Design and build quality:

The Motorola Atrix 4G is 4.6 inches tall, 2.5 inches wide, and 0.4 inch thick. It weigh just 4.8 ounces and its slim profile makes it easy to slip into a pants pocket. It has tapered edges and rounded corners that makes it look sleek and comfortable to hold. Build quality is pretty solid although it’s said to lack the premium feel of the company’s other handsets such as the Motorola Cliq 2 and Droid X.


Screen:

While it’s not quite as hi-res as the iPhone 4′s Retina display (960 x 640 pixels), the Atrix 4G’s qHD screen is very bright and crisp. Web pages displayed sharp images while hi-res YouTube videos possessed lots of brightness and vivid colors. Viewing angles are on a par with other big-screened devices such as the Evo 4G and the Droid X.


Camera:

The 5 megapixel shooter on the back of the device cranks out impressive shots in both high- and low- light, and can be customized quickly for various settings. The camera also functions as a 720p video camera, and reviewers get great results capturing HD content on the device. Even in low light, the results looked sharp. Overall the back camera of the Atrix 4G is more than good enough to replace your basic point and shoot. In addition to the 5-megapixel camera, there is a front-facing VGA camera, which you can use to take self-portraits and make video calls.


Ports and Others:

On the left side of the handset you’ll find the Micro USB and HDMI ports; while the SIM and microSD card slot is tucked away behind the battery cover, which is pretty easy to pry off. The Atrix 4G boasts a fingerprint scanner that also doubles as the phone’s power button. Users can enable this extra layer of protection within the usual Android security settings to augment their PIN or password.

Motorola Atrix 4G Laptop Dock

Motorola offers a laptop dock (cost $499) that allow users to access the contents of their Atrix with a more PC-like experience. Most reviewers, while loving the idea of being able to browse smartphone content on a laptop dock, were disappointed with the smartphone-powered laptop when actually using it. Navigating (via the touchpad) through the various windows and views on the Webtop interface is found to be awkward and unwieldy as the touchpad does not support multitouch gesture. Consequently, users are forced to manually grab the scroll bar to move through pages.

Motorola Atrix 4G Software

The Motorola Atrix 4G runs Android 2.2 with Motoblur, not with the more recent Android 2.3 (Gingerbread). So the phone does not support SIM calling, near-field communications (NFC) for mobile payments, or the enhanced front-facing camera technology that Gingerbread offers. Still, Android running on the dual-core processor is a very nice (and responsive) environment to work in.


Like other phones with MotoBlur, the Atrix 4G features Motorola widgets designed to display information at a glance. These include messaging, Social Networking, and Weather. While handy, they are said to be not feeling quite as robust as offerings from competitors, such as HTC’s Sense UI.

Motorola Atrix 4G Performance

The Motorola Atrix 4G comes with Nvidia’s new dual-core 1GHz Tegra 2 processor, a full 1GB of RAM plus 16GB of ROM. A microSD card slot, able to accept cards up to 32GB, provides additional storage. In everyday tasks, the Atrix 4G felt speedy. For instance, reviewers were able to launch the camera in just 1 second, compared to the 3 it took the Inspire 4G. Scrolling between homescreens or managing apps and widgets was silky smooth.


In terms of phone calling quality, not only is the earpiece on this phone loud and exceptionally clear, but the speaker on the back delivers crisp, full-bodied audio when listening and downloading android music or on a speakerphone call. Caller on the other end is able to hear loudly and clearly as well. Motorola clearly put some money into using high-quality microphones for the Atrix.

Motorola Atrix 4G Battery Life

The Motorola Atrix 4G ships with a 1,930mAh lithium ion battery with a rated talk time of 9 hours and up to 10.4 hours of standby time. In actual battery drain tests, it gets between 7 and 10 hours of continuous talk time on a single charge.

Conclusion

For AT&T users, the Atrix is probably the best Android option you have. The $499 laptop dock however does not worth the money unless the price goes down.

Motorola Atrix 4G User ReviewsMotorola Atrix 4G Expert ReviewsBonnie Cha from Cnet says:Given Rating: 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.
Joshua Topolsky from Engadget says:Given Rating: The Atrix 4G might be our favorite Android device that we’ve tested. It’s got specs that run laps around most other devices, which should make most potential purchasers feel a little safer about laying out cash for a smartphone right now. We’re not saying the phone doesn’t have its issues — and we’re really not big fans of Motorola’s skinning — but this is a powerhouse of a device in a sleek package, and Android’s openness to customizing means you’ll be able to turn it into a phone that feels like your own. So yes, yes to the Atrix 4G, because it is an awesome phone.


The bigger question you have to ask yourself is whether or not you should spring for the accessories, and our answer to that is closer to something like “probably not.” We want to love the HD dock and the laptop dock (the laptop dock especially!), but it’s hard to warm up to these devices when they don’t really deliver on the experience you’re paying for. Our advice? Skip the laptop dock and get a good netbook (there are tons of options) and spring for the tethering plan so you can use the “4G” you’re paying for (check your area for coverage, of course). If you absolutely need your phone to pull double duty as an entertainment dock, just get a long HDMI cable — you, and your wallet, will thank us later.
Brian Oliver Bennett from Laptop Magazine says:Given Rating: On its own, the $199 Motorola Atrix 4G is among the top phones in AT&T’s lineup. Its bright and crisp screen, powerful processor, and fingerprint reader mark it as a remarkable Android phone. Likewise, the $499 Laptop Dock shows real innovation on the part of Motorola, even if its keys are on the small side. Also, the $189 Entertainment Dock, when coupled with the Bluetooth keyboard and mouse, makes for a compelling 10-foot experience. Motorola deserves a lot of credit for pushing the boundaries of mobile computing.


The main thing holding back the Atrix 4G is AT&T’s HSPA+ network. We’re simply not seeing 4G speeds right now, which diminishes this handset’s value for entertainment and productivity. We hope those 4G speeds do arrive, because the Atrix 4G is truly the most versatile smart phone we’ve ever tested.
Reviewer from Phone Arena says:Given Rating: We’ve got to hand it to Motorola once again as they carefully planned and thought out every aspect of the ATRIX 4G. Is it revolutionary? We wouldn’t go that far, but it’s downright awesome! This isn’t just another high-end Android smartphone out there on the market, it dives into new territory and takes the leap of faith by adding in some interesting new functionality that unanimously chops down borders with its webtop app and optional docks. For $199.99 on-contract, this is hands down the best Android smartphone on AT&T’s lineup. Sure we would’ve loved to see a better design for the handset, but considering that it’s crowned as “the world’s most powerful smartphone,” it’s quite a fitting remark – especially when its 1GHz dual-core NVIDIA Tegra2 processor makes it fly so rapidly in almost everything it does. Additionally, we love the new functionality that comes along with its multimedia and laptop docks. In fact, it’s daring and impressive at the same time! So if you’re looking for a smartphone right now, there is no reason why the Motorola ATRIX 4G should be on the top of your list.
Mark Sullivan from PC World says:Given Rating: This dual-core phone is fast and boasts solid data speeds, but the Atrix-powered laptop accessory is a good idea poorly executed.
Sascha Segan from PC Mag says:Given Rating: The Motorola Atrix could be the start of a revolution. Hopefully, it isn’t the end. The Atrix’s bugs and frustrations mean it isn’t a smartphone for beginners. The HTC Inspire 4G and Apple iPhone 4 both have more stable and mature interfaces. For that reason, the Editor’s Choice for AT&T smartphones stays with iPhone 4, which is simply a more mainstream, safer choice. But for the adventurous, the Atrix simply does what no other smartphone does, and that alone, is impressive.
Marc Saltzman from Digital Trend says:Given Rating: While it’s powerful and secure, the Motorola Atrix 4G won’t blow you away as a smartphone. It’s certainly as good as any other Android devices on the market, if not a tad better in most departments – but it’s what you can do with it that makes it stand out from the crowd. That is, the accessories make the phone a lot more compelling.


It’s pricey, but the LapDock worked like a charm, and should be an appealing alternative to travelers who want a lightweight laptop while on the road. The HD Multimedia Dock also worked well for consuming media, but a few other smartphones today have an HDMI output option for a television.


At the very least, AT&T customers itching to pick up a new Android phone should try out the Motorola Atrix 4G and accessories..
Jonathan S. Geller from BGR says:The Motorola ATRIX 4G is a very impressive product that brings an impressive set of accessories and peripherals to market that extend the smartphone into something much, much more. Looking at the phone specifically, it’s a feature-packed Android 2.2 device that has a vivid, high resolution screen, and a screaming fast dual-core CPU making it the fastest phone in the market. 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. The accessories it brings with it aren’t going to push you to buy the smartphone, but the concepts are pretty wild and really do widen your eyes and make you step back to see what cellphones nowadays are capable of doing, and doing well. The fact we’re at a time where a phone can power a full computer is incredible, and it’s great to see a fine device like the ATRIX 4G be the first to do it. If you’re ready to go, you’ll have to wait just a little longer to get your hands on one, as the device is available for pre-order starting this Sunday and is set to be released on March 6th for $199.
Vincent Nguyen from Slash Gear says:If there’s one thing the Motorola ATRIX 4G shows, it’s that there’s no shortage of innovation in the smartphone market. The Laptop Dock may be expensive – and Palm may have previewed the idea with the Folio, and Redfly even attempted to commercialize it with the Celio – but Motorola deserves some kudos for bringing it to market and to a major carrier. There’s certainly no shortage of geek appeal, and the HD Desktop Dock is similarly useful, but right now the Webtop interface falls short of what a simple, WiFi-tethered netbook would deliver. The HD Desktop Dock is good, but its core abilities are readily served with a far cheaper HDMI cable. Early adopters can probably justify one or both, but mainstream users will likely want to wait for Motorola’s engineers to finesse the experience.


Mediocre 4G data speeds aside, meanwhile, the ATRIX itself is a solid, very usable smartphone lifted from among the Android crowds by its lightning fast performance and pixel-rich display. The combination of Tegra 2 and qHD resolution add up to one of the best Android experiences to-date. Rivals will soon begin snapping at the ATRIX 4G’s heels, but in terms of as much future-proofing as you can lock-in over the course of a two-year agreement, today the Motorola offers the best starting point.
Steve Kovach from Business Insider says:For AT&T users, the Atrix is the best Android option you have. (Not like there’s a lot of competition). If you’ve been dying for the same great Android experience people have been enjoying on Verizon, T-Mobile, or Sprint, then this is your phone.


On the other hand, the laptop dock is a waste of $500. If the price goes down — way, way down — you may want to consider it. Otherwise, stick with your netbook.
Motorola Atrix 4G VideosMotorola Atrix 4G SpecificationWeight4.76 ouncesScreen Size4.0-inchResolution540 x 960CPU1GHz Nvidia Tegra 2 (dual core)RAM1 GBInternal Storage16 GBExternal StorageSupports up to 32GB microSD cardBattery Life9 hours talk timeFront CameraVGARear Camera5MPBluetooth2.1+EDROperating SystemAndroid 2.2 (Froyo)

iPhone Vs Android – Which One Should You Get?

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Smartphones are obviously ruling the town. Major phone manufacturers such as Samsung, Motorola, Blackberry, Sony Ericsson, and others go head to head in creating, developing, and releasing the best smartphone they could offer. At the moment, two operating systems – Google Android and Apple iOS – are the arguably the best among the rest.


With the iPhone as the most popular between the two, there is still a question that arises – which really is better, the iPhone or the high-end Android phone?


Of course this question is really difficult to answer as both have distinct advantages. That’s why this article addresses some of the advantages and disadvantages offered by each mobile operating system.


Variety of Choices – Advantage Android

If it’s about looking for a lot of different choices, then obviously it’s Android all the way. The user has only two choices for the iPhone, this year’s model and last year’s model. Every year Apple releases one new iPhone. There are over 100 Android powered phones and that number is continuing to grow – it seems like there is a new Android phone coming out every few days. Android can be found not only in costly phones but also in low cost phones that are free with two year contract and $250 with two year contract. A variety of screen sizes are available and pick any carrier the user wants.


Cool Apps – Advantage iPhone

If it’s about the biggest selection of apps, then the iPhone with the Apple App Store has the advantage by about 200,000 apps. The Android Market isn’t a slouch by any means. It does have over 100,000 apps, but it obviously just has less. Most developers develop for the Apple App Store first because people are more used to paying for apps on the iPhone than they are on Android. At the moment, the biggest difference is in games. iPhone games are simply far better than on the android. And there is a wide variety of games on the iPhone.


Cell Phone Carrier – Advantage Android

In the U.S., the iPhone is now available on two carriers. Users are no longer stuck with AT&T which is a good thing for many people as AT&T has had more than its share of network problems over the years with the iPhone. However, the iPhone still isn’t available for Sprint or TMobile which both offer lowest cost plans than Verizon and AT&T so the advantage here of course goes to Android.


Adobe Flash (i.e. Most Videos) – Advantage Android

When it comes to watching videos, many youtube videos can be played on the iPhone. However, plenty of videos are found elsewhere and they all use Adobe Flash. Many online games also use Flash as well so if you enjoy playing them, you’ll probably have some difficultly. Android Phones (Android 2.2 or later) support Flash so that means accessibility with a wide variety of videos and games on the phone is possible. Skyfire, a workaround app on the iPhone will work for some of these cases, but it’s not nearly as nice as the iPhone being able to support it and it certainly doesn’t “just work” as Apple has tried to make their devices do.


Ease Of Use – Advantage iPhone

A user-friendly iPhone is far preferred than with phones that somewhat needs a degree of engineering to be used. The Android is relatively easy to use; however it’s still not nearly as intuitive as the iPhone. The iPhone has a simple elegance to it. Android powered smartphones tend to appeal more to the tech savvy crowd. Just like with computers, some people like Windows and some people like Mac OS. Go to the store and play with both for a little bit and see which one appeals to you more but if the user barely know how to turn a computer on and hate computers, then stick with the iPhone as it is simpler.


Conclusion – Up To You

Everything is just a matter of preference. Not everybody would like the same thing as each user is different among else. Ultimately it is going to depend on what you want. Others prefer an Android, others enjoy an iPhone, others found both fun and easy to use. Get whichever one you like best. After all, the one to enjoy should be you, not anyone else.

Review Summary HTC Thunderbolt Hardware

Design and build quality:

The HTC Thunderbolt measures 4.75 inches tall, 2.44 inches wide, 0.56 inch thick, and weigh 6.23 ounces. It is relatively huge and heavy compared to the iPhone 4 (around 20 percent heavier), but if you are comfortable with the EVO 4G, you’ll feel right at home. The phone’s build quality is solid and the tapered back and soft-touch finish make it comfortable to hold in the hand. A kickstand at the back enable you to prop the phone on a desk to watch videos, conduct speakerphone calls. Overall, the Thunderbolt is a legitimately handsome device.


Display:

The 4.3-inch display is bright and clear. It’s said to be an upgrade from EVO’s display due to its superior viewing angle that never washes out or inverts. The touchscreen is very responsive to touch as well.


Speakers:

Speakers are loud and audio quality is good, however since it’s hidden underneath the kickstand, it’s muffled when the kickstand is closed.


Storage:

The HTC Thunderbolt comes with 8GB of internal memory and a preinstalled 32GB microSD card.


Cameras:

The phone has a 1.3MP front-facing camera and a 8MP rear camera. Both produce good quality photos, especially the 8MP rear camera is said to be doing a good job of producing nice-looking images even in low-light situations. In video mode, it’s capturing clear and nice-looking HD video as well. The only drawback is that there’s no physical shutter key on the phone, so you’ll have to use the touch screen to snap photos.


Ports:

There’s a Micro-USB port on the left side, and a 3.5mm headphone jack on top of the device. The microSD card slot is hidden behind the battery. Unlike the Evo 4G, there is no HDMI port which is a big deal for some and a complete non-issue for others.

HTC Thunderbolt Software

The HTC Thunderbolt is running the latest version of HTC Sence on top of Android 2.2.1. It looks similar to any other Sense device from the past year or so — a good-looking alarm clock, social networking widgets, enhanced calendar and address book apps, and lots of other attractive touches.


Besides the standard Google services, the non-standard apps that HTC and Verizon pre-loaded includes: Adobe Reader, Bitbop(TV/movies streaming service),Blockbuster, City ID(service that displays the city and state of incoming calls), FM Radio, Kindle, Let’s Golf 2, Quickoffice, Rhapsody, Rock Band, VZ Navigatorm, Slacker, TuneWiki, V CAST Apps, and V CAST Media. What’s missing, though, is Skype or any preinstalled video chat client. According to Cnet, Skype Mobile and Qik aren’t currently supported on the smartphone, and Tango and Fring appear to be the only clients that work with the ThunderBolt for now.

HTC Thunderbolt Call Quality

Call quality was mostly good — reception is good, voice quality is strong, and earpiece is loud. Speakerphone quality is also decent. Everything was crystal clear on the Thunderbolt end, but it sounds a little “staticky” on the other end although still totally audible.

HTC Thunderbolt Performance

Phone Performance:

With the next-gen 1GHz Qualcomm MSM8655 Snapdragon processor and 768MB of RAM, the Thunderbolt performed as well as any high-end smartphone that doesn’t have Nvidia’s dual-core Tegra 2 chipset. The phone feels smooth and fast overall, and there’s no complain of lagging from reviewers.


4G Speed Performance:

The ThunderBolt is the first smartphone to work on Verizon’s LTE 4G network, and it delivers by far the fastest Internet access for a handset. The maximum download speed is over 15Mbps, while the minimum is 5Mbps. Upload speeds were also fast; about 2Mbps with the hotspot and 4Mbps tethered. In real life usage, a 5.1MB MP3 file is downloaded in 20 seconds, and a 16.4MB photo album is uploaded in just 47 seconds. Verizon does not charge extra for LTE: $30/month… and for now, you get unlimited data.

HTC Thunderbolt Battery Life

The HTC ThunderBolt comes with a 1,400mAh lithium ion battery with a rated talk time of 6.3 hours and up to 13 days of standby time. In Cnet’s battery drain tests, the ThunderBolt delivered 5 hours of continuous talk time over 4G. With heavy usage of the 4G network for Internet access though (i.e. streaming using Bitbop and YouTube), the battery run out in 2 to 3 hours. The bad news is that there’s no way to disable the Thunderbolt’s 4G radio and stay on on CDMA / EV-DO alone to conserve the battery.

Conclusion

The HTC Thunderbolt is one of the best smartphone in Verizon’s expansive lineup. It delivers the fastest 4G experience, a premium design, and a solid feature set. The only drawback is that it runs out of battery too fast, especially with heavy 4G network usage. Just be sure to pick up a spare or extended battery, and it shouldn’t be a deal breaker.

HTC Thunderbolt User ReviewsHTC Thunderbolt Expert ReviewsBonnie Cha  from CNet says:Given Rating: The HTC ThunderBolt is Verizon’s fastest and most powerful smartphone yet. The 4G speeds do not disappoint, blowing right past the competition and taking the browsing and streaming experience on a smartphone to the next level. It also serves as a fine hot spot/modem. Couple that with HTC’s premium design and a solid feature set and the ThunderBolt looks like a pretty attractive option. However, all of this comes at the expense of battery life, and with more LTE smartphones coming to Verizon in the coming months, including the dual-core Motorola Droid Bionic, it complicates the buying decision. If you have the luxury or the patience to wait, it might be worth sticking around to see how the Droid Bionic and others perform, but for early adopters who crave the speed now, the HTC ThunderBolt can certainly deliver. Just be sure to pick up a spare or extended battery.
Chris Ziegler from Engadget says:Given Rating: First-generation devices are often, if not usually, a little rickety — proofs of concept that are more about the manufacturer (or carrier) being able to say that they’re first to launch a particular feature than they are about delivering a solid, all-around winner. Fortunately, that’s not the case with the Thunderbolt: HTC’s managed to put together a handset here that we can honestly recommend with a straight face, owing in no small part to the fact that it borrows heavily from the company’s existing parts bin. If you’re looking for the sexiest 4.3-inch phone of the bunch, the Inspire still beats it — you can’t go wrong with the thinner, metal, unibody shell — but the Thunderbolt is easily one of the best Android devices in Verizon’s expansive lineup even before you take the LTE capability into account. And if you’re lucky enough to live or work in an LTE market (or one that’s going live this year), it’s the best choice by a country mile.
Sascha Segan from PC Mag says:Given Rating: The HTC Thunderbolt is the most powerful smartphone for Verizon Yes right now, so it gets our Editors’ Choice for touch-screen smartphones. Just make sure to buy a second battery.


Verizon has a bunch of new LTE phones coming out soon. The Motorola Droid Bionic looks intriguing because of its Nvidia Tegra 2 processor, which should make it terrific for games. Maybe the LG Revolution or Samsung Stealth will solve the Thunderbolt’s battery issue. We don’t know, though, so for now we’re recommending the Thunderbolt.


We’d recommend the Thunderbolt for 3G users as well. It’s a bit better than the Motorola Droid X because HTC Sense is smoother than Motorola’s Blur software, and you get the benefit of 4G when it comes to you. Until then, enjoy the better battery life on 3G.


The unlimited 4G data plan is another reason to buy this phone now—after all, you don’t know if that plan will be offered with any future phones.


The Thunderbolt is still a big, heavy, expensive phone ($249 with a two-year contract), so it’s not for everyone. On Verizon, the iPhone 4 ($199, 4 stars) is very easy to use and has an even better selection of apps, and the HTC Droid Incredible ($99, 4.5 stars) is an Android phone which fits better in smaller hands than this device does. But neither of those phones come anywhere near the HTC Thunderbolt’s Internet speeds in LTE areas. While we’re concerned about the Thunderbolt’s short surfing time on 4G, we think the incredible speed of LTE is worth it.
Armando Rodriguez from PC World says:Given Rating: The HTC ThunderBolt looks, feels, and handles like a solid piece of hardware. Although its specs aren’t anything we haven’t already seen in the Droid X or the Droid 2, the ThunderBolt’s ability to utilize the unprecedented speed of Verizon’s LTE network makes it a special phone indeed. Users who like to run high-bandwidth apps on the road–as in streaming high-def video or playing online games–will find no faster phone on the market right now.
Reviewer from infoSync says:Given Rating: Verizon’s first 4G LTE phone is not too shabby at all. The phone joins one of the strongest data networks in the country and gives users 40GB of storage space out of the box. It has a front-facing camera, Android 2.2, HTC’s beautiful Sense interface, and a kickstand to hang with the rest of the premiere multimedia smartphones. Yes, the phone is indeed a striking start for Verizon’s LTE network, and will certainly be a hot seller this year.


We could have used some extra battery life and a camera with better low light sensitivity, but our main concern centered around the Thunderbolt’s tendency to freeze randomly like a deer in the headlights. After spending over a month with the HTC Inspire 4G, we have seen the phone freeze or glitch up intermittently, but it’s usually due to an unstable application. The fact that the Thunderbolt called it quits while we were browsing the Internet led us to proceed with caution when we were prepared to go balls to the wall with this phone.


Regardless, the phone is one of the best smartphones on the market, and will definitely fit the needs of those who live within LTE territory. With download speeds of 5 – 12 Mbps and upload speeds of 2 – 5 Mbps, the HTC Thunderbolt is the first of the soldiers on its way to 100/50 Mbps speeds Verizon Yes hopes to one day offer. But for now, the Thunderbolt has struck, and the competition will be scrambling to clean up the debris.
Scott Lowe from IGN says:Given Rating: In short, the HTC Thunderbolt is a solid smartphone with a lot to offer, but those who strive to be on the cutting edge might want to wait for a dual-core, Android 2.3-powered, 4G LTE handset.
Reviewer from Phone Arena says:Given Rating: There’s a lot to like about the HTC Thunderbolt – fast web browsing and data speeds, Sense user interface, ample 4.3” display, 8MP camera, 32GB memory card, and overall snappy performance thanks to the 1GHz Snapdragon processor. If you’re in need of the newest and fastest smartphone now, the ThunderBolt is clearly the best choice out there for Verizon. But our two concerns are with the buzzing we heard in the earpiece speaker, and with the color difference we saw with the displays of the two units we received. Because of this, we’d recommend at this point you purchase it from a local store so you can see and try it out there. Just in case it has any issues, you can exchange it on the spot. But if you aren’t in a major rush, we’d suggest waiting a while, as there are three other LTE phones coming out in the next few months, and it’s hard to tell at this point which one may turn out to be the best. With that said, yes, guys, it is super-awesome to use data with Verizon’s brand-new 4G LTE network, and the HTC ThunderBolt makes the experience even better.
Mark Spoonauer from Laptop Magazine says:Given Rating: The Thunderbolt lives up to its name by being the fastest 4G phone on any network–by far. Provided you’re in an area with LTE coverage, you’ll be able to load sites, download apps, and start streaming videos in the blink of any eye. This smart phone can also easily replace a USB modem or MiFi. Unfortunately, the Thunderbolt runs out of gas too fast. Overall, we prefer the slimmer and lighter iPhone 4, which has a better display, higher-quality apps, and longer battery life. As for Android fans, they may want to wait for the dual-core Motorola Droid Bionic to come to Verizon (complete with beefier 1930mAH battery). Still, if you have a need for serious speed right now, the Thunderbolt will satisfy.
Brandon Miniman from Pocket Now says:Given Rating: The HTC Thunderbolt on Verizon is phone that many have been eagerly anticipating, and it doesn’t disappoint. It’s an example of a mature and time-tested hardware configuration (that’s the 1GHz Snapdragon CPU with 768MB of RAM) coupled with software that is stable, pleasing to use, and very fast. Add to that access to Verizon’s speedy 4G network, and you’ve got a really compelling device on your hands.


We were a bit underwhelmed by the spec sheet of the Thunderbolt, especially after recent announcements of upcoming phones with 3D qHD displays, dual core processors, and even more RAM. But then again, those next-generation devices, like the EVO 3D and Galaxy S II, aren’t due out until the middle of the year.


And, those that desire great battery life or a device that is small and light might want to look elsewhere. If you fall under the category and are on Verizon, consider the Samsung Fascinate or Droid Incredible.
Eric M. Zeman from Phone Scoop says:If the Thunderbolt were a regular 3G smartphone, it would be a near home run. Aside perhaps from the large and weighty size, everything about the Thunderbolt is solid. It has a good design; solid signal performance; good voice call performance; and good battery life when in 3G-only areas.


The Sense user interface and other applications customized by HTC make this Android device a cinch to use and adjust. The camera application is great, and mostly produces great results. Aside from a severe case of the shakes, the HD camcorder also does well.


With LTE 4G coverage, the Thunderbolt’s browsing and download prowess is second to none. Speeds are Millennium Falcon-fast and are capable of out-pacing most wired home broadband connections. But it comes at a severe cost in battery life. Intense LTE use can wreck the battery in just a couple of hours. Two-hour battery life isn’t acceptable in any device, let alone a smartphone.


(It’s a shame, really. I have to question why the Thunderbolt doesn’t have a larger battery. At only 1400mAh, it seems HTC is limiting the battery on purpose in order to sell the extended-life battery, which packs 2750mAh at a cost of $50.)


Would I recommend the HTC Thunderbolt, Verizon’s first LTE handset? Sure. It’s a great smartphone. The only significant drawback is the crippled battery life when using the Thunderbolt’s best feature.


The Thunderbolt is like a Ferrari. It may be fast as all get-out, but that speedy engine consumes a lot of fuel.
Julie from The Gadgeteer says:As I mentioned at the beginning of this review, I haven’t had all that much time with this phone. But the time I’ve spent with it, I do like it a lot. At first I thought I’d want to ditch my Droid X and buy one, but the initial infatuation quickly wore off. While I do like this phone, I don’t think it’s a worthy upgrade from my current phone due to the fact that the screen size is the same, the processor is the same speed and the form factor is almost identical. However, if I were shopping for a brand new phone, the HTC ThunderBolt is the one I’d buy. But as it is, I think I’ll hold on to my Droid X till something more exciting comes along.
Jonathan S. Geller from BGR says:The HTC ThunderBolt is a phone from the future in many ways. It delivers the fastest internet speeds of any device I have ever tested (at least 2-3 times faster than anything else, in fact), and it runs on a very fast (and customized) version of Android to deliver great performance. In many ways, however, the ThunderBolt resembles phones from a year or two ago — in styling and in thickness and heft.


I’m not a fan of any smartphone that features a display beyond 4-inches, and the sheer thickness and weight of the ThunderBolt makes it a non-starter for a role as my daily driver. In addition, the poor battery performance makes it a tough sell. It’s awesome that I can use the ThunderBolt to email presentations, download files and and stream video at ridiculous cellular data speeds, but all that means nothing if my battery dies after just a few hours of usage. That doesn’t necessarily mean that the HTC ThunderBolt isn’t the right device for you, however.


My advice is to definitely play with one in person at a Verizon Yes store to see if the device is your perfect Android match. If you can look past the poor battery life — or if you don’t mind reinforcing your pants pockets so that the added weight and size of the extended battery doesn’t rip right through them — then you’ll find yourself with an amazingly fast smartphone packed with all the bells and whistles you need.
HTC Thunderbolt VideosHTC Thunderbolt SpecificationWeight6.23 ouncesScreen Size4.3-inchResolution480 x 800CPU1GHz Qualcomm SnapdragonRAM768 MBInternal Storage8 GBExternal Storage32 GB microSD preinstalledBattery Life6.3 hours talk timeFront Camera1.3MPRear Camera8MPBluetooth2.1+EDROperating SystemAndroid 2.2 (Froyo)