HTC Droid DNA review

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WelshBloke

Lifer
Jan 12, 2005
33,072
11,250
136
It's not like there is empty space in there, a bigger battery would mean going over 1cm thick. It is already 1mm thicker than the RAZR MAXX. If they want to sell more phones then a DNA Max as a second product would have been a good idea.

Probably not but the DNA is bigger in every dimension than the Razr maxx HD so it seems odd that they couldn't put a bigger battery in there.
 

Wingznut

Elite Member
Dec 28, 1999
16,968
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Probably not but the DNA is bigger in every dimension than the Razr maxx HD so it seems odd that they couldn't put a bigger battery in there.
If they had the same internals (in particular, the screen) then you'd have a point.

Consider that the Razr HD Maxx is .9mm thicker than the Razr HD, and you get the general idea how much a larger battery increases phone thickness.
 

WelshBloke

Lifer
Jan 12, 2005
33,072
11,250
136
If they had the same internals (in particular, the screen) then you'd have a point.

Consider that the Razr HD Maxx is .9mm thicker than the Razr HD, and you get the general idea how much a larger battery increases phone thickness.

Yeah but the MaxxHD is .5mm thinner and 9mm shorter (and a smidgin narrower) and it has a 3300 mAh battery, the DNA has a 2020 mAh one. Now I doubt that Moto has some super fairy dust powered battery so I'm having a hard time believing that there was no way they (HTC) couldnt have fitted a bigger battery there.
 

Wingznut

Elite Member
Dec 28, 1999
16,968
2
0
Yeah but the MaxxHD is .5mm thinner and 9mm shorter (and a smidgin narrower) and it has a 3300 mAh battery, the DNA has a 2020 mAh one. Now I doubt that Moto has some super fairy dust powered battery so I'm having a hard time believing that there was no way they (HTC) couldnt have fitted a bigger battery there.
Yeah, but the question isn't total width or heighth... It's, what is the difference in thickness between the DNA's 5" 1080p SLCD3 and the MaxxHD's 4.7" 720p Super AMOLED?
 

Dari

Lifer
Oct 25, 2002
17,133
38
91
Point is that it's a big phone with a built in battery. They had the opportunity to pull a razr maxx moment rather than just being meh. Not using the advantages of built in batteries whilst using one just seems like a bit of a miss.

Now nobodies saying that it's not a great phone. It is. It just could have been awesome.

Maybe. But who said they wanted a competitor for the Maxx? Was that their goal? I seriously doubt it. This phone was showing off the screen (and its efficiency). The Maxx's selling point is the battery. The DNA's selling point is the screen. With a limited budget and engineering skills and time, I'm assuming that HTC was not gunning for the best of everything category here. This should be common sense.
 

WelshBloke

Lifer
Jan 12, 2005
33,072
11,250
136
Maybe. But who said they wanted a competitor for the Maxx? Was that their goal? I seriously doubt it. This phone was showing off the screen (and its efficiency). The Maxx's selling point is the battery. The DNA's selling point is the screen. With a limited budget and engineering skills and time, I'm assuming that HTC was not gunning for the best of everything category here. This should be common sense.

You should write their marketing.

"HTC: We aim for mediocrity."
 

Dari

Lifer
Oct 25, 2002
17,133
38
91
You should write their marketing.

"HTC: We aim for mediocrity."

Nah, they don't. You're just mad. If you have a high-end samsung phone with the weird oled screen and are happy, good for you. Just let others be happy with their devices. Live and let live.
 

WelshBloke

Lifer
Jan 12, 2005
33,072
11,250
136
Nah, they don't. You're just mad. If you have a high-end samsung phone with the weird oled screen and are happy, good for you. Just let others be happy with their devices. Live and let live.

Why would my opinion affect others enjoyment of their devices?

I'm not mad at all, I was just hoping that the Maxx thing would catch on with other manufacturers.
 

dlock13

Platinum Member
Oct 24, 2006
2,806
2
81
Let's talk more about this phone! I'm having a dilemma with either the Note 2 or the DNA! D:
 

dguy6789

Diamond Member
Dec 9, 2002
8,558
3
76
Every time in the past two years I have opted for the slightly more powerful phone with poorer battery life(due to being obsessed with specs) I have always wished I bought the better battery life phone not too long after. In this case there is a very massive difference in battery life. Even if it didn't have superb battery life the Note 2 would still be one of the best devices on the market. That makes me vote Note 2.
 

dlock13

Platinum Member
Oct 24, 2006
2,806
2
81
Every time in the past two years I have opted for the slightly more powerful phone with poorer battery life(due to being obsessed with specs) I have always wished I bought the better battery life phone not too long after. In this case there is a very massive difference in battery life. Even if it didn't have superb battery life the Note 2 would still be one of the best devices on the market. That makes me vote Note 2.

The problem is I'm getting married in September of 2013, and I need to save up for a wedding.. I think I'm going to get the DNA.
 

Face2Face

Diamond Member
Jun 6, 2001
4,100
215
106
Employee Edition for $99? That's a sweet deal! It's a no brainer. I paid $200 and lost my unlimited data going to the DNA and don't regret it. It's an awesome phone and the battery life has been getting better and better it seems. I usually end my day with 30% - granted I am not considered a "Power User" I like the Note 2 a lot, it feels good in the hand kind of like my wife's GS3 - just bigger. I am not a fan of Samsung's quality of materials though - seem kinda chintzy. I think the DNA has a much better build quality and the screen has no equal. I think both phones are the two best android phones out now. $99 bucks and a free charging pillow -should seal the deal. Congrats on the end of your life by the way ;)
 

dlock13

Platinum Member
Oct 24, 2006
2,806
2
81
Employee Edition for $99? That's a sweet deal! It's a no brainer. I paid $200 and lost my unlimited data going to the DNA and don't regret it. It's an awesome phone and the battery life has been getting better and better it seems. I usually end my day with 30% - granted I am not considered a "Power User" I like the Note 2 a lot, it feels good in the hand kind of like my wife's GS3 - just bigger. I am not a fan of Samsung's quality of materials though - seem kinda chintzy. I think the DNA has a much better build quality and the screen has no equal. I think both phones are the two best android phones out now. $99 bucks and a free charging pillow -should seal the deal. Congrats on the end of your life by the way ;)

Hahaha. Thanks. :p

Also, it ended up being a no brainer. The EE of the DNA comes in the (J)Butterfly Red color so it'll stand out like the HTC WP8 devices. I'm kind of excited about it. I'll probably stick with this guy for quite some time, that's for sure. I'm glad to see battery life is actually getting better for you.

Have you rooted it or done any kind of modding? With my stock Nexus, I could eek out a 15 hour day with probably 30-60 minutes of screen usage... I'm hoping this phone at least gets me 2-3 hours which isn't saying a lot, but I'll be more than glad to actually have a phone that'll last me a decent bit of time.

Note 2 is honestly a great device, but for $200 more and that 5.5 inch screen.. I just couldn't justify it. Sure, that screen looks great, but the fact is I use my phone for a lot of things and need it to be one handed easily, need it for fitness, need it for work.
 
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Face2Face

Diamond Member
Jun 6, 2001
4,100
215
106
Hahaha. Thanks. :p

Also, it ended up being a no brainer. The EE of the DNA comes in the (J)Butterfly Red color so it'll stand out like the HTC WP8 devices. I'm kind of excited about it. I'll probably stick with this guy for quite some time, that's for sure. I'm glad to see battery life is actually getting better for you.

Have you rooted it or done any kind of modding? With my stock Nexus, I could eek out a 15 hour day with probably 30-60 minutes of screen usage... I'm hoping this phone at least gets me 2-3 hours which isn't saying a lot, but I'll be more than glad to actually have a phone that'll last me a decent bit of time.

Note 2 is honestly a great device, but for $200 more and that 5.5 inch screen.. I just couldn't justify it. Sure, that screen looks great, but the fact is I use my phone for a lot of things and need it to be one handed easily, need it for fitness, need it for work.


I haven't tried to root it yet. I probably won't, don't want to risk screwing it up. From what I have read the Verizon Galaxy Nexus is a pig when it comes to battery life. This phone should be exceptional in comparison. When you get the phone, share some pics of it. The HTC 8X is a beautiful phone, but Windows has a long way to catch up, especially on the app front. My wife loved hers, but it had too many issues, so back it went. She actually got the 8X then iPhone 5 and now GS3. Verzion only lets you exchange one - but my store manager is cool :)
 

OBLAMA2009

Diamond Member
Apr 17, 2008
6,574
3
0
htc is a crappy brand, they are the acer of cell phones. however the dna is a good deal if youre paying full retail ($599 i think). bus dat samsung/moto!
 

kaerflog

Golden Member
Jul 23, 2010
1,899
4
76
htc is a crappy brand, they are the acer of cell phones. however the dna is a good deal if youre paying full retail ($599 i think). bus dat samsung/moto!

I would agree with the old HTC.
Ever since HTC came out with the One line, all their products have improved greatly.
I woud say the One is built better than Samsung Galaxy line.
 

dlock13

Platinum Member
Oct 24, 2006
2,806
2
81
So I hope when my phone comes in someone can help me unlock/root it! :)
 
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Face2Face

Diamond Member
Jun 6, 2001
4,100
215
106
Does that actually work? I read that the Toolkit doesn't work since you need to use something from HTC. :/

EDIT: Also, the guy who created that Toolkit hasn't posted in that thread in 18 days. :(

Not sure. I have no plans to root the phone myself. Why do you want to root it anyway?