Phone advice from some Droid DNA users

[nyry]

Hey guys,
Ive managed to get a trade deal going. A guy I know has an DNA and he wants to trade me for my GS3. I was wondering what you guys thought of the phone because I theres only so much info that reviews really give in terms of real world use and practicality. So what do you guys like about the phone? What do you guys dislike? Is the battery as bad as everyone says it is?
Thanks!

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Android Central Forums

 

[Daniel.Lynch]

Re: Phone advice from some Drois DNA users

Hey guys,
Ive managed to get a trade deal going. A guy I know has an DNA and he wants to trade me for my GS3. I was wondering what you guys thought of the phone because I theres only so much info that reviews really give in terms of real world use and practicality. So what do you guys like about the phone? What do you guys dislike? Is the battery as bad as everyone says it is?
Thanks!

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Android Central Forums

I think I might be someone who can help you out. First off I would like to say that each user is different, and will prefer different phones. My personal preference is undoubtedly for the DNA.

To start my story off I will say that before I upgraded I did a decent amount of research, and I ended up going to the Verizon store and purchasing a GS3 over a DNA or a Note 2. I liked the phone a lot! But there were a few things that were a bit off putting. It felt far too flimsy, I was coming off an OG Droid and an HTC Thunderbolt which are very solid phones. Also, I despised the way Samsung's touchwiz looked and felt. My main reason for buying the GS3 was that I could buy the 32 GB option and buy a 32 GB SD card so that I could sync my ~50GB of music with the phone. It wasn't that easy, because they are recognized as two different storage drives, so synchronization wasn't an option and I was back to transferring folder by folder. By this point I had already been using Google Music solely for my music anyway. I decided to cut my losses and switch to the DNA a couple days before my trial period was up. I never looked back.

The first things I liked about the DNA over the GS3 were the stable build quality. If I tried to bend this phone, it wouldn't budge. Go ahead and take four fingers and try to bend your GS3 and let me know how that works out (Please don't break it!) LOL. The 1080p screen is glorious. I'm still astounded by the ridiculous pixel density on this screen! It's fantastic. Although I'm not a huge fan of Sense 4 by any means, I personally prefer it over touchwiz and over previous versions of Sense. Verizon didn't pack TOO much bloatware with this device, and the UI is pretty intuitive and simple. My experience of the battery life is all positive. Unless I'm doing some serious usage, I don't ever even have to look at the battery level. I charge it over night and unplug it early in the morning and it lasts me all day on 4G or Wi-Fi. I do plenty of redditing, forum browsing, texting, and social networking.


Things I don't like about the DNA
The screen scratches so easily! Gorilla Glass 2 is terrible compared to Gorilla Glass 1, but I believe the GS3 has GG2 as well. That freaking cover over the charging port is so annoying... it reminds me of when I had the Voyager like 6 years ago, I hate that cover. It supposedly helps to make the phone a little bit more waterproof though. Sometimes I wish it had an SD Card slot. I haven't had any storage issues, but I'm also using Google Music for music and google drive for pictures and documents. I liked S-Voice for the GS3 and sadly the DNA doesn't have anything to compete with that. I've had issues with Wi-Fi disconnecting, and the SIM Card not being recognized properly, but I'm getting a warranty replacement sent to me, hopefully that will fix the issues.


I think I covered the main things for me, I'll edit it later if I think of something else.

In conclusion, my personal experience of the DNA has been largely positive. I would recommend it to another person. But on the contrary I would also recommend the GS3 to someone else. These phones are so close in performance and capabilities that I think it truly depends on what the individual likes or wants to do.

I'm not going to tell you do it, or don't do it. I think that you and your friend should switch phones for 15 days and see if you guys want to continue with the exchange. Just make sure you guys agree that if the phone is broken it will be replaced and that you guys will agree to switch back if one party desires it.

Hope I helped!! Let us know what you decide to do and how it goes.

 

[jec11718]

Re: Phone advice from some Drois DNA users

I got 13 hrs on battery. Before I was reminded to plug in. Screen is awesome. Phone is just right for me, with big hands but mama uses hers and she has small hands and her DNA is always on Fb. She gets 9 to 10 on battery. We both came from androids, previously she was on 2.3 and I was on ics. The bump to 4.1 and sense....easy to adapt to. Google now, frickin' bad to the bone sweet... Love those cards! Not much to dislike, wish it had sd slot but no biggie. The SIM issue wasn't that big a deal for us, the scotch tape fix worked for both of ours. Really love the qi wireless charging. I use the Nokia one. Hth jec

Sent from my Droid DNA

 

[dplane]

Re: Phone advice from some Drois DNA users

Allow me to chime in on the battery topic as well: the battery life on the DNA far exceeded my expectations. First android phone I've had where I don't worry about making it through the day. Its obvious mah isn't everything. Also, the smoothness of the phone is refreshing, no more slow Sense experience (though I did replace the launcher w Nova)

Posted via Android Central App

 

[NickA]

Re: Phone advice from some Drois DNA users

I'll agree with the rest about battery life. I'm off the charger around 8:00 AM, and back on around midnight or later. Always have at least 40% left, with moderate use throughout the day. No movies watching or anything like that, but texting, emails, some phone calls, browsing and YouTube videos.

I swap phones across platforms frequently because I'm a developer, but always use my DNA as my daily driver. The screen is awesome. It does feel big in the had, especially when I come from using the iPhone 5 for a while, but quickly get used to it and appreciate it when typing.

It's not as "snappy" as I would like, but most probably won't notice that. Call quality is great for me, and so is signal strength.

Build quality is good, and I've dropped mine quite a few times. As someone else said, that micro USB cover is ridiculous. I managed to keep mine attached for the first three months before it broke off.

 

[Daniel.Lynch]

Re: Phone advice from some Drois DNA users

I'll agree with the rest about battery life. I'm off the charger around 8:00 AM, and back on around midnight or later. Always have at least 40% left, with moderate use throughout the day. No movies watching or anything like that, but texting, emails, some phone calls, browsing and YouTube videos.

I swap phones across platforms frequently because I'm a developer, but always use my DNA as my daily driver. The screen is awesome. It does feel big in the had, especially when I come from using the iPhone 5 for a while, but quickly get used to it and appreciate it when typing.

It's not as "snappy" as I would like, but most probably won't notice that. Call quality is great for me, and so is signal strength.

Build quality is good, and I've dropped mine quite a few times. As someone else said, that micro USB cover is ridiculous. I managed to keep mine attached for the first three months before it broke off.

I have noticed it not being as "snappy" as I'd like it to be, but its not an issue, its only a couple actions that don't go as quickly as I'd like them to.

 

[mightyfacundo]

Re: Phone advice from some Drois DNA users

Hey guys,
Ive managed to get a trade deal going. A guy I know has an DNA and he wants to trade me for my GS3. I was wondering what you guys thought of the phone because I theres only so much info that reviews really give in terms of real world use and practicality. So what do you guys like about the phone? What do you guys dislike? Is the battery as bad as everyone says it is?
Thanks!

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Android Central Forums

As I said in another thread, I'm so happy with this phone that I've stopped eyeballing every new phone that comes out.

As everyone has already said, the screen is the best I've seen, and I prefer it to my wife's S4 which is also very nice. From what I've heard, the battery life is comparable to the S3, but I wish I got better battery life..... but I think I will always wish for better battery life so don't put too much stock in that comment. The charging port cover is stupid and is no longer on mine. I have replaced Sense with TSF Shell Launcher, not because Sense is bad, but because I just like the options a launcher gives me. I have a tablet, so the 12 GB of available storage is a non issue for me since I've moved all of my large games off of my phone. Overall, I think it's a great phone, and the right one for me.

I like Daniel's idea to switch for 15 days so you can get your own real world experience with it. That's exactly what I would do.

 

[jec11718]

Re: Phone advice from some Drois DNA users

I have snapdragon battery guru running also try that

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Android Central Forums

 

[bespinct]

Re: Phone advice from some Drois DNA users

I liked S-Voice for the GS3 and sadly the DNA doesn't have anything to compete with that.

What types thing could you do with S Voice that you can't do with Google Now? With the recent update to Google Now, I'm using it for all kinds of things.

Steve

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk HD

 

[Daniel.Lynch]

Re: Phone advice from some Drois DNA users

What types thing could you do with S Voice that you can't do with Google Now? With the recent update to Google Now, I'm using it for all kinds of things.

Steve

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk HD

In all honesty I haven't given Google now much of a chance because I've been using Maluuba. I'll try out Google now. Will it seems text messages and make calls for me?

Sent from my HTC6435LVW using Tapatalk 4 Beta

 

[bespinct]

Yup on both. Although texting you have to hit send, it doesn't seem to send automatically. The calls will be automatic, but you have a short opportunity to ensure that it is calling the right contact. You can tap call to shorten the wait.

Steve

Sent from my HTC6435LVW using Tapatalk 4 Beta

 

[fatproduce]

I love my DNA but I do have one main complaint is that now it is summer every time I take my phone outdoors it rapidly heats up just by being on. I am not sure if anyone else has this problem but I have noticed this since it has started getting warmer outside.

 

[Jennifer Stough]

I love my DNA but I do have one main complaint is that now it is summer every time I take my phone outdoors it rapidly heats up just by being on. I am not sure if anyone else has this problem but I have noticed this since it has started getting warmer outside.

Phones do have a tendency to warm up faster in the summer, but not so noticeably, and not without much use. It's been about 90℉ on average every day here for the last few weeks, and my phone has never heated up noticeably to the touch without me really wearing it out on useage.

 

[fatproduce]

Of course I am running mine stock and unrooted. Are you running a tweaked rom by chance? Mine can heat up when outside or while driving in my car to around 110 degrees F when running idle and no apps running. She's just fine when indoors, it's just out and about she heats up quickly.

 

[Jennifer Stough]

Of course I am running mine stock and unrooted. Are you running a tweaked rom by chance? Mine can heat up when outside or while driving in my car to around 110 degrees F when running idle and no apps running. She's just fine when indoors, it's just out and about she heats up quickly.

I'm running m7 digital dream, but I've only had it flashed for a few days. I can't say I've noticed a real difference in temperatures, though, even when charging or using exstensively. I have drained a battery from 100%-15% in five hours on screen time, no idle, and it was barely warm to the touch. Seems like your phone may run a little hot.

 

[fatproduce]

I just figure as long as she doesn't melt any connections or damage the battery I'm fine. One thing I have noticed is that there is no longer any clear thread with step by step instructions on rooting the DNA with the most recent method. All the threads I find that are step by step guides only really have the old rooting methods. Any ideas?

 

[Jennifer Stough]

I just figure as long as she doesn't melt any connections or damage the battery I'm fine. One thing I have noticed is that there is no longer any clear thread with step by step instructions on rooting the DNA with the most recent method. All the threads I find that are step by step guides only really have the old rooting methods. Any ideas?

My phone isn't rooted either, I'm running a rooted rom. But I will give a look around xda to see if I can find an updated method.

 

[fatproduce]

Thanks I appreciate it! I am mainly looking to just rid myself of all that dreaded Verizon bloatware from my phone's hard drive. lol Though Sense 5 is always a plus.

 

[Jennifer Stough]

Thanks I appreciate it! I am mainly looking to just rid myself of all that dreaded Verizon bloatware from my phone's hard drive. lol Though Sense 5 is always a plus.

No problem I havent decided whether I want to root or not. The Rom I'm using has all bloatware removed already, its a nice touch. But for someone wanting to run stock, I could see the desire to do so. I'll PM you if I find anything

 

[Daniel.Lynch]

Phones do have a tendency to warm up faster in the summer, but not so noticeably, and not without much use. It's been about 90℉ on average every day here for the last few weeks, and my phone has never heated up noticeably to the touch without me really wearing it out on useage.

The only time my phone has ever gotten that hot was when I had a media issue with mighty text. Once I got rid of that my phone is icy cold, and it's pretty hot in southern California.

Sent from my HTC6435LVW using Tapatalk 4 Beta