Keeping track of 4G phones
As we prepare for a flood of new 4G phones at CES, CNET keeps you up-to-date on the high-speed handset lineups from the major carriers.
Editors' note: This post was updated January 7, 2011, with new phones.
LAS VEGAS--CES doesn't begin for two days, but we know already that new 4G phones will take center stage at the annual gadget fest in Las Vegas. Sprint beat its rivals to the punch by announcing the HTC Evo Shift 4G this morning, but T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless will have grand unveiling events of their own. It's a good thing, too, considering that U.S. carriers now can really refer to their networks as "4G."
We'll be watching Big Red particularly closely since it will show off its first batch of high-speed handsets to go with its new LTE network. Remember that CEO Ivan Seidenberg is holding a keynote address Thursday morning, the first day of CES, where he should talk LTE. He might have new handsets there, such as LG's dual-core Android phone, or they could come later in the day when the company holds a press conference. T-Mobile also will have a press event on Thursday where the carrier has promised new 4G devices.
As for the other carriers, Sprint, and possibly MetroPCS, should have something else up their sleeves. AT&T is still behind on 4G, so we don't expect any announcements in Las Vegas from that carrier. AT&T even got in the 4G game when, to our surprise, it announced LTE plans and its first crop of HSPA+ phones.
We'll update this chart throughout the week, so please check back. In the meantime, however, tell us which carrier's devices you're watching for. Also, if you want to know where you can use those new 4G phones, check out our 4G coverage chart.
Sprint (WiMax) | T-Mobile (HSPA+) | Verizon (LTE) | AT&T (HSPA+/LTE) | MetroPCS (LTE) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Motorola Cliq 2 | Motorola Droid Bionic HTC Thunderbolt LG Revolution Samsung 4G LTE | HTC Inspire 4G Motorola Atrix 4G |
*Device announced prior to CES.