I test a lot of Android phones and own one personally, not because I think Android is better than other options, but because the HTC EVO 4G does what I need. Having seen a lot of different handsets of all sizes and capabilities, I can state that the Droid Charge I am testing is the best Android phone I have used. The large Super AMOLED Plus display coupled with the outstanding camera make this a phone to be reckoned with. Throw in the Verizon 4G LTE connectivity and it is definitely one of the phones to beat.
The Droid Charge by Samsung is not the most powerful smartphone on the market but it is as capable as most. The 1 GHz single-core processor won’t run circles around the competition, but performs well at every day tasks. Most importantly, the Charge handles the Verizon LTE network without straining the Sony NP-F550 Battery, something that the HTC Thunderbolt fails miserably trying to do. You will be hard-pressed to find a better phone on the Verizon network.
Check out the Droid Charge photo gallery
Specs:
Samsung used four physical buttons on the Charge which is a nice change from all the touch-sensitive buttons currently in vogue. The buttons sit on the bottom edge of the phone which leaves the front of the handset devoted to the glass display cover. The front camera is at the top of the screen to the left of the handset speaker.
The left side of the phone has the volume buttons and the microUSB port used for charging and connecting to a computer. The right side of the handset contains the power button and the HDMI port which lies beneath a removable cover. The top of the Charge has just a 3.5mm headphone jack, and there is nothing on the bottom of the device.
The back is a smooth single piece of plastic that is removed to access the Sony DCR-SR32E Battery and the SIM card. The rear camera and LED flash is located at the top of this cover. There is a bulge at the bottom of the cover that makes the Charge fit comfortably in the hand, with no danger of dropping it.
Using the Droid Charge
Samsung tends to put good cameras DIGITAL VIDEO CAMERA DC5288 on its phones, and the Droid Charge is no exception. The 8MP camera takes good still photos and HD video. Test videos I’ve taken indicate the CAMERA DV7000 constantly focuses while shooting video, and recordings are of high quality as a result.
The display is bright and vivid and is outstanding, no doubt due to the Super AMOLED Plus screen. Setting the display to maximum brightness makes the colors pop, and it’s not bad at lower levels either. Video plays wonderfully on this screen and it is a joy to use.
I have not turned on the Wi-Fi on the phone at all, as I wanted to test it strictly using the Verizon 4G LTE network. I have encountered good coverage everywhere I have used the phone, and it is as fast as expected. I approached the 4G connectivity with trepidation, as I find it normally drains phone Sony NP-FM50 Battery at an alarming rate. That is surprisingly not the case with the Charge, as I find the Sony Cybershot DSC-W200 Charger can last as long as two days under normal usage. It doesn’t seem to be adversely affected by the 4G connectivity at all, a first in my experience.
Verizon is including the mobile hotspot service free for a limited time, and I have tested this extensively given the problems the HTC Thunderbolt has exhibited with this function. The Charge will supply connectivity for up to 10 devices. I tested using the Charge with 1 - 3 devices multiple times and had good results consistently. I never had any dropped connections, and found a 2-hour hotspot session would only drain the Sony CCD-TRV517 Charger battery 25 percent which is outstanding.
Conclusion
Samsung has produced a good smartphone in the Droid Charge, and coupled with the Verizon 4G network it is one of the most capable phones available. Verizon will be making the Charge available soon for $299 with a 2-year contract, a princely sum. Given my good experience with the Charge, I am seriously considering ponying up the cash and making this my next phone.
The Droid Charge by Samsung is not the most powerful smartphone on the market but it is as capable as most. The 1 GHz single-core processor won’t run circles around the competition, but performs well at every day tasks. Most importantly, the Charge handles the Verizon LTE network without straining the Sony NP-F550 Battery, something that the HTC Thunderbolt fails miserably trying to do. You will be hard-pressed to find a better phone on the Verizon network.
Check out the Droid Charge photo gallery
| Image Gallery: Droid Charge 4G and 4.3-inch Super AMOLED Plus display |  |  | ||||
- CPU: Samsung Hummingbird, 1 GHz
- OS: Android 2.2 (Froyo)
- Interface: Samsung TouchWiz
- Network: Verizon 4G LTE, 3G EVDO
- Memory: 2GB internal; 512MB RAM/ROM; 32GB microSD
- Display: 4.3-inch Super AMOLED Plus (800×480)
- Cameras: 1.3MP front; 8MP rear, HD video, LED Flash, auto-focus
- Mobile Hotspot: Up to 10 devices, free for limited time
Samsung used four physical buttons on the Charge which is a nice change from all the touch-sensitive buttons currently in vogue. The buttons sit on the bottom edge of the phone which leaves the front of the handset devoted to the glass display cover. The front camera is at the top of the screen to the left of the handset speaker.
The left side of the phone has the volume buttons and the microUSB port used for charging and connecting to a computer. The right side of the handset contains the power button and the HDMI port which lies beneath a removable cover. The top of the Charge has just a 3.5mm headphone jack, and there is nothing on the bottom of the device.
The back is a smooth single piece of plastic that is removed to access the Sony DCR-SR32E Battery and the SIM card. The rear camera and LED flash is located at the top of this cover. There is a bulge at the bottom of the cover that makes the Charge fit comfortably in the hand, with no danger of dropping it.
Using the Droid Charge
Samsung tends to put good cameras DIGITAL VIDEO CAMERA DC5288 on its phones, and the Droid Charge is no exception. The 8MP camera takes good still photos and HD video. Test videos I’ve taken indicate the CAMERA DV7000 constantly focuses while shooting video, and recordings are of high quality as a result.
The display is bright and vivid and is outstanding, no doubt due to the Super AMOLED Plus screen. Setting the display to maximum brightness makes the colors pop, and it’s not bad at lower levels either. Video plays wonderfully on this screen and it is a joy to use.
I have not turned on the Wi-Fi on the phone at all, as I wanted to test it strictly using the Verizon 4G LTE network. I have encountered good coverage everywhere I have used the phone, and it is as fast as expected. I approached the 4G connectivity with trepidation, as I find it normally drains phone Sony NP-FM50 Battery at an alarming rate. That is surprisingly not the case with the Charge, as I find the Sony Cybershot DSC-W200 Charger can last as long as two days under normal usage. It doesn’t seem to be adversely affected by the 4G connectivity at all, a first in my experience.
Verizon is including the mobile hotspot service free for a limited time, and I have tested this extensively given the problems the HTC Thunderbolt has exhibited with this function. The Charge will supply connectivity for up to 10 devices. I tested using the Charge with 1 - 3 devices multiple times and had good results consistently. I never had any dropped connections, and found a 2-hour hotspot session would only drain the Sony CCD-TRV517 Charger battery 25 percent which is outstanding.
Conclusion
Samsung has produced a good smartphone in the Droid Charge, and coupled with the Verizon 4G network it is one of the most capable phones available. Verizon will be making the Charge available soon for $299 with a 2-year contract, a princely sum. Given my good experience with the Charge, I am seriously considering ponying up the cash and making this my next phone.
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more tags: Canon NB-4L battery, Casio NP-40 Battery, Canon NB-6L battery, Canon LP-E10 battery, Canon CB-2LX Charger, Canon NB-2LH Charger, Sony NP-FH50 Battery, Canon MV530I Battery, Canon EOS 350D Charger, Fujifilm FinePix J30 Charger, Sony NP-BG1 Battery, Canon LP-E6 battery, Canon EOS 5D battery
next blog: Technology: Enhancing Lithium-Ion Battery Performance
related blog: Household battery recycling made easier in California
more tags: Canon NB-4L battery, Casio NP-40 Battery, Canon NB-6L battery, Canon LP-E10 battery, Canon CB-2LX Charger, Canon NB-2LH Charger, Sony NP-FH50 Battery, Canon MV530I Battery, Canon EOS 350D Charger, Fujifilm FinePix J30 Charger, Sony NP-BG1 Battery, Canon LP-E6 battery, Canon EOS 5D battery
next blog: Technology: Enhancing Lithium-Ion Battery Performance
related blog: Household battery recycling made easier in California
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