The HTC Droid DNA on Verizon is a new Android, Jelly Bean smartphone that brings a fast camera as well as solid and fast connections to Verizon’s LTE network in a sleek form factor. It is available on Verizon for $199.99 with a two-year contract.
On Verizon’s LTE network, the connections both from the data and call side seemed strong and quick. Download speeds were between 7 and 11 Mbps and upload speeds were steady at 8 Mbps. Driving across Nashville did not bring any hiccups in either streaming music from Pandora or making a phone call. The device sounded strong and clear while talking to others or playing music through the car stereo and using a standard stereo auxiliary jack.
Although the screen is quite large at 5 inches, the HTC Droid DNA has a thin profile at 9.73 mm. It can be a bit challenging to fit the device into smaller pockets. However, the build quality is nice and feels comfortable while holding it. The volume control on the devices goes along with the thinness and is represented by a single red bar along the right side of the device. The lack of distinct up and down volume buttons did take a little getting used to especially when not looking at the phone.
The camera seemed to benefit from the quad-core processor and 8 MP lens and led flash. The shutter was quick. In fact, if you don’t watch the bottom of the screen, you may miss that a picture was actually taken and placed in the camera role. This was a positive feature as many devices feature a lag when pressing the camera button. While the pictures are not as good as the iPhone 5, they were a step ahead of the Samsung Galaxy SIII with less grain and a clearer background in a daylight setting.
The camera features some now standard adjustments for an Android phone such as ISO settings, a variety of filters, and a continuous shooting mode that allow you to take up to 99 pictures in a row. The video was also of very good quality on the device and off. At 1080p and 30 frames per second, you can see the difference in quality over other Android devices.
The device charges through a micro-USB port at the bottom of the phone. This is a nice standard and provides users with flexibility if they have other devices with the same connection. The interesting part about the port is that it is hidden with a rubber flap. While it is good to protect the port, it is not necessarily needed, unless you are going to go with complete wireless charging. The HTC Droid DNA comes with the feature out of the box. You’ll still need to purchase a wireless charging station, but it would be worth it for those hoping to maintain the esthetics of the phone itself.
Overall, however, the HTC Droid DNA is a quality device for those who prefer Android phones and are in the market for an upgrade. Stop by your local Verizon store or check it out online.
To learn more about the display, speed, and sound quality, continue to this article.
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