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HTC First vs. Galaxy S3 vs. Droid DNA: Facebook Phone Spec Showdown

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Image used with permission by copyright holder

After much adieu, we finally actually know what the Facebook Phone is. As it turns out, it’s not a phone from Facebook at all; It’s a modified version of the Android operating system that can run on multiple Android handsets. But only one phone – for the time being, at least – will come with the new Facebook Home interface pre-installed. HTC First act as the catalyst for your new Facebook experience, integrating the social network into every part of the device. Is it worth picking up the HTC First to get your Facebook fix? We take a look at how well the new handset, available April 12, stacks up to some of the best Android handsets available now.

 

HTC First

Screen shot 2013-04-04 at 3.24.24 PM
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Galaxy S3

galaxy s3
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Droid DNA

Droid DNA htc
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Size 125.6 x 64.93 x 8.96mm 136.6 x 70.6 x 8.6 (mm) 140.9 x 70.6 x 9.7 (mm)
Weight 124g 133g 140g
Screen 4.3-inch LCD 4.8-inch Super AMOLED 5-inch Super LCD 3
Resolution 1280×720 pixels 1280×720 pixels 1920×1080 pixels
OS Android 4.1 with Facebook Home  Android 4.0 with TouchWiz UI Android 4.1 with HTC Sense 4+
Storage 16GB 16/32GB 16GB
SD Card Slot No Yes No
Processor 1.4GHz Dual-core Snapdragon 400 Dual-core Snapdragon S4 (US) 1.5GHz, quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro
RAM 1GB 2GB 2GB
Connectivity Wi-Fi, 4G LTE, HSPA+ Wi-Fi, 4G LTE, HSPA+ Wi-Fi, 4G LTE, EV-DO Rev.A
Camera Front 1.6MP, Rear 5MP Front 1.9MP, Rear 8MP Front 2.1MP, Rear 8MP
Bluetooth Yes, version 4.0 Yes, version 4.0 Yes, version 4.0
Battery 2000mAh 2100mAh 2020mAh
Charger Micro USB Micro USB Micro USB
Marketplace Google Play Store Google Play Store Google Play Store
Price $100 $200+ $200
Availability AT&T AT&T, Sprint, T-Mob, Verizon Verizon
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Obviously, the biggest emphasis on the HTC First is its Facebook integration. But given that, you’d maybe expect a better camera. The 5-megapixel front-facing camera seems like it leaves a bit to be desired, assuming the phone is designed to encourage sharing. There’s also a bit of a shortage on storage solutions with the device. It’s 16GB of built in memory is pretty standard, but that’s as big as it gets with no SD card expansion. The Snapdragon 400 series is a nice inclusion, especially on a budget-priced device.

Related

The fact that the HTC First’s runs Facebook’s Home UI is it’s big selling point, but you don’t have to have the First to get that experience. Facebook Home will run on a variety of different upcoming phones (including the HTC One and Galaxy S4) and will roll out for download on the same day the HTC First comes available. If you already have an Android device that is or will be compatible with Facebook Home, why get a new phone – especially one that isn’t breaking much new ground?

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AJ Dellinger
AJ Dellinger
Contributor
AJ Dellinger is a freelance reporter from Madison, Wisconsin with an affinity for all things tech. He has been published by…
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