LTE phones at CES 2012: Lumia 900, Ion, Titan II, Spectrum, and more!

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 that Apple offers. Quality, in fact, was the overriding theme of what Joe had to say. According to him, having a better user experience is what will differentiate Windows Phone from the competition, not extreme specs or barrel-scraping prices.

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 will have exclusive dibs on the device, which will be priced at $200 for a limited time.

At first glance, LG's Connect 4G fares a bit better in the spec category with its 4-inch Gorilla Glass display, dual-core 1.2GHz processor, and five-megapixel rear shooter (capable of recording 720p video). Availability is planned for sometime within the next month — although MetroPCS didn't have a price to share along with today's news.

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 skin to Android here that looks a bit like a throwback to earlier versions of TouchWiz, although there is an enhanced lock screen that will allow you to jump directly into one of five apps. It will be available on January 22nd, but if you like you can purchase it in a bundle with the Pantech Element for $249.99 — although that option will saddle you with two matching 2-year contracts.

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 end of the spectrum. Odds are that has to do with at least three things here: the LTE radio, a big battery, and the SLCD display, which requires more girth than its AMOLED counterparts.

So, what about the camera? The jury's still out until we can properly review the phone, but the initial impression is that you might not be getting better quality images here — just bigger ones. Of course, until phone engineers how to break the laws of physics, it's hard to get around the issues of optics and limited sensor size... but 16 is a pretty awesome number, isn't it?

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 stabilization, although it's not clear if this will be the optical or digital variety.

You'll be able to purchase the Pantech Burst alongside the Element tablet (which was also announced today) for $249.99 if you buy a contract for both devices. Clearly, AT&T is looking to lower the price of entry and get more people on its expanding LTE network. We think $50 is certainly a reasonable price for access to LTE, though don't forget you'll be saddled with that two-year contract. We should have more details on both phones soon, and we'll be getting some hands-on impressions after AT&T's event finishes up.

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.

Speaking of "enormous," does the Galaxy Note fit in a pocket? It can — but considering that it comically dwarfs an already large 4.65-inch Galaxy Nexus sitting next to it, we'd recommend testing it with each and every pocket you'd ever carry it in before committing. Samsung hasn't given guidance on when we'll see the device on AT&T shelves, but when it comes, it'll be available both in "carbon blue" and "ceramic white."

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 — any chance to poke holes in Samsung's armor, eh?

Regrettably, the Spectrum will ship (on January 19th for $199.99) with just Android 2.3 on board, whereas we'd really like to see phone makers move to Android 4.0 full time from here on out. As powerful as the Spectrum may be, we still came across a few stumbles in performance, particularly when using the pinch-to-zoom gesture to bring in an overview of all seven homescreens. That's not exactly awesome, and neither is LG's Android skin.