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Best Android Phones for Sprint in 2011

HTC, Nexus and Motorola topped our list!
By
August 1, 2011

Sprint is, arguably, one of the better wireless carriers currently operating in the U.S. They have consistently tried to offer their users good phones, and 2011 is looking to be no exception. Back in the day when the HTCEvo 4G was released, it was sort of a big deal. With its massive screen, powerful processor (at the time), it was the first 4G WiMax device for Sprint. Sprint took notice that it was selling like hot-cakes, and has since continued to aggressively pursue some of the better phones on the market for its consumer base. Not long after that, Sprint released the Samsung Epic 4G and EVO Shift 4G, both of which have been very well received.

Our in house reviewer Darryl is a big fan of Sprint, and he should know. He’s always got money on the brain, and how to save more of it is his specialty. With their everything plans you can choose your minutes packages and the data and messaging are included and totally unlimited.

Additionally, their plans include unlimited calling to mobile phones on any U.S. carrier, which means you only really have to worry about your minutes whenever you call a (gasp) landline.

So, without further ado, we bring you the finest Android smartphones available on Sprint today.

 HTC EVO 3D

HTC EVO 3D (Sprint) (front and back views, portrait orientation)

The HTCEVO 3D is currently one of the most advanced Android phones in the world, and even holds its own against the Samsung Galaxy SII. A worthy successor to its forefather, the original HTCEVO 4G, the most substantial difference is in its substantially speedier internals, and its ability to display and record 3D content, and all without glasses at that. Featuring a whopping 4.3 inch qHD display (960×540), it also supports Sprint’s 4G WiMax network, which is quite fast. In terms of performance, it’s one of the fastest phones in the world, with a dual-core 1.2Ghz processor on board, and 1GB of RAM. Still, it should be noted, that much like its predecessor, it has a knack for consuming the battery quite quickly. Despite having a rather substantial 1730mAh battery, it still can go from 100% to 0 in record time (3-4 hours) if it is used to its full capacity. However, for those that conserve and use the phone moderately, you should have enough juice to get through a whole day without too much compromise. The HTCEVO 3D will set you back $199.99 with a new, two-year contract.

Oh, and If you aren’t locked into any carrier yet, then check out the best Android smartphones here.

Motorola Photon 4G

If 3D isn’t your thing, and you’re still looking for a high-end Android phone, then you should definitely consider taking a look at the the Motorola Photon 4G. Featuring a unique design with sharpened edges, very powerful components on the inside, and an 8MP rear camera and a front facing camera too, the Motorola Photon 4G is sure to satisfy even the most demanding of smartphone users. Plus, there’s a VGA front-facing camera, 16GB of pre-installed memory that’s expandable, a kickstand, WiMAX/4G, WiFi, Bluetooth, and GPS, with Android 2.3 Gingerbread on board. Finally, it’s powered by NVIDIA’s powerful dual-core Tegra 2 processor. Finally, it’s also got world GSM capabilities, so if you plan on travelling, and need a beast of a phone sans 3D, then the Motorola Photon 4G is the way to go. Want?

The Motorola Photon 4G will be available July 31 for $199 with a two-year contract.

Nexus S 4G

Sure, it’s not quite up to the same level as the Motorola Photon 4G or the HTCEVO 3D, but one thing can be said for certain – it will always receive the latest updates to Android, which is a big deal. A pure Google experience, the Nexus S 4G is for those that want to play and tinker, and always have the freshest updates from the big G. Furthermore, it has built in support for NFC, and when coupled with Google Wallet, will be able to act as a digital wallet of sorts. Manufactured by Samsung, it features a brilliant 4-inch Super AMOLED display at 800 x 480 resolution, with a relatively speedy 1GHz Hummingbird processor. Plus, it’s 4G, and supports Sprint’s WiMax network, so download speeds shouldn’t won’t be a concern.

Oh, and it’s only $99 on a two-year contract too, which is a great price for this Android phone.

 HTC EVO Shift 4G

Good QWERTY’s are hard to come by, and especially 4G ones at that. The HTCEVO Shift is another great device, and especially for those with text happy, budget focus. With 4G connectivity built right in, this is a device that’s certain to satisfy all but the most demanding of users. Running Android 2.3  the HTCEVO Shift plays flash moderately well, and does it on a 3.6 inch WVGA display. With its 800 MHz processor, 512 MB of RAM, Wi-Fi b/g/n, a 5 megapixel camera with autofocus, flash, and 720p video recording, and the usual connectivity suite like Wi-Fi, 3G, and GPS. Ultimately, it comes down to personal choice, but the HTCEVO Shift 4G holds its own among some of the more powerful ones listed in this article. The EVO Shift 4G is available for $99 on a two-year contract.

So there you have it, the best Android phones for Sprint that are currently available. Also, if you’re interested, we’ve taken the liberty to put all of the best portrait QWERTY Android phones for Sprint together too. And for those of you holding out for the Samsung Galaxy S II on Sprint, it looks like it will be arriving sometime in and around September. Any thoughts on the above phones? Anything we missed?