The successor to last year's LG Ally, the LG Enlighten is the latest entry-level Android smartphone to join Verizon's roster.  If you'd like an affordable handset with a physical keyboard, this phone could prove an ideal pick.

Physically, it's a compact device, much like a lot of the entry-level phones out there.  Design is blocky, with curved edges, rounded corners and a slightly bulky profile.  Display is a 3.2-inch capacitive touchscreen with 320 x 480 resolution.  While the sharpness is definitely lacking, the screen is notably bright and colorful.  It's also usable even under direct sunlight.  The slide-out landscape keyboard is roomy, with good travel between keys and a snappy tactile feel.

As a phone, the LG Enlighten made for great calls, with little to no distortion throughout our tests.  There was plenty of volume to go around, with clear audio and natural-sounding voices.  Speakerphone performed in a similarly positive manner.  Battery is rated at 6 hours of talk time.

Considering this is an entry level device, we're stoked that LG decided to throw in Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread into the thing.  It runs a custom interface, which we actually found to be easier to get into for first-time smartphone users.

It's got all the usual Android smartphone fare -- robust messaging, wireless connectivity (GPS,3G, WiFi with mobile hotspot, Bluetooth), Google's Mobile Services and  a number of preloaded apps.  The Verizon apps can't be removed, though, so you're stuck with the bloatware.

An 800MHz processor powers the thing, which makes for decent-enough performance.  Some lags occur once you've got a lot of apps open, although things are usually smooth.  Heck, it even runs Flash on the browser pretty well, so I can't complain.   The 3.2 megapixel camera actually takes good pictures with rich colors for outdoor snaps.  Multimedia experience is standard Android.

Available for free on a new two-year agreement with Verizon, the LG Enlighten is one of the best entry-level Android handsets in the market today.  If you can live with the smaller, low-res display, it's an excellent choice.

To this day, the RAZR remains as Motorola's most familiar cellphone product name.  As such, it isn't a surprise they're reviving it on a smartphone.  And like its namesake, the Motorola Droid RAZR comes with a very notable design element: it's hella thin.

The latest addition to Verizon's Droid lineup measures a skinny 7.1mm on the edges, easily making it the new world's thinnest phone.  Yes, until somebody else makes something skinnier.  Which will probably be next month or some other time in the immediate future.

Details of the Motorola Droid RAZR include a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen (960 x 540 resolution),  an 8.0 megapixel camera module (with 1080p video recording and image stabilization), a front-facing video cam, aGPS, 4G LTE, 3G, WiFi with mobile hotspot, Bluetooth 4.0, 16GB onboard storage, microSD card expansion (16GB preloaded, up to 32GB supported) and a 1780 mAh battery.  A 1.2 GHz dual core CPU provides processing muscle, paired with 1GB of RAM.

Aside from protective Gorilla Glass, the phone boasts a water-repellent nanocoating that should keep spills from damaging the device.  Power users should also appreciate its compatibility with Motorola's Lapdocks (both 100 and 500).  Android 2.3.5 Gingerbread runs at the helm, along with the usual Google Mobile Services.  Onboard software include QuickOffice, various enterprise security capabilities, SmartActions (to conserve battery life), NetFlix, NFL Mobile and MotoCast (the company's proprietary PC-to-phone media streaming app).

The Motorola Droid RAZR will be available in early November from Verizon Wireless.  Price is $299.99 with a new two-year agreement.

[via UnwiredView]

Verizon just announced a new phone joining their LTE roster.  Called the Pantech Breakout, the handset will be the carrier's first sub-$100 4G release.

Sporting a candybar form factor with slim lines and rounded corners, it's quite the good-looking device for a mid-ranger.  And it won't short users on the feature set, either.  The 4G LTE access, for instance, comes with mobile hotspot support, allowing you to share the 5 to 12 Mbps download speeds with up to 10 users at a time.
Other details of the Pantech Breakout include a  4-inch capacitive touchscreen display (480 x 800 resolution), a 5.0 megapixel camera module (with 720p video recording), a front-facing VGA webcam, aGPS, 4G, 3G, WiFi, Bluetooth 3.0, DLNA (with Net Media app) and microSD card support (up to 32GB; 8GB included).  Muscle is provided by a 1GHz processor.

The phone runs Android 2.3 Gingerbread, along with the suite of Google Mobile Services.  There's no skinning, but you should be able to customize the homescreen with Pantech's custom widgets.

The Pantech Breakout will be available starting tomorrow, priced at $99.99 after a $50 mail in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement.  GSM plans start at $39.99 for monthly access, with data packages starting at $30 for 2 GB of data.

[Verizon Wireless]

Motorola and Verizon have finally made one of their most anticipated phones official.  The pair just announced the Droid X2, a big-sized Android smartphone with some beefy hardware and a whole lot of style.

The official announcement makes the handset Verizon's first ever dual-core 1GHz smartphone.  No, it's not some big deal, considering the market will likely be flooded with Tegra 2s and similar dual-core systems towards the end of the year, just a nice to know fact.

Details of the Motorola Droid X2 include a 4.3-inch capacitive touchscreen (960 x 540 resolution), an 8.0 megapixel camera module (with continuous autofocus and HD video shooting), aGPS, WiFi (with mobile hotspot support), 3G with HSPA, an HDMI out and microSD card expansion.  It runs Android 2.2 Froyo, with a promised update to 2.3 Gingerbread within a short time.

Remember when Motorola said they're planning to release more Atrix-style docks for their future smartphones?  While there's no word on anything similar for the Droid X2, the USB and HDMI ports are arranged in a way that is eerily similar to the Atrix, which means they could release a dock for this sometime in the near future without any technical issues.

Availability for the Motorola Droid X2 starts tomorrow, May 19th.  Price is $199.99 on a two-year agreement.

[via Engadget]

It's large.  It's expensive.  And it runs on Verizon's 4G LTE network.  It's the Samsung Droid Charge and it's big as hell.

Physically, I have mixed feelings about this phone.  I love the spacious 4.3-inch, 480x800-pixel Super AMOLED Plus display, which is even more stunning than the regular AMOLED screens from last year.  Measuring 5.11 x 2.66 x 0.46 inches, however, it's downright large, making it troublesome for folks who like putting their cellphones in their pocket (read: me).  Construction is plastic (likely as a way to keep weight down), which doesn't make it feel like the premium phone it's supposed to be, while sloped back attempts to make it more comfortable in hand (it barely succeeds).

As a phone, the Samsung Droid Charge made for great call quality with clear audio and little background distortion.  Voices sounded natural, with those on the other end reporting similarly positive things.  Speakerphone was just as good, with audio coming out richer than most high-end smartphones we've tried.  Battery is rated at 11 hours of talk time.

It ships with Android 2.2.1, rather than Gingerbread, and the Samsung TouchWiz UI on top. As such, you get the usual software features on both, such as multiple home screens and robust messaging applications.  Being a 4G LTE phone, internet is fast on this thing with the 1GHz processor (not dual core -- boo) ably muscling through all the functions.

You get the usual set of voice features and full connectivity options (GPS, WiFi, 3G, 4G, Bluetooth).  There's also the ability to make video calls via the front-facing 1.3-megapixel camera module -- oddly enough, however, they didn't preload any video chat clients so you'll have to get those via the Android Market.   It can also double as a mobile hotspot, supporting up to 10 connections over 4G and 5 over 3G (it's also free, but Verizon reserves the right to yank the service at any time).  You, of course, get a selection of apps, including some from Samsung, some from Verizon (can't uninstall -- argh) and some from third parties.

Watching movies on the large Super AMOLED Plus display is really fun -- it feels just the right size and resolution for on-the-go consumption of full-length films (and the 5-channel surround sound doesn't hurt either).  Plus, you have the option of watching on a bigger screen either via HDMI or DLNA. The phone comes with an 8.0 megapixel camera that comes with plenty of editing options and excellent photo quality.

We love the Samsung Droid Charge.  In fact, we can easily overlook the less-than-premium construction and the uninspired design.  Selling for $299 (on a two-year agreement with Verizon), though, we feel like we deserve at least dual-core hardware to go with that.  Might be a good idea to hold off from getting this until all those Tegra 2 phones start coming out and Verizon drops the price a bit.

Droid Life just got word from Verizon regarding the release schedule for some of the most anticipated phones this year.  Those who have been waiting for the Droid X2, the LG Revolution, the Sony Xperia Play or the HTC Trophy can now pencil a definitive date on their calendar.

Droid X2. The Tegra 2-powered smartphone will hit stores May 12th, with reps being told to sell through any remaining inventory of its predecessor to make room for the handset.  It will be Big Red's first dual-core offering.

LG Revolution. This is the first Android smartphone expected to launch with support for Netflix, making it a notable one for folks hankering for a whole load of streaming video on their phones.    Of course, support for all that HD content means this will take advantage of Verizon's fastest-in-class 4G LTE network.   It also launches May 12.

HTC Trophy. Remember that Windows Phone 7 announced a long time ago with the launch of the OS?  Well, it's finally dropping in stores on May 12, so Microsoft diehards can get their Ballmer on then.

Sony Xperia Play.  Yep, the much-talked about Playstation Phone is coming this month, on the 26th, with all Verizon stores stock it.  I wonder if the sales numbers can really match the hype behind this handset, though...

These upcoming releases come in the heels of two more big launches from Verizon -- the Droid Incredible 2 and the Droid Charge.  In all honesty, if this doesn't qualify as smartphone overload, I don't know what does.

[via Droid Life]

Casio has carved quite a comfy niche with their G'zone line of rugged phones.  Here's the latest one trickling out of Verizon: the Android-runnin' Casio G'zone Commando.

Bearing a name that inspires images of John Rambo, the handset is a full-on ruggedized device.  That means, it's equipped to stand most extreme conditions, passing military standards 810G for immersion, rain, dust, shock, vibration, salt, fog, humidity, solar radiation, altitude and excessive temperatures.

Details of the Casio G'zone Commando include a capacitive touchscreen display (unspecified size), a 5.0 megapixel camera module (with LED flash), aGPS, 3G, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, 3G mobile hotspot capability, stereo Bluetooth and microSD card expansion.   It runs Android 2.2 Froyo.

According to Verizon's press release, the phone is ideal for business environments, especially for occupations requiring exposure to field work and outdoor elements (e.g. construction, healthcare, transport).  As such, they've fitted it with high-security encryption for corporate email, aside from the survivalist construction.  We can't imagine it being any less attractive for rugged nature types either, especially with Casio's G'zGEAR software preinstalled, which offers various tools for outdoor enthusiasts and their ilk.

Expect the Casio G'zone Commando to hit Verizon stores this Thursday, April 28.  Price is $199.99 with a new two-year agreement.

[via Press release ]

After leaks upon leaks, Verizon has finally put an official stamp on the HTC Droid Incredible 2.   While the specs aren't quite as incredible-sounding in light of oncoming Android hardware, it's still quite the muscle-packin' smartphone.

The follow-up to last year's Droid Incredible S, the new handset doesn't stray too far from the original both in looks and internals.  As such, it isn't the top-of-the-class device that the Incredible was when it first rolled out, although it does cram a few new niceties.

The Droid Incredible 2 gets a bump up in screen size (4 inches compared to its predecessor's 3.7 inches), apart from adding a front-facing 1.3 megapixel camera and DLNA compatibility.  It retains the same 1GHz processor, 8 megapixel camera (with 720p video) and OS, though (Android 2.2 Froyo), so it could feel a bit underwhelming as an upgrade.  Other details include your usual smartphone favors, like aGPS, WiFi, 3G with HSPA, mobile hotspot (up to 5 devices), stereo Bluetooth and microSD card expansion.

One big differentiator could be international support, as Verizon claims that the new device is global-ready, capable of utilizing voice and data services in over 200 countries.  Availability begins this Thursday, April 28, priced at $199.99 on a new two-year agreement.

[Verizon]

Which US network has the fastest 4G?  According to a new study, Verizon takes the cake -- by a wide margin to boot.

In the extensive study, RootMetrics performed a variety of tests that sought to clock and compare different carriers' 4G speeds.  Held around the Seattle area, they used four different phones: the HTC Thunderbolt for T-Mobile, the HTC Inspire for AT&T, the HTC Evo for Sprint and the Samsung Galaxy S for Verizon.  According to RootMetrics, the smartphone model should not cause any issues in this case -- 4G performance should be almost all network-related.

As a point of reference, here are the promised speeds from each carrier on their 4G (and pseudo-4G HSPA+) networks:

• Verizon - 5 to 12 Mbps
• AT&T - 6Mbps
• Sprint - 3 to 6 Mbps
• T-Mobile - 5 to 10 Mbps

The findings look very good for Big Red.  First, their LTE network performed with a 100% data success rate, meaning the connection was stable and available throughout the duration of the tests.  Average download speeds for Verizon clocked between 4 and 14.5 times what other carriers were able to get, while uploads were similarly fast getting between 4.7 to 49.3 times better speeds than their competitors.  They also provided over 10Mbps download speeds at a close to 90% consistency, which is mighty impressive.

You can check the rest of the report (PDF) from the link below.

[4G Data Speed Study]

With Android smartphones flooding the market and the iPhone holding strong, HP has an uphill battle with the Palm Pre 2.  The fact that majority of the improvements here happened on the software end probably won't help its case any.

Physically, the handset's design doesn't stray far from the original Pre -- pebble shape, compact build and a slide-out portrait QWERTY.  Display is a 3.1-inch capacitive touchscreen (320 x 480 resolution), which is more common in bargain Androids by today's standards than high-end performers.  Regardless, it works just fine, provided your tastes haven't been spoiled by the 4-inch behemoths that are slowly becoming the norm.  If the screen is small, so is the keyboard, which will likely give those with larger fingers a whole lot of problems.

As a phone, the Palm Pre 2  makes for good calls.  Voices came through clear, but static seemed to find its way into conversations regularly.  Those on the other end reported a similar experience.  Speakerphone is usable, but very hollow-sounding.  Battery should be good for up to 6 hours of talk time.

Like we said, the major changes here happen on the software end with WebOS 2.0.   Features like Stacks (which improves the Pre's multitasking  immensely) and Type (combined universal search plus quick actions) really sweeten up the user experience, especially when paired with all of WebOS' already solid offerings.  Since the phone is equipped with a beefy 1GHz CPU and 512MB of RAM, everything runs zippily, although there's occasional sluggishness when you've got a huge pile of apps running.

You get the usual smartphone goodies on board, such as multiple calling options, basic and advanced messaging and a slew of wireless connectivity options (WiFi with mobile hotspot, 3G, GPS and Bluetooth).  A few tools and apps are also included, with access to more via the App Catalog (which, unfortunately, is far from bustling with activity these days).

The media player is nice and functional, but nothing special.  There's 15GB of available storage on the device, but no expansion slots, so manage your large files wisely.  The 5.0 megapixel camera comes with LED flash and manages very good photo quality (both outdoors and indoors).

As capable of a smartphone as the Palm Pre 2 is, it really is behind on the times, even at the slightly lower $149.99 contract price on Verizon.  With the Palm Pre 3 just a few months away, it may be wiser for WebOS fans to wait for the bigger and faster successor to hit shelves.