Epic 4G overtakes EVO 4G in PhoneDog's "Best Smartphones" rankings

We've revised our "Best Smartphones" for Sprint!

The Samsung Epic 4G and the HTC EVO 4G have been flipped, making the Epic 4G the new champ on Sprint.  The EVO 4G is a great device, and offers Android 2.2 and an 8.0-megapixel camera.  But at the end of the day, we felt as if the Epic 4G offered the best balance of features.  With a beautiful 4-inch Super AMOLED screen, great QWERTY keyboard, TouchWiz, Swype, 4G connectivity, and 5-megapixel camera with a flash, there's something in it for everyone.

Agree with us?  Disagree?  Let us have it in the comments!

View full product info

1. Samsung Epic 4G

Pros
  • 4-inch Super AMOLED display is beautiful, and offers a balance between "way tiny" and "super huge."
  • 4G (WiMAX) connectivity.
  • Physical QWERTY keyboard is roomy, easy to use, and could appeal to the BlackBerry crowd.
Cons
  • Samsung's TouchWiz user interface, with its colorful icons and large print, isn't for everyone.
  • Battery life is poor.
  • For a flagship device, Epic's 5-megapixel camera pales in comparison to the EVO 4G, DROID Incredible, and DROID X.

Summary

As the second 4G (WiMAX) device available, the Epic 4G is part of Samsung's Galaxy S line.  With a 1 GHz processor, 4.0-inch display, and Android 2.1, it's an awesome addition to Sprint's smartphone lineup.  That said, it falls a bit short in the battery life department, and lacks the 8-megapixel shooter and the Android 2.2 update found on the HTC EVO 4G.
View full product info

2. HTC EVO 4G

Pros
  • 1 GHz Snapdragon processor
  • Large 4.3-inch touchscreen
  • Mobile Hotspot with connectivity for up to eight (8) users
  • First 4G smartphone available in the United States
  • 8MP camera with 720p video recording capabilities, and additional front-facing camera for video calling
Cons
  • Battery life isn't the greatest
  • Sprint's 4G coverage is still limited to select markets in the US
  • Requires a $10 "premium data" add-on, even if you're not in a 4G market

Summary

With a 1 GHz Snapdragon processor, 4.3-inch display, 8-megapixel camera with 720p video recording capabilities, Android 2.1 with HTC's Sense UI, and 4G connectivity, the HTC EVO 4G is about as jam-packed as an Android device can get, and Sprint's current flagship unit.  Unfortunately, 4G coverage is still sporadic and limited to select markets in the United States, and EVO users are stuck with a $10 "premium data" fee regardless of the data coverage in their market.
View full product info

3. Palm Pre

Pros
  • Decent sized touchscreen with a physical QWERTY keyboard
  • Revolutionary webOS platform
  • Ability to charge wirelessly via Touchstone
Cons
  • Slow and laggy at times
  • Battery life is poor
  • Specs are outdated compared to the Palm Pre Plus

Summary

It's a bit long in the tooth, but the Palm Pre is still one of the best smartphones on Sprint.  Despite a lack of developer support (when compared to the big guys), Palm's webOS platform is still one of the best in the business.  Too bad Sprint didn't get the updated Palm Pre Plus when it launched.

 

Samsung Epic
Sprint 4G
Disqus Comments