HTC G2

“Yes, it's a design marvel from every aspect you look at it seeing that the T-Mobile G2 is one of the best designed smartphones in recent memory. For a while there, we were beginning to wonder if US consumers would ever see an HTC handset that rivals the Nexus One in terms of premium quality. Its metallic, tough exterior will undoubtedly radiate a sense of durability, but its Achilles Heel might be found with its hinge mechanism. Aside from that, its keyboard is one of the better ones out there in the market as it employs a smart layout with buttons that provide great feedback. On the software side of things, the stock Android 2.2 Froyo experience is responsive thanks to its quick 800MHz processor. Naturally, you've got all of the wonders that the platform has to offer, but the ultimate true star of the show is none other than the handset's support for HSPA+ connectivity. It manages to set itself apart from any other handset out there on T-Mobile's lineup, and as we've seen, it can even tango with the likes of some of Sprint's 4G enabled Android smartphones. For $199.99, you're truly receiving a device that's worth every penny you pay out of your pocket with its gorgeous design, killer hardware, and fast data speeds. As an alternative for some people, the Samsung Vibrant should still look appealing for those looking for a touch-only solution – especially when it's priced the same.”

“The HTC Desire Z is one of the only two handsets so far with the new version of Sense UI, and deserved our attention, even just for that. HTC didn't stop here to make it stand out in the Android crowd, however, and added a physical keyboard with clever, if somewhat pointless, Z-hinge mechanism.Wrapped around in brushed aluminum, with soft-touch coating where needed, the HTC Desire Z is certainly a looker - a rather heavy one, however. The physical keyboard is not perfect, but it is better than most on this rare breed of Android handsets, which have side-sliding QWERTY keyboards. The new HTC Sense, though, is the feature that can take your breath away here. It offers a myriad of functionalities and customization options, wrapped up in rich colors, and beautiful animations. The next-gen Snapdragon chipset ensures flawless performance, while the new additions to Sense UI, such as cloud-based services to manage your phone, and the Locations app with its offline navigation capabilities, added to our growing impression that the HTC Desire Z is currently the best Android handset with a physical keyboard outside of the US.Another high-end alternative with a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, and Froyo, would be the yet unreleased Motorola MILESTONE 2. If you are a Symbian fan, the Sony Ericsson Vivaz Pro has one of the best physical keyboards we've tried on a mobile, and shoots HD video at 30fps as well.”

“The sleek and durable design combined with the elegant and user friendly interface make for a great device and gift idea for the upcoming holiday season. The large screen with touch capabilities makes using the device very enjoyable since there is little fuss. Videos and maps are clear and vivid on the 3.7” screen and the slide out keyboard allows for convenient user input.”

“The T-Mobile G2 is an awesome phone with some superlative features, but HTC and T-Mobile didn’t quite push this phone far enough ahead of the Android pack. The phone is insanely fast in every way. In terms of interface performance, there was never a lag or delay in any action, and even the most intense features, like gaming or graphically rich apps, ran swimmingly on the G2. Network performance was equally impressive, and this phone claimed the crown of fastest Web browser among all the 4G-speed devices I have currently in my stable. The hardware is great. I love the design, even though it’s a bit heavy. Though there may be better keyboards around, the T-Mobile G2 has a QWERTY that is thoughtful with plenty of useful shortcuts and design choices. The phone even nails the basics. Battery life could be better, but it wasn’t shockingly bad. Call quality on the other hand was great, with crisp, clear sound on both ends of my calls. Messaging options are robust, and even the missing features can be found easily in the Android App Market. The problem is that too many problems have stuck around since the original T-Mobile G1. The camera is still sluggish, with few features and controls and images that look lousy. I managed a few lucky shots, but with macro control or touch focus, I could have taken more worthwhile pictures. Music and multimedia features have not improved at all in two years, while other phones retain their multimedia lead or start to pull ahead. Finally, even if you don’t care about fragmentation among Android phones, you should at least know that there are other versions of Android from HTC and Motorola, among others, that offer more features and better social networking integration. The T-Mobile G2 has enough going for it in hardware design and features to make it easy to recommend. But even with its great performance, it won’t be long before the competition takes the same great features and offers more on top.”