New York – HTC is out to challenge the iPhone with the launch of the Verizon-network Droid DNA, which offers more display resolution than any other smartphone in the U.S.
The Android 4.1.1 device, available Nov. 21 at $199, features a 5-inch display boasting 440 pixels per inch (ppi) for the highest pixel density available on any U.S. smartphone, Verizon said. The 4G LTE phone is also the first smartphone in the U.S. to sport a 1080p display.
The iPhone 5’s 4-inch display delivers 326 ppi and 1,136 by 640 resolution.
HTC and Verizon Wireless executives unveiled the phone here during a press conference, where they also touted such features as Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro quad-core 1.5GHz CPU with high-performance GPU, 2GB of RAM, 1080p HD Super LCD 3 display with Corning Gorilla Glass 2 protection, voice and data use on foreign GSM/EDGE/HSPA networks, and the latest HTC Sense 4+ user interface, which offers customizable features to personalize a phone.
The phone’s rear 8-megapixel camera/camcorder delivers low-light image capture, f/2.0 28mm wide-angle lens, five-level automatic flash, backside-illuminated sensor and fast autofocus. HTC VideoPic lets users capture video and still images at the same time. Continuous shooting takes multiple photos at up to 4 fps. A new Sightseeing mode lets users touch the power button to bypass the lock screen and automatically launch the camera.
The front-facing camera is a 1080p 2.1-megapixel, f/2.0, 88-degree, ultra-wide-angle camera that allows for up to four people to be taken in a group shot. Auto portrait mode makes it easier for users to take photos of themselves and friends with automatic face detection and a countdown timer.
The 5.01-ounce phone also features Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n with dual-band N, DLNA compatibility, 2,020 mAh battery, power-saving software, embedded wireless charging, HDMI output via MHL, and a 2.55-volt built-in headset amplifier and dedicated amp for the external rear speaker. Beats Audio processing is applied to all audio sources. Nearfield communications (NFC) enables the sharing of music and videos by tapping NFC-enabled phones. NFC can also be used to add someone to a social network or, when tapping other NFC-enabled devices, downloading apps.
