HTC ThunderBolt

“There’s a lot to like about the HTC Thunderbolt – fast web browsing and data speeds, Sense user interface, ample 4.3” display, 8MP camera, 32GB memory card, and overall snappy performance thanks to the 1GHz Snapdragon processor. If you’re in need of the newest and fastest smartphone now, the ThunderBolt is clearly the best choice out there for Verizon. But our two concerns are with the buzzing we heard in the earpiece speaker, and with the color difference we saw with the displays of the two units we received. Because of this, we’d recommend at this point you purchase it from a local store so you can see and try it out there. Just in case it has any issues, you can exchange it on the spot. But if you aren’t in a major rush, we’d suggest waiting a while, as there are three other LTE phones coming out in the next few months, and it’s hard to tell at this point which one may turn out to be the best. With that said, yes, guys, it is super-awesome to use data with Verizon's brand-new 4G LTE network, and the HTC ThunderBolt makes the experience even better.”

“The HTC Thunderbolt is Verizon's fastest and most powerful smartphone yet. The 4G speeds do not disappoint, blowing right past the competition and taking the browsing and streaming experience on a smartphone to the next level. It also serves as a fine hot spot/modem. Couple that with HTC's premium design and a solid feature set and the Thunderbolt looks like a pretty attractive option. However, all of this comes at the expense of battery life, and with more LTE smartphones coming to Verizon in the coming months, including the dual-core Motorola Droid Bionic, it complicates the buying decision. If you have the luxury or the patience to wait, it might be worth sticking around to see how the Droid Bionic and others perform, but for early adopters who crave the speed now, the HTC Thunderbolt can certainly deliver. Just be sure to pick up a spare or extended battery.”

“First-generation devices are often, if not usually, a little rickety -- proofs of concept that are more about the manufacturer (or carrier) being able to say that they're first to launch a particular feature than they are about delivering a solid, all-around winner. Fortunately, that's not the case with the Thunderbolt: HTC's managed to put together a handset here that we can honestly recommend with a straight face, owing in no small part to the fact that it borrows heavily from the company's existing parts bin. If you're looking for the sexiest 4.3-inch phone of the bunch, the Inspire still beats it -- you can't go wrong with the thinner, metal, unibody shell -- but the Thunderbolt is easily one of the best Android devices in Verizon's expansive lineup even before you take the LTE capability into account. And if you're lucky enough to live or work in an LTE market (or one that's going live this year), it's the best choice by a country mile.”

“The Thunderbolt lives up to its name by being the fastest 4G phone on any network--by far. Provided you're in an area with LTE coverage, you'll be able to load sites, download apps, and start streaming videos in the blink of any eye. This smart phone can also easily replace a USB modem or MiFi. Unfortunately, the Thunderbolt runs out of gas too fast. Overall, we prefer the slimmer and lighter iPhone 4, which has a better display, higher-quality apps, and longer battery life. As for Android fans, they may want to wait for the dual-core Motorola Droid Bionic to come to Verizon (complete with beefier 1930mAH battery). Still, if you have a need for serious speed right now, the Thunderbolt will satisfy.”