Want your smartphone big and cheap?  Well, the Droid Charge sure is big but there's no way it's cheap.   The ZTE Skate, an upcoming Android smartphone, just might be your cup of tea.

Previewed by Greek website Digital Life, the handset first showed up during Mobile World Congress in Barcelona where it barely received much attention.  With a price currently rumored at 250 Euros off-contract, though, it's now beginning to turn some heads.

Details of the ZTE Skate include a 4.3-inch capacitive touchscreen (800 x 480 resolution), a 5.0 megapixel autofocus camera and a 1400 mAh battery.  Processor is a modest 800 MHz chip, though, paired with 512 MB of RAM.  Still, at the price point, it doesn't sound half bad.

Stock Android 2.3 Gingerbread will run at the helm, likely with all the usual set of Google Mobile apps.  According to Digital Life, the build quality feels good in spite of the decidedly plastic construction, so it sounds like a legit new phone for budget-conscious mobile users to look forward to.

No details yet on when this is likely to hit the market, but we doubt the year will pass without this coming out (that 800MHz clock speed will sound ancient by 2012).

[via DigitalLife]

Pantech's in the news with one strange phone, called the Pantech Vega Xpress, that comes with some overly-optimistic performance claims.  Granted, the promised numbers may actually be accurate, but it's tough to listen to extravagant assertions without any actual proof.

Why are we cautiously doubtful?  Pantech claims that their phone can double 3D graphics performance and run 1.5 times faster than other Android phones running a similar CPU (1GHz Qualcomm MSM8225), all while offering "PC-level speed in Internet browsing" and up to three times better power performance.

All those improvements are supposed to be due, primarily, to one major change in the Pantech Vega Xpress' hardware: it uses DDR2 RAM.  Yes, the same stuff that's likely serving as the memory in your computer (or your old computer if you have a new DDR3-packin' one).

Details of the phone include a 4-inch capacitive touchscreen display (800 x 480 resolution), a 5-megapixel camera module, 20.5 x 62.8 × 10.9 mm dimensions, 8GB of microSD storage preloaded (expandable up to 32GB) and a 1,500 mAh battery module.  We're assuming it's got the usual load of connectivity support, since this sounds like a high-end machine.   Oh yeah, it will come preloaded with Android 2.2 Froyo.

Intended for KT and LG Uplus customers in Pantech's local Korean market, the Pantech Vega Xpress should drop sometime in 2011.

[via Telecoms Korea]

LG has a new unannounced Android phone in the wild and it's quite the beastly slab.  Called the LG Star, we're not calling it beastly for the size alone -- the specs are spectacularly brutish, as well.

A poster at the Android Forums managed to get his hands on an example of the unreleased device and confirmed the specs.  It's got a huge 4.0 inch capacitive touchscreen (800 x 480 resolution), a blazin'-fast Tegra 2 processor, an 8.0 megapixel camera module, a front-facing camera, an HDMI port and a 1,500 mAh battery.

Leaving the 720p train behind, the LG Star can process full 1080p video.  Now, imagine pairing that with DLNA and that fun swiping LG app that "throws" media onto your devices -- a serious multimedia powerhouse.  No word on whether the camera can record in the same full HD resolution, though.

The user didn't mention what Android build it's running, but it apparently uses a custom UI from LG.  Those who were hoping for the stock Android experience can now commence with their cursing.

Aside from detailing the specs, he also took a bunch of pictures, so you can properly imagine what your next phone will look like (hit the link below to see them).  Do note, we seriously doubt this will come out as the LG Star (since Samsung has done very well with their low-end feature phone bearing that moniker).

[Android Forums]

They're not calling it a "retina display," as Apple has done with the iPhone 4, but Sharp's newest Android smartphone deftly matches the sharpness of the former's screen.  Billed as the Sharp IS03, it's a Japan-only release that, we're hoping, sets the bar for upcoming Android hardware.

Primary draw is the 3.5-inch capacitive touchscreen, which features a 960 x 640 resolution (the first Android phone to get one), along with Advanced Super View (ASV) technology for keeping things visible from all angles.   Styling looks pretty standard for modern touchscreen slabs with rounded corner and curved edges.

Other details of the Sharp IS03 include a 9.6 megapixel camera with autofocus and image stabilization, Global Passport CDMA (which means, it can be used in countries with existing CDMA networks, such as the US), a 1Seg TV tuner and the Osaifu-Keitai contactless payment system.  Early hands-on reports say the case feels covered in cheap plastic and runs a tad on the sluggish side, though, so it may not be as dreamy as it appears at first glance.  Plus, it only runs Android 2.1.

The Sharp IS03 is slated for release under KDDI au's network soon.  It will come in a choice of colors - black, orange and one we're quite uncertain of yet.

[Engadget]

The proper follow-up to the HD2 is now in full-on leak mode.  Possibly one of the strongest entrants in the upcoming deluge of Windows Phone 7 handsets, the HTC HD2 might as well be announced - most everything you'll want to know about it has all been uncovered.

Originally planned as the HD3 (since it's a follow-up to the HD2), the name change is said to be a play on the new Microsoft platform's moniker.  Like it's predecessor, the handset is going to be big, with 122 x 168 x 11.2mm dimensions and a large 4.3-inch capacitive touchscreen display (with 480 x 800 resolution).

Leaked details of the HTC HD7 include a 5.0 megapixel camera (with dual LED flash), aGPS, 3G with HSPA, WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1, 8GB of onboard storage, microSD card expansion and a 1,230 mAh battery module.  Core hardware include a 1GHz Qualcomm QSD processor, 512MB of ROM, 576MB of RAM and a Texas Instruments audio chip for sound enhancements.

It will come with all the default Windows Phone 7 apps, along with HTC's collection of widgets.  There's also a kickstand in the back for convenient tabletop viewing.

Only pricing with German carriers has spilled out for now, with O2 selling it for €599 and T-Mobile for €560.

[via MobileCrunch]

Nokia announced two new compact touchscreen phones, both of them running the relatively new Symbian^3.  Billed as the Nokia C6 and Nokia C7, the handsets pair sleek looks with some pretty serious hardware specs.

The more pocketable of the C-Series duo, the Nokia C6 sports a 3.2-inch AMOLED capacitive touchscreen, reinforced with the company's ClearBlack technology for blacker blacks, brighter colors and improved visibility under sunlight.  Details include an 8.0 megapixel camera module (with 720p video recording), WiFi, Bluetooth and microSD card expansion up to 32GB.  Battery is rated at up to 11 hours of talk time.

The Nokia C7, on the other hand, will be the C-Series' new flagship device.   Clad in a stainless steel body measuring a slim 10.5mm, Nokia's Anssi Vanjoki is billing it as the "sleekest, smoothest device in the whole world" (with a straight face, mind you).   Details include a 3.5-inch AMOLED capacitive touchscreen,  an 8.0 megapixel camera module (with 720p video recording), 3G with HSPA, WiFi, Bluetooth, 8GB of onboard storage and microSD card expansion up to 32GB.  Battery is rated at up to 9.5 hours of talk time.

Both devices will feature social networking integration right on the home screen, along with access to the Ovi Store and whatever other features Nokia managed to squeeze into Symbian^3.  They will go on sale around the end of the year, with the Nokia C6 (available in silver or black) priced at  €260 and the Nokia C7 (available in black, metal or brown) at €335, both before taxes and subsidies.

[Nokia]

T-Mobile has announced the long due follow-up to the original Android phone.  Called the T-Mobile G2, the HTC-built handset will be the first one equipped to work on the carrier's brand new high-speed network.

Billed as HSPA+, the service claims to offer 4G download speeds (peak speeds of 14.4 Mbps) and will be available in at least 55 metropolitan areas across the US when the phone first launches.    Aside from the beefed-up broadband capabilities, the smartphone also boasts tight integration with Google Voice, allowing you to create a new account using your current mobile number right from the phone.

Details of the T-Mobile G2 include a 3.7-inch capacitive touchscreen (800 x 480 resolution), a four-row, hinged QWERTY keypad (with one-touch quick keys), a 5.0-megapixel camera module (with 720p video recording), aGPS, WiFi, stereo Bluetooth, 4GB of internal storage, memory card expansion (8GB pre-installed, up to 32GB supported) and a 1,300 mAh battery.  Surprisingly, it skimps a bit on the processing power, throwing in an 800MHz Qualcomm Snapdragon CPU, instead of the standard high-end 1GHz.

It runs Android 2.2 Froyo, which means full Adobe Flash support, among other things.  There's the usual slew of pre-loaded Google apps, support for Microsoft Exchange (for e-mail, contacts and calendar), Swype and Voice Actions, which lets you control various phone operations on voice command.  T-Mobile claims it's optimized for excellent multimedia performance and long battery life, although that's obviously something we'd want to see to believe.

The T-Mobile G2 will be available for pre-order later in the month, with price slated at $199.99 on a two-year agreement.

[G2 via Gizmodo]

Russian blog Mobile Review has another Nokia scoop.  This time, it's a full preview of the unannounced Nokia C7 and they have what looks like a fully-functional prototype to play with.

According to the tech blog, the upcoming smartphone isn't that far off from the Nokia N8 (which, incidentally, they also leaked).  Aside from running the same Symbian^3 OS, it also shares much of the specs, with some of the meatier hardware features simply downgraded or removed.

Details of the C7 include a 3.5-inch AMOLED screen (640 x 360 resolution), an 8.0 megapixel camera module with LED flash (compared to the 12 megapixel with Xenon flash of the N8), Bluetooth 3.0, WiFi, 8GB of onboard storage (half of the N8's), microSD card expansion, a 680MHz processor, 256MB of RAM and a 1,200 mAh battery.  An HDMI output is notably absent.

Plenty of pictures of the handset are posted over at Mobile Review.  From what we can tell, it looks to have a sleek, compact slate form factor, with that easily-discernible Nokia aesthetic.

Rumored for release between October to November, the Nokia C7 is expected to be priced at around €350 before taxes and subsidies, which is around €100 less than the N8.  They also mentioned a slide-out keyboard version called the C7-01, reportedly slated for 2011.

[Mobile Review via Unwired View]

If you've been keeping up with the gadget rumor sites, you've probably seen the Nokia 5250 numerous times.  The company finally made the oft-leaked device official, confirming it as a music-centric touchscreen phone that offers great value for your money.

Running the Symbian^1 operating system (aka S60 5th edition), it brings Nokia's old UI, along with all the features that long-time users of the Finnish company's phones should be familiar with.  Designed for heavy music users, it features a music player right on the home screen, along with instant access to Ovi Music Unlimited, an all-you-can-download music service available for selected territories.  Other musical talents include an FM radio and a mobile version of Guitar Hero 5 pre-installed.

The Nokia 5250 has a  2.8-inch touchscreen (640 x 360 resolution, 16:9 display ratio), a 2.0 megapixel camera module, quad-band GSM/EDGE/GPRS, stereo Bluetooth and microSD card expansion (up to 16GB).  It's extremely pocketable too, measuring  104mm x 49mm x 14mm.  Battery is rated at 7 hours of talk time and 24 hours of music playback.

Aside from the music features, it's quite generous on the social capabilities.  You get to add your favorite contacts right on the home screen, along with quick access to email accounts and social networks.  It also has access to downloadable apps via the Ovi Store.

Pricing for the Nokia 5250 is set at an enticing €115 (around $145) before taxes and subsidies, with shipping slated for the fourth quarter.  For a touchscreen feature phone with Ovi Music Unlimited and an affable design, it definitely sounds like a nice offer.

[Nokia Conversations]

Tech blog Engadget has an exclusive post up, showing off photos and videos of two Dell Thunder smartphone prototypes.  Both handsets are labeled EVT1 (engineering verification test) and are traced back to around April, so the actual devices coming to market might still turn out to be different.

According to Engadget, the design makes the handset out to be a "sleek, sexy beast." Based on the photos, we agree.  It's got chromed sides, recessed hardware buttons, a curved glass screen and square corners.

Details of the Thunder prototypes include a 1GHz Snapdragon CPU with Qualcomm Adreno graphics, 512MB of RAM, 512MB of ROM, an 8.0 megapixel camera module with LED flash and autofocus, a working three-axis magnetometer, a three-axis accelerometer, 3G, WiFi and a 3.5mm audio jack.  The two phones had similar screens, but one was set to 800 x 480 pixels, while the other was 1,280 x 768.  There were AMOLED-specific tests in the phone's debug app, which hints that Dell is looking forward to equipping them with AMOLED screens.

One runs a stock version of Android 2.1 and the other, a developer version of Android 1.6, although it's more likely Dell will ship this with 2.2, considering the timing of the potential release.  Overall, Engadget came away with a positive impression.

There's little to go on about Dell's actual plans for the Thunder, but this appears to be a fairly decent device (considering this is timelined back to April, no less) - provided they can get it to market before the next wave of more advanced Android handsets come out.

[via Engadget]