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The 5 Best Android Smartphones [May, 2011]

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Recently, we had a look at the 5 best Android phones coming out this summer and now, we present to you what we here at GBM think are the five best Android smartphones on the market right now for the four major carriers in the U.S .

There are some new phones and there is one on here that you might not have expected. Hint, it’s old. This list will likely change dramatically because of all of the new phones coming out this summer but for the month of May, these are five phones that we think should be on the top of your wish lists.


LG G2x

LG G2x

T-Mobile’s G2x, known outside the United States as the Optimus 2X, is a dual-core beast of a phone that should definitely be on the radar of those looking for a new Android device.

It has a fantastic 4-inch LCD display, HSPA+ 4G speeds and it has the ability to capture 1080p which is something most top of the line smartphones aren’t able to do.

The G2x is $200 on a new two-year contract from T-Mobile but you can get it from Amazon for a mere $99. Not bad for a phone with these fantastic specifications.

Specifications: 4-inch LCD display with WVGA resolution (480 x 800), 1GHz dual-core NVIDIA Tegra 2 processor, 8MP rear facing camera with 1080p video capture and 3D video, 1.3MP front facing camera, 8GB of on board storage, Bluetooth support, HDMI, DLNA, 1500 mAh battery

Operating System: Android 2.2 Froyo

Carrier: T-Mobile

4G: No, doesn’t support quadband HSPA+ as we originally thought

Release Date: April 15th, 2011


HTC Droid Incredible 2

Droid Incredible 2

We recently previewed the HTC Droid Incredible 2, the successor of the wildly popular Droid Incredible, and came away very impressed. The increase in display size from 3.7 to 4-inches works well and doesn’t add any additional bulk.

Its single-core 1GHz processor is quick and it comes with almost an identical form factor to the original Droid Incredible.  Add in all the other bells and whistles and you have yourself a fantastic 3G phone.

The Droid Incredible 2 was released only a few weeks ago and it’s available for a mere $80 on a new contract.

Specifications: 4-inch LCD display (480 x 800), 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, 8MP rear camera with 720p video capture, 1.3MP front facing camera, 768MB of RAM, 16GB of on board storage, Bluetooth 2.1, TV-Out, DLNA, 1450 mAh battery

Operating System: Android 2.2 Froyo

Carrier: Verizon

4G: No

Release Date: April 28th, 2011

Droid Incredible 2 Hands On:


Motorola Atrix 4G

Motorola Atrix 4G

The Motorola Atrix is the flagship Android device on AT&T and like the G2x, it can be considered a superphone because of the fantastic specifications it has on board. It packs a high-resolution display, dual-core processor and a massive battery to boot.

Throw in the other bells and whistles, including a recent upgrade to HSUPA speeds, and you have yourself a fantastic Android phone.

The Motorola Atrix 4G can be found for as low as $99 which is an absolute steal for such a gorgeous device.

Specifications: 4-inch qHD display (540 x 960), 1GHz dual-core NVIDIA Tegra 2 processor, 5MP rear facing camera with 720p HD video capture, VGA front facing camera, 1GB of RAM, 15GB of on board storage, Bluetooth 2.1 w/ EDR, HDMI, DLNA, 1930 mAh battery

Operating System: Android 2.2 Froyo

Carrier: AT&T

4G: Yes, HSUPA

Release Date: February 2oth, 2011


HTC ThunderBolt

HTC ThunderBolt

The HTC ThunderBolt is Verizon’s first 4G LTE smartphone and as of right now, it’s also the only 4G LTE smartphone on the market with the delay of the Samsung Droid Charge.

And while we think the Droid Charge gives the ThunderBolt a run for its money (see: battery life), it’s not out yet which means the HTC ThunderBolt easily makes this list.

The ThunderBolt is essentially an HTC EVO with 4G LTE speeds, which as you’ll see in a second, isn’t a bad thing whatsoever. The hardware is solid, the software as well and with an upgrade to Gingerbread coming in the not-so-distant future, the ThunderBolt is worthy of this list.

It’s currently available for $175 on a new two-year contract.

Specifications: 4.3-inch TFT display (480 x 800), 1GHz Snapdragon processor, 8MP rear facing camera with 720p HD video recording and dual LED flash, 1.3MP front facing camera, 768MB of RAM, 8GB of on board storage, Bluetooth 2.1 w/ EDR, DLNA, 1400 mAh battery

Operating System: Android 2.2 Froyo

Carrier: Verizon

4G: Yes, LTE

Release Date: March 17th, 2011

HTC EVO 4G

HTC EVO 4G

Sprint’s HTC EVO 4G has been out for nearly a year and it still is arguably the best phone on the WiMax network. It has 4G speeds, a great screen, fantastic cameras, a solid battery, and Froyo.

Word to the wise though. The successor to the HTC EVO 4G, the HTC EVO 3D, is on its way which will quickly push this device out of the rankings. However, the original EVO will be getting Gingerbread in the future and its specifications are still solid a year later.

Old faithful can be yours for $120 on a new two year contract if you so wish. (Note: There’s a reason it’s still that expensive.)

Specifications: 4.3-inch TFT display (480 x 800), 1GHz Snapdragon processor, 8MP rear facing camera with 720p HD video recording and dual LED flash, 1.3MP front facing camera, 512MB of RAM, Bluetooth 2.1 w/ EDR, TV-Out, HDMI, 1500 mAh battery.

Operating System: Android 2.2 Froyo

Carrier: Sprint

4G: Yes, WiMax

Release Date: June 4th, 2010

23 Comments

23 Comments

  1. FieryDg

    05/06/2011 at 7:21 pm

    Samsung Galaxy S 2 is the hands-down winner.

  2. DNel

    05/06/2011 at 8:19 pm

    The Samsung Galaxy S2 is definitely a very nice mobile phone, but as the post states:

    we present to you what we here at GBM think are the five best
    Android
    smartphones on the market right now for the four major carriers in the U.S .

    So until it is sold in the US, it isn’t a choice for this list.

  3. JP

    05/06/2011 at 8:31 pm

    Is it me, or are all Android phones starting to look the same? Black slab, 4 capacitive buttons, etc…

    • Anonymous

      05/06/2011 at 8:50 pm

      Umm, yeah… that’s because it’s an android phone. All current Android phones require the 4 buttons. As for looks, the Thunderbolt has a brushed aluminum back plate, a good amount of phones have keyboards, the Samsung Fascinate has an all white option for just for starters. Granted, more are black slates, but many have a brushed aluminum look too. Would you prefer a black oval phone? I think keyboards are beginning to phase out as the touch screen keyboards become better.

      • JP

        05/06/2011 at 8:58 pm

        Isn’t the “with Google” requirement that is has the four functions for the buttons, but not the buttons themselves? If not, how do Samsung and Sony Ericcson get away with two buttons and pad (Galaxy S and Sii), and three buttons (Xperia), respectively?

  4. Jcindy81

    05/06/2011 at 8:35 pm

    the g2x does not capture 3g video, nor is it a 4g phone. it it capped at 14.4 Mbps, rather than the 21 that “4g” carriers are touting.

    • TerpU82

      06/04/2011 at 11:18 pm

      Since there are no standards whatsoever for 4g, no one and everyone can call anything 4g.  Therefore WiMax, LTE, and HSPA+ are all 4g networks

    • TerpU82

      06/04/2011 at 11:18 pm

      Since there are no standards whatsoever for 4g, no one and everyone can call anything 4g.  Therefore WiMax, LTE, and HSPA+ are all 4g networks

    • TerpU82

      06/04/2011 at 11:18 pm

      Since there are no standards whatsoever for 4g, no one and everyone can call anything 4g.  Therefore WiMax, LTE, and HSPA+ are all 4g networks

  5. Jcindy81

    05/06/2011 at 8:36 pm

    Δ 3d video*

  6. sik

    05/24/2011 at 4:07 pm

    Best Android Phone below  10,000 rs?
    https://bestandroidphone.in

  7. Nexus_S

    06/04/2011 at 11:19 pm

    LG G2X is a 4g phone

  8. Nexus_S

    06/04/2011 at 11:19 pm

    LG G2X is a 4g phone

  9. Nexus_S

    06/04/2011 at 11:19 pm

    LG G2X is a 4g phone

  10. andoid phone

    06/15/2011 at 7:52 am

    can any one help me out which android phone shall i buy…thx

  11. Rynaldi

    06/24/2011 at 1:33 pm

    Let’s we wait @ the final..

  12. Srwaghmode

    07/26/2011 at 2:35 pm

    lg optimus 2x is a best phone

  13. Anonymous

    09/11/2011 at 6:07 pm

    A well written review.Well done.!
    For more info check out https://techeomania.blogspot.com/2011/08/head-to-head-top-5-smartphones-in.html

  14. Divas

    09/18/2011 at 8:15 am

    Samsung Galaxy S2?

  15. Omar?

    12/06/2011 at 12:31 pm

    1. Samsung Galaxy S2

    2. Nokia N9

    3. Sony Ericsson Xperia Ray

    4. Iphone 4s

    5. Htc Sensation XL

    Apple Fans will surely hate on this comment but sadly its true Htc did indeed beat Apple earlier when Htc Desire HD was Populair but now all of their phones looks the same so this is my opinion

  16. Qasim

    09/14/2012 at 9:51 am

    no man, 4S on top.

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