Calling It In: The HTC Droid Incredible 2

Posted by droidphonereviews on May 5, 2011

Name: HTC Droid Incredible 2

Carrier: Verizon

The Back Story: Great software, a responsive
touchscreen, stunning display, high-speed performance, and cool fit and finish—with the Droid Incredible, HTC practically set the mold for today’s Google-powered phones when
it released what was arguably known, at the time, as the best Android phone. Since then, however, the company and the industry have evolved. Dual-core processing, fast operating systems, and 4G service now represent the smartphone zenith, with many customers expecting at least a 1 GHz chip, hi-res display, and dual-camera funtionality. Considering HTC’s track record has been nothing short of
outstanding lately, especially with Verizon’s first-ever 4G phone, the
Thunderbolt 4G, many experts would say the odds of the Droid Incredible 2
surpassing its predecessor seem favorable. So does it hold as much weight as
the original?

Dope

• New design and
updated features: HTC ditches the plastic-like sheath of the original and incorporates a new unibody
case with a soft rubbery finish that feels smooth in your hands. Out goes the
optical pointer and in comes enhanced haptic touchscreen keys that rotate
90-degrees when the display is tilted horizontally. A 4-inch SLCD screen
replaces the 3.7-inch AMOLED display and generates resonant colors and brighter
screen output. Text, games, and videos—everything looks dynamic in 800×480 pixel resolution. The latest
1GHz Snapdragon processor powers the device and is both responsive and fast to
all touchscreen commands. RAM is also increased to 768MB.

• Good media and communication tools: A variety of pre-installed apps are at
your disposal with Skype Mobile leading the way. HTC’s Friend
Stream widget compiles all Facebook, Flickr, and Twitter updates, plus there’s
a separate Twitter widget for hardcore tweeters. Several e-mail clients are supported and
the Mobile IM app combines all AIM, Yahoo Messenger, and Windows Live messages
into one platform. The Incredible 2 also covers a wide range of media outlets, giving
you a YouTube widget as well as Amazon Kindle, Slacker, NFL Mobile, and
different VCAST apps.

• Upgraded Sense
UI: Like the Inspire 4G, HTC’s latest user-interface boasts advanced
graphics, faster booting times, and improved personalization tools. There are
seven profile customizations under the Scenes setup, each offering different
homescreen layouts depending on the user (Work, Social, Play, etc.). Flash videos
can be viewed directly from the web browser, and the virtual keyboard is larger
and registers accurate typing inputs. Best of all, if you’ve setup an account under HTC’s
cloud service, HTCSesnse.com, the phone will automatically import your
Favorites list.

• Great
dual-camera action: The rear 8MP camera does an awesome job
of producing sharp outdoor pics and the supporting dual LED flash is bright
enough to make indoor shots look rich and vibrant. The front-facing 1.3MP
camera serves its purpose for quality headshots and video conferencing à la
Skype. Videos are shot in 720p and look good as well. But the coolest features here lie in the ability to toggle with the flash and touch focus when recording videos.

• Call quality and
wireless features: The phone sports an improved microphone
system with noise cancellation, which issued little to no background noise and
distortion during our calls. In addition, global connectivity lets users take
advantage of Verizon’s wireless and data services in over 200 countries with
HSPA, CDMA, and EVDO Rev.A compatibility. There’s also wi-fi, Bluetooth, and mobile
hotspot support for up to five devices.

Nope

• 3G-only and
lagging speeds: As the
successor to Verizon’s most prominent Android phone, we’re nearly baffled that the
carrier didn’t make this handset 4G-enabled. The carrier’s 3G network was spotty and slow at times, as we experienced reception issues throughout New York City.

• No Gingerbread: Another
up-to-date Android landmark is MIA with the absence of Gingerbread. Users must
settle with the standard Froyo OS for the time being, as Verizon announced it
would not divulge any future update plans concerning Android 2.3.

• Weak battery: Enabling wireless features and
having several apps running in the background depletes battery life within less
than 3 hours, while moderate use can give up to 6 to 8 hours of usage.

• Little included memory: For
a social- and media-heavy smartphone, you’re only looking at 1GB of storage and
a 8GB MicroSD card installed below the battery slot on the side. Heavy Android Market users and mediaphiles should invest in larger external memory.

Final Say: The Droid Incredible 2 does a great job of incorporating new software and hardware upgrades like HTC’s refined Sense UI and dual cameras. The design even tackles a more solid and sleek look. But in the end, it doesn’t leave the same impact the original left on us. Again, we’re not sure why Verizon chose not to give the Incredible 2 the 4G-treatment. When you include its undetermined Gingerbread future, consumers might show impatience and place their focus on more powerful, equally priced Verizon phones like the Thunderbolt or iPhone 4. Still, the Incredible 2 is a good mid-level device that offers first-rate communication and multimedia features.

Tags: android, verizon, htc

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