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Which Phone Should I Buy? Smartphone Summer Edition

So many phones! This summer has turned into a Summer of Smartphones unlike any other, and we're not even done yet.

Which one should you buy, or should you even buy one at all? We've taken a look at some of the new crop of smartphones to help guide your purchasing decisions. Click the Product Hub link for each device to see more info, including in-depth specs, videos and reviews.

NOTE: Total Cost to Own includes after-rebate phone price and 24 months of service, and is based on Billshrink's calculations. For iPhone, minimum cost includes 200MB monthly data plan (not 2GB), and add $100 for 32GB model.

Apple iPhone 4G (AT&T)

Apple iPhone 4G (AT&T)

  • Why? It's the new iPhone, duh.
  • Who's it for? The iPhone faithful and anyone who wants a blend of high design, high tech, and ease of use.
  • Killer Feature: "FaceTime" video calling and an ultra-high resolution display.
  • Achilles Heel: Lots of early bugs; AT&T's spotty, overloaded network.
  • Total Cost to Own: $1,999 - 2,959
  • Alternatives: Droid Incredible (Verizon), Captivate (AT&T), Vibrant (T-Mobile)

iPhone 4G Product Hub »


HTC Droid Incredible (Verizon)

HTC Droid Incredible (Verizon)

  • Why? Sleek, fast, and it's on Verizon.
  • Who's it for? Anyone who wants an iPhone but wants Verizon more.
  • Killer Feature: Great balance of features, ease of use, and size.
  • Achilles Heel: Battery life issues reported on early models.
  • Total Cost to Own: $2,359 - 3,079
  • Alternatives: iPhone 4G, Captivate, Vibrant

HTC Droid Incredible Product Hub »


HTC Evo 4G (Sprint)

HTC Evo 4G (Sprint)

  • Why? Big screen, big features, (relatively) small price.
  • Who's it for? Tech and video junkies who value bang for the buck.
  • Killer Feature: Too many to list. Seriously.
  • Achilles Heel: The US' first "4G" phone only gets 4G service in a select few areas.
  • Total Cost to Own: $2,199 - 2,839
  • Alternatives: Droid X (Verizon)

HTC Evo 4G Product Hub »


Motorola Droid X (Verizon)

Motorola Droid X (Verizon)

  • Why? It's the biggest, baddest Droid in the land.
  • Who's it for? High-tech junkies who want big features on the go.
  • Killer Feature: Giant 4.3" display with high-definiton HDMI output.
  • Achilles Heel: Mediocre imaging performance; Lacks front-facing camera for video calls
  • Total Cost to Own: $2,359 - 3,079
  • Alternatives: EVO 4G (Sprint)

Motorola Droid X Product Hub »


T-Mobile myTouch 3G Slide

T-Mobile myTouch 3G Slide

  • Why? Sometimes you want a good ol' fashioned physical keyboard.
  • Who's it for? Smartphone buyers who want lots of features, good value, and that hard QWERTY board.
  • Killer Feature: T-Mobile's pricing; "Genius Button" simplifies Google's voice command system.
  • Achilles Heel: Bulkier than touchscreen-only phones.
  • Total Cost to Own: $2,099 - 2,449
  • Alternatives: LG Ally (Verizon), Samsung Moment (Sprint), HTC Epic 4G (Sprint)

myTouch 3G Product Hub »


Samsung Epic 4G (Sprint)

Samsung Epic 4G (Sprint)

  • Why? Sprint's second 4G phone will feature a real keyboard for real typing
  • Who's it for? Would-be Evo owners who like actual buttons
  • Killer Feature: Evo + Hard QWERTY
  • Achilles Heel: Samsung's tendency towards bad software and cheap build quality
  • Total Cost to Own: Price TBD (Should be in line with Evo 4G)
  • Alternatives: Evo 4G (Sprint), myTouch 3G Slide (T-Mobile)

Samsung Epic 4G Product Hub »


HTC Aria (AT&T)

HTC Aria (AT&T)

  • Why? Good things come in little packages.
  • Who's it for? People who want lots of power in a pocketable phone and/or have small hands.
  • Killer Feature: The full Web in your tiny pocket.
  • Achilles Heel: Typing on the small (3.2") touchscreen can be a challenge.
  • Total Cost to Own: $1,929 - 2,889
  • Alternatives: Aria is a uniquely small, full-on Android phone.

HTC Aria Product Hub »


Samsung Captivate (AT&T), Fascinate (Verizon), Vibrant (T-Mobile)

Samsung Captivate (AT&T), Fascinate (Verizon), Vibrant (T-Mobile)

  • Why? Google-powered iPhone fighter is thin, fast and has a big screen.
  • Who's it for? iPhone haters who secretly love iPhones.
  • Killer Feature: 4" Super AMOLED display is not too big, not too small, nice and bright.
  • Achilles Heel: Early prototypes have a somewhat cheap, plasticky feel to them.
  • Total Cost to Own - Captivate: $1,999 - 2,959
  • Total Cost to Own - Fascinate: Price TBD (Should be in line with Droid X)
  • Total Cost to Own - Vibrant: $2,119 - 2,469
  • Alternatives: iPhone 4 (AT&T), Droid Incredible (Verizon)

Samsung Captivate Product Hub »

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Noah Kravitz
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