HTC Droid Incredible Review
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Introduction:
Continuing Android's legacy brought forth by the Motorola DROID's release with Verizon, news about something truly incredible were already simmering out of the seams a month after the DROID made its mark. There is no denying at this point that Verizon is clearly at ease now that Android's launch has proven to be such a huge success and will venture even deeper by following up with HTC Droid Incredible that will take its reign in the US as the most powerful Android device currently available. Verizon customers aren't strangers to an Android powered HTC device; they've all been well adjusted with the HTC DROID ERIS and its Sense UI. The Droid Incredible is yet another product out of HTC's camp that will hopefully take up its arms and prove to be a stellar hit just like the Motorola DROID, but one can only imagine how this device, like the Nexus One, will be adopted by consumers who are easily scared away from the prospect of it being outdated already. Diving head first into the thick of the battle, the HTC Droid Incredible will need to be packing enough heat to entice owners for a warranted purchase.
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HTC Droid Incredible
Quick Start Guide
Wall Charger
microUSB Cable
Product Safety & Warranty Brochure
Design:
Building up to this point, we've been hearing all too often how the HTC Droid Incredible would test the limits of its hardware specifications – but we've begun to notice its Achilles Heel as we took a closer look at it. Up until this point, we've been treated to some spectacular designs from the Taiwan based manufacturer, but the HTC Droid Incredible just doesn't breathe in anything remarkable in its build to substantially give it the cool factor – something that the Nexus One clearly wins over the Droid Incredible. Rather than utilizing premium materials and a futuristic design, the handset's design approach is lackluster due partly to its mundane clean slate form factor that doesn't scream the industrial designs that made HTC's products stand out. Instead we are greeted to a completely all black plastic shell that is quickly complimented with the subtle red accents and a soft matte rear finish that attempts to tack on a sense of style to the device. Its back side might have some interesting shapes, but ultimately, the HTC Droid Incredible lacks that overall quality feel and construction that was witnessed with the Desire and Nexus One – the cheap feeling materials make us question its durability over time as well. Thankfully, the weight distribution (4.6 oz) is spread out evenly to make it balanced when holding on the hand – plus it looks and feels a bit more compact (4.63” x 2.30” x 0.47”) and manageable in the pockets.
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HTC Droid Incredible just doesn't breathe in anything remarkable in its build | ||
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You can compare the HTC Droid Incredible with many other phones using our Size Visualization Tool.
Many have already argued how the HTC Droid Incredible is basically a re-branded HTC Desire when you look deep into what's under the hood and found in its software. Taking an almost identical approach, the Droid Incredible's 3.7” WVGA AMOLED touchscreen will continue to be a staple of the current line of high-end Android handsets – its support for 16 million colors eloquently jumps out from all angles. We found its capacitive touchscreen to be quite responsive to the touch, but it continues to be a treasure trove for those pesky finger prints and smudges. Aside from the lack of visibility when viewing the phone outdoors in direct sunlight, we found very few faults with the performance of its display – even fine text are detailed enough to read out from a zoomed out view. Above the screen, both the light and proximity sensors are found next to one another and give the user the most optimal viewing experience when the display brightness is set to automatic. Nonetheless, the display's luminance is clearly one of its most attractive and prominent features.
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Unlike the HTC Desire, the standard set of buttons typical to Android have reverted back to being touch sensitive ones – which are built into the surface of the touchscreen and blend well with the black finish to have an overall clean look. The optical track pad is in effect on the Droid Incredible and offers a decent responsive feel; even when pressing it down to make a selection. Again, it is flush with the surrounding surface and is the only item to stand out distinctly when the screen is not turned on or in use. As for the rest of the physical buttons on the handset, they are only limited to the volume rocker and dedicated power button – both of which are slightly raised and are accompanied with a decent tactile response. The only other things to be seen on the sides of the phone are the 3.5mm headset jack on the top edge while the microUSB port is on the left side. On the back, the 8-megapixel camera with dual-LED flash slightly protrudes from the rest of the phone – so laying it flat on its back will result in the camera coming in contact with the surface. There is also a single notch near the camera which is used for the speaker phone. Finally, you literally have to yank out the rear cover to gain access to the completely red innards of the device, battery, and microSD slot.
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The sides of HTC Droid Incredible | |
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45 Comments
1. DonkeyPunched posted on 20 Oct 2010, 01:55 0 0
I really like the design on the front of the phone, but I'm definitely not a fan of the back...I know they need a variety and this one was trying to stand out...but iono. I'm not feeling it. But hey, it might be targeting other people. Other than that, it's pretty awesome. I'm sure it will do well, but I don't think it will replace the Droid yet.
17. ace1122 posted on 20 Apr 2010, 20:45 0 0
How could this replace the droid when this doesnt even have a keyboard?
21. iHateCrapple posted on 22 Apr 2010, 16:24 0 0
Yea, the back of this phone is very....loud.
38. ace1122 posted on 19 May 2010, 17:36 0 0
Haha how looks like i had the worst comment on the page... but it was just a question. I personally dont see how anyone can prefer typing on a touchscreen over a physical keyboard.
2. biggles posted on 19 Apr 2010, 06:41 0 0
If you throw out the subjective rating of Design which has zero impact on the functionality, this is a pretty lofty rating for a phone. I really don't see how the EVO will raise the bar THAT much. You trade screen size for brilliance with the EVO. Beyond that, the EVO really only differentiates on niche features: mini-HDMI and mobile hotspot. Speaking of niche, the 4G ability of the EVO will appeal to only a small pct of the country being that WiMax is not widely available, not at all in some major markets like NYC. For those that are lucky to be in those select markets, 4G will be great. But if you don't have that luxury, well the EVO is just a 3G phone and with that, the coverage map tells the story: huge advantage Incredible and Verizon. I suppose we will continue to see the likes of Verizon's competitors trying to overcompensate for poor coverage and a lack of motivation to make improvements by releasing more advanced handsets. Unfortunately, consumers will have to pick the more important trade-off. Status quo.
4. stuntz posted on 19 Apr 2010, 11:03 0 0
4G will be in more markets, before the EVO comes out, so that takes away this phones "huge advantage"
34. jsnika posted on 03 May 2010, 16:24 0 0
the evo will also be able to record in 720p and it also has a front facing camera....so that might bring up the rating a little bit along with the bigger screen. but then again the evo is going to weigh a whopping 6.00 oz, so we will see if that affects the rating as well.
3. testman22 posted on 19 Apr 2010, 09:26 0 0
This phone is a 4.3" screen away from making me give up my droid. the htc sense and camera upgrade is nice, but not enough to give up on my motorola- especially since my slide out keyboard does get a lot of use
5. networkdood posted on 19 Apr 2010, 13:15 0 0
What an INCREDIBLE phone....wish the wife was still with VERIZON....
9. PapaJay224 posted on 19 Apr 2010, 21:50 0 0
That a kid, always working. I Pre-Ordered mine last night! the only thing I think I may dislike about the phone is the lack of metal, I love how heavy my Droid is, its like a brick shit house. I guarantee if Moto releases a Droid 2 it will mbe 2nd to none.As far as me being a raging technophile, my need for this phone goes with out saying. I shall use both!
8. tbacba posted on 19 Apr 2010, 19:26 0 0
The phone sounds great, but the review hurts my ears -- " the HTC Droid Incredible just doesn't breathe in anything remarkable in its build". Huh? How do you breathe in remarkable?! Someone really breathed in some mangled language in this one. :-)
10. techjunkie posted on 19 Apr 2010, 22:43 0 0
A 6.5 for design? WTF? I've seen this site rate some questionable phones higher in that category. I know it's not the best design in creation but a 6.5 I think I might have to start looking elsewhere for reviews
11. RORYREVOLUTION posted on 20 Apr 2010, 00:02 0 0
Yea I agree, it seems like they were purposely trying to hold this phone down. I don't see how awful the design is, I've seen way worse.
12. jcoberg10 posted on 20 Apr 2010, 05:05 0 0
If it had a half eaten apple on the back of the phone the design would get a 10. :)
13. sinfulta posted on 20 Apr 2010, 05:59 0 0
I'm also confused on how the display only got rated a 9, when currently its using the best display on a commercially available and affordable phone right now. But the IPhone 3GS display got rated a 9.5, with lower resolution, Non AMOLED screen, and it is smaller, but scored half a point higher? The desire scored 2.25 pts higher in design? Maybe I'm partial to black, but their should be no way that the desire scored 25%+ higher in design. Something is seriously seriously wrong here. I will take the Jet black beautiful front Incredible with a funky back any day before the all around boring/dirty looking desire. Just my .02 cents though.
15. funkpod posted on 20 Apr 2010, 11:46 0 0
Maybe this was due to the fact that the iPhone review is older? I can't seem them being able to go back and retroactively change the reviews based off of the current standard. Like if the EnV got a 9 for a review, and then the EnV2 got a 9, but it's a whole lot better, and it can't be the same as the EnV2, it would be hard to go back and edit their previous reviews. Maybe the 3GS's screen was the screen to beat back then, but now there are better.
