This week, I have some good news and some bad news for my loyal readers. The bad news is that I was unable to obtain a fancy new gadget to test out this week from my many (read: one) big tech company contacts. Despite my lack of temporary freebees, I was determined to find a hot new item to introduce to my Dartmouth peers. The good news, however, is that I pulled a clutch fourth quarter-Michael-Jordan move and purchased a sweet new phone to review this week. By purchased, I mean I used my mom's upgrade to receive a new phone. For the fourth straight Reboot and Rally, my bank account has less digits than Carrot Top has fans on Facebook so I had to con my Mom out of a new phone in order to complete my article and satisfy my hundreds (read: dozens) of fans.
This week's phone is Sprint's Epic 4G. The phone is the premiere model of Samsung's new android powered Galaxy S devices. Although most North American carriers sell a similar Galaxy S phone with a capacitive touch screen, the Epic 4G is the only phone that connects to Sprints new (and super speedy) 4G WiMax network. 4G is the new standard in mobile internet providing speeds up to 10 times faster than 3G devices when a 4G network is in range. The Epic 4G also sets itself ahead of its Galaxy S counterparts because it is the only model to sport a full slide out QWERTY keyboard.
A few people asked me, "Chad, don't you feel guilty for claiming a phone that should belong to your Mother?" Normally, my conscience would make me second guess my actions, but my Mom can't tell the difference between my iTouch and our TV remote so I don't think she would have valued the Epic 4G as much as I do. (Mom, if you're reading this, I'm sorry.)
The most impressive feature of the Epic 4G is the phone's gorgeous screen. The four inch Super AMOLED screen can display over 16 million colors and sports a 50,000:1 contrast ratio. The contrast ratio basically describes how dark blacks appear on the display. A larger ratio represents deeper blacks and a better picture. The ratio of the Epic 4G is one of best recorded for any cell phone it is actually greater than the contrast ratio of my discount LCD TV.
The display is incredibly detailed and vibrant. Pictures are crisp and it is one of the only phones that I enjoy watching video on. The phone also sports two cameras. The back camera takes up to five megapixel images and has a surprisingly effective LED flash for low light shots. Much like the new iPhone, the phone includes a front-facing VGA camera for self-portrait shots and video chatting. The phone comes preloaded with Qik messenger as its default video chat client. Qik outshines the iPhone's popular Facetime app because it allows for video chatting over Sprint's 3G and 4G networks in addition to using a Wi-Fi connection. Although the video runs slower over the data network, the ability to video chat when Wi-Fi is unavailable is a much needed feature that the iPhone lacks.
The Epic 4G's 1 GHz Hummingbird Cortex A8 processor effortlessly runs enough simultaneous applications to occupy a Red-Bull-fueled 8 year old with ADD and a 5-pound bag of Sourpatch Kids. I was able to play a 3D game while listening to music over Pandora and downloading several PDFs from Blackboard. I never experienced any slowdown, no matter how many apps I ran.
Any texting hound will love the Epic 4G. Its QWERTY keyboard is large and functional and the phone also supports the critically acclaimed Swype texting for fast, effortless messaging. (See the September 24th Reboot and Rally for a more detailed description of the Swype input method.) The keyboard-Swype combination makes the phone the perfect device for short texts and long e-mails alike.
Like every phone, the Epic 4G has its share of problems. One issue is the phone's price. The Epic 4G costs $250 for new Sprint customers and those (like my Mom) who are available for a discounted phone upgrade. What Sprint fails to tell you is that the phone's 4G capability adds an additional $10 to your monthly phone bill. Unfortunately, there is no 4G coverage in Hanover so I am paying close to $120 dollars every year for a feature I can only use when I'm not on campus.
The phone also has the capability to serve as a 4G hotspot (a feature that makes me very popular on bus rides in NYC. However, Sprint charges $29 every month this feature is active so my bus popularity has decreased significantly once I realized that I could not afford the luxury.)
The other problem is the phone's abysmal battery performance. Although Sprint claims the phone has 21 days of standby time, I rarely encounter a day where my phone survives unplugged for more than 12 hours. Excessive data network and display use are known battery drainers, but I refuse to believe that I have my nose buried into my phone as much as Lindsay Lohan has her nose buried into (Too soon? Maybe )
Despite the price and the shady battery life, the Epic 4G is still a great phone. Although this phone has a better value for those who live in one of the major cities that contain a 4G network, it is still a very functional phone in Hanover. The vibrant screen is truly unique and makes viewing pictures on Facebook, playing 3D games and watching HD movies a pleasure.
Final Reboot and Rally Grade: B+
