gingerbread

Good: The LG Esteem runs on Android 2.3 Gingerbread, taps into MetroPCS' 4G LTE network, and has an impressive pair of front- and rear-facing cameras.

Bad: Bulky and heavy, the LG Esteem's worst offense is its poor battery life. Its slow data speeds keep it from working well outside of MetroPCS' 4G LTE territory.

Bottom Line: Specs-wise, the LG Esteem is MetroPCS' fastest and most advanced phone, but its dismal battery life is a terrible disservice.

Catch the video, photo gallery, and all the pros and cons in our full hands-on review of the LG Esteem.

Verizon got a jump on CTIA today by announicng that the Android-powered Samsung Stratosphere. Arriving on October 13th, the Stratopshere will be Big Red's first 4G LTE handset with a QWERTY keyboard. Other details include Android 2.3 Gingerbread, a 4-inch Super AMOLED display, a 1GHz processor, a 5-megapixel rear-facing camera, and 5-row QWERTY keyboard.

Looking nearly identical to Sprint's Epic 4G from 2010, the Stratosphere provides a spacious typing experience with a dedicated number row. Additional specifications include a front-facing 1.3-megapixel camera, a microSD expansion slot, Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n), DLNA connectivity, Bluetooth 3.… Read more

Good: The Pantech Breakout runs on Verizon's 4G LTE network. Android 2.3 Gingerbread is dressed up with a handy custom UI, and the phone has good call quality.

Bad: The Breakout doesn't have a flash, and it has a poor front-facing camera, jerky video, and shutter lag.

Bottom Line: If you don't give a whit about the camera or video, the Pantech Breakout is a fast and straightforward Android handset for Verizon.

Catch the video, photo gallery, and all the pros and cons in our full hands-on review of the Pantech Breakout.

T-Mobile introduced the newest members of its MyTouch family of smartphones last night, the T-Mobile MyTouch and T-Mobile MyTouch Q.

Unlike past models, such as the T-Mobile MyTouch 4G Slide and T-Mobile MyTouch 4G, the smartphones are made by LG instead of HTC and are aimed directly at first-time smartphone buyers.… Read more

The LG Optimus LTE, announced today, is another new Android 2.3 phone we in the U.S. can only dream about from afar, at least for now.

The Gingerbread handset has a 4.5-inch touch screen with a 1,280x720-pixel HD LCD display. LG claims it's the "highest-resolution IPS (in-plane switching) display" available on a smartphone.

The Optimus LTE also has a dual-core 1.5GHz processor, and an 8-megapixel camera with 1080p HD video capture and playback. In addition, there's an HDMI port and support for DLNA, so you'll be able to play phone content on your compatible TV. An 1,830mAh battery will hopefully grant it long life.

The Optimus LTE picks up LG's pace in producing LTE-ready phones. So far we've been pretty happy with what we've seen, including the T-Mobile G2X and the Revolution. The phone maker has also recently reached out to prepaid carrier MetroPCS with the LG Esteem.

The Optimus LTE is currently slated for Korea. LG says its plans to release the phone beyond Korean borders are still "undetermined."… Read more

It may be a little large as a stocking stuffer, but theSamsung Galaxy Note is coming to the U.K. in time for the holidays.

The 5.3-inch Android 2.3 Gingerbread handset is expected to launch at a range of U.K. carriers on November 17. There's no price tag confirmed.

Samsung first introduced the Galaxy Note at the IFA trade show in September, where the device's dimensions immediately stole the spotlight. While Samsung positions it as a jumbo-size Android phone, it follows in the footsteps of the Dell Streak by bordering on the edge of tablet territory.… Read more

When we first saw the handsome Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc at CES last January, we knew it was a solid effort--slim and sleek with sharp edges, impressive camera specs, and a Reality Display worth talking about.

Nine months later, the unlocked phone we've finally got in our hands still holds our interest.… Read more

If you've got unrequited love for the Sony Ericsson Xperia Ray, NewEgg.com is doing something to ease the pain.

NewEgg will soon sell the Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread smartphone unlocked to U.S. customers for $424.99.

Announced this past June at CommunicAsia, the Xperia Ray follows up on the Xperia Arc with a thin, sleek design. The Ray's aluminum chassis measures just 9.4mm thick and contains a 3.3-inch display. Sony Ericsson's Mobile Bravia Engine renders the Ray's 854x480-pixel "Reality Display" resolution.

As with the Arc, the Ray features an … Read more

Today, Virgin Mobile announced the upcoming availability of its latest Android smartphones, the LG Optimus Slider and HTC Wildfire S.

Equipped with a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, the carriers says the Optimus Slider is ideal for those who love to e-mail, message, and social network on the go. In fact, the Android 2.3 Gingerbread handset will come preloaded with Virgin Mobile's Live 2.0 social networking app that lets you access the carrier's custom music stream and allows to you check into special events.

The Android 2.3 Gingerbread handset also has a 3.2-inch touch screen, a … Read more