Verizon has been wildly successful with their 4G LTE network as of late, but there are people out there that don't want to spend $299.99 for a smartphone.  If you fall into that category, the Motorola DROID 4 and the LG Spectrum are worth considering.  They're both high-end LTE smartphones, but they're available for $199.99 with a two-year agreement.

The Motorola DROID 4 offers a 1.2 GHz dual-core TI OMAP processor, 4-inch qHD display with PenTile technology, 8-megapixel camera with 1080p HD video recording, a front-facing camera, 1,785 mAh non-removable battery, physical QWERTY keyboard, and Android 2.3 with Motorola's custom UI.  The LG Spectrum sports a 1.5 GHz dual-core Snapdragon CPU, 4.5-inch IPS HD (720p) display, a 1,830 mAh battery, and Android 2.3 with LG's custom UI.

Which phone offers the best blend of features?  We'll take a look.  Part 1 of 2.