. Unfortunately, if you’re a hardcore traveler, this phone might not be for you since you won’t be able to swap batteries. If there is one thing I am disappointed in with the DNA, it’s the battery, but based on my lifestyle, it’s not a deal breaker for me.

Software

The DROID DNA features the latest version of Sense, which is 4+ on top of Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean. It’s not the latest version of Android, but it should satisfy most people. Sense 4+ hasn’t changed all that much from what we saw on the One X and One S, but there are some differences. Navigating between home screens now has the circular carousel that was found in Sense 3, but thankfully it doesn’t have the 100 mph spinning animation. The biggest improvement is the keyboard. I hated the Sense keyboard, and now it’s more like the keyboards you see on other Android phones. The big change is the numbers/symbol key is to the bottom left instead of the bottom right, which makes a big difference. Other changes are more subtle like more refined fonts and icons, along with some changes to the camera app. Of course you will also get the newer stock Android features like Google Now, expanded notifications, and easier widget placement on home screens. Sense isn’t something I desire on a phone, but it’s livable when you consider what this phone offers.

As far as running certain apps, such as games, you could run into a problem with the display and compatibility. Brad Molen from Engadget found issues with Need For Speed: Most Wanted and Angry Birds. This is probably due to the display ratio and some games not supporting it. It’s probably a temporary issue since more and more phones will be released with similar displays in the near future. As with many of the newer phones, it’s expected that a few apps might need to be updated.

As far as bloatware goes, you will find your usual suspects, but they also included a new Amazon app suite. It’s similar to the Nexus 7 media widget that shows your recent purchases of books, magazines, and videos. If you are hooked into Amazon, you might appreciate it, otherwise it’s just one more annoying carrier add on.

Camera

In my opinion, the One X has the best camera in a smartphone, so I was expecting the same with the DNA. It has the same F/2.0 aperture lens along with ImageSense. I found the pictures to be as good, but no better than the One X. There is at least one improvement with the DNA that I don’t believe the One X has, and that’s the flash. There are now five levels of brightness for the flash depending on the surroundings. You will also find some differences in the app itself. Some of the menus look a little different, but nothing too drastic. You can change settings for ISO, white balance, shutter, etc., but you can’t save them. Here are some example photos.

HTC also brought the same f/2.0 aperture lens to the 2.1MP front camera and it’s a full 88 degrees, which means you can get a lot more in a photo or a video chat. After hitting the shutter button, there is a countdown from 3 to make sure your and/or everyone is ready for the photo. In the below photos, you can see the difference. The left one is from the DROID RAZR MAXX HD and the right one is from the DROID DNA. As you can clearly see, the DROID DNA shows a lot more bottles.

Video quality is on par with any Android phone. You can shoot 1080p video from either the rear or the front camera at a 10Mbps bitrate and 30 fps.

Closing

I consider myself lucky that I get to review a lot of different phones, but on the flip side, it can be a little boring since there are so many. Only a few phones really excite me, and I have to say that HTC really excelled this year. Looking back at 2012, I would say I thoroughly enjoyed reviewing the One X and the DROID DNA over any other phone. With that said, is the DROID DNA the ultimate DROID? HTC delivers in just about every category: build quality, display, power, and the camera. Notice how I said “just about”? For me, the battery is the only issue. If it could have had either the DROID RAZR HD or DROID RAZR HD MAXX battery, it would truly be complete, but nowadays it seems as though there is always going to be something missing. For some of you, the lack of a microSD slot is enough to not call this the ultimate DROID, but 16GB is plenty for the average person. Since I am just about 100% in the cloud, it’s plenty for me. As I mentioned earlier, the battery isn’t a deal breaker for me based on my lifestyle, but because of it, I can’t call it the ultimate DROID or even the ultimate smartphone for that matter. What I can say is what I said about the One X when I reviewed it: “This is the best Android phone hands down.” So it’s not the ultimate, but it’s oh so close, and I will highly recommend it to anyone that tells me they have $200 to spend on their next smartphone.

Sprint HTC EVO 3D owners reportedly being upgraded to Ice Cream Sandwich

Looks like Sprint has made due on their promise to bring Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich to the HTC EVO 3D. While they initially promised an “early August” update, seems as if they’re one day early as several EVO 3D users have reportedly received a notification for the ICS OTA (over-the-air) update.

As we expected, the ICS update will bring Sense 3.6 to your device and not Sense 4.0 that’s found in the HTC One series. Nonetheless, I’m sure this the news that EVO 3D owners have been longing for quite some time now. Here’s a short list of what to expect with this update provided from Sprint:

• A refined, evolved user interface that is simple, beautiful and useful
• Face Unlock: use state-of-the-art facial recognition technology to unlock your phone with a smile
• Redesigned camera app which introduces Scenes like Panorama, and Effects such as Vignette, Depth of Field, Vintage and Posterize
• Web browser now lets you sync Google Chrome™ bookmarks, request full desktop versions of sites, see your open tabs in a new layout
• People: browse friends, family and coworkers, see their photos in high-resolution and check their latest status updates from Google+
• Improved keyboard with incredibly accurate typing, an inline spell checker and improved copy and paste support
• Redesigned Gmail™ app that now lets you swipe between conversations to catch up quickly and search for emails even without a data connection
• Google+ integration that lets you hangout and video chat with up to 10 friends using your front-facing camera

Excited about ICS on your EVO 3D? Let us know if you’ve gotten your notification for the OTA update to ICS!

Thanks Josh! 

HTC Confirms Jelly Bean For One X, One XL and One S, includes AT&T, T-Mobile and Rogers Models

Yesterday, Telstra told us HTC was working on the Jelly Bean update for select One devices, and now HTC has confirmed it The One X, One XL and One S will be receiving an upgrade to Android 4.1 in the hopefully near future. Here’s the statement from HTC:

“We know HTC fans are excited to get their hands on Google’s latest version of Android. At this point in time, we can confirm that we have plans to upgrade our HTC One X, HTC One XL and HTC One S to Jelly Bean. Please stay tuned for more updates regarding device upgrades, timing and other details about HTC and Jelly Bean.”

Carrier versions of the One X and One S for AT&T, T-Mobile and Rogers will also be receiving the Jelly Bean update. There’s been no word yet on when the update will release or if the One V, EVO 4G LTE and Droid Incredible 4G LTE will be included in those update plans.

source: Engadget

HTC Confirms Jelly Bean For One X, One XL and One S, includes AT&T, T-Mobile and Rogers Models

Yesterday, Telstra told us HTC was working on the Jelly Bean update for select One devices, and now HTC has confirmed it The One X, One XL and One S will be receiving an upgrade to Android 4.1 in the hopefully near future. Here’s the statement from HTC:

“We know HTC fans are excited to get their hands on Google’s latest version of Android. At this point in time, we can confirm that we have plans to upgrade our HTC One X, HTC One XL and HTC One S to Jelly Bean. Please stay tuned for more updates regarding device upgrades, timing and other details about HTC and Jelly Bean.”

Carrier versions of the One X and One S for AT&T, T-Mobile and Rogers will also be receiving the Jelly Bean update. There’s been no word yet on when the update will release or if the One V, EVO 4G LTE and Droid Incredible 4G LTE will be included in those update plans.

source: Engadget

DROID Incredible 4G LTE review: It could have been a contender

When HTC unveiled the One Series back in February, they were looking to simplify things with their hope that the carriers would buy into the models without any carrier-specific customization. T-Mobile took on the One S and AT&T took on the One X. Sprint took on the One X as well, but made changes and marketed it as the EVO 4G LTE. That left Verizon Wireless, who decided to do something completely different. They wanted to continue the DROID Incredible line and basically started with a One S, but made so many changes that it really couldn’t be classified as a One Series phone.  Will it satisfy the appetite from previous Incredible owners? Hit the break to find out, and you can also check out our initial hands on review.

Design

The One X and One S seem like 2012 phones, but the DROID Incredible 4G LTE seems so 2011. I guess that’s not necessarily a bad thing as many consumers are comfortable with your basic slate sans hip styling. I will say that I like the rubberized back as it provides a very nice grip. Too many phones are just too slippery these days, so this is a nice touch. It’s also on the smaller side as it only has a 4-inch display. It’s actually amazing that 4-inches is considered small. I remember the original DROID was 3.7-inches and I can’t imagine how I was happy with it now that I’m using phones that have close to 5-inch displays.

If you’ve ever held a One S, you noticed how thin it is, at 7.9mm. The DROID Incredible 4G LTE comes in at 11.7mm thick which is a big difference. Fortunately it doesn’t feel all that bad, probably because the screen size is smaller by 0.3-inches.

Now I mentioned that Verizon started with the One S in concept, but made changes from there. The basic differences between the One S and the Incredible is the smaller screen size (4.0 vs 4.3), the addition of a microSD slot, a removable battery, and the lack of ImageSense, which I will get into later. The removable battery and microSD slot are welcome additions, but I still feel they are overated as most people only require about 16GB of storage and they rarely switch out batteries.

The top of the phone has the power button to the right (just like other One Series phones) and the headphone jack to the left. The right side has the volume rocker and the left side has the microUSB port for charging and connectivity.

Hardware

The specs include a 4-inch qHD (960 x 540) Super AMOLED display, a 1.2 GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor, 1GB of RAM, 8MP rear camera, 1.3MP front-facing camera, 8GB of storage, microSD slot for an additional 32GB of storage, 1700 mAh removable battery, GPS, Bluetooth, WiFi, and 4G LTE.

Performance

The processor performance is slightly inferior as compared to the One X and One S since it’s clocked at 1.2 GHz as opposed to 1.5 GHz. This is not something that translates into “real world” use for the casual user, but for you hardcores that want comparisons via a benchmark, I ran the AnTuTu, and it came in at 5996, while the One X was 6772 and the One S was 6993. As you can see it’s about 10 to 15% lower, but again let me stress that the casual user using this phone will be very happy as it’s very snappy.

The display is about the same as the One S as it’s Super AMOLED at qHD (960 x 540). It’s PenTile, which I know will scare a lot of you, but don’t be. With the screen size being 4-inches, it’s barely noticeable. It certainly isn’t as jaw dropping as the gorgeous Super LCD 2 that we love on the One X, but again this phone is geared towards the very casual user. Even with that said, it’s decent in sunlight and the viewing angles are fantastic.

Beats Audio is on board and I found the sound to be very similar to the One S and One X. Beats is a just a way to turn up the bass and treble, but hey, I’m not going to complain that it’s there. Louder is always better.

Battery

The battery is only slightly smaller than the One X, but has a lot less pixels too push. I did my usual rundown test in which I ran continuous video while the display is turned up to about 2/3′s. Now for the Incredible I was able to do it while connected to LTE and I got just about 7 hours 45 minutes. That really is pretty good when you consider I was only able to get a little over 7 hours from the One X connected to HSPA+(not LTE).  It’s no even close to the performance of the DROID RAZR MAXX, but for those wanting a compact phone, this should satisfy.

Software

Android 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich and Sense 4.0 is on board so it’s identical to the One X, One S, and EVO 4G LTE. I won’t get into it too much here, but you can hit those links to see more. Overall I do feel Sense has improved with Ice Cream Sandwich. I’m still not a Sense fan, but I can live with it. If there is anything I dislike most about it is the keyboard, but that’s easily changed with a quick trip to the Google Play Store. Other than that, all the features in the other One Series phones found their way to this phone, so if you’re a Sense fan at heart, you will feel very comfortable.

As far as bloatware you get a lot of the same old stuff which includes Amazon Kindle, Amazon MP3, Apps (V CAST), facebook, Let’s Gold 3 HD, My Verizon Mobile, Notes, Real Racing 2, Slacker, Slingbox, V CAST Tones, Verizon Video, VZ Navigator, and Watch. It’s actually pretty toned down for a Verizon phone.

Camera

As I have mentioned before, the biggest disappointment here is the lack of ImageSense processing that is on all One Series phones, but it’s not all about that. The lens is also a little inferior as the One Series gets an f/2.0 lens, while the Incredible gets an f/2.2. Even with both of these issues, the Incredible performs very well, and you will find all the software features of the One Series on the Incredible like HDR, Panorama, and all the effects. For more on those features, see my One X review or Joe’s One S review. You can also check out my experiences with the One X camera on my recent vacation.

The one major item missing in action is burst mode, which lets you take up to 99 pictures per minute. I guess a lot of people might never use this feature, but trust me it’s awesome for toddlers.

I don’t claim to be a photography connoisseur, but I think image quality is pretty close in most situations when comparing them to the One X (and One S). Below are example shots taken from both the Incredible 4G LTE and the One X. With the exception of the first set, the Incredible is fairly close. One thing ImageSense does is perform better post processing so you can clearly see the One X handles colors slightly better, but it’s not a complete shellacking.

Closing

The DROID Incredible 4G LTE is a little bit of a disappointment to me as I was hoping for a One X-based device. An obvious second choice would have been the One S, but we really didn’t get that either. We did partially, but the screen is smaller and the design isn’t as attractive. On the plus side, it does have a removable battery and microSD slot. At $149 it appears to be a great deal considering it’s Verizon, but when you look at the Samsung Galaxy S III priced at $199, it’s hard to recommend this one over that. The GSIII is only $50 more, but then again there are people who just don’t want the bigger screen. If it’s a smaller phone you’re looking for and you are tied to Verizon, then this is the phone for you. If you want the best bang for the buck, you have to go Galaxy S III.

White HTC EVO 4G LTE Officially Coming to Sprint on July 15

We previously reported of Sprint’s plan to release a white HTC EVO 4G LTE on July 15th. Our report was spot on as Sprint has now released an official statement regarding their white EVO 4G LTE that will debut on that exact date. The white version will be available in stores and online for $199.99 with a 2-year contract. The specs of this newer white version is the same as the black version. In case you’ve forgotten the general specifications of the phone, the EVO 4G LTE includes a 4.7-inch HD (720p) Super LCD display, a 1.5GHz dual-core processor, an 8MP rear camera (1.3MP front-facing camera), 16GB ROM, 1GB of RAM, all while touting Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. If you’ve been anxiously waiting for Sprint to release a white version of this phone, now is your time to get one! Head over to the official press release after the break for more information.

Sprint Debuts HTC EVO 4G LTE in White on July 15 for $199.99

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (BUSINESS WIRE), July 12, 2012 – Sprint (NYSE: S), the only national wireless carrier offering truly unlimited data for all phones while on the Sprint network1, and HTC, a global designer of smartphones, are giving customers another reason to love the smartphone lauded by respected reviewers with the addition of HTC EVO™ 4G LTE in white. The stunning white smartphone is framed by its aluminum unibody and sports a matching silver kickstand and aluminized back plate for a sleek and refined look.

HTC EVO 4G LTE will be available in white beginning Sunday, July 15, exclusively in all Sprint-owned sales channels, including Web Sales (www.sprint.com) and Telesales (1-800-SPRINT1), for $199.99 with a new line of service or eligible upgrade and two-year service agreement (excludes taxes). HTC EVO 4G LTE launched in May and is currently available in an anodized black finish in all sales channels.

“HTC EVO 4G LTE sets a new standard for smartphones and boasts Android™ 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich, HTC Sense® 4, a blazing-fast processor, 4.7-inch HD display for a rich multimedia experience and the ability to have HD Voice capabilities in the future,” said Fared Adib, vice president–Product Development, Sprint. “Pairing the HTC EVO innovation with Sprint’s Everything Data Plans for a truly unlimited data experience gives customers a powerful combination.”

Martin Fichter, vice president-Product Management, HTC America, said, “HTC’s amazing camera and authentic sound experience bring the HTC EVO 4G LTE to life as a true successor to the original HTC EVO, one of the most successful Android franchises in the United States.”

Cutting-edge function and style

HTC EVO 4G LTE, exclusively from Sprint, is a multimedia powerhouse designed to deliver a high-definition experience at 4G LTE speeds. It focuses on exceptional improvements in camera technology, audio and voice quality on both the network and device.

HTC ImageSense™ brings improvements to the amazing camera experience featuring a superfast autofocus to enable continuous shooting of up to 99 images, the ability to capture still images while taking video, and increasing the quality of photos taken in adverse conditions such as low light, no light or with bright backlighting. It also contains HTC’s authentic sound experience integrating Beats Audio™. The technology is enabled across multiple facets of the phone experience, including playing music stored on the device, streaming from a favorite service, watching a movie or YouTube™ video, or playing the latest hot game.

HTC EVO 4G LTE is loaded with industry-leading features, including the latest version of HTC Sense, a vibrant 4.7-inch HD display, Snapdragon™ S4 Processor by Qualcomm® with Dual-core CPUs and an advanced 8-megapixel camera. It also brings back the fan-favorite kickstand built into the smartphone’s refined, slim design. HTC EVO 4G LTE is the first HD voice-capable phone announced by any U.S. wireless carrier, and, when available, will make mobile voice quality crystal clear while nearly eliminating background noise.2

HTC EVO 4G LTE is one of the first devices available with Sprint Professional Grade, a new designation for select smartphones that deliver enhanced security, device management and Exchange Active Sync capabilities to business users. Click here to learn more about Sprint Professional Grade designation.

Respected technology media agree Sprint has done it again with HTC EVO 4G LTE. Here are a few accolades from early reviews:

“Powerful parts, lovely screen, stunning design, and an excellent camera help the EVO 4G LTE re-stoke the fires of the EVO faithful.” – CNET
“It’s clear that the EVO 4G LTE camera delivers.” – Engadget
“The EVO 4G LTE feels remarkable in the hand and the design stands out from the crowd of me-too full-slate smartphones.” – IntoMobile
“The first thing that struck us is how thin the phone is at 0.35″. This is the most svelte EVO yet, and it weighs 4.73 ounces.” – MobileTechReview
“All were contenders, but the HTC EVO 4G LTE gets our nod for best phone for its integration of HD Voice, a new technology being rolled out on Sprint’s network that enhances call quality by enriching voice tones and reducing background noise.” – Techlicious
HTC EVO 4G LTE customers can enjoy an unlimited data experience with Sprint Everything Data plans. Sprint Everything Data plans with Any Mobile, AnytimeSM include unlimited Web, texting and calling to and from any mobile in America while on the Sprint Network, starting at just $79.99 per month for smartphones – a savings of $20 per month versus Verizon’s comparable plan with unlimited talk, text and 2GB Web3 (excludes taxes and surcharges).

About Sprint Nextel

Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers, businesses and government users. Sprint Nextel served more than 56 million customers at the end of the first quarter of 2012 and is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including the first wireless 4G service from a national carrier in the United States; offering industry-leading mobile data services, leading prepaid brands including Virgin Mobile USA, Boost Mobile, and Assurance Wireless; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. The American Customer Satisfaction Index rated Sprint No. 1 among all national carriers and most improved in customer satisfaction across all industries during the last four years. Newsweek ranked Sprint No. 3 in its 2011 Green Rankings, listing it as one of the nation’s greenest companies, the highest of any telecommunications company. You can learn more and visit Sprint at www.sprint.com or www.facebook.com/sprint and www.twitter.com/sprint.

About HTC

Founded in 1997, HTC Corporation (HTC) is the creator of many award-winning mobile devices and industry firsts. By putting people at the center of everything it does, HTC pushes the boundaries of design and technology to create innovative and personal experiences for consumers around the globe. HTC’s portfolio includes smartphones and tablets powered by HTC Sense, a multilayered graphical user interface that vastly improves user experience. HTC is listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TWSE: 2498). For more information, please visit www.htc.com.

HTC EVO 4G LTE Gets an Update, Google Wallet is Back.

It looks like HTC and Sprint finally got it together and came up with an update for the EVO 4G LTE that fixes some of the nagging problems the phone launched with.

The important stuff seems to be there, including the wifi disconnect issue and restored Google Wallet functionality.

Read on for a full list of the fixes…

The version number has been bumped to 1.22.651.3, and here’s what’s on board:

• Google security updates
• Wifi disconnect issue
• Time zone issue
• Google Wallet fix
• Side loaded video pause issue
• Random power cycling issue
• Pioneer Bluetooth Car Kit connection issue
• Gallery app crash
• Calendar reminder (all day even time) issue

HTC EVO 4G LTE Gets an Update, Google Wallet is Back.

It looks like HTC and Sprint finally got it together and came up with an update for the EVO 4G LTE that fixes some of the nagging problems the phone launched with.

The important stuff seems to be there, including the wifi disconnect issue and restored Google Wallet functionality.

Read on for a full list of the fixes…

The version number has been bumped to 1.22.651.3, and here’s what’s on board:

• Google security updates
• Wifi disconnect issue
• Time zone issue
• Google Wallet fix
• Side loaded video pause issue
• Random power cycling issue
• Pioneer Bluetooth Car Kit connection issue
• Gallery app crash
• Calendar reminder (all day even time) issue

DROID Incredible 4G LTE unboxing and initial hands on review [Video]

I’m calling it the phone that could’ve been. The DROID Incredible 4G LTE is the third version of the Incredible series, but for whatever reason Verizon didn’t want to make this a flagship DROID device. Sprint, on the other hand, knew that the third installment of the EVO line needed to be a major player, and that’s why they chose the HTC One X as the basis. Verizon took a different approach and went with the HTC One S as the basis, but left out the ImageSense camera chip. On the flip side, they did allow for a removable battery and an available microSD slot for expanded storage. This phone isn’t part of the One Series, and it doesn’t feel like anything close with it’s 11.7mm thick frame, as opposed to 7.8mm for the One S and 8.9mm for the One X.

The specs are similar to the One S and include a 4-inch qHD (960 x 540) display, dual-core 1.2 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor, 1GB of RAM, 8MP rear camera, 1.3MP front-facing camera, 8GB of storage, microSD slot for an additional 32GB of storage, GPS, Bluetooth, WiFi, 4G LTE, Android 4.0.3, and Sense 4.0. The price is $149, which is competitive for Verizon Wireless, but one has to wonder if spending $50 more and getting the Samsung Galaxy S III would be the wiser choice.

Look for our full review soon, but for now check out our initial hands on after the break.

Click here to view the embedded video.