Review: HTC Droid Incredible 2 (Verizon) Review of Reviews

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HTC Droid Incredible 2 Rated 3.75 out of 5 by Wireless and Mobile News Review of Reviews

The original Droid Incredible had incredible sales and great reviews when it was released last year.  It was so popular that it sold out.  A year later, the competition and network have changed with reviewers giving the Droid Incredible 2 good ratings for a world phone, battery life and speed.

Reviewers refer to the Droid Incredible 2 as the best 3G Android phone on the Verizon network, while suggesting data hogs go for a 4G LTE Verizon smartphone, such as the HTC ThunderBolt or the Super AMOLED Samsung Droid Charge.  Those smartphones, however, are not world phones that can be used around the globe where there are no Verizon CDMA compatible networks.

Beside being a world phone with a SIM, the Droid Incredible 2 has a few more features than the original
Droid Incredible.  It has a bigger Super LCD touchscreen (4"), a front-facing camera,
STR WOWHD surround sound, DLNA connectivity, 720p HD video recording, and 3G
mobile hotspots for up to five Wi-Fi connections.

Other features
include an 8MP camera, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS and a 1450mAh battery.

Reviewers rated the camera from OK to pleasing.  Video quality was good for some, while others called it less than perfect.

Some tests showed that the Droid Incredible 2 has faster data speeds than the iPhone 4.  Reviewers also commented on the great battery life (battery life is much shorter on 4G LTE smartphones).

Many reviewers liked the HTC Sense UI for easy social media, widgets and typing.

The Droid Incredible 2 has a few more features than the original
Droid Incredible.  It has a bigger Super LCD touchscreen (4"), a front-facing camera,
STR WOWHD surround sound, and DLNA connectivity.  Other features
include an 8MP camera, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, a 1450mAh battery, and 3G
mobile hotspot that can connect to up to five Wi-Fi-enabled devices.

If you really want to play videos connected to an HD TV, the Droid Charge has an HDMI out port which is much easier to connect.

The Droid Incredible 2 is less incredible than the original but is still a credible choice for people who want a small, light, fast Android smartphone with an easy UI (read Droid Incredible 2 tips).  Verizon Wireless sells it for $199 with a contract and data plan.

Online retailer Amazon Wireless has already discounted the Droid Incredible 2 to $79.99 for new and renewing customers.

If you have never owned an Android HTC phone before, we suggest that you read our original tips article for new users of the Droid Incredible.  For more advanced users, be sure to check our HTC Incredible tips from HTC's Eric Lin.

Jamie Lendino at PCMag rated the Droid Incredible 2 3.5 out of 5 for its beautiful screen, slimness, world phone capabilities, improved battery life and speed.  He didn't like the mixed camera/camcorder performance, that it doesn't support 4G LTE, and that it has too much bloatware.  It features improvements over the Droid Incredible but is outdone by other current Verizon smartphone competitors.  An iPhone look-alike with a 4-inch screen, the HTC predictive text keyboard is easy.  Voice quality and music playback is crisp and clear.  HTC Sense 2.0 UI is beautiful.  The processor is fast enough for all functions except gaming.  Videos played smoothly at 720p.  Photos are average while video recording isn't perfect.  He suggests that, if you get a price deal, you may want to buy one.

Bonnie Cha at CNET rated the the Droid Incredible 2 3.5 out of 5 for being a world phone, having a larger screen, solid construction and an 8MP camera.  She didn't like that it lacks 4G LTE support and runs an older version of Android.  The 4-inch, 480x800 pixel Super LCD touchscreen offers better contrast.  She calls it an incremental upgrade from the Droid Incredible.  The SIM for GSM networks can be unlocked after 60 days and can be swapped out for other carriers in the world.  Data speeds are a far cry from the 4G LTE HTC ThunderBolt, which costs just a little more.  Photo quality is OK.  Call quality is mostly good.  Battery life appears to be improved.

Brian Oliver at Laptopmag rated the Droid Incredible 2 4 out of 5 and calls it the best 3G Android smartphone on the Verizon network.  He likes the larger 4-inch touchscreen, faster processor and sharper HD video recording.  He also noted that the microSD can be moved without touching the battery.  He likes the HTC Sense UI (see tips) and integration with social media.  The HTC Droid Incredible 2 notched very fast scores on some tests, average on others, and lower scores than dual-core processors.  Data down speeds were 1.8 Mbps, while uploads averaged 960 Kbps, faster than the iPhone 4.  Battery life was very good and above average at over six hours.  Video quality was pleasing and call quality was good.  "Those looking for a svelte but well-rounded Android device will really like the Incredible 2."