The Samsung Droid Charge Vs. The HTC ThunderBolt

With the recent rollout of Verizon Wireless's 4G LTE network, two new Android-powered smartphones from Samsung and HTC take advantage of Big Red's added bandwidth and speed.

Both the Samsung Droid Charge and HTC ThunderBolt are worthy devices running Android 2.2 (Froyo) and sporting responsive touchscreens. Mobile hotspot capability and dual cameras are two other features shared by both devices. The Droid Charge costs fifty dollars more, but features a convenient HDMI output port and brighter display.

Samsung Droid Charge Features

• 4.3-inch Super AMOLED Touchscreen
• Android 2.2 (Froyo)
• 32GB microSD Storage
• 1GHZ Hummingbird Processor
• HDMI Output
• Price: $299 (with Contract/Data Plan)

For users wanting the convenience of a HDMI output port and a superior display, the Droid Charge is definitely worth the additional price compared to the HTC ThunderBolt.

The HDMI output and additional storage combined with the included Blockbuster HD video streaming app positions the Charge towards the video-consuming smartphone user. The 4.3-inch Super AMOLED touchscreen is also great for watching movies and videos.

The Charge also sports a full license for the Android Market, so a host of other apps and games are available for download.

HTC ThunderBolt Features

• 4.3-inch TFT Touchscreen
• Android 2.2 (Froyo)
• 32GB microSD Storage
• 1GHZ Qualcomm Processor
• HTC Sense UI Layer
• Price: $249 (with Contract/Data Plan)

The HTC ThunderBolt is another top rank Android-powered smartphone. Its 4.3-inch display isn't quite as sharp as the Droid Charge, and the lack of a HDMI output means users primarily interested in HD video playback need to check out the Samsung handset.

HTC's Sense UI layer adds extra ease of use to the ThunderBolt and is preferable to the standard Android 2.2 interface on the Droid Charge. A full license to the Android Market means the entire world of Android apps are available on the device.

Verizon Wireless customers interested in a 4G device have two excellent options to explore. The Samsung Droid Charge's HDMI output is a convenience worth the extra $50 for many consumers, especially movie buffs. The HTC ThunderBolt is also a great smartphone with an excellent interface that goes beyond the typical Android smartphone experience.