Responsive, Comfortable - A Great Phone July 20, 2012

Reviewer:  K. Groh  (Pennsylvania) -

UPDATE: 11-12: I still love this phone. I can't remember ever having a software crash. It is fast, has a great screen, terrific touch sensitivity, and runs a ton of apps. The only problem I've been having, but I think it is the same with any mobile device these days, is that Adobe Flash isn't making a mobile version anymore so there are things that don't run (internet based) since they require the latest version of Flash. I have added Google Chrome as a browser since the preloaded browser was sometimes limiting. I still love this and have found it is comfortable, a great size, and durable.

UPDATE: Almost four weeks later and I still love it. It seems to be very stable, no lock-ups, app crashes or anything. Battery is great. With moderate daily use, I still often have 50% power by the end of the day. Still recommended! Another bonus is the voice recognition. It is a huge step up from my first Incredible. Hardly ever misses and is really easy to use. Navigation, google searches, texting, email, etc. - it is so much easier and intuitive.

My first smartphone was the first Droid Incredible. I had it for over two years and got used to the great feel of the HTC skin and input. But it had glitches. When I went to replace it, I ended up with a Razr (Motorola). I really liked the screen (huge) and the navigation and apps that came with the phone. But, alas, it wasn't meant to be as it landed face down on a brick step after only two months. I was really pleased with it (with a couple of small exceptions) so it was my intention to get the same phone. However, besides the fact that the Razr was more expensive that the Incredible 4G at this time the sales clerk mentioned that the Incredible has terrific battery life and is much newer technology. So why go backwards?

With apprehension, I decided on the Incredible 4G knowing I could swap it out for a Razr in a few days if I hated it. However, there is no way they are getting it back! I love it.

I was concerned that the screen was smaller than the Razr but it hasn't been a problem. You seem to adjust and the size difference is actually a benefit. I had trouble holding the Razr (shoulder to ear) since it was larger and very thin. The Incredible is great since, although it is still fairly thin, it is a smaller, more convenient size and sits comfortably whether holding it or crooking it in your neck. (which is not really the best thing to do I realize but let's face it, we all do it).

The screen is a great resolution and everything is crystal clear and easy to read. The battery life is great. I've been playing a lot with it and although I charge it up every night, it seems to maintain a good charge for a long time. Something to point out is that some phones are soldering the battery to the motherboard which makes a hard reset difficult -- especially when your phone locks up. You can't take the battery out to complete one. The Incredible has a removable battery giving you the flexibility you need for resets.

What I really like about it (which I didn't like on the Razr) is the sensitivity of the screen, especially the keypad. The Razr wasn't as intuitive in finger placement and it often typed the wrong letter even though I was pretty sure I was on it or just to the edge. The Incredible is so sensitive, it's been really easy to text, type, search, etc. while using the keypad. Once you have something better, it is easy to remember how frustrating something was before.

It is fast! I get around very quickly and the 4G, which I already had with the Razr, is great.

Another thing I really like is the skin. The options are great, personalization is easy to navigate. Icons are fun/professional. Navigation is really intuitive and easy. At the bottom is a back arrow, home button, and a 'recent apps' icon, which allows you to scroll through and quickly jump to a recent or frequent app.

It's got another feature (that I probably won't use) which allows you to drag icons, documents, apps, whatever, into a single icon folder. You can then have a bunch of icons in one space slot and not take up a lot of screen keeping them separate. It creates a folder of apps or documents which you can then name. It shows four icons inside but you can put as many as you want.

It has a double camera, front or back, which seems to take pretty good photos and of course you can take video.

I like the screen when you first turn it on. You can slide to unlock or there are four icons that you can drag to the unlock dot to instantly launch that app. So if you get a mail notification, you can just quickly slide the mail icon to the bottom of the screen and when the phone unlocks, it is open to mail.

So I really like the sensitivity of the touch screen - very nice, the size is small and convenient, the battery life is great, and the navigation is really easy to use and intuitive.

Good alternative if you prefer a smaller phone July 11, 2012

Reviewer:  Scott M. Brown  (Indiana) -

I've had this phone for about 2 days now and so far I am pleased with it. I do have to say though, if I had paid $149 - $199 for this phone, I might have been dissapointed and would have probably bought the Samsung S3 instead. But I got a deal for $99 so I am happy. The phone responds very quickly, has a very nice and easy interface and works very smoothly. Batter life isn't too bad. I grabbed it out of the charger at around 6:30 am and at 5pm I'm still over 50% at moderate use, so that's not too bad. Not great either, but better than a lot of the other phones based on what I've seen so far. Now, I don't use my phone to watch movies or listen to music all day. I use it for phone calls, messaging, emails, some internet browsing and to play some games (Angry Birds, etc). I'm not on it ALL day though, so if you are a heavy user, I don't know if this phone will be for you. But for those who want an updated phone and don't use it as a total entertainment system all day (that's what my flat screen at home is for) then I think you'll be happy. So far I am.

Back for more Incredible! August 9, 2012

Reviewer:  Ronson 

I just replaced my first Incredible with the new Incredible 4G. I've been a big fan of the first Incredible. I think of these phones as the Android answer to the Iphone. Here are some pluses and minus':

+ Smaller 4" screen fits nicely in your hand and pocket, but big enough to type and watch videos.
+ 1.2ghz and 1gb ram out-specs the current iphone and is super fast...
+ Android Google Navigation is one of the best navi's in the market..10x better than iPhone
+ Can customize the phone nicely
+ Camera is much improved vs original Incredible...Video screenshot capability is a +
+ Can expand memory to 32GB..I plan on using the phone to store and play music videos, movies, and other big files
+ Audio and call quality is excellent --Beats Audio makes a difference

- A unibody design like the HTC Once S would've been a nice design feature
- Only way to video output to TV is thru HTC Media Link which you have to buy seperately and costs $75. Also, you have to use WiFi to do this...big minus if you like to stream videos to TV..not sure how this compares to other smartphones.
- In general, Android needs to figure out a way to close Apps without going into settings. This is especially important when running videos. If too many apps are open, the lips become out of sync on the video. (I guess more ram would help too).

Overall, this is still the best phone on Verizon..that is, I don't like phones larger than 4". If you prefer larger phones then this doesn't apply to you. I've also found HTC phones to be more reliable than Samsung and Motorola. I've also have had no problems with the battery life - I do recharge my phone every night tho.

Great phone, much better than the Rezound July 12, 2012

Reviewer:  L Hoover 

We recently upgraded, and we tried the Rezound first, and hated it. It had no battery life whatsoever, especially in rural areas, and the 3G is faster as well (we do not have 4G available where we live). I would recommend this a thousand times over the Rezound to anyone who lives where cell service is weak.

Overall I am pretty happy with this phone so far; my last phone was the original Incredible, and as I said we briefly had the Rezound as well. This phone has great call clarity; I can hear so much better than I could with the original Incredible. It also, of course, has better graphics. And, most importantly for me, it is a reasonable size - I don't understand why so few phone-sized phones exist. The camera is also great; it has significantly improved since the original Incredible with much faster shutter speed and much clearer photos.

It also seems to have better service than the original where we live, which is huge. As I said the battery life seems infinitely better than the Rezound for where we live (my original Incredible lasted through the day, the Rezound did not), but the real test will be this weekend where I am home all day; I will update this if I change my mind, but so far the battery seems to last a full day. The internet is faster when I have reception than it was on either my original Incredible or the Rezound (the Rezound was SO slow at home), but I will admit that it does drop the 3G alot, so I am having to leave it connected to WiFi at home, which I dislike doing (we have satellite internet at the moment). My old Incredible didn't do that, but the Rezound did, so I am assuming that the 3G antennae has been sacrificed to adding a 4G one as well. That is why I only give the phone 4 Stars instead of 5.

This is a minor point, but I can't help but wonder why on earth they reversed the home screens and the back buttons; as someone who surfs the internet alot, that is going to drive me nuts for a while!! Similarly, I don't know why they moved the on button and the volume buttons to the opposite side. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it", would have been the better move here, unless there is a mechanical reason they felt they should be moved that I am not aware of.

Overall I am pretty happy with this phone.

Pros: Good size, good battery life, good graphics, great phone call clarity, fast 3G connection - when it has service, great camera.

Cons: Living in a rural area we do get a lot of 3G drops, which did not happen with our original Incredible. I gave up on it and stay connected to WiFi at home.

A Great Android Phone that is not a Tablet Size August 24, 2012

Reviewer:  James Sorrentino  (Portsmouth, VA, US) -

The reason I chose this phone over the likes of Samsung Galaxy III & the HTC One is because of size. Those phones are like placing a book next to your head & talking. Get a Tablet if you want to watch videos. For everything else there is the HTC Droid Incredible 4G LTE. It is thin & phone sized; fits well in your hand. Screen is remarkable. Android 4.0 has a great interface. You can add memory with a micro SD. Pictures are stunning. 4G is blazing fast. Cool feature: Speakerphone is automatic by placing it down on the table, pick it to go private; sounds & receives voice well!

My only negative is battery life; which is not to bad. I get two (2) days with some pretty heavy usage. Most people I know charge their phones every night so it is not too big of a deal. (Hint: turn off WiFi if you know you are nowhere near some.)

You won't be sorry with this phone!

Finally, a smaller Android phone with good specs July 28, 2012

Reviewer:  Dave 

I actually left Sprint after 15 years because they just didn't have the same selection of phones that Verizon has. Specifically, Android smartphones that aren't huge and also have good specs. The Droid Incredible 4G LTE fit my needs perfectly. So I opened a Verizon account and bought the Incredible 4G LTE.
Size-wise I can text using one hand, and it has a grippy soft-touch back cover. The screen has a high pixel count and as a result is quite sharp. Having had HTC phones before, I'm a big fan of HTC Sense, and version 4.0 is the best one yet. My only complaint is they no longer offer the "HTC Hub" where you used to be able to download more widgets/wallpapers/etc. Performance-wise this phone is very fast. It does not seem as fast as my friend's Galaxy S II that I tested out, but nonetheless plenty fast. And the camera is superb, with tons of adjustments for power users.
If you want an Android that has great performance and is not huge, this is currently your best bet. (disclaimer: I purchased mine from another online retailer.)

incredible. August 22, 2012

Reviewer:  Pen Name 

I like everything except there are occasional software issues, which is expected in New software! But the quality is, well, absolutely incredible. The other day at the county fair, I didn't have pockets. Unwittingly, instead of trusting my new phone in the hands of the ride operator, I put it in my brother's pocket while we went on the ride, which goes upside down. Needless to say, it fell from about 50 feet in the air, luckily didn't hit anyone, and slammed into the ground. "it hit hard," or so I heard from the surrounding fair-goers. The frame was busted, but the phone worked! The only problem now is the speaker so I gotta take it to get a new one. Thank God for best buy insurance!

Great Phone August 12, 2012

Reviewer:  flue fisker  (Pico Rivera, CA United States) -

I just updated my phone from the original incredible to the 4g version. All I have to say is wow! What a difference. This thing is blazing fast and what I enjoy the most is that the phone is very comfortable in the hand. Spent lots of time looking at various options, IPhone, Razr Maxx, etc. I kept coming back to this phone. I ended up with it and I am extremely happy. Just a complete update to the original incredible but still is very similar. Learning curve with the new phone was only minutes compared to longer with other phones. Battery life is still okay, but a huge leap from the original incredible. I really like what HTC did with this little phone. Not the best in bizz but a definite capable phone. For $50 from Amazon this phone packs a bang for your buck offering in the phone wars.

Good luck finding that perfect phone. This one is perfect for me.

Adam

Excellent successor and one of the best overall! December 28, 2012

Reviewer:  rlynow?  (Lansing, MI USA) -

I received this phone about 2 weeks ago now as an upgrade from my original HTC Incredible.

PROS:
+ Removable battery - Has decent stock life to begin with. To test, I connected to my local 4G network and streamed a Netflix marathon. I got a tad over 6 hours before the battery died. I also purchased a couple spare batteries for this phone, as I don't like being connected to chargers for long periods of time. This device is very easy to swap the batteries on, and the removable battery is a huge part of why I chose this phone over the newer HTC Droid DNA.
+ Expandable memory - Phone only has 8GB of internal storage, which is pretty standard, but still has expandable storage up to 32GB with a microSD card. So, you get a 40GB phone for an extra ≈$30. Gigantic plus over iPhones and the new HTC Droid DNA.
+ Camera - VAST improvement over the original Incredible's 8MP camera. This phone takes great pictures and can easily replace most intro-level cameras (though obviously it's not going to be as adequate as a DSLR). The front-facing VGA camera is not great, but more than adequate for Skype. The main camera is second only to HTC's One X+ in my opinion.
+ Display - Crisp & clear. More than enough resolution for me to be completely satisfied watching HD video or playing graphics-heavy games.
+ Call Quality - Both my caller and myself have nice crisp voices over this phone. Does a great job toning down background noise, though there isn't any software/hardware on the phone to do so. This has been true in all signal conditions I've experienced.

CONS:
+ Processor - Only a 1.2GHz processor leaves a *tiny* bit to be desired. a 1.5Ghz is barely, but noticeably, quicker for launching applications and multitasking.
+ Apps - I'm not 100% sure what causes this, but on my device, occasionally applications I've installed will disappear from the phone without being deleted. This has happened to me nearly a dozen times so far. However, it could be an isolated thing or have to do with the sheer number of apps I have on my phone (over 200).
+ Speakerphone - I really like being able to simply flip the phone over to turn to speakerphone mode, but I haven't met a phone that is able to provide great quality when talking or listening to a call in the mode yet. This phone is no exception.
+ Camera - I know this is in the pros column, but really, this phone's lack of a shutter button on the frame (volume or power) and inability to set makes it a giant pain.

OVERALL:

An excellent device. While it's not perfect, it has managed to keep and improve upon the good things in phones and disregard many of the newer "more convenient" features that, in my estimation, few people need. Battery life, camera, processing speed, display, feel & weight, appearance, and general ease of use are all more than adequate for your average and moderately advanced users. This is a quick, crisp device that undoubtedly earns the name Incredible.

nice phone August 16, 2012

Reviewer:  Richard P. Hassler 

nice phone that does everything I ask it to. The size is good so that I can carry it in my jeans front pocket. The sound quality is good and the 4G, assuming you can get it in your area is a nice feature. It may not match up to the big boys like Samsung or the HTC one, but the nice thing is that all the features on the phone work and are not some idiotic hype. Battery life is good, I used to own the original incredible and this battery is much much better. I don't need a super phone that I have to carry on my shoulder because of it's size. I need a good reliable phone that provides clear phone calls and gets good reception and that I can carry around in my pocket. This one fits the bill. Some people complain about the wifi notification they keep getting but i don't find it bothersome at all. In fact I appreciate being told when wifi is or isn't available. Verizon's unlimited data days are over whether we like it or not so we now have to keep track of this stuff and this phone lets you know when you have an alternative to 4G. Last thing I want to do is give verizon more of my money if I don't have to.

lives up to its name May 23, 2013

Reviewer:  postmaster2000 

I am currently writing this review on the Incredible 4g LTE. My opinion on this phone is thatit is a great phone for the price you pay. I love this phone, but a couple of days ago my phones speaker stopped working, but only on calls. I restarted it and it was fine, but the problem persisted the next day. I went to the Verizon store and the customer service was excellent. She ordered one in the store and it arrived in less than 24 hours. I haven't had any other problems with this phone (though I haven't had it that long) and still love its versatility and size. Though the phone has less ram and proccesing power than a SGIII, I prefer the size and functions of the phone much over that of and a SGIII, and especially an IPhone. All of my friends are in envy of my New phone when they have the IPhone 5. Huge fan of this phone even though it had an issue, but Verizon took care of it for free.

good phone, but music pauses randomly!? May 22, 2013

Reviewer:  JoshStafford 

I love almost everything about this phone. The camera is great, the customization/personalization is awesome, its way faster than my iPhone 4, and I'm likin the bigger screen as well. Not too big like most phones nowadays. I would've given this phone 5 stars all day long, but my music pauses by itself every other song, sometimes even 2-3 times a song. It is VERY frusterating and I have.tried everything but no matter what player I use, it pauses.

terrible phone March 22, 2013

Reviewer:  Audrey Connor 

I am on my second Incredible 4 because of technical problems with the first. The battery was overheating and then i would try to make phone calls and it would take 5-10 minutes for the phone call to go out. I also often could not receive text messages. They told me that it was a fluke and after being on the phone with them for two straight days, they finally agreed to send me a new phone. The new phone is worse! While I never have problems receiving calls this time, the phone over heats and it only lasts for about 2 hours before it needs charging.

This phone is terrible. do not buy it.

Should be called "HTC Incompatible 4G LTE" December 31, 2012

Reviewer:  George C. Targonski  (Sayreville, NJ) -

I had the Incredible model 1 for over 3 years and think it was an excellent phone in its day. I had no problems with it until all the hype encouraged me to upgrade to a 4G phone. The new Incredible 4G LTE is a disaster in so many ways.

The biggest problem is that several of my regular apps have incompatibility issues with this phone (troubleshooting sites on the internet suggest the problem extends to many HTC models). My diet planner (which worked fine on the Incredible model 1) scans foods to the wrong day and when adjusting portion size causes the app to crash. Rescan, adjustment attempt, crash. Useless. The highly-rated Tasks app by Team Tasks (4-1/2 stars) does not work properly. The Google Calendar app site says that there are several "known issues" with HTC phones. And the HTC Calendar app that is designed to sync with Google Calendar shows tasks on the wrong day! The HTC site has a memo dated June, 2012 reporting this as a "known issue" and 6 months later it is still not fixed. What the hell is a calendar good for if not getting the date right??? This blunder is unforgivable and is why I will never buy another HTC product. The Optimum app which allows you to watch cable TV on your phone is not available for HTC products.

The layout of the buttons is also a disaster. They are where a right handed person would put his fingers when holding the phone. I had thought Verizon was dropping calls - it turns out that I press the on/off button with my finger and accidentally disconnect calls. I also accidentally lower the volume with my thumb. If you are thinking about this phone I suggest you test it by holding it in your hand (and up to your ear) to see how the buttons work in YOUR hand. Even the micro USB connector goes into the phone upside down compared to every other device I own (I put a dab of White-Out on all my USB connectors to know which way is up).

In short, the phone is incompatible with many highly-rated apps and the layout is back-asswards compared to the original Incredible. Look at Samsung products.

returned it to Verizon after 10 days July 21, 2012

Reviewer:  vv 

I got two of these phones (for me and my wife) with Verizon. My main criteria was decent call quality - we live in a place where we have fairly good coverage and 4G is spreading rapidly here. For the rest we are fairly basic users (so mainly use it for maps and quick lookups and so on). I choose the phone because of the size and look and feel, and the reviews which were fairly good.
We tried it out for 10 days - called in many different situations, both standing still, walking and driving, in several signal conditions. The call quality was poor to mediocre - while you could generally hear and understand each other, it was fairly tinny and many calls were very scratchy.
In addition to this, the implementation of the interface for this system was something which I really did not like. This may be due to my lack of experience with Android phones (had an AT&T Iphone before), but it was not what I wanted.
Returned it for Samsung Galaxy IIIS - while it is bigger than I thought I wanted, the call quality is much better, screen is great, and it is just a way nicer phone.

get what you pay for October 15, 2012

Reviewer:  T. Huang  (Pittsburgh, PA) -

Got this for $60 when I renewed my 2yr contract. Would have preferred the Samsung galaxy III or RazrMax but I couldn't justify to my wife spending $140 more for them. I still regret getting this phone :(

Main complaints:
-it frequently drops data coverage when not conected to wifi (4G or 3G) making it hard to access Google, yelp, etc.
-occasionally locks up/freezes for ~15-30 secs (maybe once every 3 days)
-frustrating delay between when I tap to dial a contact and when it actually places the call (at least 5 sec delay)
-when in a call, the screen will occasionally get confused and keep trying to flip between applications and the call and all I see is a flickering black screen

My wife hasn't had ay of these problems and got the same phone so I'm not sure if this just a unique problem for mine. Also hadn't seen anything on the discussion boards or other reviews either. Hopefully, if you get this phone you'll have better luck than I do.

Incredibly Lame! December 12, 2012

Reviewer:  A. Russo  (Cambridge, MA United States) -

I was excited to upgrade from a flip phone to a data phone. So many to choose from, so I asked my Verizon representative. He recommended this phone over the Iphone saying that it is much quicker and the power battery last longer. He offered me a deal of $150 instead of $200 because I was eligible for an upgrade. I found it right here on Amazon for $49 and bought it. It quickly reduced to $29 a week later. I see that the current asking price is $9.99. Save your money!! I can't recommend something better...other than the awesome and easy to use and text and take picture, flip phone (they don't make anymore).

After having the phone for 3 months, it still does not recognize my voice for supposedly easier voice texting and telephone number look up. Yes just telephone look up. My flip I could have it look up and dial at the same time. Here, it is a two step process that turns into a 20 minute procedure because it does not recognize my voice and the face is too small for me to touch and type. It is also so sensitive, I'm always back tracking to correct from misplaced words and incorrect automation.

The phone recently got so 'hot' from playing a game, I had to quit and turn it off before it exploded or something. It also reduced my battery power from 100% to 9% within 5 minutes of playing the game!!!

I could go on and on...but I think you got the picture. I may try the I-phone next.And I wont wait for this contract to be up! Yes!!!They got me!!

Don't believe the hype July 25, 2012

Reviewer:  Chris 

I purchased this phone based on the very good reviews, small form factor, and HTC reputation for quality. I sadly did not have the good experience other reviewers have had with this phone. The problems with this phone were obvious from the time I began the setup process. It could not locate a signal despite the fact that the phone I was replacing had no issues in this regard. Then, after not finding the signal, the phone would actually shut off and require me to restart the power button to continue the process. After attempting this half a dozen times, I decided to forget setting up e-mail and continue the set up process. Once completed, the phone was a complete disappointment. Internet access was dreadfully slow (again, I have a strong Verizon signal and all bars were full) and the phone seemed bogged down. Call quality was just OK, where other reviews state this was a strength of the phone. There is bloatware on this phone which may well have affected the speed. Texting was painful because using the keyboard was simply torture. The supplied keyboard is difficult to use, oversensitive to touch, and requires that you switch between keyboards if you want caps or numbers. Very awkward and bulky, in my opinion. I know you can download alternative keyboards, but based on the performance of the phone, I cannot accept having to put up with such obvious flaws for the next two years!

The physical build quality of the phone is just OK. The back cover is flimsy and you just pull it from the back without having to manipulate any buttons. I was very concerned that after a year or more of use, this would loosen and become a problem. It was difficult to attach the plug to the charging outlet on the phone and did not seem to connect smoothly and properly. Again, this is fine when a phone is new, but when you have to plug the phone in every single day, and usually twice a day, I can easily imagine how loose and unstable the connection would be after a year of constant use.

Because this phone is new, I am only able to project into the future, but these issues are enough for me to return this phone and start over!