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Top 5: Aaron's Top 5 phones from CES

CES 2011 was a whirlwind, but one thing is clear - it's going to be another year of Android product launches.  From phones to tablets to Android-powered refrigerators, Android is gaining steam at an exponential rate.  Keeping that in mind, I present to you my favorite phones from CES 2011.  Agree with me?  Disagree with me?  Let me have it in the comments section below!

 

1. Motorola Atrix 4G

The Atrix 4G was the "Mac Daddy" Android phone of CES.  With an NVIDIA Tegra 2 1 GHz dual-core processor, 4-inch qHD display, 1 GB of RAM, Android 2.2, and a gigantic 1,930 mAh battery, it'll be the phone to have on AT&T.  What's more, it'll launch with a laptop accessory that, when connected, allows the user to view movies, pictures, and more.  It's an awesome all-in-one solution.

That said, the Atrix 4G has an incredibly boring design, and it has a trimmed down version of MOTOBLUR, so experienced Android users may want to go with something else.  For the majority of prospective buyers, this will be an awesome device when it launches in the first half of the year.

 

2. Samsung 4G LTE

You can't really see it on camera, but the Super AMOLED Plus display on the Samsung 4G LTE smartphone is absolutely beautiful.  The design is nice, the camera is improved over the existing Galaxy S line, and it offers Android 2.2 out of the box.  Despite the perks, I'm concerned that Samsung won't update the device quickly enough (Galaxy S owners know what I'm talking about), and some may be turned off by the appearance of Samsung's TouchWiz user interface.

Still, the colorful icons are a nice alternative for a network that doesn't have the iPhone 4 - oh, wait…

 

3. Motorola DROID Bionic

Another day, another addition to the DROID lineup.  That said, the Bionic is quite the phone - 1 GHz dual-core processor, 4.3-inch "qHD" display (which adds yet another high-resolution name to the fray), 8-megapixel camera, front-facing camera for video calling, and is another Verizon device to sport the carrier's 4G LTE service.

Like the Atrix 4G, the Bionic sports an incredibly boring design, and is powered by Motorola's "Application Platform," which is essentially a trimmed down version of MOTOBLUR.  Die-hard Android enthusiasts may want to avoid it, but for those consumers wanting an awesome 4G Android experience, this is your device.

 

4. LG Revolution

Another great 4G device coming to Verizon, the LG Revolution is powered by a 1 GHz processor.  Though it only offers a 5-megapixel rear-facing camera, it makes up for it by offering a front-facing camera, mobile hotspot capabilities, Bluetooth 3.0, and a 4.3-inch display.  Overall, I was impressed with the design, but found it to be a bit thick.  Like the other devices, it'll be available in the second quarter.

 

5. HTC ThunderBolt

With a revised body and new version of HTC Sense, the ThunderBolt is a turbocharged version of the EVO 4G, but it's surprising that they didn't opt for the NVIDIA dual-core processor.  Despite that, it offers Android 2.2, a 4.3-inch display, an 8-megapixel camera with a front-facing option for video chatting, and supports Verizon's 4G LTE service.  I'm eager to see the ThunderBolt as I love HTC's Sense UI, but considering that these phones are launching between March and June, the slower processor puts it at risk of obsolescence.

About the author

Aaron Baker
Aaron Baker is the Editor-in-Chief of PhoneDog Media. An eight-year veteran in the wireless industry, he has worked for the four nationwide wireless carriers, a now-defunct MVNO, and several technology websites in various capacities. A frequent traveler, he has attended numerous trade shows, served on technology judging panels, and has contributed to publications like Wired.com and Singapore's "Asian Journeys" magazine. Aaron resides in the... - full profile
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