Google Nexus 4 vs HTC DROID DNA

Introduction:

Crazy to imagine it, but it has been a long time since we’ve seen HTC’s name attached to the Nexus moniker. Since the birth of the original Google Nexus One, Google has gone on to commission other reputable companies to manufacture its various Nexus devices – with LG most recently nabbing that prestigious opportunity. Even though the Google Nexus 4 from LG is positioned as the pure Android device straight from el Goog, HTC is being fairly proactive on its end with its equally grand offering in the HTC DROID DNA, which fittingly allows them to stand tall throughout this crucial holiday season. Despite their affinity to Android, there’s no arguing that these two are in contention against one another at the moment.

Design:

With so many likable elements seen between them, it’s hard to say with enough certainty which design we actually prefer the most. For the Nexus 4, we like the premium feel that its glass surfaces and rear pattern design brings to the handset, but at the same time, it makes the handset feel super slippery and prone to unwanted distractions such as smudging and fingerprints. Conversely, the DROID DNA is a handful to hold since its overall footprint is larger, however, its matte soft touch body and precise red accents add a dab of styling that matches its DROID DOES attitude.


Scanning their facades, we spot their earpieces, light & proximity sensors, and LED notification lights. With the latter, it’s a single blue pulsating one below the screen on the Nexus 4, while the DROID DNA has a tiny one incorporated into its earpiece and another one discretely on the back of the phone.

Due to their flush appearance, the DROID DNA’s power button and volume rocker are indistinct to the touch, and at the same time, they exhibit poor responses when pressed. Needless to say, it’s not an issue for the Nexus 4, as its set are prominent in feel and offer springy responses. As for some of the common items seen throughout their trims, they include the 3.5mm headset jack, noise-cancellation microphone, standard mic, and microUSB port for charging/data/video-out connectivity. Unfortunately, you’ll still need to snag additional adapters in order to get video-out functionality – a MHL adapter for the DROID DNA and a SlimPort one for the Nexus 4.


Display:

Certainly, a cursory glance would make it difficult for anyone to concretely determine which is packing the better-looking display – especially when they produce sharp details from a normal viewing distance. However, as we meticulously comb every inch of their screen, it becomes clear that the DROID DNA is a clear favorite. For starters, it’s impressive for its 5-inch 1080 x 1920 Super LCD 3 display, which so happens to pull off an impressive pixel density of 441 ppi. In contrast, the Nexus 4 still has something very attractive with its 4.7-inch 768 x 1280 WXGA True HD IPS Plus display, but there’s simply a huge disparity when we take note of its 318 ppi pixel density. Seeing that they’re both relying on good old LCD technology, they share many common qualities – like their warmer color reproduction and superb outdoor visibility. However, the DROID DNA’s display is better able to maintain its clarity at all viewing angles – whereas with the Nexus 4, we notice some color distortion at extreme angles.

Interface and Functionality:

On the surface, the two have very different looking Android experiences, as the HTC DROID DNA features its Sense 4+ UI on top of Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, while the Nexus 4 entices us with the vanilla Android 4.2 Jelly Bean experience. No doubt they share many common elements, such as deep personalization, Google Now, and a quick multi-tasking pane. However, we’ll give the DROID DNA the nods for having the more polished widgets, but beyond that, the Nexus 4 comes charging out of the gate with some specific features that aren’t found on many Android smartphones at the moment. Specifically, we appreciate all of the new features that come along with Android 4.2 – like having access to certain widgets in the lock screen, the updated notifications panel, and the cool Photo Sphere shooting mode. And considering it has the Nexus moniker, you can bet it’ll get updates significantly faster than the DROID DNA.



Seeing that these are both Android smartphone we’re dealing with, their core organizer apps provide us with the same functionality – albeit, their presentations might differ. Moreover, they both have Google Now to keep us connected with our schedules and daily routine. And lastly, there’s not one that’s better than the other in the email experience, seeing we’re presented with Android’s tried and true Gmail app.



Even though the DROID DNA has the size advantage with its screen size, the on-screen keyboards of both devices are quite spacious with their layouts and super responsive. Aside from that, we like it that we’re given Swype-like gestures as an alternative way to input text with the Nexus 4. Equally so, we appreciate quick access to various punctuations and numbers from the main layout of the DROID DNA’s Sense keyboard.




Processor and Memory:

Hardly a surprise to find it here, especially when it’s been powering some of the greats of late, these two are actually packing the same processors inside of their bodies. In fact, both of them are relying on the quad-core 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro processor – with 2GB of RAM of course. With that in tow, their performances actually parallel one another, as they exhibit mostly smooth responses with all similar tasks. However, they’re still not prone from the occasional hiccups that occur, like some random choppiness with processor intensive tasks, but they’re hardly any distractions we’d consider detrimental.

	Quadrant Standard	AnTuTu	NenaMark 2
Google Nexus 4	4757	10188	58,6
HTC DROID DNA	7888	13917	59,1

If there’s one thing we’re most saddened about these powerhouse beauties, it’s that they lack any sort of storage expandability. Instead, the Nexus 4 is available in 8GB and 16GB capacities – while the DROID DNA is set with only 16GB of internal memory.

Internet and Connectivity:

Yes, we know that there’s an advantage seen with the DROID DNA’s LTE connectivity, whereas the Nexus 4 sticks pretty with HSPA+ connectivity instead, but regardless of that, they’re both able to load web sites in a very quick manner. Additionally, they both deliver a great web browsing experience, seeing that we’re greeted with lovable items such as buttery smooth navigational controls, correct page rendering, and sharp details thanks to their high resolution displays.



Most people might forget, especially when it’s enabled for CDMA use domestically on Verizon’s network, but the DROID DNA also packs GSM radios for international usage. Of course, we all know that the Nexus 4 is unlocked out of the box to surf the wide array of GSM networks around. As for some of the same connectivity features they share, the listing includes aGPS, Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi, mobile hotspot functionality, and NFC.

Camera:

Sure, they’re both sporting 8-megapixel auto-focus cameras that feature LED flashes and 1080p high definition video recording, but the DROID DNA’s camera is somewhat notable for its f2.0 lens and backside illuminated sensor. Well, the same can be said about their front-facing cameras, seeing that the Nexus 4 has a mere 1.3-megapixel one that’s equipped for 720p video recording – while the DROID DNA steps it up with a 88-degree wide-angle 2.1-megapixel camera with an f2.0 lens and 1080p video recording.



Honestly, both smartphones conjure up some great looking photos with their respective 8-megapixel auto-focus cameras. So much so that the quality seen with sunny outdoor shots are very similar, as we’re presented with strong details throughout the scenery. However, we notice a hint of color saturation with the DROID DNA, which adds some vibrancy to its production – whereas the Nexus 4 maintains a neutral balanced look. Checking out their low light performance, it’s clear that the DROID DNA’s f2.0 lens shows its worth, seeing it’s noticeably brighter and less noisy than its rival.

Unfortunately, we’re a bit underwhelmed by their 1080p video recording quality, even more when they perform well with still shots. To tell you the truth, we don’t find one that delivers enough substance with its results to enlighten us. Above all, we’re distracted by their heavy artifacting elements and super dull looking details.

Google Nexus 4 Sample Video:



HTC DROID DNA Sample Video:



Multimedia:

By now, we’d like to see some sort of significant change to the interface of the Sense music player on the DROID DNA, but alas, it’s the same thing on other recent devices. Well, we can’t say that the music player on the Nexus 4 is anything new, since it’s simply the usual Google Play Music app – so either way, both stick to the conventional fanfare. In terms of audio quality with their speakers, the built-in amplifier with the DROID DNA gives it some much-needed poppy and robust tones to make it sound better than the neutral output of the Nexus 4. Also, the DROID DNA feature Beats Audio support with its headset jack.



As expected, the two are more than equipped to play high definition videos with plenty of attractive qualities – thanks primarily to their vibrant displays. Yet, knowing that bigger is usually more optimal for the experience, we prefer using the DROID DNA with this one.

Call Quality:

Getting the job done sort of speak, they’re nearly fantastic in the call quality department, seeing that voices on both ends of the line are audible and filled with enough clarity to make out. However, we simply notice a tiny bit of crackling using the DROID DNA’s speakerphone – though, it’s not terrible.

Battery:

With our normal usage, which consists of primarily surfing the web, checking emails, and sending text messages, the Nexus 4 coughs up a single day of usage out of its fully charged battery – whereas we’re only able to get close to the 10 hour mark with the DROID DNA. To be fair though, we tested the Nexus 4 using T-Mobile’s HSPA+ network, which isn’t as much of a battery drain when compared to the LTE connection with Verizon that we used on the DROID DNA. Regardless, we’re certain that the DROID DNA can inch close to a day as well if it’s sticking with old fashion EV-DO 3G connectivity.

Conclusion:

Without a doubt, the competition is fierce, even from within the Android camp! And not surprisingly, these two premier smartphones show us that exactly. In the end, though, pricing is something that manages to come around – getting us to think which of the two provides for the most value.

Looking at their outright off-contract pricing, it’s a unanimous win for the Nexus 4, rightfully so, seeing that $300 will nab you one heck of an awesome device that’s blessed from el Goog as being part of the Nexus family. Knowing that, it’s the experience of Android 4.2 Jelly Bean that makes it so very compelling right now, as few devices at the moment offer it. And as we look down the road, there’s no question that it’ll get software updates considerably faster than its rival.

On the flip side, if we were to look at contract pricing, we’d vouch to invest in the DROID DNA more – even though the two are selling for $200. Why so? Well, it’s hard to not fall in love with its impressive 1080p display, and on top of that, it’s sporting LTE connectivity that most top-tier smartphones offer in this day and age. Indeed, it might take some time for it to see certain software updates, but nevertheless, the Sense experience has always been a delightful one.

Google Nexus 4 vs HTC DROID DNA: