Verizon’s latest 4G LTE-boasting device, the Samsung Droid Charge, has made it’s way in to the wild and GizmoDigit is here to welcome it in to our Android-loving world! Verizon has noted it’ll be offering a free mobile hotspot feature which will allow users to share a 4g connection with up to 10 devices (or 5 devices on 3G) with a 2 GB cap to kick off the device’s launch.
Samsung DROID Charge
Hardware
The device’s 4.3 inch Super AMOLED Plus display is complimented by the eye-candy that is a combination of Android’s 2.2 Froyo OS and Samsung’s TouchWiz user interface overlay, It’s expected that the device will receive an upgrade to 2.3 in the coming months.
The Charge packs a 1 GHz Hummingbird processor, 512 MB RAM and 1 GB of internal storage under the hood, handling even the most resource-intensive games and applications with little effort.
Samsung DROID Charge Front And Back
The device’s button layout is similar to other Android phones. A headphone jack and the first of two microphone holes (the other located at the bottom) claim’s the devices top panel, with the power button located on the right side of the device (near a plastic-shielded HDMI port). The left side offers a coverless microUSB port and traditional volume rocker. The SIM card slot and microSD slot are located under the back cover.
The Charge’s nontraditional “chin” may appear awkward and uncomfortable to work with, but little use with the device quickly suggested otherwise. The unique shape allows users to better handle the device with one hand (which is fairly difficult on touchscreen devices).
Software
Startup took only a matter of seconds, but a slight delay was noticeable as the phone suffered UI-related loading time (as a result of Samsung’s TouchWiz overlay). Despite Samsung’s pre-installed bloatware, the phone handled well and free of lag. Some of the installed applications ended up being rather interesting and useful (Samsung’s Media Hub, for example).
Samsung Droid Charge Camera
Another promising feature of the Droid Charge is it’s 8 MP rear-facing camera capable of both stills and video (along with a front-facing 1.3 MP camera).
Battery
With recent LTE-related phone battery life issues, users are understandably skeptical regarding the device’s energy consumption. Through testing, the battery life proved to be more than acceptable (in comparison to the HTC ThunderBolt), averaging at roughly 12 hours of regular use.
Samsung Droid Charge Battery
Overview:
- Software: Android 2.2, TouchWiz 3.0
- CPU: 1 GHz Hummingbird
- RAM: 512 MB
- Display: 4.8 inch AMOLED Plus, 800 x 600
- External Memory: microSD slot for expansion up to 32GB
- Camera: 8 MP
- Battery: 1600 mAh, 12 hours average use
Pros:
- Amazing LCD
- Great data speeds
- Decent battery life
- High-quality camera
- Great call quality
Cons:
- Large and bulky
- Feels light and cheap
- Cost
Samsung Droid Charge 4G LTE Speed Test
Overall, this phone is a solid, high-quality device. Those in search of an affordable (if $299.99 with a two-year agreement is considered affordable), top of the line device should definitely give the Droid Charge a look. It’s stunning Super AMOLED Plus display and impressive internals make the Charge a device that won’t soon be out-shined.
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Article by Nicholas McMillen
Nicholas has written 95 articles .
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Seriously considering getting one of these. I just dont know if I can afford it, especially since itll be outdated so soon :p
The Droid Charge is definitely going to be a big seller for Verizon, especially with the improved battery life compare to the Thunderbolt and the super AMOLED plus screen. Together with my employee Sling receiver from DISH Network, this phone will be the ultimate mobile device. With the Sling receiver, I can stream live and recorded TV to my Android phone everywhere I have 3G coverage or WiFi.