Verizon And HTC Announce The Droid DNA, The “Ultimate Smartphone” Is Coming November 21st

Even though much has been hinted at with this device, the unveiling is quite extraordinary. Today both Verizon and HTC have revealed the Droid DNA. This beast of a device is being labeled as the “ultimate smartphone” and besides having the battery on the bit of a low side, I’m inclined to agree. Let’s take a look at the specs.

This thing has a 5-inch Super LCD 3 1080p screen pushing 440 pixels per inch (for comparison the iPhone 5 has 326, Galaxy SIII has 306, and the Lumia 920 has 332), a 1.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon S4 processor, 2gb of RAM, running Jelly Bean masked by Sense 4+, an 8MP camera featuring a f/2.0 wide lens capable of 1080p video capture, a 2.1MP front-facing camera also capable of 1080p video capture, 2020mAh battery, and Qi wireless charging.

Whew…

Not only all of that but this phone is just down right sexy. The DNA is the US variant of HTC’s J Butterfly just released in Japan not even a month ago. This is the world’s first 1080p 5-inch screen.

Aside from the pertinent specs, the phone runs on Verizon’s 4G LTE service with a quad-band system for GSM and UTMS (global roaming expected), 16gb of internal storage and no SD card slot, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, MHL, dual mic system for noise cancellation, and all the Wi-Fi bands you could want.

I’m looking at my current phone and find myself wanting again. Sigh…

Below is the press shot for the phone and HTC’s official press release.

DROID DNA BY HTC INTRODUCED AS THE ULTIMATE SMARTPHONE —

AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY FROM VERIZON WIRELESS

 

The first full HD 1080p display with the highest pixel density of any smartphone also features the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon quad-core processor, Verizon Wireless 4G LTE

and HTC Sense 4+ with Android Jelly Bean

 

BELLEVUE, WA — Nov. 13, 2012 — HTC Corporation, a global leader in mobile innovation and design, and Verizon Wireless today announced the exclusive DROID DNA by HTC, the ultimate smartphone and the first with a full HD 1080p display.  The DROID DNA by HTC will be available exclusively through Verizon Wireless through pre-order starting today and at retail stores nationwide Wednesday, November 21^st.

 

“It’s no secret that people depend on their smartphones more and more every day which rightfully raises expectations for performance, speed, and design.  The DROID DNA by HTC embodies a smartphone that pushes the envelope in all of these areas with the first true 1080p HD display, latest quad-core processor, and Verizon’s 4G LTE network, all wrapped in a beautifully crafted design,” said Jason Mackenzie, president, HTC Corporation. “The DROID DNA by HTC is sure to top wish lists this holiday season.”

 

The Ultimate Smartphone

With technology rivaling the latest HD TV’s, the DROID DNA by HTC is the first smartphone to feature a true 1080p HD super LCD 3 display with Corning® Gorilla® Glass 2 protection.  It boasts an extraordinary 440 pixels per inch (PPI) on a 5-inch screen for unprecedented in-hand HD experiences that delivers the maximum pixel clarity available on a smartphone.

 

Designed to accentuate the incredible display, the deep black, soft-touch back is understated, with the exception of a metallic red camera bezel, while the red microgrill pattern of the sidewalls hint at the phone’s DROID heritage and the power inside.  The beautifully crafted smartphone feels thinner than other devices of a similar size as the edges of the curved back taper to a mere 4mm for a comfortable feel in the hand or pocket.

 

The Qualcomm® Snapdragon^™ S4 Pro processor, featuring a quad-core 1.5 GHz CPU and high-performance GPU, paired with America’s largest 4G LTE network from Verizon Wireless and a full 2G of RAM  enable the seamless use of multiple apps simultaneously.  With HTC Sense® 4+ and Android™ 4.1.1 (Jelly Bean), you get great software experiences including Google Now. HTC Sense 4+ offers a wealth of easy-to-use and customizable features bringing highly sought after personalization to your phone and placing the most important content front and center.  A series of intelligent features powered by HTC Sense 4+ also provides a number of improvements to the camera.

 

Amazing Camera

The DROID DNA by HTC has a world-class camera that delivers fast image capture, great images even in low-light and an easy interface to capture stills and video. With an 8-megapixel f/2.0 28mm wide-angle lens, 5-level automatic flash, backside illuminated sensor (BSI), and superfast autofocus, you’ll capture amazing moments without the worry of missing a single one. Instead of choosing between photos and video, HTC VideoPic™ allows you to capture video and still images at the same time. And by simply holding the shutter button, Continuous Shooting takes multiple photos at up to four frames per second to catch all the action.

 

It also includes a new best-in-class 2.1-megapixel, f/2.0, 88-degree, ultra-wide angle, front-facing camera that allows more to be captured in self-portraits, and up to four people for group shots. Auto Portrait makes it easier to take photos of yourself and your friends with automatic face detection and a countdown timer so you can focus on your pose and not the shutter button.  Capable of capturing 1080p HD video, the front-facing camera also provides a sharper picture during video chat.

 

Authentic Sound

The DROID DNA by HTC has a unique, 2.55-volt, built-in headset amplifier and dedicated amp for the external rear-speaker to help boost the audio signal to deliver crystal clear sound with less distortion, even at maximum volume. The combination of amplified hardware and the rich, authentic, studio-quality sound of Beats Audio™ allows music to be heard the way the artist intended, and enhances the sound quality while playing games or watching video.

 

Additional Features

The DROID DNA by HTC is equipped with a 2,020 mAh battery and power saving software that enables long-lasting endurance.  In addition, the embedded wireless charging makes it easy and convenient to top off power throughout the day or fully charge overnight, simply by setting the phone down.  Finally, with near field communication (NFC), you can use the DROID DNA by HTC to share music and videos, add someone to your social networks, or download apps by tapping other NFC-enabled devices.

 

Availability:

The DROID DNA by HTC will be available exclusively from Verizon Wireless through a pre-order starting today at www.verizonwireless.com/droiddna, and in-stores nationwide beginning Wednesday, November 21st for $199.99 with a two-year customer agreement.

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