HTC and Verizon make Droid DNA official, available Nov. 21

Droid DNA
HTC made, Verizon carried

HTC and Verizon announced the arrival of the Droid DNA, an oft-rumored smartphone that's finally making its public debut.

Sporting a 5-inch full HD 1080p super LCD 3 display, the DNA premiered at a New York City event co-hosted by the two Tuesday.

As if those screen specs weren't enough, the phone's ppi stands at 440, creating what HTC called the highest pixel density available on a smartphone.

The device is home to an industry leading Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 quad-core processor, a chip that can hit 1.5GHz of processing speeds, backed up by 2GB of RAM.

Making the DNA hum is Android 4.1: Jelly Bean, working in tandem with HTC's leading Sense 4+ system.

Aesthetics

The phone, a Verizon exclusive, features a curvaceous design that tapers down to 4 millimeters thin. Its black body is accentuated by red microgrill sidewalls that, like racing stripes, hint at the phone's true prowess.

When it comes to picture taking, the DNA has a 2.1MP, f/2.0 aperture and 88-degree ultra-wide angle front-facer that lets users capture up to four faces.

For those extended-arm self-portraits, the snapper lets photogs pick up additional background, too.

An 8MP camera is mounted on the back, while a new Sightseeing mode lets users skip the lock screen by jumping straight to the camera via the power button.

HTC VideoPic scoops up 1080p HD video and Continuous Shooting can capture up to four frames per second when holding down the shutter button.

Beats Audio takes care of the DNA's sound and a 2.55v built-in headset amplifier and dedicated rear-speaker amp boost the audio signal for clearer sound quality.

Verizon vittles

Like the Windows Phone 8X, Verizon has included built-in wireless charging and put in a new widget that provides a single point of access to several Amazon shopping apps.

Verizon stores across the country will start selling the DNA Nov. 21, with pre-orders starting today.

It'll go for $199 on a two-year contract.

Check out TechRadar's hands on review of the DNA, including our thoughts on that "gorgeous" screen.

Michelle Fitzsimmons

Michelle was previously a news editor at TechRadar, leading consumer tech news and reviews. Michelle is now a Content Strategist at Facebook.  A versatile, highly effective content writer and skilled editor with a keen eye for detail, Michelle is a collaborative problem solver and covered everything from smartwatches and microprocessors to VR and self-driving cars.