T-Mobile G2 mimics 4G speed as first HSPA+ smartphone

September 9, 2010 By Nick Mokey

T-Mobile’s G2 continues the G1’s legacy with a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, and more impressively, HSPA+ speeds that should border on 4G territory.

After dropping word about a successor to the G1 back in July, then shamelessly teasing it in August, T-Mobile has finally dropped its pre-launch shenanigans and revealed full details on the highly anticipated Android phone. As anticipated, the G2 takes its place as the first smartphone to support T-Mobile’s recently upgraded HSPA+ network, leading T-Mobile to market it as a phone that “delivers 4G speeds.”

The claims will no doubt ruffle some feathers at AT&T, which previously took issue with T-Mobile’s use of “4G” when advertising its HSPA+ network. Although T-Mobile claims the G2 can reach theoretical peak download speeds of up to 14.4 Mbps, which puts it in the same speed range as some 4G networks like Sprint’s WiMax, it’s not technically a fourth-generation, or “4G,” technology.

Wireless semantics aside, the G2 will follow the same path as the original G1 with a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, and also offers a 3.7-inch screen, 800MHz Snapdragon processor, and a 5-megapixel camera with LED flash that also shoots 720p HD video. The G2 comes with 4GB of internal memory and an 8GB card preinstalled for 12GB of total storage out of the box, though in theory that number can accordion out to 36GB by swapping the 8GB card for one of the few 32GB models.

Those specs closely match what we suspected of the G2 when rumors pointed to it being a rebranded version of the HTC Vision, but processor speed has notably dropped from 1GHz to just 800MHz on the MSM7230 chip. T-Mobile’s press release, which says it has been “optimized for… battery life” may hint at the reason for the reduction in clock speed on the shipping phone – especially if HSPA+ connectivity saps battery life the same way true 4G has proven to on phones like the EVO 4G.

The G2 will run Android 2.2 Froyo with a handful of T-Mobile tweaks including Swype and Quick Keys on the physical QWERTY keyboard, which will act as customizable shortcuts to favorite apps and websites.

T-Mobile will open preordering for the G2 in limited quantities later this month, but the carrier still hasn’t officially announced when the phone will launch. Previous rumors, though, suggested September 29.

Showing 17 comments

ERic at 1:59pm 6th November 2010 how is the battery life on the G2 using 4g network?
joe smith at 4:39am 6th October 2010 Can anyone comment on the battery life? The G1 would literally die within 2 hours after being fully charged if you used a couple of the apps on it. I wanted to get an idea of how much it improved before I buy it.
1. Jazmin at 5:30pm 10th October 2010 I upgraded from the G1 to the G2 and the battery life is a lot better. I can actually use it the whole day without having to charge it.
me yeah me at 2:05pm 11th September 2010 my iphone 4 much much much better...;
1. tadpolebuckshot at 4:25pm 29th September 2010 sure, if you're a mindless, bandwagon jumping sheep.
2. tadpolebuckshot at 4:58pm 29th September 2010 better than the g1? yes. g2? hmmm.. because of an extra camera and a better screen? or because of the logo?
Somebody at 10:28am 10th September 2010 It does NOT have 4 GB of memory. It might have 4 GB of *STORAGE* -- which is nice but not all that important. 256 MB of internal storage is sufficient as long as it has an SDCARD to make up the difference (which it does). What is much more important is how much MEMORY it has (not storage... MEMORY, as in RAM). This number actually MEANS something, and leaving it out is EXTREMELY NEGLIGENT.
1. Somebody else at 6:51pm 29th September 2010 It has 512MB of ram
fergalicious at 9:40am 10th September 2010 you wanna have someone look at you while jacking off and having a conversation? its a phone call, video chat is cool for sitting down at home. but to each his own.
Charles at 11:41am 9th September 2010 yah but where's the front facing camera? I mean, I want my video calls people, this is 2010.
1. tadpolebuckshot at 4:27pm 29th September 2010 so.. by your definition: front facing camera = 2010? Think for yourself much?
sam at 11:03am 9th September 2010 Sorry, that should have read "... are NOT reporting..."
sam at 11:02am 9th September 2010 G2 gets better battery life because MSM7230 uses 45nm instead of the 65nm which is what the QSD8250 chips use. It has nothing to do with clock speed. ALSO, how come none of you technology bloggers (not just here, everywhere) are reporting on the GPU in this phone? The GPU is supposedly a huge upgrade over the one in N1 something like 4 times faster. Do some research before you write something.
Justin at 10:46am 9th September 2010 Still doesn't come close to my Nokia N900
1. ADoyle88 at 11:15am 9th September 2010 G2 has: Larger screen, faster processor, 720p Video recording and access to the Android Market. Perhaps the N900 has some hidden specs that out-weigh the above (how can you overcome the arid landscape of apps available to the n900 when compared to the Android Market or the App Store?). You have to agree that these advantages put the G2 at least *close* to your Nokia N900 (if not better).
  1. ninagosaimas at 1:16am 13th September 2010 This one could be even more great if it will be released on Android 2.2. T-mobile G2 Early Impressions.
2. tadpolebuckshot at 4:25pm 29th September 2010 you're right.. it shoots right past that brick