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

Aaron Baker - Sep 3, 10 7:25 PM | More by this editor | 37+ comments

More:Sprint 4G, top smartphones, Samsung Epic 4G

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!

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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.

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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.

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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 4G

About the author

Aaron Baker is the Editor-in-Chief of PhoneDog Media. An eight-year veteran in the wireless industry, he has worked for the four nationwide wireless carriers, a now-defunct MVNO, and several technology websites in various capacities. A frequent traveler, he has attended numerous trade shows, served on technology judging panels, and has contributed to publications like Wired.com and Singapore's "Asian Journeys" magazine. Aaron resides in the... - full profile

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