[Q] DNA, Note 2, or secret third option? - HTC Droid DNA

Hi all,
I'm currently on a Galaxy Nexus and due for an upgrade on Verizon. I'm reading through the threads comparing the DNA and the Note 2, and I haven't yet made up my mind which I'd prefer. But I'm noticing the trend toward bigger phones, and I totally get it -- a bigger, high resolution display is a nicer experience for anything visual. And I can't help but wonder: Even with a Note 2, will I wish the display was bigger? Might I be better off with a small 4g phone that lives in my pocket and a Nexus 7 to tether to it? The price difference between a Razr M and a Note 2 would more than pay for a Nexus 7, so it's not a completely unreasonable comparison.
I'd value the thoughts of experienced smartphone users on this matter, particularly if you've used several of the devices I've mentioned above.

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Nobody Important said:
Hi all,
I'm currently on a Galaxy Nexus and due for an upgrade on Verizon. I'm reading through the threads comparing the DNA and the Note 2, and I haven't yet made up my mind which I'd prefer. But I'm noticing the trend toward bigger phones, and I totally get it -- a bigger, high resolution display is a nicer experience for anything visual. And I can't help but wonder: Even with a Note 2, will I wish the display was bigger? Might I be better off with a small 4g phone that lives in my pocket and a Nexus 7 to tether to it? The price difference between a Razr M and a Note 2 would more than pay for a Nexus 7, so it's not a completely unreasonable comparison.
I'd value the thoughts of experienced smartphone users on this matter, particularly if you've used several of the devices I've mentioned above.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can't imagine anything bigger than the N2 being used as a primary phone. You get used to the N2's size, and it actually seems smaller the more you use it, but you still can't do a lot of things one-handed. What you said about extra screen real estate is true; it makes everything you do better. Consuming content, texting and e-mailing, web browsing, and navigating menus and making selections. But it's big and heavier than traditional high-end phones. I have a 3G 10.1" tablet and when a had a One X I used the tablet 90% of the time for anything content related because of the size difference between their displays. With the N2 it's about 35/65%. 7" or 10.1" is still better for content than 5.5". A two-device solution could be a DNA or 4.7/4.8" phone and a 7" or 10" tablet. I can't imagine replacing a tablet with the N2 even though it's better at a lot of things than a phone with a more traditional display size.

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Oh, here we go again...
---------- Post added at 08:39 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:36 PM ----------
BarryH_GEG said:
You get used to the N2's size, and it actually seems smaller the more you use it, but you still can't do a lot of things one-handed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What kind of things can you do one-handed on Note 2?

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what i don't get is why there's so many note 2 proponents in the DNA section...

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this thread is as useless as my nipples
because. there aren't already like 3 of these threads already

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When I first ordered the DNA, I had plans to use it as "my tablet" but since getting it on Monday I absolutely love it, coming from a 4' screen, I was a bit scared of the overwhelming 5' screen. but I plan to keep the inc4 as my music player, DNA as daily, and getting the Nexus 7 for tablet for xmas.
I suggest trying the phone out you will love it!
The build quality is like none other, there's a few kinks with the custom recoveries, but i'll get sorted out soon.
S-OFF is also in the works, this phone is a powerhouse!

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milan03 said:
What kind of things can you do one-handed on Note 2?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Quite a bit if you set it up right. If you put all the apps you use most in the lower 1/3 of a home screen you can reach them all pretty easily if you have decent size hands. So I can open and select e-mails to read, same thing for MMS and contacts. I can also open and read my calendar. You can't dial a number or reply to an e-mail or MMS one handed without using S Voice; at least without worrying about dropping the phone. I can call anyone in my contact list one handed because it's easy to open and scroll (vs. typing the number in) with one hand. Palming the device and using your thumb you can reach about 1/3 of the way in at the very top of display and fully across the bottom 1/3. One really positive thing about the size is it's easier to use when you're in motion like in a rental car van, subway, or any place else where you're bounced around by movement. A bigger target's much easier to hit (with one or both hands). Necessity is the mother of invention.
I know you’re not a fan of the N2’s size and don't even consider it a phone but I wish you could try one for a couple of days. To your point (and I totally agree), there are quite a few things you have to learn to do differently but once you’re used to it it’s not really that bad. And like OP said there’s a lot of upside to having more screen real estate to work with.
I also have one of these which makes it tons easier to do stuff without becoming “one of those people” that look all too self-important wearing a BT headset 24/7. Although you get more attention talking to a pen then you do holding a giant slab of plastic (the N2) against your face.
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---------- Post added at 06:29 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:27 PM ----------
andybones said:
I was a bit scared of the overwhelming 5' screen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's 2/10 of an inch bigger than the SGS3's and 3/10" of an inch bigger than the One X's.

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It all comes down to personal preference. For my son, it's the Note 2. For me, with YEARS upon years of experience ( ) it's the DNA - no brainer.
As always, YMMV.
And I think my son is secretly jealous.

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I have a GN2 and really like it. I'd probably really like a DNA if I had one.
They both bring a feature that I consider extremely important - the large screen size is easier on my poor eyesight. I'll never go back to a small phone, and I don't necessarily think the GN2 is at the upper limit for size. When a bigger phone comes out I'm going to try it out and see
You should experiment with both until you find a reason to like one more than the other, and decide for yourself. IMO they're both fantastic, industry-leading phones, and they both have their fine points. My phone is the right fit for me, but you can only find out for yourself. If you take an honest approach to evaluating phones you might be surprised at what you end up thinking are the most important features.
Good luck in your search!

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Thanks to all of you for your thoughtful responses. I'm particularly interested, though, in users who have tried the two-device strategy (my 'secret third option' in the OP). Is this viable? If I had both a DNA and a Nexus 7, would I find myself leaving the N7 at home since the display and power of the DNA are plenty, or will I be grabbing the N7 constantly since the extra display real estate is so nice? It's so hard to tell how you'll use a gadget until you're actually using it...

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BarryH_GEG said:
It's 2/10 of an inch bigger than the SGS3's and 3/10" of an inch bigger than the One X's.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yea, but I', coming from a 4' LTE phone..
also, the 3/10' does make a bit of a diff, the one X I can hold in my hand much better than the DNA

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DNA's a VZW phone. Can't be used outside the US (+ It's CDMA technology, just as bad as being a republican, I guess); note2 is good, but I'll go for the HTC butterfly, pre-ordered for Christmas!
To the forum admins... Are you planning on creating a HTC butterfly section, or do we have to wait till you guys get your developer handsets?
Dead cookies leave no trails...

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Cookie Ninja said:
DNA's a VZW phone. Can't be used outside the US (+ It's CDMA technology, just as bad as being a republican, I guess);
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
HTC Droid DNA is GSM Unlocked smartphone out of the box. Works with any SIM card on almost any global carrier of your choice.
Besides being a SIM unlocked GSM phone, it clearly supports CDMA + EvDO + Band 13 LTE for Verizon's native network.

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milan03 said:
What kind of things can you do one-handed on Note 2?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know the question wasn't directed at me, but I can do everything one-handed in my Note 2, save for playing certain games which would require two hands with any phone anyways.

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Ok sonny, it works with TMo, but still on 850/1900 GSM and 2100 AWS, still not fit for using outside the US, go learn. The ROW uses GSM & LTE on very different bands. GSM radio and a micro-SIM slot on the DNA is to give it a thin veneer of being a 'world phone', same tech as on dinc 4G, and all other VZW-specific phones.
The penta-band Nokia and Motorola offerings in the US fare much better. Learnt with bitter experience after buying a Palm pre at bestbuy, five-six years ago, only to return it six months later (when I came back to pay a visit to my sis & parents).
Edit...
Trust me in this Milan03, if you're using a US specific phone, however brand new it is, you are still behind the times....
Dead cookies leave no trails...

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Cookie Ninja said:
Ok sonny, it works with TMo, but still on 850/1900 GSM and 2100 AWS, still not fit for using outside the US, go learn. The ROW uses GSM & LTE on very different bands. GSM radio and a micro-SIM slot on the DNA is to give it a thin veneer of being a 'world phone', same tech as on dinc 4G, and all other VZW-specific phones.
The penta-band Nokia and Motorola offerings in the US fare much better. Learnt with bitter experience after buying a Palm pre at bestbuy, five-six years ago, only to return it six months later (when I came back to pay a visit to my sis & parents).
Dead cookies leave no trails...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You've failed to prove that DNA can't be used overseas. I don't care if you like Nokia or Moto better, you're missing the point.
GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 and HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 out of the box is pretty much everywhere. MiniSIM or MicroSIM it doesn't matter. Global capabilities are there.
Oh, and T-Mobile doesn't have 850Mhz holdings anywhere in the US. Get your facts straight, mkay?

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milan03 said:
GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 and HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 out of the box is pretty much everywhere.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're right. Native multi-band GSM support is included in the unified SoC/radio of all Qualcomm's S4 chips. So is LTE but different chips are shipped with different bands enabled. That's why N4 owners have been able to kluge LTE on a theoretically GSM-only device. CDMA devices require an additional radio which means the DNA has two radios where GSM/LTE S4 devices have one. The space that extra radio needed may have been what cost you guys an SD card slot.

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BarryH_GEG said:
You're right. Native multi-band GSM support is included in the unified SoC/radio of all Qualcomm's S4 chips. So is LTE but different chips are shipped with different bands enabled. That's why N4 owners have been able to kluge LTE on a theoretically GSM-only device. CDMA devices require an additional radio which means the DNA has two radios where GSM/LTE S4 devices have one. The space that extra radio needed may have been what cost you guys an SD card slot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually, with Qualcomm's MDM9615 28nm baseband chipset, CDMA and GSM radio is integrated with full voice support, all on a single die. Fusion with two radios no longer needed. Also, quad-core S4 Pro's don't have integrated radios on the SoC anymore, thats only on Duals.
HTC J Butterfly is on KDDI network which is also CDMA + LTE, and it has SDcard slot, so the reason why DNA doesn't have card slot has nothing to do with design compromises. It has a lot to do with Verizon.
N4 LTE on Band 4 situation = careless LG software engineering team that forgot to disable it. They're also using MDM9x15 chipset, the same as in LG Optimus G which has similar RF paths so the hardware is there.
At this point they'll either have to disable it in future updates, or send another filing to FCC. Right now this could be a legal issue for accessing unlicensed spectrum.

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milan03 said:
Actually, with Qualcomm's MDM9615 28nm baseband chipset, CDMA radio is integrated with full voice support. Fusion with two radios no longer needed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the correction; I don't follow CDMA that closely and just made an assumption. And there are two version of S4 Pro. The MSM8960T (dual-core) does have the cellular modem on-board while the APQ8064 (quad-core) doesn't. Since the architecture's the same I thought the wireless capabilities were too. But that brings us back to the earlier battery life discussion as having discrete cellular radios shouldn't be as efficient energy usage wise which was touted by Qualcomm as a benefit of earlier S4 chips having them integrated.

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Cookie Ninja said:
DNA's a VZW phone. Can't be used outside the US (+ It's CDMA technology, just as bad as being a republican, I guess); note2 is good, but I'll go for the HTC butterfly, pre-ordered for Christmas!
To the forum admins... Are you planning on creating a HTC butterfly section, or do we have to wait till you guys get your developer handsets?
Dead cookies leave no trails...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
really,guy?