The HTC Droid Incredible Review, Clearly Better than the Nexus One
by Anand Lal Shimpi on May 10, 2010 1:27 PM EST- Posted in
- Smartphones
- Snapdragon
- Droid Incredible
- HTC
- Android
- Mobile
Snappier & More Polished than the Nexus One
The HTC Incredible uses similar, but not an identical SoC to what’s in the Nexus One. The Nexus One uses Qualcomm’s Snapdragon QSD8250 SoC, while the Incredible uses the QSD8650. The primary difference between the two is the cellular modem. While the 8650 supports both GSM and CDMA based standards, the 8250 is strictly GSM.
Both are built on TSCM’s 65nm process and run the CPU core at 1GHz. They use the same Adreno 200 graphics core and have the same 32-bit LPDDR1 memory interface.At the macro level we’re looking at the fastest non-Apple, ARM based SoC on the market today (at least in terms of CPU performance). The majority of competing solutions are based on the ARM Cortex A8 and run at sub-1GHz speeds. Snapdragon, as you may remember from our Nexus One review, is based on Qualcomm’s Scorpion core. The Scorpion CPU starts with a similar architecture to the Cortex A8, but a much better performer.
| Qualcomm Snapdragon Comparison | ||||
| QSD8250 | QSD8650 | |||
| Used In | Google Nexus One | HTC Incredible, HTC EVO 4G | ||
| Manufacturing Process | TSMC 65nm | TSMC 65nm | ||
| CPU | Qualcomm Scorpion @ 1GHz | Qualcomm Scorpion @ 1GHz | ||
| CPU Architecture | 2-issue in-order | 2-issue in-order | ||
| GPU | Qualcomm Adreno 200 | Qualcomm Adreno 200 | ||
| Memory Bus | 32-bit LPDDR1 | 32-bit LPDDR1 | ||
| On-Package RAM | 512MB | 512MB | ||
| Cellular Modem | GSM, GPRS, EDGE, HSPA | CDMA2000 1x, 1xEV-DORel0/A/B, GSM, GPRS, EDGE, HSPA | ||
The Apple A4 comparison is a difficult one to make without an identical software stack, but it looks to be the only threat to Snapdragon from a CPU performance perspective today.
The QSD8650, like the 8250, ships with 512MB of LPDDR1 on package. That’s more than enough for the current requirements of the Android OS.
No More Choppy Scrolling, Almost
My biggest issue with the Nexus One was its inconsistent performance, particularly with scrolling and animations. I’m happy to say that HTC has fixed most of those issues, but not all, with the Incredible.
Flipping between home screens is iPhone smooth on the Incredible, so long as you’re using the touchscreen. Use the virtual joystick and it’s back to chopfest for some reason. Scrolling is smooth in nearly all applications, the main exception being messages. If you try to scroll through a list of SMSes the Incredible starts flushing frames like they’re drugs and the police are at the door. It’s clearly a software optimization issue but why it exists in a different area from the Nexus One, and while it continues to exist today, perplexes me.
Contributing to the overall smoother feel of the Incredible is the fact that HTC did away with some animations in the UI. The Nexus One goes for a very iPhone like animation whenever you open/exit an app. You see the app getting bigger until it takes up the whole screen, or getting smaller until it’s reduced to an icon. On the iPhone this is smooth. On the Nexus One the animation is dropping frames, which in turn makes your phone feel slower than it actually is. On the HTC Incredible, the animation simply isn’t there. Launching an app takes you from one screen, almost immediately to the next. It’s like using a brand new PC with an SSD. Launch an application and the window just appears.
The Nexus One and HTC Incredible have the same underlying hardware, but the missing animations and smoother scrolling are key to making the Incredible feel faster. If you go to launch the web browser on both of these phones at the same time you’ll find that the Incredible finishes faster simply because it’s not stuck animating the window.
Not all animations are gone however, just most of the sluggish ones.
Facebook
Twitter
RSS
59 Comments
View All Comments
LoneWolf15 - Tuesday, May 11, 2010 - link
"I’d say that HTC’s added polish is a real benefit. It makes me wonder why Google doesn’t do some of this on its own."Google fails in this way with almost everything they put their hands to. I like their stuff, really, I do. But Google sometimes seems to have a major case of ADD --every product would be awesome, if it had a bit more polish, or additional support, or some bugs fixed, or a feature people have been asking for for xx amount of time.
We have Google Apps for Domains where I work. The problem is, half of Google's neat software toys for GMail and individual users won't work the moment you have your own custom domain --GMail Notifier is a good example, as are some other apps. Or, you have to figure out ways to make them work that aren't well-documented. By the time I'm done, I want to pull my hair out. Don't even get me started on how Chrome is --it's a great browser that was designed with absolutely no regard for use in the enterprise.
Other than their search engine, Google Maps, and perhaps Google Earth, so many things seem like something an excited kid started working on, got halfway there, and then walked away from to start something else. I wish they could concentrate on getting what they have going --there are some 65-85% projects that would just be insanely cool if they were ever fully baked.
strikeback03 - Tuesday, May 11, 2010 - link
As you didn't mention it, not sure you are aware, but there is no 3G voice in Verizon. Voice and test messages are always carried over the 1x network, while other data uses 3G. Thought this might be relevant to your battery life tests.strikeback03 - Tuesday, May 11, 2010 - link
test messages should be text messages, of courseJaybus - Tuesday, May 11, 2010 - link
One thing to note on battery life is that these phones are multitasking. The iPhone 3GS may have a better task management interface, I don't know. But the Droids come without one, more or less, so that's not saying much. If you didn't kill all the unneeded tasks on the HTC, then who knows what it was running during your battery tests. Was the camera active? The lack of a decent task manager is a glaring omission on the Droids, but there are good task management apps available as free downloads. In any case, the battery tests should be performed with only the necessary apps running (on both iPhone and HTC).v12v12 - Wednesday, May 12, 2010 - link
While I would like to comment on the other features of this phone, the one thing that absolutely burns me up is this fake LED "flash," crap.True “flash:” Xe (true) flash provides ~400 times the light output, better light distribution, much longer range, color temperatures match closer to natural sunlight, and much sharper image capture… The only problem with Xe is simply that, it “flashes,” and thus it’s not continuous like an LED, which hinders low-light videos, esp with these tiny+crappy lens provided in most phones. There needs to be a combo of both; each of which serves a dedicated purpose much better than the other. Xe gobbles power if it’s continuous, LEDs; not so much. I’m not going to spend this much on a phone, while it still comes with antiquated technological features, in which people put to use just as much, if not more than they talk on the dang things.
People use these phones as daily replacements for point-&-shoot, dedicated digi-cams... so this issue is NOT some tiny "inconvenience" as it seems. If the camera/video SUCKS, it's a big deal as many people have actually replaced their P&S cams with their phones for everyday use or don't really use their P&Ss very much at all vs their phone.
strikeback03 - Wednesday, May 12, 2010 - link
A real flash is also rather thick compared to the little LEDs used in these phones. I wouldn't be surprised if the flash assembly in the average P&S is as thick as the Incredible. So I imagine someday someone will make a phone that can really compete with decent P&S cameras, and for all I know Nokia does now (not available on Verizon so I really don't care) but the Incredible's image quality isn't nearly a match for even an average P&S so I don't think the lack of a real flash is exactly a deal-breaker for most.v12v12 - Wednesday, May 12, 2010 - link
PRIVACY: These new “smarter,” aka modernized PPCs are going to be the DOOM of us all. Everyone seems to think all these scannable pic/bar-code/GPS features are so “convenient,” UNTIL future legislation comes about allowing misc corp + govt agencies to directly link to your phone and read/view everything you’re doing. They’ll use it to track you (how did Apple find the guy, so fast, that had the alleged “stolen” aka lost, 4G Iphone? Apple actually sent “AGENTS” to his dorm, then the police magically raided Chen’s house soon afterwards) and soon tax you based on where you are. Etc…__I want to see more in-depth reporting about the major privacy issues that these (and esp future) phones present. What about LSO/DOM “super cookies,” and *.sol (FLASH based) files that hold tons of data (1-100K!) about where you’ve been browsing etc? What about sites tracking you with these phones etc. I mean, since they are basically pocket-PCs, who knows wtf “they” are doing with all this data you are voluntarily (in ignorance) revealing to them? These phones are inadvertently creating active profiles of any and all users that use them. Don’t you think that all of this immensely private data would be extremely valuable to private corps/govt? Data-miners, marketing, advertising, police and law enforcement agencies, the NSA, the government at a large would LOVE to know where you are, what you’re doing, with who you are with etc. All of this tracking data is extra-ordinarily valuable to said agencies and many more.
__These days tracking and profiling large groups of consumers is worth millions of dollars to corps/private groups as it provides near exact future estimations about how populations move, when and where they go, why they go, what motivates them etc. If you can accurately and consistently (there are super computers that are designed to PREDICT all of this with enough input data) predict all of the above (and more) you can essentially design products, marketing and advertising schemes around this data, to then constantly feed and predict what the general (or smaller sub-groups) consumer populous will do in and if certain situations arise…. The MILITARY is very, very, very interested in this kind of data, as it directly applies to wartime strategy.
People please take this stuff very seriously, the “internet” is the “wild-west,” and as we know, there’s many a predator and parasite out there waiting for you to feed them with your info and “profile.” Do you really think these groups wouldn’t attempt to subvert or pay off politicians/controllers of industry for said data? It’s happened before in the past and it’s happening right now as we speak. Hell the FBI can turn your phone into a GPS/audio/video BUGGING device, even if your phone is turned “off,” but the battery is still in. Who says they aren’t doing it now with out legal consent; A La the NSA ILLEGAL, warrantless wire-tapping scandal (which is STILL active today).
__Yeah-yeah I know, “well if you’re not doing anything ‘wrong,’ then what do you have to hide…” That’s presumed GUILT of action(s)… this is supposedly a “free” nation, but in reality who’s “free,” if unknown entities can track and trace your every move, on-demand, with-out notice/warrant? This is nothing more than a silent version of "Papiere, Bitte" (translation: "Papers, Please”), minus an authority asking you; these phones just GIVE them your “papers,” with out fuss…
How about this scenario: Law enforcement mistakenly taps your phone, b/c you and some alleged “terrorist,” have the same name and thus you’re on some “list,” that you don’t even know about. Since you’re now on this “list,” “they” can DOWNLOAD ALL of your pictures, files and info from your phone, courtesy of the Patriot Act-I and II. HAHA yep, they can take everything that’s considered “private” to you, view/listen/read it, and then determine if you’re a “treat.” If you’re not, *shrug* so be it, they ignore you, BUT someone else now is in possession of YOUR pictures/identity/”profile.” Do you trust “them” to honestly delete said info after the secret investigation is complete? I don’t, and I don’t want people having the ability to do so with out presenting ME with a legal warrant etc.
Anand please take this issue seriously, as it uncovers very serious privacy concerns, much more so than what’s on your home computer… Haven’t any of you ever found a lost cel-phone and taken a look inside; of course some of you have, and you know that someone’s phone can provide you so much more info about this person and their likes, dislikes; it’s like a txt/video, mini-dairy of their behavior/associations with their peers etc. Very unnerving to say the least… Be smart folks before you jump on the band-wagon.
strikeback03 - Wednesday, May 12, 2010 - link
Tin foil is on aisle 3.Seriously though, this type of thing is a concern in any internet activity if that's your thing. If the gov't is going to allow access to phones, the same could be said for landline ISPs. If you are really concerned, don't use these services.
v12v12 - Wednesday, May 12, 2010 - link
Tin foil LMFAO dude you're in pure ignorance to say the least... GOOGLE it then if you don't seem to follow the NEWS reports of this happening to people daily. Damn I love how the ignorant among the populous loves to chime in, when in reality you don't know crap about history nor of the misdeeds of this and other governments/law enforcement around the globe.The only person that's crazy or UNINFORMED is you buddy... You've already made a fool out of yourself; GOOGLE THE info I've posted, then please report back so we can see just how much you are out of touch with.
How about Operation Northwoods? The Gulf of Tonkin? The Tuskegee project? The sinking of the Lusitania?... Oh SHIT guess what; ALL of these are DECLASSIFIED government operations designed to DEFRAUD the public for financial and political gain... YOU are the ignorant FOOL as these are FACTS and indisputable lmao. Damn the mass public is so stupid and brainwashed lol... But we know what history has in store for deniers of reality like you; naked, starving and soon to be dumped in a mass grave lol... Enjoy the dirt, dunce...
Here take a read and educate yourself boy-flounder:
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-10451518-38.html
http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/declassified/archiv...
Laugh now genius.
rpmurray - Monday, May 17, 2010 - link
"how did Apple find the guy, so fast"Because one of his roommates called the Police and told them where he was and what he had. But wait a minute, maybe the roommate is a mole planted by the CIA to keep tabs on the guy! Yeah, that's the ticket.