LTE phones at CES 2012: Lumia 900, Ion, Titan II, Spectrum, and more!
The Age of LTE is upon us; all the major networks (except T-Mobile) have deployed or announced adoption of the true 4G technology. Naturally, we're expecting a lot of LTE phones to be announced and shown off at CES 2012, so we're making it easy for you to keep track of them all with a well-trimmed story stream.
Image Credit: Burt Lum
Mobile
Joe Belfiore interview: Windows Phone will compete on quality, not specs
Microsoft's Joe Belfiore, VP for Windows Phone, dropped by our CES HQ this week to discuss Microsoft's mobile future. He was classically reluctant to reveal the specifics of that future, though he did say that the words Tango and Apollo "sound nice." He did share his thoughts on how Windows Phone differs from iOS and Android, positioning it as the happy balance between the two leaders in mobile software. You get the greater variety of Android with the reassurance of tighter quality control...
Android
MetroPCS expands LTE offerings with Samsung Galaxy Attain 4G, LG Connect 4G
Two new Android handsets will soon be destined for MetroPCS, as the company has today announced plans to offer both the Samsung Galaxy Attain 4G and LG Connect 4G. Together they serve as the latest LTE-enabled additions to the carrier's lineup. Samsung's Galaxy Attain carries a 3.5-inch display and is powered by a 1GHz processor. Both front and rear cameras are on board the Gingerbread phone, at resolutions of 1.3 and 3 megapixels, respectively. MetroPCS users on the $50 / $60 service plans...
CES 2012
Pantech Burst hands-on pictures and video
The Pantech Burst is a $49.99 on-contract Android phone that runs on AT&T's LTE network. It represents a return to smartphones for Pantech, which has been focusing mainly on "Quick Messaging Devices" for the past year or so. The Burst isn't exactly an ambitious re-entrance, though the price is notable. The other specs overachieve at this price as much as the LTE radio does: a 1.2GHz dual-core processor and a 4-inch Super AMOLED screen (though only at 480 x 800 pixels).
Pantech has applied a...
Mobile
HTC Titan II for AT&T first hands-on
In the wake of AT&T's monster device announcement this morning spanning multiple Android and Windows Phone devices, we're embedded with HTC to take a first look at the Titan II. The phone bears a striking resemblance to the Titan of old as you might expect, but it's got that wild "16 Megapixels" label on back. It feels both like the old Titan and also a number of other 4-inch-plus HTCs of recent memory — the Thunderbolt comes immediately to mind — and it definitely trends toward the thick...
Mobile
HTC's LTE Titan II: first LTE Windows Phone coming to AT&T
The Titan II is going to be the first LTE Windows Phone available in the USA. It sports a gigantic 16-megapixel camera with 720p video, dual LED flash, a 1.5GHz Snapdragon processor, and a huge 4.7-inch WVGA display (the largest of any Windows Phone). In addition to the high-resolution sensor — to put this in comparison, Nikon's flagship D4 shoots 16.2-megapixel photos — the phone also features a number of other features aimed at photographers, such as panorama and burst modes, and image...
Pantech Element for AT&T LTE now official
Sitting in a glass tank of water is a nice touch. The inexpensive, waterproof Pantech Element Android tablet was just announced at the AT&T developer summit. Not much of a surprise, given it popped up at an AT&T store earlier this week. The tablet features an 8-inch XGA display, 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S3 processor, and can handle 100Mbps download and 50Mbps upload. It has a unique motor for vibration that apparently hasn't yet been used on a tablet. You can get both the Element and the...
CES 2012
AT&T announces Pantech Burst and Samsung Exhilarate LTE phones, both cost less than $50
AT&T just announced at its Developer Summit two LTE phones that will cost less than $50 on contract. First up is the Pantech Burst, which will have a 4-inch Super AMOLED screen, and comes in either black or red. There's also the Samsung Exhilarate, which is being described as the first "sustainable" LTE device. AT&T says the phone is constructed from 80 percent recycled post-consumer materials, and it has an Eco calendar and calculator to help you figure out how green (or not) you are.
You'll...
CES 2012
AT&T announces Samsung Skyrocket HD with LTE, AMOLED display, removable battery
AT&T has just announced the Skyrocket HD at its Developers Summit. Technically it's called the Galaxy S II Skyrocket HD, and it's one of AT&T's first LTE devices. It's got a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor, removable battery, AMOLED display, and an enclosure described by AT&T chief Ralph De La Vegas as being "razor thin." There aren't any other announced specs, but official press images reveal an 8 megapixel rear camera and a front-facing companion of unknown resolution.
Android
Samsung Galaxy Note announced for AT&T (hands-on pictures and video)
AT&T has just announced that it'll be bringing the 5.3-inch Galaxy Note to the United States, a beastly half-phone, half-tablet that spans the divide between two white-hot product segments. The feature list should sound familiar: it's in many ways the same Galaxy Note already available in Europe, featuring a 1280 x 800 Super AMOLED display, 8-megapixel primary and 2-megapixel secondary cameras, and the so-called "S Pen," a stylus integrated into the rear that can be used to register...
Mobile
Sony Xperia Ion coming this spring on AT&T: LTE, 4.6-inch 720p display, 12MP camera
After launching the Xperia Play in September, AT&T is back with the Sony Xperia Ion, one of the first Xperia devices to drop the Ericsson name. If you can look past the fact that it's launching on Android 2.3, you'll notice that this is one of the most muscular phones ever to hit the market thanks to a 4.6-inch 720p display, a 12-megapixel Exmor R primary camera that's advertised to go from standby to ready in 1.5 seconds, NFC, and LTE — a first for Sony's line. It comes housed in an...
CES 2012
LG Spectrum for Verizon LTE video preview
LG's True HD IPS display is making its way to Verizon, to do battle with the Galaxy Nexus. The 4.5-inch Spectrum was just introduced at LG's CES 2012 press event, where its 720p resolution, 326ppi pixel density, and 1.5GHz dual-core processor got their chance to shine. Having spent some time playing with it, we can say the display is every bit as delightful as LG claims it is, with the company offering us a handheld microscope to take a close look at the RGB stripe subpixel arrangement —...
LG Spectrum 4G LTE for Verizon official: 720p display, 1.5GHz dual-core, Android 2.3
The LG Spectrum, which was leaked fairly comprehensively last week, now has an official launch date of January 19. The photos below are our first images of the 4.5-inch Verizon LTE phone, which LG has confirmed will have a 1.5GHz Snapdragon processor, 1GB of RAM, 4GB of internal storage and an IPS Gorilla Glass screen with True HD. The front-facing camera is 1.3-megapixel, with an 8-megapixel rear-facing one capable of recording in 1080p HD. As rumored, it's going to be shipping with Android...
