best-sprint-phones

Sprint's 4G LTE network is almost upon us. Now that the Galaxy Nexus has arrived, we've updated our picks for best Sprint phones.

Sprint is still behind, but thanks to the iPhone, it’s not bleeding customers anymore. With AT&T and Verizon continually raising rates on data, Sprint remains as the only wireless carrier in the U.S. that offers unlimited data. And the good news is that Sprint is finally jumping aboard the 4G LTE train. It’s LTE network will launch in half a dozen cities in the middle of the year, but LTE-capable handsets like the Galaxy Nexus are already on store shelves, with awesome phones like the HTC EVO 4G LTE on the horizon. Below are our favorite Sprint handsets on the market right now. 

Samsung Galaxy Nexus

Samsung galaxy Nexus front

Screen: 4.65-inch Super AMOLED, 720×1280 pixels
Specs: 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 1GB RAM, 32GB storage
OS: Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich)
Camera: 5MP rear (LED flash, 1080p rec), 1.3MP front
Connection: 4G LTE, CDMA
Price: $200 with two-year contract

Description:  The Galaxy Nexus is a Google Experience phone and the first device that runs Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) and it’s compatible with Sprint’s 4G LTE network, which is very good. This means it has a completely revamped user interface and is one of the only phones on the market to get updates as they come out. While owners of other Android phones have to wait for months (or never get updates), Nexus owners get updates on time. We’re big fans of the Galaxy Nexus, though its battery life is its one weakness. Read our full review.  

 

LG Viper 4G LTE

LG Viper 4G LTE front

Screen: 4-inch LCD, 480×800 pixels
Specs: 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 1GB RAM, 2GB storage (microSD)
OS: Android 2.3 (Gingerbread)
Camera: 5MP rear (LED flash), 0.3MP front
Connection: 4G LTE, CDMA
Price: $100 with two-year contract

Description: There is nothing remarkable about the LG Viper except that it’s a capable handset that can run on Sprint’s upcoming 4G LTE network, it can connect to Google Wallet (NFC enabled), and it only costs $100. It’s not super stylish, but it will get the job done. This runs Android 2.3, but it is a vanilla version of 2.3 without any tampering by LG, making it a lot faster than some other handsets. Take a look at our hands-on video

 

Motorola Photon 4G

motorola-photon-4g-front

Screen: 4.3 inches, 540×960 pixels
Specs: 1GHz dual-core Tegra 2, 1GB RAM, 16GB storage
OS: Android 2.3 with Motorola NinjaBlur
Camera: 8MP rear, .3MP VGA front
Connection: 4G WiMax, 3G CDMA
Price: $100 with two-year contract

Description: As time has wore on, we’ve missed having the Photon in our office. It suffers from a somewhat bland screen and interface, but everything else about it is great. The phone has a kickstand so you can prop it up like a clock, it docks with a ton of Motorola accessories (though they’re expensive), and is one of the most comfortable 4.3-inch phones we’ve held due to its button placement and rounded edges. At $200, it’s a great 4G phone. Read our full review.

 

Apple iPhone 4S

apple-iphone-4s-white-front

Screen: 3.5 inches, 640×960 pixels
Specs: 1GHz dual-core, 512MB RAM, 16/32/64GB storage
OS: iOS 5
Camera: 8 MP rear, 0.3MP VGA front
Connection: 3G CDMA
Price: $200-$400 with two-year contract

Description: The iPhone 4S looks identical to the 4 on the outside, but it does have a dual-core processor, better camera, and a new iOS 5 operating system that has some cool new features. Siri voice control supposedly lets you use natural language to talk to your iPhone, and iCloud will let you automatically store your documents and media on the net. For more info, read our iPhone 4S review.

 

Samsung Galaxy S II

samsung-galaxy-s-ii-sprint-epic-4g-touch-front

Screen: 4.5-inch Super AMOLED, 560×940
Specs: 1.5GHz dual-core, 1GB RAM, 32GB storage
OS: Android 2.3 with Samsung TouchWiz 4.0
Camera: 8MP rear, 2MP front
Connection: WiMax 4G, 3G CDMA
Price: $200 with two-year contract

Description: The Galaxy S II took its sweet time coming to North America, but it was worth the wait. This 4.5-inch phone is probably the nicest overall Android phone on Sprint. It doesn’t disappoint in any one area, though its plastic construction may turn off some (we like how light it is). This is a flagship device that will future proof you better than any other Sprint phone on the market. Read our full review.

 

Update: Corrected the operating system of iPhone 4S. It does not run on NinjaBlur. Stupid oversight. Sorry about that. 

Showing 4 comments

  1. Tonio Johnson at 8:15pm 14th October 2011 Apparently not. Their new LTE devices should start selling mid 2013. They are going to keep selling the phones I know that much. Also, I thought that they were going to keep Wimax until they fully get LTE going ?
  2. cody709 at 5:45am 14th October 2011 You might want to check the iPhone 4S specs. I think Google is trying to sabotage Apple!
    1. Jeffrey Van Camp at 7:24am 14th October 2011 Ha. Not sure how I let that one slip. I've fixed. Imagine how horrible the iPhone would be with NinjaBlur though.
  3. Cory Slotten at 1:06am 14th October 2011 Something to keep in mind though, Sprint is going to dump it's current 4G network backbone January 2013 in favor of LTE. So will all of these WiMax devices pick up LTE?
Close Suggestion DT Deals: $10 remote control helicopter, $490 Sharp HDTV, and more!
View Article