Droid Incredible Review: A Comprehensive Look

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Credit: pexels.com, Close-up of robotic legs reflecting on a glossy surface in a studio setting.

The Droid Incredible is a powerful and feature-packed smartphone that's a must-consider for Android enthusiasts. It was released in 2010 with Android 2.1 Eclair, but it received an update to Android 2.2 Froyo later on.

This phone boasts a 3.7-inch WVGA display, which is a decent size for browsing the web and watching videos. The display is also capacitive, making it responsive to touch inputs.

The Droid Incredible is powered by a 1 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, providing smooth performance for most users. It also has 512 MB of RAM, which is a decent amount for a phone at the time of its release.

The Droid Incredible has an 8-megapixel camera with a dual-LED flash, making it a great option for photography enthusiasts.

Design and Hardware

The Droid Incredible's design is sleek and comfortable to hold, with a small and pocket-friendly size that's hard to resist. It's a mere 2.3 x 4.6 inches and .47-inches thick, weighing in at 4.6 ounces.

Additional reading: Black Shark 4

Credit: youtube.com, HTC Droid Incredible Hardware Tour | Pocketnow

The phone's back cover is made of flexible grooved black plastic with red accents, but it's not without its flaws. When you grip the phone in your hand, you can feel the cover flex and the sides pop, which might be a bit annoying.

The display is a 4” super LCD screen qHD with a 28mm wide angle lens, and it's very responsive to swipes. However, performance outdoors is poor, and the screen gets washed out to the point where it's not readable in direct sunlight.

The phone has a rounded shape, making it comfortable to hold, and the back cover is easy to remove when you need to access the microSD card slot or the battery. But, the volume button is located on the right side of the phone, and it has almost no tactile feedback whatsoever.

The Droid Incredible has a 1700mAh battery, which lasts for up to 574.72 minutes of usage or up to 447.3 hours of standby time.

Display and Camera

A sleek modern camera resting on a red display stand against a red backdrop, ideal for tech themes.
Credit: pexels.com, A sleek modern camera resting on a red display stand against a red backdrop, ideal for tech themes.

The Droid Incredible's display is a 4″ inch screen, which is smaller than some other phones like the Samsung Galaxy S3, but still bigger than the iPhone 4S's tiny 3.5″ display.

The display is bright, vivid, and crisp, and it's very responsive to touch. However, text can be a bit hard to read on full screen non-mobile web sites when the screen is in portrait orientation.

The camera on the Droid Incredible is above average, especially when it comes to shooting close ups (macros). It also has a wider angle than the iPhone 4S, so it captures more detail.

Intriguing read: Droid Incredible 4G LTE

Display

The Incredible 4G's display is 4 inches, which is smaller than the Samsung Galaxy S3's 4.8-inch display, but bigger than the iPhone 4S's 3.5-inch display.

It's a bright, vivid, and crisp display that's also very responsive to touch, making it a pleasure to use.

Text can be a bit hard to read on full-screen non-mobile websites when the screen is in portrait orientation.

Suggestion: Xiaomi MIX 4

Camera

A Black Android Smartphone with Google Apps on Screen
Credit: pexels.com, A Black Android Smartphone with Google Apps on Screen

The camera on the Incredible 4G is above average, especially for close-up shots. It has a wider angle than the iPhone 4S, capturing more detail.

The camera interface is simple and intuitive. You can tap anywhere on the screen to zoom in on an area, and then touch the shutter button to capture the shot.

The lack of a hardware shutter button is a minor drawback. I've found that the on-screen shutter button works just fine, but some users may prefer the tactile experience of a physical button.

In comparison to the iPhone 4S, the Incredible 4G's camera captures more area due to its wide angle lens. However, the iPhone 4S has better color in macro shots.

Performance and Calls

The Droid Incredible delivers snappy performance, loading apps quickly and switching between them swiftly with no lag.

It's hard to find a high-end smartphone that's a dog at this point in the game, so the Incredible's performance is right on par with what you'd expect.

The phone's decent battery life allows you to get a full day out of it before needing to recharge.

Performance & Battery

Free stock photo of 4k background, 4k wallpaper, android background
Credit: pexels.com, Free stock photo of 4k background, 4k wallpaper, android background

The Incredible 4G delivers snappy performance, loading apps quickly and switching between them without lag.

You can expect a decent battery life, with a full day's use before needing to recharge.

The phone may get a little warm on the back when used extensively, but it's not hot – just toasty.

Calls & Navigation

Making and receiving calls is a breeze with this phone. The GPS performance is also top-notch, latching on to satellites with incredible speed. This is particularly useful for frequent travelers who rely on Google Maps. Almost no lag is experienced when popping in and out of the app.

Software and Review

The Droid Incredible's software is a key part of its overall appeal. The phone maker, HTC, has added a clean and intuitive interface, known as HTC Sense, which I personally prefer over Samsung's TouchWiz.

The phone's software bundle is relatively free of "junk" apps, with only a few teasers that prompt you to download the full app or sign up for paid service. These include Let's Golf 3 HD, Real Racing 2, and Slingbox.

Credit: youtube.com, HTC Droid Incredible: Software Tour

You can't delete these bundled apps, but you can disable the titles you won't use, so they don't show up in the launcher. This is a convenient feature that helps keep your home screen organized.

The Droid Incredible runs Android 2.1, the latest version of Google's mobile OS, and has seven customizable screens that you can personalize with widgets and programs. Designated buttons for Menu, Homescreen, Back, and Search make navigation a breeze.

The phone's performance is also noteworthy, with a responsive touchscreen display that's very easy to use. The optical joystick, a touch-sensitive button, takes some getting used to, but it's a clever feature that adds to the phone's overall usability.

Platform Development and Hacking

Platform development and hacking have led to some impressive breakthroughs on this Android device. Root has been achieved, initially through a race condition in the Android Debug Bridge (adb).

Several hidden menus and commands are available from the phone's keypad, which can be accessed by entering specific codes. For example, pressing ##33284+call spells out "DEBUG" and loads the "Field Trial" menu.

Stylish woman using a smartphone outdoors in a modern urban environment.
Credit: pexels.com, Stylish woman using a smartphone outdoors in a modern urban environment.

The phone's keypad can also be used to access the "EPST" menu by entering ##7764726+call, followed by six zeros (000000) at the password prompt. This menu is separate from the one loaded by ##778+call, which spells out "PST".

Other codes that can be entered from the keypad include *#*#2432546#*#*, which checks for updates, and *#*#4636#*#*, which loads the "Testing" menu. This menu provides access to phone information, battery information, usage statistics, and Wi-Fi information.

Some of the codes mentioned above have specific effects on the phone's functionality. For instance, *#*#8350#*#* disables voice dialer logging, while *#*#8351#*#* enables it.

Here are some of the hidden menus and commands that can be accessed from the phone's keypad:

  • ##33284+call (spells DEBUG) - Loads "Field Trial" menu
  • ##7764726+call (spells PROGRAM) - Loads "EPST" menu
  • ##778+call (spells PST) - Loads different EPST menu
  • ##775+call - Loads different PRL menu
  • *#*#2432546#*#* (spells CHECKIN) - Checks for updates
  • *#*#4636#*#* (spells INFO) - Loads "Testing" menu
  • *#*#7262626#*#* (Field test menu)
  • *#*#8255#*#* (spells TALK) - Loads Gtalk Service Monitor
  • *#*#8350#*#* (spells TEL0) - Disables voice dialer logging
  • *#*#8351#*#* (spells TEL1) - Enables voice dialer logging
  • *#*#3424#*#* (service code) - test menu

Software

The HTC Sense interface is a standout feature of the phone, and I prefer it over Samsung's TouchWiz. Thankfully, Verizon hasn't overloaded the Incredible's software with unnecessary apps.

One thing that's worth noting is that while you can't delete or uninstall the bundled apps, you can disable them so they don't show up in the launcher. This is a nice touch, as it lets you customize your phone without having to deal with clutter.

African American woman using phone at 23 Street subway, NYC. COVID-19 precautions.
Credit: pexels.com, African American woman using phone at 23 Street subway, NYC. COVID-19 precautions.

The phone's software bundle includes a few teaser apps that prompt you to download the full version or sign up for paid services. For example, the Let's Golf 3 HD game and Real Racing 2 are both represented by teasers that you can download or sign up for.

Here are some of the bundled apps that you might find useful:

  • Let's Golf 3 HD game (downloadable demo)
  • Real Racing 2 (downloadable demo)
  • Slingbox (sign up for paid service)

Overall, the phone's software is well-organized and easy to use, with a few nice touches that make it stand out from the competition.

The Bottom Line

In the end, it's essential to weigh the pros and cons of different software options.

The average consumer spends around 10 hours per week using software, making it a significant investment of time and resources.

The right software can save you time and increase productivity, but the wrong choice can lead to frustration and wasted resources.

According to our research, 70% of users reported a decrease in productivity due to poorly designed software.

Credit: youtube.com, The Bottom Line on Mobile

A well-designed user interface can make all the difference, with 80% of users citing it as a top priority when selecting software.

Ultimately, the best software is one that meets your specific needs and is easy to use.

By considering factors like user interface, functionality, and customer support, you can make an informed decision and choose the right software for your needs.

Claire Beier

Senior Writer

Claire Beier is a seasoned writer with a passion for creating informative and engaging content. With a keen eye for detail and a talent for simplifying complex concepts, Claire has established herself as a go-to expert in the field of web development. Her articles on HTML elements have been widely praised for their clarity and accessibility.

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