The Verge Review--SLAMS the DNA

[Deleted User]

WOW...they slammed the DNA in a few areas...especially battery life.

"The DNA lasted a meager four hours and 25 minutes in the Verge Battery Test, which cycles through a series of websites and high-res images with the screen at 65 percent brightness. In daily use, it frequently tapped out long before the day was over."

HTC Droid DNA review | The Verge

What are your thoughts on this? Is this site reputable?

So here are the battery life reviews I've seen:
1. Verge 4hr 25min (LTE and 65% Brightness)
2. PC Mag 5hrs 22 min (WIFI, 100% Brightness, Video loop)
3. Laptop Mag 6hr 29min (LTE and 40% Brightness)
4. CNET 8hrs 43 min (no details)
5. Phone Arena 10hrs (VERY vague details)
6. User reviews on here...12hrs

How the heck can there be this much of a spread?

 

[Digital Controller]

Hmm, that is interesting, i mean usually all phones behave a little differently, but that is a very large spread of numbers there, but also as you know everyone runs different tests than anyone else...The Verge told you what they did, but as of user reviews who knows that they did...

 

[EarlyMon]

It's reputable but opinions on their objectivity vary.

Here's how they test -

http://www.theverge.com/how-we-rate

Which doesn't really tell us how they test.

FWIW, on my Evo 4G LTE (One X), I drain 10%/hour streaming media over WiFi, about 13% when doing intensive browsing.

Like anything else, ymmv due to your phone signal strength, how and what you use it for and so forth.

Blogosphere tests are sometimes helpful but rarely relate to my personal use.

Two cents, keep the change.

 

[Wolfedude88]

WOW...they slammed the DNA in a few areas...especially battery life.

"The DNA lasted a meager four hours and 25 minutes in the Verge Battery Test, which cycles through a series of websites and high-res images with the screen at 65 percent brightness. In daily use, it frequently tapped out long before the day was over."

HTC Droid DNA review | The Verge

What are your thoughts on this? Is this site reputable?

So here are the battery life reviews I've seen:
1. Verge 4hr 25min (LTE and 65% Brightness)
2. Laptop Mag 6hr 29min (LTE and 40% Brightness)
3. CNET 8hrs 43 min (no details)
4. Phone Arena 10hrs (VERY vague details)
5. User reviews on here...12hrs

How the heck can there be this much of a spread?

I like the Verge but they always seem to give android terrible reviews, though I am concerned about battery life.

NA is telling us it is decent so I tend to believe him more than the Verge. As long as I make it through my work shift i dont care.

 

[AntimonyER]

They are a very pro-apple site. You will notice the iPhone ALWAYS has the highest score. And the reviews from just about all the other sites conflict with some of the complaints they have, especially regarding the body construction. And multiple sites have shown its only 5-10% less battery life than the S3, and go read their S3 review, they give it a full day, then imply you will need to charge once or twice a day with the DNA? No sorry, don't buy it.

 

[Sandroidfan]

HTC Droid DNA review | The Verge

What are your thoughts on this? Is this site reputable?

So here are the battery life reviews I've seen:
1. Verge 4hr 25min (LTE and 65% Brightness)
2. Laptop Mag 6hr 29min (LTE and 40% Brightness)
3. CNET 8hrs 43 min (no details)
4. Phone Arena 10hrs (VERY vague details)
5. User reviews on here...12hrs

How the heck can there be this much of a spread?

They probably tested it under extreme condition, constantly using 4G/LTE data radio. All reviews are testing it differently, so battery results vary just like any phone. Like many others, I think they should have put larger battery or make it removable but it's not so bad result like I was worried.

All in all, I think this result is close to GS3 on VZW, not great but acceptable. It will probably last whole day with some mix of WiFi and if you don't constantly look at its beautiful screen.

 

[NightAngel79]

Yea, I heard the Verge SGS3 test was barely better than the DROID DNA.

Wish I could sit at work and surf internet 4.5 hours in a row , until i can that review is pretty useless for me, lol

 

[Bearcats]

Yea, I heard the Verge SGS3 test was barely better than the DROID DNA.

Wish I could sit at work and surf internet 4.5 hours in a row , until i can that review is pretty useless for me, lol

Honestly, that's what I dont understand. How are people "needing" to use this on full blast that long? While I use mine for my job a lot, I dont have 4.5 hours of screen time on a day. If I have 4.5 means I was on a 18 hours startup shift....as another person says, your mileage may vary, keep the change.

Now, lets go case makers! I need one!

 

[panther2469]

This was on verizon for a case Set Your Location

 

[B2L]

Honestly, that's what I dont understand. How are people "needing" to use this on full blast that long? While I use mine for my job a lot, I dont have 4.5 hours of screen time on a day. If I have 4.5 means I was on a 18 hours startup shift....as another person says, your mileage may vary, keep the change.

Now, lets go case makers! I need one!

I'm the example of what you guys are looking for. While I'm at work I'm constantly browsing Facebook and several other websites while I make calls. My current device (Galaxy Note) has a 2500 mah battery, which runs out within around 3 or so hours of screen on time. Therefore, I would constantly have to keep my device plugged in which is an annoyance. I've broken several chargers by running over it with my office chair and the cord always seems to get in the way. (Which is why I now own 3 spare batteries.)

I'm going to try it out and see how well it works for me, if the battery life is as bad as The Verge is saying; looks like I'm returning it for the Galaxy Note 2.

 

[victek]

This was on verizon for a case Set Your Location

I'm not a big fan of soft silicon cases. Hopefully the eBay stores will catch up to the DNA quickly as they usually have the best deals.

 

[Don S]

WOW...they slammed the DNA in a few areas...especially battery life.

"The DNA lasted a meager four hours and 25 minutes in the Verge Battery Test, which cycles through a series of websites and high-res images with the screen at 65 percent brightness. In daily use, it frequently tapped out long before the day was over."

HTC Droid DNA review | The Verge

What are your thoughts on this? Is this site reputable?

So here are the battery life reviews I've seen:
1. Verge 4hr 25min (LTE and 65% Brightness)
2. PC Mag 5hrs 22 min (WIFI, 100% Brightness, Video loop)
3. Laptop Mag 6hr 29min (LTE and 40% Brightness)
4. CNET 8hrs 43 min (no details)
5. Phone Arena 10hrs (VERY vague details)
6. User reviews on here...12hrs

How the heck can there be this much of a spread?

- IMO The Verge is a very reliable site overall. I have found their reviews to be pretty fair and pretty accurate for the phones I have owned (both good and bad).

- They only "slammed" the battery life, not the phone, so your thread title is quite misleading. They gave the phone a 7.7 out of 10 which is pretty good, and that is with scoring it a 4 on battery life.

- Their test isn't meant to simulate real world conditions, but to objectively compare one phones battery life against others. That said, I did find their INTERPRETATION of the results inconsistent with some past results. Someone mentioned the GS3 earlier in this thread and they were correct.

The Verge review of the GS3 on Verizon has it lasting 4 hrs 12 mins on the same battery test where the DNA lasted 4 hrs 25 mins

Of particular interest was how they judged that time on the GS3 vs how they judged it on the DNA.

- On the GS3, for 4 hrs 12 mins they noted "Battery life is about average for a high-end smartphone. On the Verge Battery Test, which cycles through a series of websites and high-res images at 65 percent brightness, the Galaxy S III lasted four hours and 12 minutes.".

- Yet there comments on the DNA's 1080P result of 4 hrs 25 mins was "The DNA lasted a meager four hours and 25 minutes in the Verge Battery Test" and "... but the miserable battery life and ...".

It's odd. I wonder if it was more based on real-world day-to-day performance, than based on this test. I don't find them particularly biased, though they do favor Apple stuff at times for sure (apple makes good stuff though). I did find their assessment of battery life curious on this though. That, along with the fact they they are the single only site that mentions lag .. If it was any other site I would dismiss it, but I generally respect the Verge reviews.

I'll still be getting my DNA on the 21st however

 

[AntimonyER]

Thanks for that Don, I hadn't seen the actual numbers. That in my opinion is brings the entire review into question. it lasts LONGER than the VZW GSIII, but gets half the battery score as a result? Just that by itself boosts the review to an 8.1 if you give it the same battery score as the S3. They gave it a 6 on performance, because of lagginess in chrome? Even though it is at or near the top of every benchmark, and some of them it owns every other device... 10 vs. 7 for reception/call quality? I have had two coworkers return S3s due to poor reception in my office. Meanwhile the Rezound Guy was activating his hotspot at lunch for us samsung guys to get a fast internet connection, since he was the only one with 4G... I know, its not the DNA, but I doubt if HTC figured it out for the Rezound, that they will have forgotten it for the DNA... Lets be charitible and give it the same scores for those two as well. That bumps it from a 7.7 to an 8.6, the same score as the VZW GSIII.

 

[Deleted User]

Verge also didn't like the performance or software. A 6 and a 7 are nothing to write home about for this type of phone.

 

[SeanPlunk]

Engadget battery rundown test:

Droid Razr Maxx HD - 14 hours and 4 minutes
iPhone 5 - 11 hours and 15 minutes
Galaxy Note II - 10 hours and 45 minutes
Droid Razr HD - 10 hours and 42 minutes
Galaxy S III - 9 hours and 2 minutes
Optimus G - 8 hours and 43 minutes
HTC One X+ - 7 hours and 32 minutes

Droid DNA - 6 hours and 38 minutes

 

[Deleted User]

Engadget battery rundown test:

Droid Razr Maxx HD - 14 hours and 4 minutes
iPhone 5 - 11 hours and 15 minutes
Galaxy Note II - 10 hours and 45 minutes
Droid Razr HD - 10 hours and 42 minutes
Galaxy S III - 9 hours and 2 minutes
Optimus G - 8 hours and 43 minutes
HTC One X+ - 7 hours and 32 minutes

Droid DNA - 6 hours and 38 minutes

Ouch

 

[EarlyMon]

Verge also didn't like the performance or software. A 6 and a 7 are nothing to write home about for this type of phone.

I think that like most bloggers, who love to express individuality, the verge hates Sense.

Yeah, btw -

Just saying...

 

[AntimonyER]

Ouch, yeah that is not good... But other tests have it within 30 minutes of the SIII, so not sure what to think there.

 

[Deleted User]

Ouch, yeah that is not good... But other tests have it within 30 minutes of the SIII, so not sure what to think there.

I am Going to go play with it on Tuesday. If the camera, screen and speed are and what I hope it's going to be I'll buy it and pray the battery life works well.

 

[pegs520]

Things like this make me feel better about which phone I'm getting next Friday. I guess I won't bother with the DNA any more. Razr Maxx HD, here I come!

Thanks!!

 

[SeanPlunk]

I am Going to go play with it on Tuesday. If the camera, screen and speed are and what I hope it's going to be I'll buy it and pray the battery life works well.

I'm in the same boat, I love everything about the DNA except the battery.

I'm going to buy a Note 2. I think in a lot of ways the DNA is superior, but I just don't want to have to worry about my battery all the time. I played with an AT&T Note 2 today for about 45 minutes today and the battery only went down 5%. That was browsing the web, using the s-pen, screen on the entire time. Pretty impressive.

 

[zenman]

Things like this make me feel better about which phone I'm getting next Friday. I guess I won't bother with the DNA any more. Razr Maxx HD, here I come!

I came really close to pulling the trigger on the Razr Maxx HD. I played with it in the store like three times and it's an awwesome phone. But the DNA has too much good stuff to pass up. Gotta give it a go, for at least 14 days.

 

[Wolfedude88]

Gizmos I said battery life was actually better than the gs3

 

[Sandroidfan]

Ouch

Yeah that battery result from Engadget was not very good though they like DNA overall. Their battery test was just running video on endless loop. I'm waiting for the full reviews from Anandtech and GSMarena. They both do fairly objective and thorough battery tests and will give us better idea where DNA stands on battery relative to GS3, Note 2, Maxx. I'm not expecting DNA to win battery contest but it needs to last working day with normal usage on 4G.

 

[racerxe24]

I wonder if anybody has both the DNA and a GNex, who wins in battery life? I have a GNex and can get through the day with it. If it is the same or better than the LTE GNex, then I will not be worried about the battery life...