![]() You can use the phone as a Wi-Fi hotspot for up to five devices, with the right plan.īattery life was a bit of a concernI got five hours, 20 minutes hours of talk time on the 1500 mAh batterywhile T-Mobile advertises 6.5 hours. The phone also supports Wi-Fi 802.11n and Bluetooth. Ideally, HSPA+ 21 should deliver speeds around 6Mbps down, although I didn't see that on any T-Mobile devices during my testing. The company's other "4G" phones, the T-Mobile G2 (4 stars, $199) and MyTouch 4G (4.5 stars, $199), run at a slower pace called HSPA+ 14.4. Only two T-Mobile phones, this one and the Samsung Galaxy S 4G (4 stars, $199), actually support T-Mobile's 4G speeds. The phone runs on T-Mobile's so-called 4G HSPA+ 21 network here in the U.S., and on 2G EDGE networks both stateside and abroad there's no international 3G support. With a fast, clear connection, calls sound like they're on a cellular network, but they get choppy quickly as connections decline. ![]() I tried it in several locations, and it's very dependent on the quality of your Wi-Fi signal. The phone also supports T-Mobile's Wi-Fi calling. The phone paired quickly with my Aliph Jawbone Era Bluetooth headset ($129, 4.5 stars) for both calls and music, and I easily activated the accurate Google voice dialing from the headset. The speakerphone is excellentloud and sharp, with clear transmissions. A bit of background noise came through, but my voice was so much louder that it didn't matter. On the other end, transmissions from the phone sound loud and a bit harsh or scratchy. ![]() The earpiece is loud, although it distorts slightly with loud inputs. The Sidekick is an acceptable voice phone. The keys are all well-spaced enough that it's almost impossible to mistype. There's a dedicated key, along with a dedicated emoticon key and two shift keys. So you end up accidentally hitting them often, until you can condition yourself not to. The design problem is, when you're holding the phone sideways, the Power and Volume buttons are right where you'd naturally rest your thumbs, and they're very sensitive. Turn the Sidekick sideways, push up on the screendon't worry, it's a little balkyand powit's a landscape-format phone with the best five-row QWERTY keyboard you've ever seen. The four buttons are Android's Home, Menu and Back buttons, plus a special Jump key which you can configure to create keyboard shortcuts for various apps. Closed, the 5.0 by 2.4 by 0.6 inches (HWD), 5.7-ounce phone has the traditional, somewhat boat-shaped Sidekick look with four buttons surrounding a 3.5-inch, 800-by-480 LCD screen, and a tiny little optical mouse replacing the Sidekick's track ball. The Sidekick 4G is an unusual Android phone whose design tries to balance current Android technology with the classic Sidekick look. Since 1982, PCMag has tested and rated thousands of products to help you make better buying decisions. ( See how we test everything we review (Opens in a new window).) The new Sidekick is from Samsung, and is an Android smartphone that uses the standard T-Mobile smartphone service plans. The old Sidekicks were generally made by Sharp they ran a unique OS designed by Danger that mirrored everything you did onto the Web. Throw away everything you already know about the Sidekick. I'm a fan: I think it's jazzy and it stands out, and replacing tiny icons with bold words reminds me of Windows Phone 7, in a good way. The Sidekick makes some very bold design choices, especially in changing Android's default fonts. The Sidekick's strongly flavored design is definitely a matter of taste, but if you like the look of the interface, you'll love it. It easily makes the cut for our list of The 10 Best Phones with Keyboards. It's a classic, delightful, spacious five-row expanse of letters and numbers. The best mobile phone keyboard in America belongs to the new T-Mobile Sidekick 4G ($149 with contract). Awkwardly placed Power and Volume buttons.How to Set Up Two-Factor Authentication.How to Record the Screen on Your Windows PC or Mac.How to Convert YouTube Videos to MP3 Files.How to Save Money on Your Cell Phone Bill.How to Free Up Space on Your iPhone or iPad.How to Block Robotexts and Spam Messages.
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