Latest Android devices
For a while, the flow of Google Android devices was pretty slow, but now they're coming out fast and furious. At this pace, it's really no surprise that Android sales are surpassing those of the iPhone. If you're ready to join the party, here is a gallery of some of the latest Android devices to land on Planet Earth.
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HTC Evo 4G (Sprint)
The good: The HTC Evo 4G delivered respectable 4G speeds, and the mobile hot-spot feature lets you connect up to eight devices. The smartphone has a front-facing camera for video chats and also comes with an 8-megapixel camera with HD-video-recording capabilities. The Evo ships with YouTube's HQ video player, Android 2.1 with HTC Sense, and an HDMI port. Other highlights include an extra-large 4.3-inch touch screen and a 1GHz Snapdragon processor.
The bad: Sprint's 4G network is limited at this time, making the mandatory $10 premium data add-on tough to swallow for anyone outside of the coverage area. The Evo lacks support for Bluetooth voice-activated dialing. Battery drains quickly with 4G.
The bottom line: The HTC Evo 4G is easily Sprint's best smartphone and one of today's top Android devices. It also shows the promise of 4G, which will grow as Sprint's WiMax network expands, but until there's broader 4G coverage, it's hard to agree with the mandatory premium data add-on fee.
Motorola Droid X (Verizon Wireless)
The good: The Motorola Droid X boasts a gorgeous 4.3-inch touch screen and has great multimedia features like an 8-megapixel camera with HD video capture, HDMI output, and DLNA support. The smartphone can also be used as a mobile hot spot.
The bad: Its camera is a bit sluggish. The Motoblur software is a lot better that it was in prior versions, but it's still not quite as refined as HTC Sense is. It doesn't have a front-facing camera.
The bottom line: The Motorola Droid X makes another fine addition to Verizon's Android family, bringing with it a rich multimedia experience and more connectivity features.
HTC Aria (AT&T)
The good: The HTC Aria is compact, feature rich smartphone that runs on Android version 2.1 with HTC's Sense user interface. It has a 5-megapixel camera, GPS, Bluetooth, and supports Wi-Fi and 3G networks.
The bad: The Aria's smaller display makes for a cramped onscreen keyboard. Its camera doesn't have a flash and you can't install non-Market apps.
The bottom line: The HTC Aria is a solid, midrange Android smartphone, but it's a shame AT&T restricts it by blocking Android's capability to install third-party apps.
Garminfone (T-Mobile)
The good: The T-Mobile Garminfone offers accurate driving directions and other advanced navigation capabilities. The Android-based smartphone also has better messaging and calendaring apps than its predecessor did.
The bad: The smartphone has lackluster multimedia capabilities, including a subpar camera. Battery life is a concern.
The bottom line: The T-Mobile Garminfone is a huge improvement over the Nuvifone G60, proving to be a capable smartphone just as much as it is a reliable navigator.
HTC Droid Incredible (Verizon Wireless)
The good: The HTC Droid Incredible is blazingly fast, thanks to Verizon's 3G network. HTC Sense enhances the features of Android 2.1, and the smartphone features an 8-megapixel camera and 8GB of internal memory. Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, and 3G are all onboard.
The bad: You can't use voice and data at the same time. The multimedia experience is adequate but still behind the competition.
The bottom line: With its polished design and user interface and blazingly fast speeds, the HTC Droid Incredible takes pole position as Verizon's top smartphone and is now the Android device to beat.
T-Mobile MyTouch 3G Slide
The good: The T-Mobile MyTouch 3G Slide features a full QWERTY keyboard and the latest version of Android, 2.1, with all of its capabilities. T-Mobile's customized user interface brings a more consumer-friendly look and feel to Android, and the carrier includes some extra apps, like MyTouch Music. The phone's call quality is excellent and its 3G speeds are impressive.
The bad: The Faves Gallery doesn't always display the most up-to-date information. Its camera photo quality is subpar.
The bottom line: The T-Mobile MyTouch 3G Slide isn't the flashiest Android device on the block, but its midrange feature set and friendly user interface make it a good choice for first-time smartphone buyers.
LG Ally (Verizon Wireless)
The good: The LG Ally is a sturdy device with Android 2.1. It has a great slide-out QWERTY keyboard. Features include GPS, a 3.2-megapixel camera, stereo Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and EV-DO Rev. A.
The bad: The photo quality could be better, and it doesn't come with Verizon's V Cast apps.
The bottom line: With its solid design and great features, the LG Ally is an affordable and welcome addition to the Android family.
Sony Ericsson Xperia X10
The good: The Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 has a user-friendly design with a brilliant display. The feature set is generous, the internal performance is fast, and call quality is satisfactory.
The bad: The Sony Ericsson Xperia X10's data performance was spotty. The Timescape application has its faults, you must use a third-party app for Outlook calendar syncing, and the landscape keyboard doesn't work in the messaging app.
The bottom line: The Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 offers a slick, user-friendly design with a solid feature set and good call quality. Data performance was uneven, however, and the Timescape application and keyboard miss some details.
Nexus One
The good: The Nexus One has a gorgeous display, a lightning-fast processor, and a loaded feature set. The enhanced voice capabilities worked flawlessly, and the phone delivers solid performance.
The bad: Like other Android phones, the Nexus One forces you to store apps on the internal memory. The media player remains average, and it's missing some wanted features like hands-free Bluetooth dialing. Currently, Outlook Calendar syncing is not available.
The bottom line: It doesn't have all the features we'd like, but the Nexus One greatly enhances the Google Android family with a fast processor, good call quality, and improved voice control features. What's more, we love that all versions of the phone will be unlocked.
Motorola Droid (Verizon Wireless)
The good: The Motorola Droid boasts a gorgeous display and the benefits of Android 2.0, including a faster Web browser, Google Maps Navigation app, and better messaging and contact management. It also offers excellent call quality, long talk time, and improved speed over previous Android devices.
The bad: The QWERTY keyboard feels flat and the dialpad control is restricted to the home screen. Music and video capabilities still trail behind the competition. Dual-mode functionality for world-roaming capabilities would have been a nice addition. The Droid does not support Bluetooth voice dialing.
The bottom line: Despite some design issues and a couple of missing features, the Motorola Droid is the most powerful and fastest Google Android device at the time of its release. It fully embraces the openness of the Android platform and offers Verizon customers a smartphone that certainly rivals the other touch-screen devices on the market.
HTC Hero (Sprint)
The good: The HTC Hero offers a highly customizable user interface thanks to HTC Sense. It also improves on past Android devices with Outlook e-mail, calendar, and contacts synchronization, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a 5-megapixel camera. Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, and 3G support are all onboard.
The bad: The smartphone can occasionally be sluggish. Flash content didn't always work from the Web browser. Apps must still be downloaded to the phone's internal memory. Media syncing software would be nice, as would be a file manager.
The bottom line: Though it could use a boost in the performance department, the HTC Hero is feature-packed, bringing some notable improvements and a highly customizable interface.
Motorola Cliq XT (T-Mobile)
The good: The Motorola Cliq XT offers a revamped media player with well-integrated community and discovery features. The 5-megapixel camera takes excellent pictures, and call quality is great. The smartphone has 3G and Wi-Fi as well as an HTML Webkit browser with Flash Lite and multitouch support.
The bad: The smartphone runs Android 1.5. Screen size is a bit small. There's some occasional sluggishness. Pinch-to-zoom gesture doesn't work in Google Maps.
The bottom line: The Motorola Cliq XT is a nice alternative to the original Cliq, offering a sleeker design and enhanced multimedia capabilities.
Motorola Backflip (AT&T)
The good: The Motorola Backflip features a fresh design with a trackpad behind the display for navigating the phone. The Android device also offers a 5-megapixel camera, extra AT&T services, and the full spectrum of wireless options.
The bad: The Backflip is sluggish at times and spontaneously rebooted once during our review period. The smartphone is only running Android 1.5. Screen size is a bit small, and we worry about the keyboard's durability since it's exposed on the back.
The bottom line: As AT&T's first Android phone, the Motorola Backflip offers a unique design but it's rather lackluster in the features and performance departments. It's a decent choice if you're upgrading from a feature phone, but anyone looking for speed and power should look elsewhere.
Samsung Moment (Sprint)
The good: The Samsung Moment has a bright display with a spacious keyboard. Its productivity features are plentiful and it's call quality is clear.
The bad: The Samsung Moment's touch interface and controls were a little sluggish. The camera lacks editing features, call volume could be louder, and speakerphone quality was just average.
The bottom line: With its full keyboard and bright display, the Samsung Moment successfully rounds out Sprint's Android offerings.