Samsung Galaxy Note (unlocked GSM) There's nothing quite like the Galaxy Note. This Android smartphone is a pocket tablet with a 5.3" display running at an impressive 1280 x 800 resolution. The phone has a Wacom dual digitizer and comes with a pen that tucks neatly into a silo. It runs on Samsung's very fast 1.4GHz dual core Exynos CPU and it has 16 gigs of storage.
LG Nitro HDThe LG Nitro HD is definitely a phone worth getting exciting about. What's so hot about this Android smartphone? It has a 720p IPS display, and LG makes some impressive mobile displays. It runs on the same dual core 1.5GHz Snapdragon CPU as the Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket and the slightly lower clocked HTC Vivid, and it has an excellent 8 megapixel rear camera. Good stuff, no? Better yet, the Nitro HD has true 4G LTE on AT&T.
Samsung Galaxy Nexus (Verizon) The Samsung Galaxy Nexus on Verizon Wireless is no doubt one of the hottest phones of 2011. This is the first time you can get a Google's reference Android smartphone from one of America's largest carriers with a contract in store easily. It's the first Android phone to run Android OS 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich too.
LG SpectrumAfter a lukewarm reception for the LG Revolution, things are looking up with the well-outfitted Spectrum. This LTE 4G Android smartphone has a lovely 4.5" IPS display running at 1280 x 720 resolution and a fast Qualcomm S3 1.5GHz dual core CPU. It has a front video chat camera and a capable rear 8MP camera that can shoot 1080p video. Reception on LTE is very good as are download speeds. But doe the Spectrum have what it takes to compete against Verizon Wireless' other high end Android phones like the Samsung Galaxy Nexus, Motorola Droid RAZR family and the HTC Rezound? Read on to find out.
Verizon
Jan. 2012
Pantech Burst AT&T has been aggressive with their LTE phone pricing, and the Pantech Burst is their latest pleasant surprise. For only $50 on contract, you get a fast Qualcomm Snapdragon dual core Android smartphone with 4G LTE and a sharp and bright 4" Super AMOLED display. The Burst isn't particularly thin but it's not bad looking and it feels and looks well made. It offers good voice quality and fast data both on LTE 4G and HSPA+. If you're looking for a fast Android smartphone with LTE but don't want to spend too much, be sure to check out the Burst.
AT&T
Jan. 2012
Nokia Lumia 710The Lumia 710 might not be Nokia's flagship Windows Phone, but it's a great phone for $49 with contract. This Windows Phone 7.5 Mango smartphone has a sharp 3.7" ClearBlack display, a 1.4GHz Snapdragon CPU and a very good 5 megapixel camera. The Lumia 710 is available on T-Mobile and it has quad band HSPA+ 4G along with WiFi, Bluetooth and a GPS. The design is distinctly Nokia, and we like the rounded corners and complex curves that you don't usually see on a budget-priced smartphone.
Jan. 2012
T-Mobile
Samsung Galaxy Note (unlocked GSM) There's nothing quite like the Galaxy Note. This Android smartphone is a pocket tablet with a 5.3" display running at an impressive 1280 x 800 resolution, just like 10" Android tablets. That means the Super AMOLED HD display is extremely sharp and it boasts the usual super-saturated colors and deep blacks. The phone has a Wacom dual digitizer and comes with a pen that tucks neatly into a silo. It runs on Samsung's very fast 1.4GHz dual core Exynos CPU and it has 16 gigs of storage. Throw in a sharp 8MP camera, a strong GPS and AT&T 4G HSPA+ compatibility, and you've got an amazing Android smartphone. This is an import phone that's sold unlocked for use with any GSM carrier, but you'll only get 3G and 4G HSPA+ on AT&T in the US.
Unlocked GSM
Jan. 2012
Samsung Galaxy Nexus (Verizon) The Samsung Galaxy Nexus on Verizon Wireless is no doubt one of the hottest phones of 2011. This is the first time you can get a Google's reference Android smartphone from one of America's largest carriers with a contract in store easily. It's the first Android phone to run Android OS 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich too. The Galaxy Nexus has a 4.65" Super AMOLED display running at 1280 x 720, and it has a dual core 1.2GHz TI CPU with hardware graphics acceleration. And there's lucsiously fast LTE 4G too. Is it worth all the hype? We'd say so. Read our full review to find out.
Verizon
Dec. 2011
Samsung Galaxy Nexus (unlocked GSM) The Samsung Galaxy Nexus is undeniably one of the hottest phones of 2011. After all, like the once-a-year iPhone, there's only one official Google pure Android experience phone each year. The phone runs on a 1.2GHz TI dual core CPU with a gig of RAM, and it's the first phone to run Android OS 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. It has a gorgeous 720p Super AMOLED display, 16 gigs of internal storage and the fastest camera we've seen on a smartphone. Alas, like the Nexus S, there's no expansion card slot.
Unlocked GSM
Dec. 2011
HTC TitanHTC knows about livin' large, after all they created the at the time mammoth and ground breaking HTC HD2 and HD7S. Now that big phones are the trend, they've once again made one of the largest screen phones on the market: 4.7". The Titan joins the Samsung Focus S and the Samsung Focus Flash on AT&T as their first wave of Mango smartphones. It has a 1.5GHz Snapdragon CPU, an excellent 8 megapixel rear camera and a front 1.3 megapixel video chat camera. Like the Focus S and Focus Flash, it has HSPA+ 4G 14.4 and the usual WiFi, Bluetooth and a GPS that works with Bing Maps and AT&T Navigator.
AT&T
Dec. 2011
LG Nitro HDThe LG Nitro HD is definitely a phone worth getting exciting about. What's so hot about this Android smartphone? It has a 720p IPS display, and LG makes some impressive mobile displays. It runs on the same dual core 1.5GHz Snapdragon CPU as the Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket and the slightly lower clocked HTC Vivid, and it has an excellent 8 megapixel rear camera. Good stuff, no? Better yet, the Nitro HD has true 4G LTE on AT&T.
AT&T
Dec. 2011
Samsung Focus SThe Samsung Focus S is one of three new Windows Phone Mango 7.5 smartphones on AT&T. It joins the HTC Titan and the smaller and more affordable Focus Flash, and it features Samsung's Super AMOLED Plus display for super-rich colors and deep blacks. The Focus S shares a lot of DNA with the Samsung Galaxy S II on AT&T, and like the GS II it has a 4.3" display, an 8 megapixel rear camera and a very similar casing. The phone is only 0.33" thick and it weighs just 3.9 ounces. The Focus S has HSPA+ 14.4 for "4G" on AT&T, Zune music and video, XBOX Live gaming, WiFi, Bluetooth and a GPS that works with Bing and AT&T Navigator.
AT&T
Dec. 2011
HTC Radar 4GThe HTC Radar 4G is T-Mobile's first Windows Phone 7.5 Mango smartphone. This is a second generation Windows Phone with middle of the road specs and a price to match. It's $99 with contract and it has a 1GHz second gen Qualcomm Snapdragon CPU with 8 gigs of storage and HSPA+ 4G. The phone has a front video chat camera that works with Tango and a rear 5 megapixel camera with a fast f2.2 lens with an illuminated backlit sensor. This is a video review.
T-Mobile
Dec. 2011
HTC VividThe HTC Vivid is a lovely high end phone with enticing specs and a vivid (sorry, but it is) qHD display. Though its 4G LTE launch mate, the Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket, shows it up in some, but not all, respects, we can still recommend it, especially for HTC fans. The HTC Vivid it has a 1.2GHz dual core CPU, a lovely 4.5" qHD display and HTC's high end 8 megapixel camera with 1080p video recording. It runs Android OS 2.3 Gingerbread with HTC Sense 3.0 software.
AT&T
Nov. 2011
Samsung Captivate GlideCan't get enough Samsung TouchWiz and Super AMOLED goodness? Wish the Captivate or Samsung Galaxy S II had a hardware keyboard? Samsung's latest mid to high end Android smartphone on AT&T gets you some keyboard love. The Samsung Captivate Glide has a slide-out hardware keyboard married to a 4" Super AMOLED display, Android OS 2.3 Gingerbread and a 1GHz Nvidia dual core Tegra 2 CPU. Not too shappy for $149 with contract.
AT&T
Dec. 2011
HTC RezoundThe HTC Rezound is a member of Verizon Wireless' "big three" group of high end Android smartphones for the holiday 2011 season. It joins the Motorola Droid RAZR and Samsung Galaxy Nexus and has top specs: it's the US' first 720p smartphone display, it has a fast 1.5gHz dual core CPU, LTE 4G and a promised upgrade to Android OS 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. The phone has excellent build quality and it comes with a set of Beats Audio earbuds in the box.
Verizon
Nov. 2011
Nokia Lumia 800Love the Nokia N9 but afraid of the high price tag, new OS and dead end path? Not problem, the N9's twin is here as the Nokia Lumia 800 running Windows Phone 7.5 Mango. It shares the same physical design, polycarbonate unibody design and luscious AMOLED display too. We take the Euro unlocked version for a spin, which happily has AT&T 3G HSPA 14.4 for good data speeds. The phone has a 3.7" AMOLED Gorilla Glass display that runs at 800 x 480 resolution, and 8MP camera and a 1.4GHz CPU.
Unlocked GSM
Nov. 2011
Motorola Droid RAZRThe Motorola Droid RAZR seems to have it all; it's the perfect date in the phone world. It's slim, has a hard body, a dazzling Super AMOLED smile and it's smart too thanks to a 1.2GHz dual core CPU. This Android smartphone is only 7.1mm thin, and it has a 4.3" display, an 8 megapixel rear camera that can shoot 1080p video, LTE 4G, a front video chat camera and 16 gigs of internal storage. It has Webtop and is compatible with the Motorola Lapdock, and it has HDMI out. Is this enough for a lasting relationship? Read our review to find out.
Verizon
Nov. 2011
Samsung Galaxy S II SkyrocketGot LTE? If you're an AT&T customer in one of their fifteen 2011 launch markets, the Skyrocket is an enticing variant in the sucessful Galaxy S II line. The Skyrocket has true 4G LTE with fallback to pretty zippy HSPA+ 21Mbps. The phone has a 4.5" Super AMOLED Plus display running at 800 x 480 resolution, and a dual core 1.5GHz CPU that's impressively fast. Throw in a large battery, two excellent cameras and Samsung's TouchWiz UI on top of Android OS 2.3.5 Gingerbread, and you've got an exhilarating smartphone. The Skyrocket and HTC Vivid are AT&T's first LTE phones. Editor's Choice 2011.
AT&T
Nov. 2011
Nokia N9The Nokia N9 is Nokia's last hurrah before they make the switch to being a Windows Phone manufacturer. It runs their customized version of the MeeGoo OS that's based on Linux, and it's a thoroughly modern and beautifully designed touch-based OS. The N9 has a 3.9" AMOLED display with anti-glare technology and Nokia's black technology. Blacks are deep, colors are vivid and glare is indeed less of an issue vs. most touch screen phones. It's 854 x 480 pixels with Gorilla Glass, an accelerometer and an ambient light sensor. The phone runs on a 1GHz CPU.
Unlocked GSM
Nov. 2011
HTC EVO Design 4G An affordable EVO with WiMAX 4G and an elegant, high quality design. That's the HTC EVO Design 4G. It has HTC's signature liberal use of metal and soft touch finishes and it feels solid in the hand. The phone has a 4" qHD Super LCD, and that means it's sharp looking and also more pocketable. This $99 with contract phone has a 1.2GHz single core Snapdragon CPU, front video chat camera and a rear 5 megapixel camera with LED flash that can shoot 720p video. Voice quality is good and HTC Sense 3.0 is on board for your UI pleasure. The phone supports the full range of Sprint services including Sprint TV and Sprint Music Plus.
Sprint
Oct. 2011
iPhone 4SThe iPhone 4S hardly needs an introduction: it's Apple's latest and greatest (yes greatest) iPhone yet, and it's available on three of the big four carriers. Each carrier uses the same hardware, with only software and firmware differences setting them apart. The iPhone 4S has a dual core Apple A5 CPU that's twice as fast as the iPhone 4, and it's available in three storage capacities. It uses the same 3.5" Retina Display as the iPhone 4, and it has an improved 8 megapixel camera that can shoot 1080p video. It runs the new iOS 5 operating system and it has the remarkable Siri voice-activated personal assistant.
AT&T, Sprint and Verizon
Oct. 2011
Motorola Atrix 2The Motorola Atrix 2 has crept out from under the iPhone 4S' coattails this weekend for a mere $99 on contract. That doesn't mean the Atrix 2 isn't an excellent high end Android smartphone. What's improved from the original Atrix? The Atrix 2 has a larger 4.3" qHD display that's more colorful and brighter. Text is easier to read on the larger display, and movies are more enjoyable too. The phone has HSPA+ 21 Mbps, and we indeed got faster speeds vs. 14.4 Mbps AT&T. The Atrix 2 has Webtop and works with the optional Lapdock 100 that turns it into a an ultraportable notebook of sorts.
AT&T
Oct. 2011
Pantech BreakoutVerizon Wireless' 4G LTE phones have been a bit pricey, averaging $299 with contract. The Pantech Breakout is their first budget-priced LTE Android smartphone, and you're probably wondering what's the catch. The Breakout has mid to high midrange specs that include a 1GHz single core CPU, a 4" 800 x 480 capacitive touch screen, a 5 megapixel camera that can record 720p video, a front video chat camera and of course 4G LTE on Verizon's network. Not too shabby for $99 with contract.
Verizon
Oct. 2011
Samsung Galaxy S II (T-Mobile) In this video review we take a look at T-Mobile's version of the very popular Samsung Galaxy S II. Like the Sprint version, it has a 4.5" Super AMOLED Plus display and it's super-thin. The smartphone runs Android OS 2.3 Gingerbread and has the standard excellent Galaxy S II 8 megapixel rear camera and a front video chat camera. T-Mobile went with a dual core 1.5GHz Snapdragon CPU instead of Samsung's best in class Exynos CPU for compatibility with the phone's 42 Mbps HSPA+ 4G chipset. How's performance in terms of CPU and 4G speed? Check out our review to find out.
T-Mobile
Oct. 2011
Samsung Galaxy S II (AT&T)One of the hottest high end phones of 2011 has made it to AT&T, and it's virtually unchanged from the overseas version. That's not a bad thing since the phone keeps the manageable yet capacious 4.3" Super AMOLED Plus display and super-fast Samsung Exynos dual core 1.2GHz CPU that sets a new limit for speed. This Android super-phone has an 800 x 480 capacitive touch screen, 4G HSPA+, an admirable 8 megapixel main camera plus front video chat camera. Did we mention that it's literally pencil-thin? The Samsung Galaxy S II has earned our Editor's Choice award, and should be on your short list when shopping for a smartphone on AT&T. Editor's Choice 2011.
AT&T
Sept. 2011
Samsung Galaxy S II Epic 4G TouchSprint is first to market with a US version of the Samsung Galaxy S II, and it's a winner. They've increased the display a bit to a pocket stretching 4.5", and it's still that super-rich Super AMOLED Plus technology. The phone has a dual core 1.2 GHz Samsung Exynos CPU with GPU, and it's by far the fastest mobile CPU in a shipping phone. The smartphone runs Android OS 2.3.4 with Samsung TouchWiz software, and it has 16 gigs of internal storage along with WiFi, Bluetooth and a GPS. The phone has 4G WiMAX and 3G on Sprint's network, and a beefy battery to combat the drain.
Sprint
Sept. 2011
Sony Ericsson Xperia Play 4GNow you can get your game on with Sony Ericsson's first Playstation Certified phone on AT&T as well as Verizon. AT&T has bargain-priced this capable Android 2.3 Gingerbread smartphone at $50 with contract. It has a slide-out Playstation controller that's a working copy of the console controller. It makes gaming much more enjoyable and you can select from a healthy selection of titles in the Market once you've played through the included games. The Xperia Play has a second gen 1GHz Snapdragon CPU with Adreno 205 graphics, an absolutely lovely 4" capacitive touch screen, 4G and dual cameras.
AT&T
Sept. 2011
Motorola Droid BionicWe're not sure if the Bionic can rule all machines for long, but for right now, it's top dog among Android phones. The Droid Bionic has it all: a dual core 1GHz CPU, LTE 4G on Verizon Wireless, a 4.3" qHD display and an 8MP camera. There's plenty of on-board storage plus a 16 gig microSD card, a front video chat camera and a beefy battery that Moto somehow managed to squeeze into the Bionic's 0.4" thin chassis. Do we like the latest Droid? Yes we do, and it's worth a serious look if you're in the market for a flagship Verizon smartphone.
Verizon
Sept. 2011
BlackBerry Torch 9850RIM's all new full touchscreen phone runs BlackBerry OS 7 on the same 1.2GHz CPU as the Bold 9930 and Torch 9810. It has a 3.7", 800 x 480 capacitive multi-touch display that's very sharp and bright. There's no hardware keyboard here, but the virtual one is pretty decent, and the phone is fast. It has a 5 megapixel autofocus camera, WiFi, Bluetooth and a GPS. It's a world phone with a GSM SIM card slot.
Sprint and Verizon
Aug. 2011
Motorola Photon 4GOne of our top picks among Sprint's late summer 2011 Android smartphones, the Motorola Photon 4G has a sharp 4.3" qHD display, an 8 megapixel camera, HDMI-out and 16 gigs of internal storage. This is both a world phone with GSM for roaming and a WiMAX 4G smartphone. It runs Android OS 2.3 Gingerbread on a 1GHz Nvidia Tegra 2 CPU.
Sprint
Aug. 2011
BlackBerry Bold 9900It's been quite some time since RIM introduced a new BlackBerry smartphone. Now we've got three new touchscreen 'Berries launching together. In this review we look at T-Mobile version of the Bold 9900. This is definitely RIM's best BlackBerry yet, with a perfect keyboard, capacitive touch screen, 1.2GHz CPU and plenty of RAM. The Bold 9900 has 4G HSPA+ and a much improved web browser with a more social BBM.
T-Mobile
Aug. 2011
Samsung Conquer 4GWhen a new 4G phone comes out on Sprint, it usually sells for $199 or more with contract. The Samsung Conquer 4G sells for just $99 at launch, but it has some features you'd expect from a more expensive phone like 4G WiMAX, a 1GHz Snapdragon CPU, Android OS 2.3.4 Gingerbread (minus TouchWiz) and solid call quality. If you're after a 4G phone on Sprint and don't want the year old HTC EVO 4G or a QWERTY slider in the $99 bracket, the Conquer 4G is worth a look.
Sprint
Aug. 2011
HTC Wildfire SIf you're looking for your first touchscreen smartphone, prefer small phones or just don't want to spend much money (free via T-Mobile.com is hard to beat), the HTC Wildfire S sings its tiny siren song to you. This small, lightweight but stylish phone has all the Android basics, though it's display resolution and CPU are a bit outdated. It feels responsive in everyday tasks though, and we like that it runs Android OS 2.3.3 Gingerbread with HTC Sense, which is newbie-friendly.
T-Mobile
Aug. 2011
LG Thrill 4G The LG Thrill 4G is a hard smartphone to beat for $99. it's got all the high end trimmings, including a glasses-free 3D display and 5 megapixel 3D camera. The Thrill has a 4.3" display and it runs on a dual core 1GHz CPU with Android OS 2.2 Froyo and LG's pleasing UI customizations. The phone is large and solidly built, with LG's signature soft touch back that's highlighted with a metal strip that houses dual camera lenses and an LED flash. It has HSPA+ 4G, WiFi, Bluetooth and a GPS. We particularly like the selection of 3D apps and LG's adjustable 3D effect. It's fast, 3D is fun and this is the first phone that makes us want 3D.
AT&T
Aug. 2011
BlackBerry Torch 9810 The Torch 9810 is AT&T's second generation Torch with a much faster CPU, a higher resolution display and the new BlackBerry 7 OS. The smartphone has a very solid slider, excellent build quality and a very sharp VGA capacitive touch screen. Other goodies include a much improved web browser, BBM 6 with new social integration, a better camera that can shoot 720p video and HSPA+ 4G. The Torch keeps up with the big boys thanks to its 1.2GHz CPU, 768 megs of RAM and 8 gigs of internal storage. It's a Torch on steroids.
AT&T
Aug. 2011
BlackBerry Bold 9930It's been quite some time since RIM introduced a new BlackBerry smartphone. Now we've got three new touchscreen 'Berries launching together. In this review we look at Verizon Wireless' version of the Bold 9900, that goes under the 9930 heading to indicate it's the CDMA version of the latest Bold. This is definitely RIM's best BlackBerry yet, with a perfect keyboard, capacitive touch screen, 1.2GHz CPU and plenty of RAM. The Bold 9930 has a 5 megapixel camera that can shoot 720p video, a much improved web browser and a more social BBM.
Verizon
Aug. 2011
T-Mobile myTouch 4G SlideThe myTouch line has evolved from mid-range Android smartphones to top dog status on T-Mobile. The myTouch 4G Slide is a well-made phone with high ends specs like a 1.2GHz dual core CPU, 768 megs of RAM and an 8 megapixel camera with backlit sensor that takes great photos and 1080p video. If QWERTY hardware keyboards are a must, do check out the 4G Slide.
T-Mobile
July
Motorola Droid 3 Are you a member of the Droid a year club? Here's the latest entry from Verizon Wireless and Motorola, the Droid 3. It's an evolutionary step from past Droids, but that doesn't mean we don't really like this high quality QWERTY slider Android smartphone. Beyond the usual excellent materials and soft touch finish, we love the new 5 row keyboard, and the combo of Android OS 2.3 and a dual core 1GHz CPU keep this phone moving fast. The larger display runs at qHD resolution, and as per usual, Motorola squeezes particularly good speeds out of the Droid 3's 3G radio. Like the Droid 2 Global, the Droid 3 is capable of GSM roaming overseas.
Verizon
July 2011
HTC Status(Video Review) HTC and AT&T's affordable and cute QWERTY messenger is the closest you'll get to a Facebook phone. It has a Facebook button that launches the app, and it supports Facebook chat. There's plenty of other social networking and messaging goodness in this compact Android 2.3 Gingerbread smartphone with HTC Sense software. We like the excellent hardware keyboard, but the 2.6" display is a bit small. The Status has a front video chat camera and a rear 5 megapixel autofocus camera that takes decent shots. The phone has the usual GPS, WiFi and Bluetooth, and it runs on an 800MHz CPU.
AT&T
July 2011
HTC EVO 3DThe HTC EVO 4G is a hard act to follow. Sprint's former flagship phone was a real crowd pleaser thanks to its at the time fast CPU, large display and 4G. How do you top that? Double the cores while increasing CPU speed, raise display resolution and throw in a 3D display and camera. That's the EVO 3D, a 1.2 GHz dual core Android OS 2.3 Gingerbread smartphone with WiMAX 4G, a qHD4.3" display and a glassless 3D display (don't worry, it does 2D too). The phone is built like a tank, yet it's good looking and it's slim despite the beefy battery inside. If you're looking for the new flagship phone on Sprint, this is it.
Sprint
June 2011
Samsung Exhibit 4GThe Samsung Exhibit 4G is an embarrassment of riches at a bargain price. For $99 with contract and $299 without contract, you get a lot of high end features like an 800 x 480 display, a 1GHz Hummingbird CPU and 4G HSPA+. The Exhibit has front and rear cameras, WiFi calling and WiFi mobile hotspot, Bluetooth and a GPS. It runs Android OS 2.3 Ginberbread.
T-Mobile
June 2011
HTC HD7SAT&T's fourth Windows 7 device comes almost 8 months after they launched their intial trio of Microsoft's completely new smartphone lineup. The HD7 is an improved version of T-Mobile's HD7 with an upgraded 4.3" Super LCD, a tweaked 5 megapixel camera and the "no do" OS update pre-installed. We definitely love the large display for gaming and video watching too with the kickstand deployed. The HD7S is a great Netflix phone, an impressive XBOX gaming smartphone and it handles music beautifully. Since it's a Microsoft OS, you can count on MS Exchange and a solid MS Office suite. As always, we thoroughly enjoy the Metro UI, and HTC's elegant and robust industrial design.
AT&T
June 2011
Sony Ericsson Xperia PlayGet your game on with Sony Ericsson's first Playstation Certified phone. This Android 2.3 Gingerbread smartphone has a slide-out Playstation controller that's a working facsimile of the console controller. It makes gaming much more enjoyable and your characters won't fall prey to inadequate touch screen controls when playing compatible games. The phone comes with 6 games and you can download and buy 50 more from Verizon's V Cast App store. The Xperia Play has a second gen 1GHz Snapdragon CPU with Adreno 205 graphics, an absolutely lovely 4" capacitive touch screen, 3G and dual cameras. If you're a gamer, you should check out this phone.
Verizon
June 2011
HTC Sensation 4G T-Mobile and HTC's new flagship Android smartphone is hard not to love. It's got a lovely and classy unibody design, the latest Android phone OS and a 4.3" qHD 960 x 540 pixel display vs. the usual 800 x 480. The dual core 1.2 GHz Snapdragon CPU with Adreno 220 graphics keeps things like 1080p video, 3D games and Adobe Flash humming along smoothly and the main 8 megapixel camera can even shoot 1080p video. This is the first US phone to run HTC Sense 3.0, and we give it a thumbs for usefulness and good looks. The Sensation 4G it has 4G HSPA+ and a mobile hotspot feature along with the usual WFi 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0 and a GPS.
T-Mobile
June 2011
Motorola XPRTSprint's version of the Droid Pro on Verizon is a higher end QWERTY-bar Android smartphone with a 3.1" display, Android OS 2.2 Froyo with Motoblur software and a 1GHz CPU. It has 3G EV-DO Rev. A and GSM for world roaming. If you're looking to move from a BlackBerry, the XPRT wants you.
Sprint
June 2011
LG RevolutionVerizon's third 4G LTE phone has a 1GHz single core Snapdragon CPU, a 4.3" capacitive touch screen and 16 gigs of internal storage. It runs on Android OS 2.2 Froyo with software customizations by LG that we like overall. This is one of the few Android phones to ship with Netflix pre-installed and combined with 4G, it's a portable movie lover's dream. Like the Droid Charge and HTC Thunderbolt, this is a large phone and battery life is LTE-challenged. The Revolution has a front 1.3MP video chat camera and rear 5MP main camera along with the usual WiFi, Bluetooth and GPS.
Verizon
June 2011
Motorola Droid X2The original Droid X was one of our top picks among Android phones in 2010. The Droid X2 updates the CPU and display while leaving the elegant design and high quality materials alone. We aren't complaining; as sequels go, the Droid X2 is solid. It has a dual core 1GHz Tegra 2 CPU, a good helping of internal storage and a very sharp qHD 540 x 960 pixel 4.3" display. The phone runs on Android OS 2.2 with a tasteful dose of Motorola software, and it has 3G EV-DO Rev. A. Other amenities include HDMI out, an 8 megapixel camera that can shoot 720p video, Bluetooth, WiFi and a GPS. If your need for speed expresses itself in CPU lust rather than 4G download speeds, this Moto is worth a look.
Verizon
May 2011
HTC TrophyVerizon's first Windows 7 phone is solid: it has HTC's usual elegant styling and good build quality, world GSM roaming capabilities and Redmond's new phone OS that we really like. The Trophy has a 3.8", 800 x 480 capacitive touch screen, a 1GHz CPU, 16 gigs of storage and a 5 megapixel camera. It has 3G on Verizon along with WiFi 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth with A2DP stereo and a GPS. Like all Windows Phone 7 smartphone, it has XBOX gaming and Zune music and video services.
Verizon
May 2011
HP Veer 4GOne of the smallest smartphones on the planet, the diminutive Veer weighs just 3.6 ounces and will fit in a tiny jeans pocket. It looks like a miniature Palm Pre Plus and does all the same things the Pre does too. Though usability suffers when you shrink a phone this much, the Veer could appeal to those upgrading from features phones and those who despise behemoth smartphones. The Veer 4G runs webOS 2.12 on an 800MHz CPU and it has 4G HSPA. Other goodies include WiFi 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth, a GPS and 5 megapixel camera.
AT&T
May 2011
Samsung Infuse 4GThe Infuse 4G is an easy phone to fall in love with: it has a gorgeous and huge 4.5" Super AMOLED Plus display yet it's very slim and potentially pocketable. This Android OS 2.2 Froyo smartphone runs Samsung TouchWiz on a 1.2GHz Hummingbird CPU with graphics acceleration that indeed hums along nicely. The battery capacity verges on extended with 1750 mAh of power and the phone has HSPA+ 21 Mbps 4G with HSUPA uploads (no speed cap here). Throw in 16 gigs of storage and two cameras with a very good 8 megapixel rear main camera and you've got a summer blockbuster on AT&T.
AT&T
May 2011
Nexus S 4GThe fast, clean and attractive Nexus S has made its way to Sprint and gained 4G in the process. The Nexus S 4G, like the GSM version, remains one of our favorite smartphones, even though it's not a new kid on the block. 4G is a very welcome addition and the Nexus S 4G has a vivid 4" Super AMOLED display, 1 GHz Hummingbird CPU, NFC, both front and rear cameras and 16 gigs of storage. Android OS 2.3.4 Gingerbread steals the show here in its pure form, complete with Gtalk video chat. Since it's a Google branded phone (though made by Samsung), timely OS updates should be yours with this phone.
Sprint
May 2011
Droid Incredible 2HTC's second generation Incredible is a really solid Android smartphone that's eclipsed by flashier big screen 4G phones on Verizon. That doesn't mean it isn't a solid buy, especially if you're looking for a Verizon Wireless phone with GSM capabilities for world roaming. The Incredible 2 has a 4" Super LCD touch screen that's very sharp, a second generation 1GHz Snapdragon CPU, front and rear cameras with 8 megapixels of goodness at the rear, and it runs Android OS 2.2 Froyo with HTC's excellent Sense software. It's good looking and well made too.
Verizon
May 2011
Droid ChargeVerizon's second 4G LTE phone is made by Samsung and it boasts their best-in-class 4.3" Super AMOLED display that puts HD plasma TVs to shame. The Charge has very fast 4G on Verizon's ever-expanding LTE network and it runs on a 1GHz Hummingbird CPU with hardware graphics acceleration. This Droid is s sharpshooter with dual cameras, and the rear camera takes sharp shots and 720p video. The Charge will set you back $299 with contract-- even more than the direct competitor HTC Thunderbolt on Verizon. Is it worth the extra bucks? Read our review to find out.
Verizon
April 2011
Kyocera EchoFirst a dual screen notebook in the Acer Iconia 6120, and now a dual screen Android phone. The Kyocera Echo received a minor bashing after it was announced, but now that we've had it hands-on for a week, it's actually a pretty innovative and useful smartphone. The Echo has two 800 x 480 pixel, 3.5" displays and it can run dueling apps or span an app across the entire display. It runs on a 1GHz Snapdragon CPU, has 3G and a 5 megapixel shooter that can take 720p video. The design might not win a Milan design award, but it has a certain Steampunk look that just might grow on you.
Sprint
April 2011
T-Mobile LG G2xOnce in a while, a manufacturer really surprises us in a good way. LG, who'd been banished to entry and mid-tier phones, has come up with an Android superphone that's won our Editor's Choice award. Sure, the specs look great, but more importantly everything just works well and the materials and build quality are downright elegant. The G2x is T-Mobile's latest flagship phone, and it's the cousin to the LG Optimus 2x overseas. It has a dual core 1GHz Tegra 2 CPU, a really lovely 4" IPS display running at 800 x 480 resolution, 4G HSPA+, an 8 megapixel shooter than can do 1080p video plus a front video chat camera. Combine that with pure Android 2.2 Froyo and solid battery life, and you've got the T-Mobile G2x by LG.
T-Mobile
April 2011
Sidekick 4GThe spirit of the Sidekick lives on thanks to Samsung and T-Mobile. Samsung has taken the sturdy, text-loving Sidekick design and infused it with the power and versatility of Android. The Sidekick 4G runs Android OS 2.2 Froyo on a 1GHz Hummingbird CPU. It has 4G HSPA+, WiFi 802.11n, Bluetooth and a 3 MP camera. Slide up the 3.5", 800 x 480 capacitive display to reveal a roomy full QWERTY keyboard.
T-Mobile
April 2011
HTC ThunderboltThe HTC Thunderbolt is Verizon's latest flagship Android smartphone. The Thunderbolt has Verizon's wickedly fast 4G LTE for download speeds ranging from 8 to 15 megs on the phone and sometimes faster when using the WiFi hotspot sharing utility that provides a broadband connection to your notebook, iPad or other device. We love the large 4.3" display and kickstand that lets you kick back and watch streaming movies comfortably and the phone's fast second gen Snapdragon CPU. The 8 megapixel rear camera takes sharp shots and 720p video and there's a front-facing camera as well. The Thunderbolt isn't perfect, but it is one of the top smartphones on the market right now.
Verizon
March 2011
HTC ArriveSprint's first Windows Phone 7 smartphone is one of our favorites. The hardware design and quality are typical top-notch HTC and the unique hinge is robust. The Arrive runs the updated version of Windows Phone 7 that adds copy and paste along with a few other improvements, and it has 3G EV-DO. Rev. A. Specs are typical for the platform with a 1 GHz Snapdragon CPU, 16 gigs of storage, WiFi, Bluetooth, a GPS and a 5 megapixel camera that can shoot 720p video. The Arrive has a 3.6" display and a very good QWERTY keyboard.
Sprint
April 2011
Motorola Atrix 4G The Motorola Atrix is currently the fastest Android phone on the market, and it's one of the most innovative thanks to a line of super-accessories like the Lapdock and HD Multimedia dock that turn it into a laptop or desktop computer of sorts. It's all powered by Webtop Linux which runs smoothly on the dual core 1GHz Tegra 2 CPU. The Atrix also has the highest resolution among Android phones with a 4", 960 x 540 pixel display. It runs on Android OS 2.2 Froyo with Motoblur software and it has 4G HSPA+.
AT&T
March 2011
Nokia E7The keyboarded companion to the Nokia N8 is here and it boasts superb hardware and an excellent QWERTY keyboard. The design and feel are top notch, but Symbian ^3 still lags behind more modern mobile operating systems when it comes to user interface and touch interaction. Still, it's hard to beat the E7's 8 megapixel camera, elegant hinge design and 4" AMOLED SuperBlack capacitive touch screen. The E7 is sold unlocked for use with any GSM carrier, and it has both T-Mobile and AT&T 3G HSDPA.
Unlocked GSM
March 2011
Samsung Galaxy S 4G Think of the Galaxy S 4G as a souped-up 2011 Samsung Vibrant. The Galaxy S 4G adds the latest amenities including a front video chat camera that works with Qik, 4G HSPA+, a beefier battery and Android OS 2.2 Froyo with Flash 10.1. It has a new back design to prevent accidental drops and it looks cool too. Otherwise it's business as usual with a 1GHz Hummingbird CPU, vivid 4" Super AMOLED display, WiFi including hotspot tethering and WiFi calling, Bluetooth and a solid GPS.
T-Mobile
Feb. 2011
HTC Inspire 4GAT&T is getting serious with Android now that their iPhone exclusivity is over, and the Inspire 4G is one lovely high end Android phone at a reasonable price. The Inspire 4G has HSPA+ 4G, a sharp 4.3" SLCD display running at 800 x 480 resolution and a second gen 1GHz Snapdragon CPU. The unibody aluminum alloy body is sumptuous and the 8 megapixel camera with dual LED flash does 720p video with aplomb. The Inspire runs Android OS 2.2 Froyo with HTC Sense software. It's quickly become one of our favorite Android smartphones.
AT&T
Feb. 2011
HTC EVO Shift 4GThis is the keyboarded companion to Sprint's wildly successful HTC EVO 4G. Unlike the original EVO, the Shift 4G isn't a top of the line superphone, but rather a solidly built mid to high tier QWERTY Android phone that's well suited to business. It has an 800MHz second gen Qualcomm Snapdragon CPU, an 800 x 480 pixel 3.6" capacitive multi-touch display and a 5 megapixel camera. It runs Android OS 2.2 Froyo with HTC Sense software. The Shift has both 3G EV-DO Rev. A and WiMax 4G with Sprint's WiFi hotspot feature.
Sprint
Jan. 2011
iPhone 4 (AT&T)iPhone 4 (Verizon)It's June and you know what that means: a new iPhone model. The iPhone 4 once again had thousands of people standing in line at absolutely ungodly hours, waiting and hoping to get Apple's latest wonder toy. And the iPhone 4 is undoubtedly the best iPhone yet with a stunning industrial design, superb build quality, an excellent camera and free video chatting over WiFi. The Retina Display is extremely sharp and easy on the eyes and the smartphone is very fast. But all isn't perfect with the iPhone 4, and that gives the competition a little room to breath.
AT&T and Verizon
June 2010,
Feb. 2011
Motorola Cliq 2 The original Motorola Cliq wasn't all that, but the new Cliq 2 is a different animal. For $99 with contract, you get a 1GHz ARM Cortex-A8 CPU, a 3.7" multi-touch 854 x 480 display, 3G with 3G Mobile Hotspot and Wi-Fi calling, and the usual trio of Bluetooth, WiFi 802.11b/g/n and a GPS. The 5 megapixel autofocus camera with dual LED flash takes sharp shots and the phone runs nicely on Android OS 2.2 Froyo with Motoblur software.
T-Mobile
Jan. 2011
Samsung Nexus SThe second Google phone is the follow up to the Nexus One and it's an evolved version of the Samsung Galaxy S, this time running Android OS 2.3 Gingerbread. Masterminded by Google and produced by Samsung, the Nexus S sticks with the successful Samsung Android superphone recipe: 4" Super AMOLED display that's best of breed, 1 GHz Hummingbird CPU with hardware graphics acceleration, 5 megapixel camera, 3G HSDPA 7.2 for T-Mobile US and overseas and 16 gigs of storage. This gloss black phone is sexy and slippery, and it's sold unlocked though it works best with T-Mobile in the US. It's the first Android OS 2.3 phone and it adds a few new hardware features including NFC (Near Field Communications), a curved Contour display. If you want a pure Android experience in an unlocked phone with high end specs, do check out the Nexus S.
Unlocked GSM (avail. with T-Mobile contract and 3G)
Dec. 2010
LG Optimus SThe LG Optimus S is Sprint's most affordable Android smartphone; in fact it sells for less than some feature phones. That doesn't mean it's junk, in fact it's a solid Android smartphone that runs Android OS 2.2 Froyo on a 600MHz Qualcomm processor. The Optimus S is part of the Sprint ID trio of phones that makes customization of software and widgets easy based on your interests. The Optimus S has a 3.2" HVGA capacitive multi-touch display, GPS, WiFi, Bluetooth and a 3.2 megapixel camera. This is a video review of the phone.
Sprint
Nov. 2010
Samsung FocusThe Focus is the hottest Windows 7 Phone on AT&T thanks to its stunning Super AMOLED display, slim design and user accessible microSD card slot. The display has eye-popping colors, is sharp and is quite viewable outdoors. The Focus, like all Windows 7 phones has a 1GHz Snapdragon CPU with graphics acceleration, plenty of internal storage, a 5 megapixel camera that takes very nice shots, a GPS, Bluetooth and WiFi 802.11n. Of the first launch group of US Windows 7 phones, the Focus is our favorite.
AT&T
Nov. 2010
BlackBerry Curve 3G 9330 Thanks to Verizon's bargain pricing, the latest Curve is the most affordable BlackBerry smartphone at introduction. That's not to say it's cheesy, in fact the design and materials are the best yet on the entry level Curve line. The Curve 3G is upgradable to BlackBerry OS 6, and that's its most exciting feature. Unfortunately, it still ships with OS 5, but we're hoping the upgrade will be out soon. In fact, we upgraded our phone with a pre-release versionof OS 6 for the Curve 3G and we liked what we saw. our review includes a video review of the Curve 3G running OS 6 and a video with OS 5. The Curve has 3G EV-DO Rev. A, a 2 megapixel camera, QVGA display, GPS, Bluetooth, WiFi and RIM's usual excellent QWERTY keyboard.
Verizon
Sept. 2010
Samsung Wave The Wave is Samsung's first smartphone running their new bada OS. If you crossed the Samsung Jet's OS and software with Android, you'd have something like bada. The hardware is top notch with a 3.3", 800 x 480 pixel Super AMOLED display that will toast your retinas with color and light. Other standard superphone amenities include a 1GHz processor, a sharp 5 megapixel camera that can shoot 720p video, WiFi, Bluetooth and GPS. This is an import GSM quad band world phone, and that means no contract subsidies through your US carrier and no US 3G. Still, it's interesting to see how bada has turned out and what Samsung can do with high end hardware design.
Unlocked GSM
July 2010
LG OctaneNo, the feature phone isn't dead yet, especially the QWERTY messaging kind. And the LG Octane follows in the footsteps of the long-lived and successful LG enV line of horizontal QWERTY flips phones that look like micro laptops when open. This Verizon phone features a larger outer dial pad and an LCD plus an internal QVGA display and full QWERTY keyboard. The specs are in line with the enV Touch (minus touch screen) and the phone has 3G, a 3.2 megapixel camera, V Cast Video, a GPS with VZ Navigator and Bluetooth with A2DP stereo. If you're not into the smartphone thing and want a solid and attractive messaging phone with that familiar Verizon feature phone user interface, the Octane is worth a look.
Verizon
Dec. 2010
Samsung Eternity IIDo you like electric blue? And really cool bubble patterns on your phone's back? For better or worse, these two features stand out most on the Eternity II. While the first Samsung Eternity back in 2008 was one heck of a cool touch screen phone for its time, the Eternity II doesn't really add anything to that two year old formula. The second Eternity is inexpensive though, and we actually really do love that blue color. The phone is available on AT&T and it has a 3" resistive touch screen, FloTV, 3G HSDPA, a 2 megapixel camera, music player, Bluetooth and a GPS. The phone runs Samsung's TouchWiz UI and it comes with social networking software, streaming video and other goodies.
AT&T
August 2010
LG SentioTouch screen phones might be all the rage, but not everyone wants a smartphone or a required data plan. The Sentio is an entry to mid-level touch screen feature phone that aims to capture the non-smartphone market. It has a 3" resistive touch screen and a very intuitive user interface complete with widgets. It's slim and nice looking and fits easily in a pocket. The Sentio has a GPS that works with TeleNav and Google Maps, Bluetooth, a microSD card slot and a 3 megapixel camera. The phone has plenty of social networking and email options and it runs on T-Mobile's 3G HSDPA network. But that resistive screen is just so-so.
T-Mobile
Aug. 2010
Palm Pre Plus The third time around, the Palm Pre is really hitting its stride. The Pre Plus on AT&T, like the Verizon version, features 16 gigs of storage and double the RAM of the Pre on Sprint. With a 3.1" capacitive multi-touch display, a fresh yet maturing webOS, full multi-tasking and a growing app catalog, this Palm breathes life into AT&T's ailing smartphone touch screen line. Other features include an improved slide-out QWERTY keyboard, a GPS that works with Google Maps and AT&T Navigator, 3G HSDPA, WiFi, Bluetooth and a solid camera that can shoot VGA video. Well worth a look if the iPhone doesn't float your boat. Heck, it's worth a look even if it does.
AT&T
May 2010
Sharp FXThink of the Sharp FX as a Sidekick minus the Sidekick OS. This multimedia-heavy feature phone has FLO broadcast digital TV, AT&T's streaming video, a capable music player with Napster support and a 3.5mm stereo jack. The FX has a roomy QWERTY keyboard, a resistive touch screen and solid build quality. The usual goodies are there too: a GPS with AT&T Navigator, Bluetooth with A2DP stereo and a microSD card slot. If you're looking for a multimedia messaging phone and don't want to get into the smartphone thing, the Sharp is a worth a look.
AT&T
August 2010
Samsung RestoreNot into the touch screen craze? Just want a solid 3G messaging phone? The eco-friendly Samsung Restore is a full-featured messaging phone with EV-DO, Sprint TV, Sprint Navigation, the Netfront web browser and a solid music player that handles MP3 and AAC iTunes format music. The Restore has a roomy slide-out QWERTY keyboard, but when closed it looks like a normal candy bar phone with a standard number pad. It has a GPS, 2 megapixel camera, Bluetooth with stereo support and an SDHC microSD card slot. A nice mid-tier offering from Sprint and Samsung.
Sprint
July 2010
Nokia N8The phone-loving world has had its eye on Nokia's first Symbian ^3 OS smartphone that's optimized for touch and ready for modern times. The N8 features a mind-boggling 12 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss lens and a Xenon flash that will blind your friends and illuminate the dark corners of your life. It snaps fantastic photos and 720p video. The phone has a 3.5" capacitive multi-touch AMOLED display that vibrant, Flash video support, a full HTML web browser, WiFi 802.11n, Bluetooth 3.0 and a GPS with Ovi Maps. other amenities include an FM radio and FM transmitter, 16 gigs of storage, a microSD card slot and aluminum casing. This is an unlocked GSM phone that supports both AT&T and T-Mobile 3GG HSDPA as well as overseas 3G.
Unlocked GSM
Oct. 2010
Microsoft Kin One and Kin TwoHere are two phones you wouldn't believe came out of Microsoft's shop. With hardware made by Sharp (the folks who brought you the Sidekick), the KIN One and Two are playful and fun touchscreen QWERTY phones that target the youth market with heavy social networking. Their user interfaces are full of eye candy and work well with touch, yet they aren't like any other phone on the market. Both phones run the same software and share the same core features that include a fast Tegra CPU, plenty of storage, a slider QWERTY keyboard, an integrated Zune player that's similar to the Zune HD, EV-DO Rev. A 3G, WiFi, Bluetooth and high resolution cameras. These are QWERTY sliders and the larger KIN Two has more storage and an 8 megapixel camera vs. the KIN One's 5 megapixel shooter. They're sold by Verizon in the US.
