Epic 4G Mini-Review

[RCSRT8]

I forgot to mention yesterday I want a review on that Epic, that's the one I'm looking into over the EVO

[JaxChris]

Here's some things about it already:

First, my biases (being anti-Apple and a fan of HTC will show here):

The charging port on top of the phone is weird
The email application doesn't let you move messages into other folders (HTC email app on the Evo is far better)
TouchWiz UI from Samsung is like iPhone on Android for the look and feel
The on-screen controls are incomplete for some functions (like the camera, use the volume keys to zoom because the screen has no controls and the manual doesn't tell you that)
Samsung Media Hub is like iTunes directly on the phone (expensive and DRM'd)
Epic doesn't have Android 2.2 yet (it's been delayed 3 times already)
No Froyo (2.2) no Flash support
No kickstand or tilting screen for media viewing (like the Touch Pro2's screen or the Evo's kickstand)
Screen does washout in sunlight like other techs, but not as bad
Screen protectors remove the sharpness of the screen
No FM Radio
Only 5mp Camera, Evo has 8mp
Android was made to be a clean slate for manufacturers to customize, Samsung leaves a lot of the stock Android apps on board instead of highly integrated solutions like HTC makes
Can't customize the bottom 4 widgets like you can on other Galaxy phones
Not as big of a modder community as HTC phones have, small selection of custom ROM's

And here are the likes:

The screen is extremely vivid and has a huge brightness range
Comes with a 16gb MicroSD card (Evo only has an 8gb card)
Samsung has some nice accessories immediately available (like the desktop dock with audio output, car dock not yet available though)
Epic comes with some decent headphones with custom fit ear pieces (Evo does not)
Might be only 5mp camera, but it takes decent photos
Very light weight for a keyboard slider, all the Galaxy phones are seriously light
Though limited, it works better than Motorola's implementation of Android
Keyboard has a lot of space, has the menu buttons on it, but the keys are too grid-like for my taste (harder to type by feel)
Just as smooth and fast as the Evo was out of the box (I've since sped up the Evo and extended its battery life through customization)
Both have a front facing camera and do video conferencing

Conclusion:

In the end, both phones will appeal to a couple different groups. If you like a simple interface, full keyboard, and want the best looking screen then the Epic is your choice. But if you like tons of options, customization, more advanced applications, watching lots of video without having to hold the phone, and the biggest screen possible then the Evo is your choice.

Again, remember this is a quick comparison based on what I've noticed in the first 36 hours of having the Epic and 6 months of having the Evo. Plus I'm far happier with HTC phones than others around this forum are and love the large community for tweaking like only a hardcore nerd can.

[RCSRT8]

I'll have to take all that into consideration now.
I knew you'd make me think twice now.
As always, back to the thinking board..... thx again Jax.
Might have to hit you up later with a more in depth review after some more time with it.

[JaxChris]

No problem, but remember I am biased. The Epic wasn't announced until a week after the Evo went on sale. If I had known the Epic existed before I bought the Evo, I would've waited for it to come out before buying either one. But after having all this time to get the Evo how I like it, I'm glad I have it.

[RCSRT8]

roger that, I'[m still going into thought mode again

[JaxChris]

Just a follow up on this now that the woman has had more time with it.

In the past week, she has had a dropped call once a day. These calls are in places with plenty of signal and the Evo and TP2's have never dropped calls in the same areas.

Also in the past 2 weeks, a lot of programs have FC'd (Force Closed, aka crashed) on her phone. This has caused her not to get her texts and emails a couple times. Her phone has also completely locked up twice already. And the clock starts falling behind at random.

She is still in love with having a keyboard and the screen is damn good... but I wouldn't put up with that crap for those two pros. Maybe these items will be fixed once Samsung gets the new updates for Android pushed out, but it's been delayed so long that most people are no longer in their 30-day guarantee period. The Evo has had all of its bugs worked out and runs great now.

One thing I will say for the Epic that does appeal to me. The screen on the Epic can run at 10% brightness and is completely fine except for full on direct sunlight. Compare this the Evo which you have to run on auto-adjust for the varying conditions. I believe the amazing efficiency of the Epic's screen is why it can easily go twice as long on the same size battery as the Evo. Some things that completely drain my battery will only kill half of hers because her screen isn't drawing as much juice that whole time.

There are at least 2 more high-end Android phones coming to Sprint between now and the start of CES (first week of January). So you might want to wait. Sprint's Windows7 phone won't be until Q2 of next year, so that's a ways to wait to compare that.

In the Epic's defense, it seems like it is a matter of which phone you get. About 1/3 of the phones have problems. If you decide to go that route and get a bad one, you can trade it in until you get a good one.

[RCSRT8]

Thanks, I am waiting on a new phone. I thought there was one more coming out this month

[JaxChris]

An Android phone on Sprint? The Samsung Transform is the latest phone, but it's not high end. It came out withe Zio and there is another LG Android one coming this month (November) but it too is also a mid-range phone (although it is supposed to be either 50$ or 100$ after rebate instead of 200-250$ like the big phones).

Today the woman got pissed because now Sprint is giving a free 50$ credit in the Samsung MediaHub market for new Epic buyers, but the first day to qualify for the credit is 10/31. So all the people that bought one before that are SOL. Going to try and talk her into returning her Epic and getting a new one (less bugs, get the 50$ credit) or something different.

[RCSRT8]

I'm still weighing on the Epic right now, not sure how much longer I will hold out

[JaxChris]

RC, here's the perfect first app for you to install once you do get an Android device.... Hustler Magazine Mobile (cracked of course).

http://www.fileserve.com/file/6W3mxfA

Who loves you bro? haha

[RCSRT8]

LMAO! thats fucking awesome!