10. Droid Pro
The Droid Pro is a smartphone ideal for your business needs. This cell phone offers both a touchscreen and QWERTY keypad along with all your basic multimedia features and the Android 2.2 operating system. Unfortunately, this cellular device lacks 4G technology and has poor memory.
Design
This smartphone features a compact design with a 3.1-inch touchscreen and a QWERTY keypad. Having these two design features gives you more versatility when navigating around the phone. The touchscreen includes a virtual keypad, but because of the small touchscreen the keys are small and difficult to push. The touchscreen often has difficulty responding and you may encounter a significant amount of lag time.
Additionally, the display on the Droid Pro is a mediocre 320 x 480 pixel resolution, so the images are not as clear and crisp as we wanted to see on a Droid device. Even with both keypads on the front of the device, this smartphone is compact and durable. It is also lightweight, weighing only 4.7 ounces. Multimedia
The Droid Pro doesn’t offer any advanced multimedia features. The music player lets you play MP3s, along with creating and managing your playlists. There is a 5MP (megapixel) camera on the device, which worked well, but we were disappointed to see the megapixels so low. There are several camera features to help enhance your photos such as autofocus, low-light capability and touch-to-focus. There is no video chat capability or HD video recording.
Call Features & Quality
All of the vital call features are available on the Droid Pro. The speakerphone on the cell phone is loud and there is little static. Conference calling, emergency dials and call waiting are also available features, along with speed dialing and automatic redialing. You can customize your contacts with pictures or assign specific ringtones.
The quality of your phone conversations can be hit or miss on this device. At times, there are no problems and conversations are loud with no static in the background. Other times, the phone will drop calls or there is so much background noise, you can’t hear the person on the other end of the phone. Battery Life & Memory
There is up to 480 minutes of talk time battery life available on the Droid Pro. This amount of battery will give you a full day’s use on a single battery charge if you don't use the phone excessively. The battery will stay charged for up to 330 hours of standby. However, if any of the phone’s displays are active, the battery is used much faster, so manage your phone use wisely.
The biggest drawback to this cell phone is the small amount of memory offered. There is only 2GB of memory available on the device, which is slightly enhanced by a 2GB microSD card that's also included. This gives you little space available for an assortment of music, applications, contacts, photos or videos. Luckily, if you are looking to store a vast amount of content on your device, the phone can support a microSD card up to 32GB. Additional Features
The Droid Pro offers the same features you would find in most smartphones currently on the market. There is Bluetooth connectivity, web access and Wi-Fi connectivity. You can use this phone as a mobile hotspot, where it will connect up to five devices to the internet. This device is also compatible with Adobe Flash so browsing the web on this device is enjoyable, and you can access and view more content. Also, to improve your productivity, there is a calculator, calendar and alarm clock to keep you right on schedule. There is no 4G technology available, which is a drawback to this smartphone.
Summary
We were disappointed with the amount of memory available and the lack of 4G technology on the Droid Pro. However, the design of this smartphone, along with its productivity features and ability to become a mobile hotpot are features that truly enhance this phone. The battery life, call features and Adobe Flash Player make this device business-friendly for someone constantly on the go.
9. Google Nexus S
Google is back for round two with their smartphone the Google Nexus S. This cell phone offers the Gingerbread operating system, Google applications and a 4-inch display. It is fast, can multitask and allows you to video chat. Even with these excellent features, there are some areas where this cellular device is lacking.
Design
The 4-inch touchscreen is responsive and offers stunning picture on the Nexus S. The display features 480 x 800 pixel resolution, which is one of the highest resolutions you will find on a smartphone. The colors are vivid and bright, and images are crisp and detailed. Unfortunately, the touchscreen does have a little lag time after keys are pushed on the virtual keypad and while programs are opening.
Even with such a large display screen, the dimensions of the phone stay fairly small. The device is 4.8 inches long and 2.4 inches wide. This smartphone weighs 4.5 ounces, which is lightweight compared to many devices with similar design features. Multimedia
The multimedia features available on the Google Nexus S are those you would find on most smartphones. There is a built-in MP3 player that lets you listen to music while you are on the go. A 3.5mm headphone jack is available on the device so you can plug in a pair of headphones and listen whenever you want.
There is a 5MP (megapixel) rear camera on the device. We were disappointed to see Google only settled for a 5MP camera instead of 8MP or higher. There is an autofocus feature, along with flash, so you can still take high-quality photos. Call Features & Quality
All of your basic call features are available on the Google Nexus S. These features include conference calling, call holding along with call waiting. You can view your call history and see your dialed, received and missed phone calls. You can also customize the contacts in your address book by assigning specific ringtones or pictures to their contact information.
Battery Life & Memory
This smartphone offers up to 402 talk-time minutes on a single battery charge. The battery drains quickly when any of the phone’s displays are active. If you are constantly texting, listening to music, playing games or making phone calls, your battery will not last long and you'll need to charge it frequently. Luckily, up to 428 standby hours are available on a single battery charge. This gives you days, even weeks, of power if you use it sparingly.
Additional Features
Gingerbread, also known as Android 2.3, is the operating system available on the Nexus S. Gingerbread gives the phone additional speed, a different file system for applications and an improved keyboard compared to the Android 2.2 system. Gingerbread also improves gaming and offers a variety of new games. We were disappointed to see that even with an improved operating system, this smartphone lacks 4G capabilities. The 4G technology is quickly becoming a must-have in several new cell phones, and without it this cell phone is quickly falling behind the competition.
Summary
The Android 2.3 operating system and stunning design of the Google Nexus S are the standout features available on this smartphone. This device offers what most other phones offer, but we were disappointed with the 5MP camera, short battery life and the lack of 4G technology.
8. Droid X
The Android smartphones family is growing, and with each new addition they keep getting better. The Droid X is a new addition to the Android smartphone market and provides numerous features that makes it one of the top smartphones today. With a gorgeous 4.3-inch touch screen, the ability to capture stunning HD video and the potential to be used as a mobile hotspot, the Droid X is one of the toughest smartphones. For more side-by-side comparisons and objective reviews, visit our smartphone page.
For those who like the feel of a physical keyboard when using smartphones, this is not the cellular device for you. The Droid X provides a virtual keyboard with the Swype feature, which allows the user to drag his or her finger from key to key without lifting the finger. We found Swype to be difficult to use at first, but once we got used to it, we found we could type long messages very quickly
Design
Motorola created a wireless cellular device with an overall stunning and beautiful display. The 4.3-inch touchscreen makes viewing images on your phone enjoyable on the clear and crisp display. We were pleased that this phone was easy to use out in the sun and in brightly lit areas compared to many other smartphones.
A hump towards the top of the Droid X makes this smartphone’s design unique compared to other Android smartphones. The phone is thin, super thin, so they needed someplace to store the camera module and chose to create this strange hump for that purpose. We didn’t mind the hump, and it really didn’t get in the way much as we first thought it might when we saw the device.For those who like the feel of a physical keyboard when using smartphones, this is not the cellular device for you. The Droid X provides a virtual keyboard with the Swype feature, which allows the user to drag his or her finger from key to key without lifting the finger. We found Swype to be difficult to use at first, but once we got used to it, we found we could type long messages very quickly
Multimedia
The Droid X is the ideal multimedia phone. It features an 8MP (megapixel) camera and HD camcorder. The ability to record HD video is being seen more and more frequently on smartphones, and they blow your basic camcorder away. The camera provides a vast selection of scene modes, including landscape, portrait and Macro. It also offers a face-detection feature which automatically focuses on a human subject.
Call Features & Quality
Basic call features are found on this device, along with several voice features. These voice features, which include a speakerphone, speed dial and conference calling, can each enhance the overall quality of your conversations while using smartphones.
Battery Life & Memory
Basic call features are found on this device, along with several voice features. These voice features, which include a speakerphone, speed dial and conference calling, can each enhance the overall quality of your conversations while using smartphones.
Additional Features
The Droid X has many multimedia and camera features that are found on the Apple iPhone 4. However, the Droid X beats out the iPhone 4 with its ability to become a mobile hotspot. This allows for other devices that use Wi-Fi connectivity, such as other smartphones, to use the Droid X to receive an internet connection. To use the hotspot you will need to have the Mobile Broadband plan, which costs a little extra money each month.
Summary
The Droid X has a few flaws. We would like a longer standby time in regards to the battery life, and even a physical keyboard would be nice. If you are looking for a smartphone that has many similar features as the Apple iPhone 4, but don’t want to fall into the Apple fan club, the Droid X gives you what you want and a little bit more on smartphones.
7. Xperia PLAY
We've anxiously awaited the U.S. release of the Xperia PLAY from Sony Ericsson, a device that's long been known somewhat incorrectly as the PlayStation Phone. Just imagine – it's a full-featured smartphone and a genuine portable gaming console wrapped up in one convenient package. In large measure, we are not disappointed. It does satisfy the requirements of both these disparate roles, but not without some compromises along the way. As a gap-bridging device, it's very good. However, it's not the best hand-held gaming device on the market, and it's far from being the best smartphone available. Still, we think that the Xperia PLAY will be appealing to many smartphone users who are serious about their gaming.
The big news, of course, with the Xperia PLAY is the integration of a game console into the phone unit. Sure, just about any cell phone these days is capable of some game play, but you can only expect so much from a touchscreen phone. This device has a slide-out control panel that's clearly modeled on the PlayStation controller. You'll find the standard 4-way directional keys as along with the familiar square, circle, triangle and cross controls. The big difference is that, in place of the typical pair of joysticks, there are two circular, touch-sensitive pads. We've always had mixed emotions about touch-sensitive controls, and these are not an exception. True, they work pretty well, but there's a degree of uncertainty and inconsistency. They work perfectly much of the time and then surprise the user with a misstep that can result in a gaming mistake. Joysticks they're not, and many users seem to quickly default to using the directional keys.
The Xperia PLAY comes pre-loaded with several games, including "Bruce Lee: Dragon Warrior," "Star Battalion," "Madden NFL 11," "Crash Bandicoot" and others. You can download more games from the Verizon Wireless V CAST Apps Store and, since it's an Android device, from the Android Market. Note that not all games are compatible with the PlayStation-style controller, so you'll need to choose carefully in order to take advantage of this feature. Game play is excellent on the Xperia's bright and bold 4-inch screen.
The Xperia PLAY is certainly sleek when compared to the cell phones of yesteryear, but by today's standards, it's pretty bulky. Measuring 0.63 inches thick, it's the chunkiest device in our top ten smartphones lineup and is nearly twice as thick as much of the competition. It also weighs more than 6 ounces, which is pretty hefty by current phone standards. These figures aren't a big surprise given all that's packed into the unit, but it's worth knowing if you plan to slip it into a pants pocket or a nearly maxed-out bag.
Though the Xperia PLAY offers more in the gaming arena than other smartphones, some important features that we've come to expect from a cutting-edge smartphone are conspicuous in their absence. Chief among them is the lack of 4G LTE functionality. Sure, 3G data was the gold standard not long ago, but that's changing at an ever-increasing pace, and 3G compatibility will likely seem rather dated by the end of a 2-year contract commitment. Although a highly capable 1GHz Snapdragon processor powers this smartphone, it too will likely become a limitation as dual-core chips quickly become the norm among the most powerful smartphones.
We expected this sort of phone to be a multimedia powerhouse, but there are some holes in that arena as well. The camera offers only average performance. While it is also a video recorder, it won't capture HD video. The front-facing VGA camera accommodates video chatting, but it doesn’t perform as well has more highly rated devices in this category. The Xperia PLAY would also be more versatile if it had an HDMI output to allow you to view the phone's display on a monitor or TV screen.
There are some notable positives too. The phone runs the newest Android 2.3 operating system. Sony Ericsson and Verizon Wireless have made some minor customizations to it, but we appreciate their minimal intrusion. The OS is great just as it is.
Predictably, the phone has Bluetooth connectivity, including stereo Bluetooth. It's also a social-media champ with integrated apps for YouTube, Facebook and Twitter. Among our favorite features that aren't universally available is this phone's capability to function as a Wi-Fi hotspot for as many as five devices. The practicality of this feature is nearly limitless. We’re also particularly fond of the Skype app for VoIP telephony.
The big news, of course, with the Xperia PLAY is the integration of a game console into the phone unit. Sure, just about any cell phone these days is capable of some game play, but you can only expect so much from a touchscreen phone. This device has a slide-out control panel that's clearly modeled on the PlayStation controller. You'll find the standard 4-way directional keys as along with the familiar square, circle, triangle and cross controls. The big difference is that, in place of the typical pair of joysticks, there are two circular, touch-sensitive pads. We've always had mixed emotions about touch-sensitive controls, and these are not an exception. True, they work pretty well, but there's a degree of uncertainty and inconsistency. They work perfectly much of the time and then surprise the user with a misstep that can result in a gaming mistake. Joysticks they're not, and many users seem to quickly default to using the directional keys.
The Xperia PLAY comes pre-loaded with several games, including "Bruce Lee: Dragon Warrior," "Star Battalion," "Madden NFL 11," "Crash Bandicoot" and others. You can download more games from the Verizon Wireless V CAST Apps Store and, since it's an Android device, from the Android Market. Note that not all games are compatible with the PlayStation-style controller, so you'll need to choose carefully in order to take advantage of this feature. Game play is excellent on the Xperia's bright and bold 4-inch screen.
The Xperia PLAY is certainly sleek when compared to the cell phones of yesteryear, but by today's standards, it's pretty bulky. Measuring 0.63 inches thick, it's the chunkiest device in our top ten smartphones lineup and is nearly twice as thick as much of the competition. It also weighs more than 6 ounces, which is pretty hefty by current phone standards. These figures aren't a big surprise given all that's packed into the unit, but it's worth knowing if you plan to slip it into a pants pocket or a nearly maxed-out bag.
Though the Xperia PLAY offers more in the gaming arena than other smartphones, some important features that we've come to expect from a cutting-edge smartphone are conspicuous in their absence. Chief among them is the lack of 4G LTE functionality. Sure, 3G data was the gold standard not long ago, but that's changing at an ever-increasing pace, and 3G compatibility will likely seem rather dated by the end of a 2-year contract commitment. Although a highly capable 1GHz Snapdragon processor powers this smartphone, it too will likely become a limitation as dual-core chips quickly become the norm among the most powerful smartphones.
We expected this sort of phone to be a multimedia powerhouse, but there are some holes in that arena as well. The camera offers only average performance. While it is also a video recorder, it won't capture HD video. The front-facing VGA camera accommodates video chatting, but it doesn’t perform as well has more highly rated devices in this category. The Xperia PLAY would also be more versatile if it had an HDMI output to allow you to view the phone's display on a monitor or TV screen.
There are some notable positives too. The phone runs the newest Android 2.3 operating system. Sony Ericsson and Verizon Wireless have made some minor customizations to it, but we appreciate their minimal intrusion. The OS is great just as it is.
Predictably, the phone has Bluetooth connectivity, including stereo Bluetooth. It's also a social-media champ with integrated apps for YouTube, Facebook and Twitter. Among our favorite features that aren't universally available is this phone's capability to function as a Wi-Fi hotspot for as many as five devices. The practicality of this feature is nearly limitless. We’re also particularly fond of the Skype app for VoIP telephony.
Summary
The Xperia PLAY pushes the limits, expanding the type and number of video games beyond those that have previously been available on smartphones. The phone's PlayStation-like controller sets the bar higher than it's ever been for exciting game play on a phone. The hybrid device also performs well as a phone, though it has several technical limitations such as only 3G data transfer and a single-core processor that we expect will become dated relatively quickly. Nonetheless, for consumers who need the functionality of a smartphone but place great emphasis on high-quality mobile game play, this phone is hard to beat.
6. HTC EVO 4G
The 4G network is about to become fully fledged, and it's bringing America’s first 4G phone, the HTC EVO 4G with it. This fourth-generation network has spread to only a few dozen cities in the U.S, and until it expands, the EVO is just another Android out on the market. However, it isn’t just a phone to be set aside and ignored. This HTC phone has many advanced features, such as the 8MP (mega-pixel) camera, ability to connect to an HDTV and the latest version of the HTC Sense User Interface making it a strong player on the Android team. For a side-by-side comparison and objective reviews visit the smartphone review page.
The EVO 4G is similar to all other Droids with features such as GPS Navigation, Bluetooth technology, digital compass, proximity and motion sensors and a loud speakerphone. It also has a pinch-to-zoom feature and automatic text reflowing which provides easy web page views.
Design
The EVO not only has increased speed and power compared to other Droids, but also increased size. This HTC is a big and thick phone. With the generous screen-size of 4.3-inches, this phone needs to be bulky and firm to deal with the demand media it likes. Sharp colors and vibrancy are also important with such a grand display, and the EVO will not disappoint with a screen resolution of 480 x 800 pixels, which is the same sharp resolution you will find on both the Nexus One and Droid Incredible.
Multimedia
The EVO 4G is not shy when it comes to multimedia features. This HTC phone features both an 8MP primary camera and a 1.3MP front-facing camera, supported by two white LED flashes. However, a drawback to the photo setup is that the lenses are flush-mounted on the back of the phone and not recessed into the metal case, which could make it a target for scratches--an easy way to ruin a prized feature on the phone.
A top feature of the EVO is the ability to download, view, edit and share High Definition (HD) content directly from the phone. The HTC device features an HD video capture which then easily lets the user watch the video on an HDTV using an HDMI cable. It also features the option of outputting pictures and slides into an HD format and live video sharing with Qik. Call Features & Quality
As previously stated, the 4G coverage is great for those who live in select areas and are able to bask in its glory. But even for those who don’t use it on a regular basis, this phone includes a mandatory ten dollars per month “Premium Data add-on” for using WiMAX when in the 4G market. An extra ten dollars per month can add up for rarely using a network. Well, at least until it expands drastically. New metropolitan areas are being added to the 4G network each month, so chances are you'll be near one of them soon enough.
Battery Life & Memory
Running on the 1GHz Snapdragon processor and using Android 2.1, the EVO is similar to the Droid Incredible’s processing features. However, only 1GB of internal memory is stored on the phone, making it a poor comparison to the Incredible’s 8GB. But similar to other HTC phones, there is provided a microSD card slot that will support up to 32GB of additional storage.
Additional Features
A new feature that will make all the other Droids jealous is the kickstand found on the back of the phone. This is a great tool for allowing easy media or web viewing. And of course the EVO 4G includes the Google mobile services such as YouTube, Gmail, Google Talk, Google Voice, Google Maps and more.
The award-winning user interface, HTC Sense, is also found on the EVO. The HTC Sense includes a “leap” thumbnail to switch between home and other screen panels, which improves multi-tasking, and also Friend Stream, which takes the contacts from Facebook, Twitter and Flickr and brings you updates in one place. This user interface also includes interactive widgets and a polite ringer.The EVO 4G is similar to all other Droids with features such as GPS Navigation, Bluetooth technology, digital compass, proximity and motion sensors and a loud speakerphone. It also has a pinch-to-zoom feature and automatic text reflowing which provides easy web page views.
Summary
Even though the 4G network is getting all the hype, until it expands to a broader area, it is hard to get too excited. HTC EVO 4G is one of the best smartphones out there and will only improve once the 4G network grows.
5. Samsung Galaxy S
The Samsung Galaxy S is a smartphone with several bells and whistles and a beautiful display. With 4G capabilities, video chat, the Android 2.2 operating system and a 4-inch display, this cell phone offers the features you want in a smartphone. Unfortunately, it just doesn’t offer anything extraordinary to set it apart from other advanced cell phones.
Design
A 4-inch touchscreen display is a key feature on this cell phone. The touchscreen is large and is ideal for video chats, playback of video or simply surfing the internet. The screen is responsive and the keys on the virtual keyboard are large and easy to press. Unfortunately, you may notice some little lag time after pressing the virtual keys or while opening programs.
The AMOLED display is beautiful and with 480 x 800 pixel resolution, images come to life. The resolution on this display screen is high enough you can see the image’s details, and it makes watching movies, TV shows or even playing games much more enjoyable. Multimedia
Video chat capabilities are available through the application QIK and the front-facing camera. Using these two features, you can chat with anyone, anywhere around the word. If you're using the 4G network, the video chats are quick with few problems during a video call. When using a 3G network, you may experience several more complications.
We were disappointed to see a 5MP (megapixel) camera available on the device. This camera takes adequate photos, but for higher quality, we would like to see at least an 8MP camera included on the Samsung Galaxy S. There are HD recording capabilities which worked well, and there is a 4x digital zoom available to enhance the quality of your photos and video. Call Features & Quality
This smartphone excels at being a regular cell phone. The Galaxy provides all the features you need for placing and receiving calls. There are conference-calling capabilities along with call holding. You can look through your call history and see calls that you dialed, received or missed, along with the duration of each phone call. There is call waiting, and you can give your contacts personalized pictures and ringtones.
Battery Life & Memory
The Samsung Galaxy S offers enough battery life to make it through a day on a single battery charge as long as you aren't constantly using it. This smartphone provides up to 390 minutes of talk time on a single battery charge. This means battery can quickly drain if displays are active or a phone call is in progress.
There is plenty of memory available to store all your photos, videos and music on this cell phone. There is 32GB of available memory, which gives you plenty of room for your important documents and your entertainment media. Additional Features
There aren’t any significant features that are unique to this smartphone. However, all features perform excellently with few problems. The Android 2.2 operating system makes the user interface simple to use for those new to Android or for the experienced user. The operating system makes it possible for you to customize your separate homescreens or turn your device into a mobile hotspot. This means you can provide wireless internet for up to five separate devices at once.
Summary
The Samsung Galaxy S offers excellent features. There are few problems with this phone, but unfortunately there aren’t any features available on the device that stand out from other smartphones. The 4-inch display is gorgeous, and we were pleased with the video chat capabilities. The phone’s memory was excellent and the call quality was superb.
4. T-Mobile myTouch 4G
The T-Mobile myTouch 4G gives you a variety of advanced features at the touch of your fingers. Video chat capabilities, along with SWYPE, tethering and 4G technology are available on this cellular device. This smartphone offers a 1GHz processor and runs on Android 2.2, so you are never waiting long for your application to download or for a program to open.
Additional Features
Design
When it comes to design, this phone offers several must-have features, but unfortunately it also includes a few that could use some improvement. The touchscreen offers crisp 480 x 800 pixel display. The colors on this display screen are vivid, bright and sharp. The only drawback is the 3.8-inch display screen, whose small size takes away some enjoyment of viewing movies, pictures or just browsing the web on your phone.
With a smaller display screen, the virtual keypad available on this device is tiny. Even though the keys are little, they are also responsive and there is no lag time after you press a key. SWYPE is also available on the myTouch that by dragging your finger from key to key across the keyboard, you can type much faster and easier on this keypad. The device is compact enough however to fit into your pant pocket or handbag much easier than phones with a larger screen. Multimedia
The T-Mobile myTouch is built with 720p HD video recording capabilities. The video comes out crisp and clear, and by just touching a few controls you can quickly begin recording at a moment’s notice. This smartphone offers a 5MP (megapixel) camera that has full flash capabilities and several editing functions. We were disappointed that this advanced cell phone doesn't have at least an 8MP camera.
Video chat capabilities are available on this cell phone thanks to the front-facing camera. The address book assists with video chats by showing who has a camera phone and who has video chat capabilities. However, the video chat can be a little glitchy and you may encounter several issues that seem to disrupt the conversation. Call Features & Quality
All of your basic calling features are available on the T-Mobile myTouch. You can have a conference call and talk to several individuals at once. Call waiting is available, and you can also place calls on hold. You can look at your phone’s history to see all the calls you have placed, received or missed, and there's a call timer that tracks the length of phone calls. There is also caller ID.
Battery Life & Memory
The talk time available on the T-Mobile myTouch is a standout feature on this device. This smartphone offers up to 624 minutes on a single battery charge. This gives you plenty of time to listen to music, watch videos or browse the internet without your battery quickly draining.
The standby time available on this cell phone is low. Up to 288 hours are available on a single battery charge, which is significantly lower than several similar phones.Additional Features
This smartphone offers several features and resources to increase your productivity and help you accomplish your work on the go. You can view documents on your device using QuickOffice or using a PDF format. There is also calendar support by Google Calendar, and stocks and news information are available so you can keep up-to-date with current events. There are also several cell phone basics including a calculator and voice recorder.
Coupled with the speedy 4G wireless connectivity, the Android 2.2 operating system will keep your phone running efficiently and quickly. Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS capabilities are also included on this device. This cell phone can also function as a mobile hotspot, meaning it can connect up to five devices to an internet connection. Summary
The T-Mobile myTouch is a smartphone with you in mind. This cell phone provides excellent battery life, video chat capabilities and access to T-Mobile’s 4G network. It is an advanced smartphone with plenty to offer but also needs a few minor improvements such as a high megapixel camera and improved video chat features.
3. HTC Thunderbolt
The HTC Thunderbolt is all you need in a smartphone, plus a little more. This cellular device offers fast speeds, a large display screen and 4G capabilities. This smartphone is our TopTenREVIEWS Bronze Award winner because of its advanced multimedia features, ability to be a mobile hotspot for up to eight devices, 4G technology and Android 2.2 operating system.
Unfortunately, with such a large display screen the phone must be large. The Thunderbolt is 4.63 inches long, 2.44 inches wide and 0.56 inches thick. And along with its large dimensions, this phone weighs to 6.23 ounces. This is several ounces heavier than several similar devices and may become a burden to carry around with you on a daily basis.
And of course, with the high pixel resolution and large display screen, this device is ideal for watching movies and browsing the internet. This cellular device features a kickstand, located on the back of the device, so you can prop it up on its side and watch movies or TV shows hands-free.
Design
The Thunderbolt offers a beautiful touchscreen display that is hard to beat on a cell phone. The 4.3 inch touchscreen is one of the largest screens you will find on a mobile device, and this phone includes 480 x 800 pixel resolution. The resolution makes images crisp and clear, and the large screen makes it ideal for watching movies, browsing the internet or viewing images.
A benefit of having such a large display screen is the virtual keypad is large and easy to use. The keys are big enough to type on, and there is adequate room for large fingers to navigate around the phone. The touchscreen is responsive and the processor is fast, so there is no waiting for the device to perform any tasks. Unfortunately, with such a large display screen the phone must be large. The Thunderbolt is 4.63 inches long, 2.44 inches wide and 0.56 inches thick. And along with its large dimensions, this phone weighs to 6.23 ounces. This is several ounces heavier than several similar devices and may become a burden to carry around with you on a daily basis.
Multimedia
The HTC Thunderbolt is the ideal multimedia phone. This smartphone comes with an 8.0MP (megapixel) rear camera, along with a 1.3MP front-facing camera. The rear camera also offers autofocus and dual flash, so the pictures you capture using this smartphone are some of the best you can take with any cellular device.
The music player available on this device lets you create the ultimate music collection. With 40 GB of available storage on the device, you can store thousands of songs on it. The Android music player organizes songs by album, artist and genre, and you can easily create playlists with your favorite songs. The player also offers up to 10 playable formats, which makes it even easier to import songs to your cell phone. And of course, with the high pixel resolution and large display screen, this device is ideal for watching movies and browsing the internet. This cellular device features a kickstand, located on the back of the device, so you can prop it up on its side and watch movies or TV shows hands-free.
Call Features & Quality
For a smartphone to be a top product, it must have excellent call features. The Thunderbolt offers a variety of calling features to cater to you and your needs. The basics are included on this device such as caller ID, call waiting and a call timer. You can place phone calls on hold or use 3-way calling to talk to multiple individuals at once. There is a speakerphone, which has excellent sound quality with little static or extra noise. And another added bonus of using this Android phone is that it supports 18 different languages.
Battery Life & Memory
The biggest disappointed we found on the HTC Thunderbolt is its battery life. This cell phone offers only 378 minutes of talk time on a single battery charge. That means if you watch movies, listen to music, talk or use any apps constantly, the battery will drain in just under six hours. The battery life is extremely short and for a phone with so many features, we were surprised to see such a poor battery.
There is an ample amount of available storage space on this smartphone. There is 8GB of built-in memory available, along with a 32GB microSD card. This much memory gives you plenty of room to store your ever-expanding collection of videos, pictures and songs. Also, the size of your phone’s address book depends upon the amount of available space you have on your cell phone. Additional Features
The HTC Thunderbolt not only offers 4G technology, but also the Android 2.2 operating system and 1GHz Snapdragon processor. The phone can also double as a mobile hotspot for up to eight devices, meaning as long as you are in a location where you get a strong phone signal, you can provide wireless internet to any computing device with Wi-Fi capabilities. This feature is especially ideal for business trips or for someone constantly on the go.
This HTC device has access to the Android Market, so you can download apps for almost any purpose. You have access to games, movies and music directly at your fingertips. There are also several pre-loaded apps included on this device such as the Amazon Kindle, Blockbuster, Mobile IM, Visual Voicemail and the VZ Navigator. Summary
The HTC Thunderbolt offers you advanced features at lightning speeds. You will never wait long for downloads or for programs to open. This cell phone does offer poor battery life, especially if you are constantly using your phone. However, this smartphone has excellent multimedia features and tons of available memory.
2. Motorola Atrix
Holding the Motorola Atrix is like holding a fast and powerful PC in the palm of your hand. This smartphone features a dual-core processor, video chat capabilities and advanced fingerprint security so you can access your phone without having to remember passwords or PIN locks. The Motorola Atrix is our TopTenREVIEWS Silver Award winner because of its fast speeds, customizable widgets and Webtop application that lets you view your phone’s display screen, send text messages or take calls while using your PC.
Design
The design of this phone is solid, compact and offers something new to an Android smartphone. The Motorola Atrix offers qHD display, or quarter high definition display, which includes 960 x 540 resolution. This resolution is not the highest we have seen on a smartphone, but it is the highest resolution available on any Android device. The 960 x 540 pixel resolution makes colors vivid and images sharp on the phone’s 4-inch display screen. With such beautiful pixel resolution, we would like to see a 4.3-inch display screen to truly enhance the device and make it ideal for watching movies, viewing photos or browsing the web.
Compared to several other popular smartphones, this cellular device is quite small. It is less than half an inch thick and is 4.63 inches long. It weighs 4.7 ounces, which is lightweight for a device with a 4-inch display screen. The touchscreen display and the virtual keyboard are responsive, and there is hardly any lag time after keys are pressed or while waiting for programs to open. Multimedia
Not only does the Motorola Atrix offer all your basic multimedia features such a music player, email and web capabilities, this cellular phone includes a variety of advanced features that may not be found in your average Android device. Video chat capabilities are one standout feature available on this cell phone. Using the Qik video chat application, you can have live video chats with anyone, anywhere. The Atrix contains a front facing web camera, along with a 5MP (megapixel) rear camera. We were disappointed this smartphone only has a 5MP camera. For a device with so many advanced features, we hoped to see this device exceed our expectations with its image capturing features.
The Motorola Atrix offers Adobe Flash support so you can view more content on the web. The Adobe Flash makes it possible for you to watch movies, slideshows and other presentations on your hand-held PC. The music player is your basic Android music player and offers playable formats such as AAC, AAC+, MPEG-4 and MP3. This device can capture video at 720p HD, which still offers clear and crisp media; but for a phone with so many advanced and futuristic features, we would like to see full 1080p HD recording. Call Features & Quality
The main reason you need a cell phone is for communication. The Motorola Atrix offers all the features you need for making calls. Call transfer, call waiting and muting a phone conversation are features available on this cell phone. It also has a strong speakerphone, along with noise reduction capabilities. Caller ID is available on this device, which allows you to add a picture or ringer ID to any contact. The phone book not only stores contact information but also allows you to sync with your contacts' social networks. Speed dialing, voice dialing, and wait-and-pause dialing are also included. You can also set emergency dialing, along with auto answering.
Battery Life & Memory
Another standout feature available on the Motorola Atrix is the 530 minutes of talk time battery life. Anytime you use any of the phone's displays counts as talk time. The Motorola Atrix's 530 minutes of talk time gives you ample time for talking on the phone, sending text messages or browsing the internet. Even if your cell phone is in constant use, this long battery life won’t need to be charged multiple times throughout the day. It has enough power it should last an entire day on a single battery charge. However, this smartphone’s battery life didn’t meet our full expectations because it only offers 350 hours of standby time. That's several days less than some other similar cell phones.
There is enough memory available to store 15 full-length movies on this device. Up to 16GB is available on this device with a removable memory card that supports an additional 32GB. This amount of memory gives you plenty of space for storing your favorite movies or music along with hundreds of contacts, text messages and photos. Additional Features
The feature that sets the Motorola Atrix apart from other smartphones is its Webtop application. This feature allows you to send or receive text messages, place phone calls and browse the internet by connecting your smartphone to a PC. A docking station is available, and sold separately, that connects to your computer, and while your phone is docked, you can do it all, just on a larger screen. You can print from this application or use Microsoft QuickOffice to store presentations, documents or attachments on your phone and quickly access them from a PC.
Like mentioned before, this smartphone offers a dual-core processor that rarely leaves you waiting for a program to open. This phone comes with the Android 2.2 operating system along with several security features such as secure data backup and fingerprint recognition technology. This eliminates the hassle of needing to remember multiple passwords or using PIN locks. This is one security precaution to keep your data safe on your cell phone. Summary
The Motorola Atrix offers a significant amount of power in a small, hand-held device. The Webtop application, long battery life and outstanding screen resolution give this smartphone something different from several similar devices. And despite having only a 5MP camera, this cell phone’s dual-core processor and Android 2.2 operating system make this Android device difficult to beat.
1. Apple iPhone 4
Rarely do smartphones create such an uproar as the Apple’s iPhone 4 did when it entered the smartphones market. The retina display, video calling features, access to thousands of applications and the ease of multitasking were a few of the features that made this phone stand out among the others. Its numerous superlative features, flexibility and ease-of-use have earned the TopTenREVIEWS Gold Award for the Apple iPhone 4. For a side-by-side comparison and more objective reviews, visit our smartphones page.
The sturdiness of this device is also a key feature of the iPhone 4’s design. The device is small, weighing only 4.8 ounces, but it feels indestructible. The retina display glass is made from the same materials used in helicopters, so if dropping smartphones is a common occurrence for you, the iPhone 4 is one of the best smartphones for you.
FaceTime also worked directly from the box, which is rare for smartphones that we didn’t have to go through some tedious installation program to begin. The front camera on your device has been created so it has the correct field of view and focal length for the FaceTime feature. However, with another tap of your finger, you can show whomever you may be video calling what is happening from the back of your smartphone using the rear camera.
Design
The display on Apple’s iPhone 4 is easily the sharpest and most clear display we have seen on the smartphones. The iPhone 4 features 960 x 640 pixel resolution, which holds no comparison to the 480 x 320 resolution that is found on its predecessor, the Apple iPhone 3GS. With such a high resolution, your eyes are unable to see each pixel on the iPhone 4, which results in a much clearer, crisper and more enjoyable display.
The display’s pixels were developed at 78 micrometers wide. According to Apple, because of their small size, Apple was able to pack four times the number of pixels onto the 3.5-inch screen. This results in 326 pixels per inch on the iPhone 4’s, display and it also means your images and text don't appear choppy and pixelated.The sturdiness of this device is also a key feature of the iPhone 4’s design. The device is small, weighing only 4.8 ounces, but it feels indestructible. The retina display glass is made from the same materials used in helicopters, so if dropping smartphones is a common occurrence for you, the iPhone 4 is one of the best smartphones for you.
Multimedia
iPhones have always been considered strong multimedia smartphones, and the iPhone 4 is no exception. However, this cellular device provides many advanced multimedia features that have taken this Apple iPhone leaps and bounds ahead of others. For example, two cameras are found on this device. One camera can be found above the front display and the other is found on the rear exterior next to the new LED flash. The primary 5MP (megapixel) camera, found on the rear of the device, also features a 5x digital zoom.
Not only is the ability to capture beautiful images simple with the iPhone 4, but the ability to shoot video in HD is also easy. This Apple product is no stranger to the new technology available on the smartphones market, and the ability to shoot HD means you can capture clear, bright and vivid images on the smartphones that you will want to share with everyone around. Also, this cellular device has the ability to perform basic editing tasks directly on your phone, so you can create a perfect HD video each time. Call Features & Quality
Even with each of the advanced features the Apple iPhone 4 offers, smartphones still provides its users with basic call features and high quality. This product features your basic call waiting, caller ID and call holding.
However, smartphones offer a little more than making just your basic calls. The iPhone 4 features FaceTime, which allows you to video call anywhere, anytime. What makes FaceTime one of the best features we found on smartphones was the simplicity it offers the user. Tap a button and you could be seeing your best friend in China or watching your son ride his bike while being miles away from home.FaceTime also worked directly from the box, which is rare for smartphones that we didn’t have to go through some tedious installation program to begin. The front camera on your device has been created so it has the correct field of view and focal length for the FaceTime feature. However, with another tap of your finger, you can show whomever you may be video calling what is happening from the back of your smartphone using the rear camera.
Battery Life & Memory
For smartphones, this cellular device offers its users 420 minutes of battery life, which we found impressive. This product will make it through the day on a single charge. Like every phone, the battery life will depend on how much it is used. Overall, this was not the longest battery life we saw, but we were not disappointed with what the iPhone 4 provided.
Additional Features
Compared to this smartphone’s predecessors, the Apple iPhone 4 has the added ability to multitask. This multitasking ability on smartphones enables the user to run third-party apps and switch between them effortlessly and quickly. It allows for audio to be played in the background while you have several applications running. Also, apps that use GPS can be running while your smartphone is performing several other tasks.
This multitasking capability is made possible because of the iOS 4 operating system. We were greatly impressed by the intuitive interface it provides on smartphones. It makes smartphones easy and simple to use, yet it gives rise to one of the most powerful and enjoyable devices as well. The iOS 4 is also the platform for the thousands of available apps. Summary
Apple’s iPhone 4 is easily one of the best smartphones available on the market and is several steps ahead of its competition. It is easy to get caught up in the vast selection of high-end features offered on this phone, but the basic features also provide the highest quality. The Apple iPhone 4 really shows what smartphones should be able to do, and it will be quite some time before anyone can truly match it.
source : toptenreviews.com
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