We already know all about the EVO 3D specs, so how is the overall user experience? I read through all the reviews, and it sounds like the 3D display is a gimmick, battery life is better than the EVO 4G, the dual-core Snapdragon offers speedy performance and the call quality has some issues.

• Myriam Joire of Engadget: “While the EVO 3D looks solidly built and feels substantial, the materials used fail to convey the same sense of quality as the Sensation … After topping off the EVO 3D, it only took 14 hours and 44 minutes to drain the beefy 1730mAh battery down to 7% … The EVO 3D’s qHD touchscreen is a mixed bag … While 3D is fun and whimsical, we can’t help but think it’s just a gimmick … Ultimately, we’ve come to think of the EVO 3D as a Sensation with a lesser camera, cheaper materials, worse battery life, and without the ability to roam worldwide.”
• Sam Biddle of Gizmodo:  “I particularly loved (and, by the handset gods, demand this of all phones) the thick hardware camera shutter—hold to focus, click to shoot … The EVO 3D is the first phone to ever literally hurt my face … It gave me a headache. I wanted to look away. And for what? A 3D effect that just isn’t very good.”
• Ross Miller of This is My Next:  “A few editors on staff complained of minor headaches after more extensive use … Still, when the 3D works, it’s impressive, and everyone I’ve shown it to feels the same way.”
• Jonathan Geller of BGR: “After using the device for around 10 minutes on and off, I finally got the hang of the perfect positioning, and 3D content looks good, not great … Using the phone on the EVO 3D hasn’t been the best experience … At the end of the day, the EVO 3D is a better, faster, thinner, lighter, and more capable EVO 4G.”
• Bonnie Cha of CNET: “The 3D features are a fun addition, but it’s the HTC Evo 3D’s zippy performance and improved battery life that make this Android smartphone one of Sprint’s best … The HTC Evo 3D’s design is updated but familiar, and anyone upgrading from the Evo 4G should feel right at home with the smartphone … We also got a bit of a headache after a while, and, more often than not, 3D photos just made our eyes hurt … Starting with a full charge in the morning and with moderate to heavy use (including playing 3D games and video), we were able to go a full day, sometimes early into the next day, before needing to recharge.”
• Eric Zeman of Phone Scoop:  “The material – mostly plastic, rubber, and glass – are of the best quality and feel fantastic in the hand … The camera button itself is perhaps the best camera button on any smartphone, ever … Call quality, however, wasn’t so great. Voices were often garbled, making me ask those with whom I spoke to repeat themselves … It is, without doubt, the fastest Android handset I’ve ever used … Viewing 3D content on the EVO 3D’s screen gives me a headache, plain and simple … My biggest gripe with the EVO 3D is the wireless performance. It’s bad enough that the WiMax radio barely worked, but add to that poor 3G performance, and poor voice performance, and you’ve almost killed off all the reasons to buy any phone.”
• Roger Cheng of The Wall Street Journal:  “You might get dizzy staring too deeply into the Evo 3D, but Sprint Nextel Corp.’s newest flagship phone is worth risking a little motion sickness … I was able to go through nearly an entire work day, while keeping the 4G radio on for most of the time, running it as a hot spot to power a tablet, and making a few phone calls … While the Evo 3D has several strong points, working as a phone isn’t one of them.”

If you’re on Sprint, please let me know what you think of the early reviews. Is this your next phone? Does it live up to the hype? Will all the 3D headache claims make you reconsider your purchase?

I’m sure we will reference this post a lot, so if you find a review that we missed please leave a comment so we can add it to our list.

• Jonathan Geller of BoyGeniusReport: “When we picked up the ATRIX for the first time we were pleasantly surprised with how the materials felt. The device feels solid and well built, and we really love the size”… “The question is if the laptop dock — a single purpose accessory for your smartphone — is worth $300, and we’d unfortunately have to say that we don’t think it is” … “We didn’t honestly notice the phone to be that much faster than normal 1GHz-powered handsets, except under extreme circumstances, but that’s expected” … “We’d say without question that the Motorola ATRIX 4G is one of the best Android smartphones to ever be available from AT&T”
• Bonnie Cha of CNET: “The laptop dock is a decidedly cool (and pricey) feature, but the dual-core Motorola Atrix 4G has plenty to offer on its own. The smartphone packs speed and high-end features into a sleek package and earns its place at the top of AT&T’s Android lineup” … “However, compared with the company’s other recent handsets, such as the Motorola Droid X and the Motorola Cliq 2, the Atrix doesn’t quite have the same premium feel to it. It’s still very much a solid device but just lacks some of the finer details like a soft-touch finish on back” … “Picture quality was decent. Images came out mostly sharp, but there was some graininess and colors could have been brighter. Video quality was above par.”
• Scott Stein of CNET: “Here’s the funny part, at least to me: even though this is an Android phone, the baked-in browser on the Motorola dock is Firefox. Herein lies the sense of disconnect. In a future world where devices seamlessly sync and transform function, the top-to-bottom OS functionality here should remain Google-based. If this dock were able to run Chrome OS and Chrome apps, or at the very least a Chrome browser, and even seamlessly integrate Android and Chrome functionality, we’d really be touching the future.”
• Joshua Topolsky of Engadget: “Right now we can say that we’re pretty impressed with the device’s blazing speed and gorgeous screen, but our experiences with the laptop dock have been hit or miss. It’s clearly a mixture that takes some getting used to” … “We didn’t think 24 hours was quite enough of a window to tell you how we really felt about this monumental device, so we’re giving ourselves the space and time we think is necessary to properly review the phone and all its features.”
• Steve Kovach of BusinessInsider: “The phone itself is snappy. Apps launched almost instantly, much quicker than Android phones we’ve used in the past. We like that” … “Even though our demo unit said we were connected to HSPA+, we experienced speeds similar to 3G. We’ll have to wait until AT&T finally announces where and when HSPA+ speeds will be available to truly test it out” … “The laptop dock feels like a waste. We can’t think of a single practical use for it. The $500 add on is essentially a shell with a keyboard and screen that must be docked with the Atrix in order to function.”
• Brian Oliver Bennett of LaptopMag: “Sculpted from black plastic, the Atrix feels almost weightless in your hand but lacks the expensive design treatments we’ve seen in other devices” … “The Atrix 4G boasts a fingerprint scanner that also doubles as the phone’s power button. We successfully used our finger swipe to unlock the handset, which is much easier than using a password” … “A 720p video we shot of skaters in Bryant Park was a little choppy, but the camera did an excellent job of picking up colors and adjusting to light and dark areas in the scene” … “The main thing holding the Atrix 4G back, though, is AT&T’s HSPA+ network. When you have a mobile device capable of streaming Hulu content, it’s unfortunate that low broadband speeds diminish the device’s value, not just for entertainment but productivity as well.”
• Mark Sulivan of PCWorld: “This dual-core phone is fast and boasts solid data speeds, but the Atrix-powered laptop accessory is a good idea poorly executed” … “After using the Atrix itself for a day or so, I came away impressed with the phone–especially the power of its processor, the clarity of its display, its no-hard-edges design, and its compact shape. Frankly, it’s a phone I would buy.”
• Sascha Segan of PCMag: “Motorola’s Atrix 4G, the unique bleeding-edge superphone that can transform itself into a PC, shows how we’ll likely be using our mobile devices in the year 2020. But to get a taste of the future, you’ll have to pay, and deal with some bugs along the way” … “AT&T’s accessory pricing discourages the use of the Atrix in laptop mode. But that’s okay. Even without turning into a desktop or laptop, the Atrix is a top-of-the-line smartphone for the techno-elite” … “The Atrix’s bugs and frustrations mean it isn’t a smartphone for beginners” … “But for the adventurous, the Atrix simply does what no other smartphone does, and that alone, is impressive.”
• Todd Haselton of MobileBurn: “Its NVIDIA Tegra 2 chipset is certainly fast and applications load and close almost instantaneously” … “AT&T says there are some applications that allow you to use the reader to launch various applications depending on the finger you swipe, but out of the box it can only be used to unlock the device” … “My biggest issue with the ATRIX 4G so far is its MOTOBLUR user interface. Motorola’s hasn’t changed MOTOBLUR all that much since it made its debut in 2009 on the CLIQ” … “It’s expensive, but the laptop dock is freakin’ sweet.”

Overall it looks like the Atrix 4G handset is receiving stellar reviews with most people calling it the best Android phone on AT&T and the fastest model available. There are a few software bugs still present, but that’s to be expected with any new Android phone (especially one that does not launch for another month).

Several people said this “4G” phone only delivered 3G speeds, but most of the reviews were conducted in San Francisco and New York, where AT&T doesn’t exactly have the best track record. Hopefully AT&T will fine tune its HSPA+ network over the coming month as this phone starts to hit stores.

The laptop dock still looks awesome, but AT&T might have killed the accessory before it even launches with their high pricing. The laptop dock will cost you $300 extra when bundled with the phone ($500 when purchased separately) and it requires AT&T Data Pro and tethering plans ($25 + $20 = $45 per month). Sascha Segan of PCMag points out that, “the bottom line is that the carrier wants to charge dock users the same as laptop users, who also get charged a $20 supplement to connect to AT&T’s network.”

I previous said I was getting the Atrix 4G and I’m still excited about picking one up. I want to experience the AT&T 4G network, report on their customer service, and the Atrix has several exclusive features (like the fingerprint scanner) that I really want. The Atrix 4G is Motorola’s flagship device so I expect it will get premium software support and timely updates.

AT&T will be selling the Atrix 4G for $199 with 2-year contract, but you might be able to find it for $149 from some discount online retailers. The official pre-sale begins February 13th and AT&T said it should be in their stores by March 6th.

If you are on AT&T, please let me know what you think of the early reviews. Is this your next phone? Does it live up to the hype? Has the high-price of the laptop dock made you reconsider your purchase?

After months of endless leaks which generated huge buzz, the Droid Incredible finally goes on sale at Verizon tonight at midnight.

With its 1 GHz Snapdragon processor, the Droid Incredible will become the fastest Android phone available at a U.S. retail store. Google’s Nexus One also featured the same CPU, but it has only been available online.

Loaded on the phone will be the latest Android 2.1 firmware with HTC’s updated Sense UI. I was a critic of earlier versions of Sense, but after getting some hands on time with the new HTC Desire and Legend I found myself liking it more and more.

Other notable features of the Incredible include an 8 megapixel camera, improved touch sensor, video out with optional accessory, FM radio, and increased internal storage.

The only downside to the Incredible might be its custom Sense UI. Other HTC phones with Sense have been slow to upgrade from Android 1.x to Android 2.1 and the Incredible could suffer the same fate. Android 2.2 is around the corner and will be released for the Nexus One first, but there is no telling how long it might take Verizon to send out an update.

Users who already own a Droid or Nexus One will want to stick with their phone, but the Incredible makes a nice upgrade for anyone coming from a first generation device. If you are new to Android, the Incredible is your best option right now and you can’t go wrong with the nation’s largest 3G network.

New Verizon customers (2yr contract required) can pick up the Incredible at:

• $299 at Verizon retail stores (plus $100 mail in rebate)
• $199 on Verizon’s online site
• Special introductory price from our online phone store (more details at midnight)

All the cool kids on the block got their demo units early, but we are still waiting to review the phone. Check out the dozen reviews below to get a feeling for what the phone is like.

Reviews are up at:

• Engadget: “If you’re on Verizon right now, you’re finally getting really great options for phones, but the Incredible is currently sitting at the top of that heap with a good bit of distance to the next in line.”
• Gizmodo: “It’s also possibly the best Android phone you can buy in the US for now—with the caveat that running a custom user interface introduces the high possibility it will get screwed on future Android updates from Google, as owners of HTC’s other custom Android phones could attest to, still waiting patiently for the update to 2.1 themselves.”
• Infosync World: “After an afternoon with the HTC Droid Incredible, looking at our iPhone screen was like going from Nintendo 64 to NES.”
• CNET: “With its polished design and user interface and blazing fast speeds, the HTC Droid Incredible takes pole position as Verizon’s top smartphone and is now the Android device to beat.”
• Android Central: “For our money the Incredible quickly has made itself the Android smartphone to beat, at least in the United States, and at least until the Evo 4G arrives. And even then, it’s going to be a tough battle.”
• Android Community: “As you’d hope, the Incredible’s still photos are, well, incredible. Packed with detail, they’re a noticeable step up from what the Nexus One is capable of.”
• SlashGear: “Incredible, they call it, and for once the marketing hyperbole may be right. The Verizon Droid Incredible by HTC takes a somewhat familiar spec sheet and squeezes out something different enough to stand out from the crowd.”
• BGR: “What we do know is that HTC has come up with another incredible device, pushing the boundaries of Android in practically every direction we can think of.”
• IntoMobile: “The Incredible’s feature-set is one of the most impressive of any smartphone currently available today. You get high-end hardware packed into a slim and sexy package – and the hardware works well, without lag or any major snafus.”
• Phone Arena: “Unfortunately, the minimalistic design approach is the one glaringly eye sore that hinders the Droid Incredible to be elevated to a level beyond its brothers, and with the HTC EVO 4G on the horizon, it’ll have a small window of opportunity to make its impact. “
• DroidDog: “In summary, the HTC DROID Incredible is a fantastic device. While it has some of the same Sense quirks that the Hero had, it’s leaps and bounds above the Hero.”

Droid Incredible product video:

The Verizon Devour is the carrier’s second Motorola Android phone and their first to feature Motoblur. The phone is now available exclusively at Best Buy for $99 (with 2 year contract) with a full launch in all channels on March 15.

Spec wise, this is a mid-range Android phone and it features the outdated Android 1.6. However, it is the first Android phone to feature the 600 MHz Qualcomm MSM7627 processor, which has a 200 MHz graphics core. Most of the upcoming mid-range Android phones feature the lesser 600 MHz Qualcomm MSM7227 (which lacks the dedicated GPU) so the Devour will have a leg up in the gaming department.

With the recent news that Flash 10.1 will require at least an ARM Cortex class processor, you might want to consider the Verizon Droid which Best Buy is also selling for $99 (with 2yr contract). The Motorola Droid tops the Devour in every category and it comes with Android 2.0.1 (soon to be Android 2.1).

Unless you just love the form factor of the Devour, I see no way I can recommend it over the Droid.

Reviews are up at:

• Mobile Crunch: “The Devour is a fashion-forward social media phone. The Droid is a “geek” phone or, if you like, an app phone. However, the Devour is clearly aimed at a less geeky consumer.”
• Gizmodo: “But as Motoblur has inched forward, Android has outpaced it. And unfortunately its stablemate, the Droid, is one of the best exemplars of why you don’t need to mess with Android. What you’re getting with the Devour, then, is a downgraded Droid.”
• Phandroid: “Unfortunately, the Devour suffers an odd fate: it is made by the same manufacturer, provided on the same carrier, and has the same form factor as the Motorola Droid which clearly dominates the Devour in terms of specs not to mention its currently the most popular Android Phone on the market.”
• ZDNet: “The Motorola Devour had me at hello. It’s not just the aggressive name, either. At first glance, the Devour appears to be the hardware that the Motorola Droid was not quite — that is, the next chapter of Motorola’s signature industrial design that struck such a chord with the classic Razr flip phone.”
• SlashGear: “The DEVOUR’s 3-megapixel camera drops not only pixels but also autofocus from the DROID, resulting in mediocre images that tend towards the blurred and have muted, washed out colors.”
• NY Times: “It has a name that suggests it will eat the competition for breakfast, but despite a sprinkling of positives Motorola’s new Devour smart phone left me hungry for something more.”

Hands on video:

The Samsung Behold II is Samsung’s second Android phone released in the United States (first was Sprint Moment). The phone is now available on T-Mobile for $229.99 with a 2yr contract or $449 with no contract.

There was initially a lot of confusion over the official hardware specs, but we were able to clear that up. The Behold II is essentially a first generation Android phone because it features the same 528 MHz ARM11 processor which was included in the G1. Samsung also decided to ship the phone with the outdated Android 1.5, but they claim it will eventually support Android 2.0.

I have seen little promotion for this phone and I think I understand why. While many reviewers praised the AMOLED display and camera, they did not have much else positive to say about the Behold II. Samsung created a custom version of Android, called TouchWiz, and it appears to be an epic fail.

Keep in mind most of these reviews come from hardcore geeks like me. Some of them are pretty rough on the phone, but that is because they are comparing it to previous Android phones. It is entirely possible you might purchase this phone and love it.

I’m eagerly waiting for T-Mobile to release a second generation phone, but I’m quite happy with my Cyanogen-powered HTC Magic (myTouch 3G) till then.

Reviews are up at:

• Gizmodo: “Samsung’s Behold II is the most impressively ugly Android phone in existence. The custom interface is so bad, so gaudy and so confusing it turned my brains into ooze.”
• Unwired View: “It’s natural for Samsung to have vested interest in using TouchWiz to see how it works out. Sadly, that was probably not a good choice, considering it was more sluggish and a processor-hog.”
• PC World: “Though the Behold II has a gorgeous AMOLED display and a superior camera, customers might be turned off by the high price (it is more expensive than the iPhone 3GS and the Motorola Droid) as well as the somewhat cluttered TouchWiz interface.”
• Mobile Burn: “The Samsung Behold II had the makings of a great Android smartphone, but turned out to be the merely decent one instead. Samsung’s bull-headed support for its awkward and counter-intuitive TouchWiz homescreen system spoils the fun.”
• InfoSync: “Samsung’s TouchWIZ interface hurts Android experience”
• CNET: “Of all the Android devices, the Samsung Behold II offers some of the most powerful multimedia features, but its high price tag is a major turn off.”
• Brighthand: “If you are looking at an Android device on T-Mobile and aren’t as into the myTouch 3G, or the clunkiness of the G1, the Behold II is a nice option.”