Canada’s top Android handset guide

Some people have already received their new shiny device this holiday season and others might take advantage of those boxing week specials or even offsetting high end devices with gift cards. For those interested in picking up a high-end Android device, here’s a breakdown of the top devices from each carrier (to-date):

Samsung came out swinging in the second half of 2010 with their Android-based Galaxy S and Galaxy Tab line. The Captivate on Rogers is, by a large margin, the best Android device in their lineup. Boasting a 4-inch Super AMOLED screen, 1GHz Hummingbird Processor and a 5MP HD video capable camera, this powerhouse device certainly shows what Android is capable of.

Pros:
– 4-inch, high resolution 480×800 Super AMOLED capacitive touch screen
– Speedy 1GHz Hummingbird processor
– Solid PowerVR SGX 540 GPU for 3D and Gaming
– 5MP 720p HD capable auto-focus camera
– Swype Keyboard Pre-loaded
– DLNA wireless media streaming support

Cons:
– Still sporting Android 2.1
– RFS Filesystem slows some system functions to a crawl (File Input/Output)
– No flash on camera
– Battery life a little suspect (possibly software related)
– GPS issues

Honorable mentions:
Acer Liquid E: Probably the most underrated device in Canada, it’s Rogers’ only phone running 2.2. Unfortunately, it has a slightly underclocked Snapdragon Processor and a plasticky chassis that makes it outclassed by higher end devices.

Dell Streak: The Streak is a good phone with solid specs but is simply too large a phone to take top spot at Rogers’. It will certainly satisfy a niche market but not mainstream consumers. Prepared to get funny looks when putting this phone up to your ear when making/answering a call.

Sony Ericsson Xperia X10: Between the time Rogers announced it had gotten exclusivity of the Sony Ericsson device and actually launched it, a slew of Android devices with superior hardware and running newer firmware versions were being announced and launched. It’s still a decent phone for first-time smartphone users but seasoned Android users beware as this phone looks like it will be stuck at version 2.1 Éclair.

HTC has been Android’s unofficial “champion” manufacturer from the beginning, being the first to dive into Android with the T-Mobile G1 known in Canada as the HTC Dream. The HTC Desire Z (known as the T-Mobile G2 in the US) is the true successor to the Legendary G1/Dream. With its unique Z hinge design, rock solid QWERTY keyboard and very snappy and underrated 800MHz 2nd Generation Snapdragon (Scorpion) processor this phone is a heavy hitter in the world of Android.

Pros:
– Top of the line QWERTY keyboard with staggered key layout
– Beautiful High-Res Super LCD 480×800 capacitive touch Display
– 5MP 720p HD capable auto-focus camera with LED Flash
– Android 2.2 with the latest version of HTC’s Sense UI
– Solid construction – Unibody aluminum chassis – Z-hinge allows for screen to almost be flush with keyboard when opened
– HSPA+ connectivity for 4G-like speeds

Cons:
– Very heavy device weighing in at 164g
– Noticeably thicker than newer touch only devices (due to having a keyboard)
– Hinge not spring loaded, prohibiting the device from staying open when held upside down
– Battery slightly on the small side (1300mAh)
– Very lackluster Picture and Video recording quality (possibly software-related)

Honorable mention:
Samsung Galaxy S Vibrant: The Vibrant is a phone that is in the upper echelons of top tier Android devices. In fact, people could claim that it has superior hardware (CPU/GPU) to the Desire Z. Unfortunately, there are several things that detract it from being the top Android available at Bell. This includes: no camera flash, GPS locking issue and filesystem issue.

There is something to be said about a device that is the original of a series, especially when it is based on an already solid device like the Nexus One and this sentiment is extended to the original HTC Desire. With its sleek lines and beautiful SLCD display, the Desire is certainly a phone that is still quite an attractive option with options like the Desire HD right on the horizon.

Pros:
– Beautiful High-Res Super LCD 480×800 capacitive touch Display
– 5MP 720p HD capable auto-focus camera with LED Flash
– Android 2.2
– Solid construction – Unibody aluminum chassis
– Physical Hardware buttons

Cons:
– Issues with some power buttons
– Spotty multitouch capabilities (software emulated multitouch tracking)
– Very lackluster Picture and Video recording quality (possibly software-related)
– Weaker battery life compared to European Desires (because switch of AMOLED to SLCD)
– Issues with some power buttons

Important notice:
HTC Desire HD: While the phone still hasn’t been officially announced by TELUS, all signs (i.e.: leaked pictures running TELUS firmware, FCC fillings with TELUS 3G bands) are pointing towards it heading that way in the next few weeks. As the true successor to the original HTC Desire, it is fitting that it is heading to TELUS who brought the original HTC Desire to Canada. This is a powerhouse device that simply is too good to have ignored even if still technically a “rumored” device.

Honorable mentions:
Samsung Galaxy S Fascinate: Like its other Galaxy S brethren, the Fascinate is no slouch when compared to other high-end Android smartphones out there but for the same reasons as the Samsung Galaxy S Vibrant.

The Motorola Milestone XT720 is quite a particular device. It was slated to be the non-QWERTY version of the DROID in the US and the Milestone in Canada. It wasn’t brought to Canada until WIND and Videotron picked it up for their brand new HSPA networks. Sadly this solid device has fallen to the wayside of Moto’s upgrade plans and is still stuck on Android 2.1.

Pros:
– Beautiful 3.7” 480×854 resolution capacitive touch display
– 8MP 720p HD capable camera with auto-focus and Xenon flash
– Solid construction

Cons:
– Slightly underpowered CPU
– Permanently stuck on Android 2.1
– No AT&T/Rogers/Bell/TELUS 3G radios

Honorable mention:
None

The Google Nexus One coupled with Mobilicity’s $40 unlimited voice/text/data plan is simply the best device and plan combo available in Canada. This high-end Android has great hardware specs with a fantastic build quality couple with an unlimited pool of data is every smartphone user’s dream come true. This phone is almost a year old but still stands as one of the best Android phones in the world.

Pros:
– Beautiful 3.7” 480×800 resolution AMOLED/SLCD capacitive touch display
– 5MP camera with auto-focus and LED flash
– Android 2.2 – will most likely be updated faster than most other devices
– Tri-band 3G bands for 3G capabilities in North America and Europe/Asia (900/1700/2100MHz)
– Solid construction – part unibody aluminum construction
– Noise cancellation for crystal clear calls

Cons:
– Screen has had some burn-in issues (AMOLED versions)
– No AT&T/Rogers/Bell/TELUS 3G radios
– Very lackluster Picture and Video recording quality (possibly software-related)
– Issues with some power buttons
– Spotty multitouch capabilities
– No 720p recording without hacking

Honorable mention:
Sony Ericsson Xperia X10: This phone had the tech world drooling when it was first leaked half a year went by and it was quickly was left in the dust by other phones like the Nexus One and the Galaxy S line. Still a decent phone for first time smartphone user but buyer beware for seasoned Android user as this phone looks like it will be stuck at version 2.1 Éclair.

This was the first Galaxy S to hit Canadian shelves via Bell and has found a home at Virgin mobile. This powerhouse device can satisfy almost any need. This is Virgin’s flagship Android device and will probably remain its flagship Android so long as Bell gobbles up the high end exclusives for itself.

Pros:
– 4-inch, high resolution 480×800 Super AMOLED capacitive touch screen
– Speedy 1GHz Hummingbird processor
– Solid PowerVR SGX 540 GPU for 3D and Gaming
– 5MP 720p HD capable auto-focus camera
– Swype Keyboard Pre-loaded
– DLNA wireless media streaming support

Cons:
– RFS Filesystem slows some system functions to a crawl (File Input/Output)
– No flash on camera
– Battery life a little suspect (possible software related)
– GPS issues

Honorable mention:
HTC Legend: The HTC Legend is definitely not the most high end device but has specs that are just about on the cusp of being high end. It doesn’t boast the screen resolution of other devices or the CPU/GPU power of the newer handsets but is still a half-decent choice.

Acer isn’t known for being a major player in the Android market. The Liquid E is somewhat of a physical manifestation of how low key Acer is in the market. Also unfortunate is that this is Fido’s only Android phone. It has a slightly underclocked snapdragon Processor and a plasticky chassis that is outclassed by higher end devices.

Pros:
– 3.5-inch, high resolution 480×800 capacitive touch screen
– Android 2.2 out of the box
– Quick display notifications on top of device

Cons:
– Plastic construction – feels cheap
– Underclocked Snapdragon Processor
– Uncertain upgrade future

Honorable mention:
None

The fact that the Magic+ made this list isn’t really because it’s very relevant anymore but because the Primus really has no other Android offerings. This was the second Android phone ever manufactured and its age certainly shows when compared to today’s devices.

Pros:
– Compact Design
– Very strong modding community behind device for custom ROMs/Firmwares
– Sports the 850/1900MHz bands, meaning it can be unlocked for later use in Rogers/Bell/TELUS/AT&T

Cons:
– Still sporting Android 2.1
– Very Underpowered (528MHz processor) by today’s standards
– Tiny Internal storage – Often will run out of app space
– 3.2” screen is very cramped for a touch only device
– No flash on camera

Honorable mention:
None

This was the first Galaxy S to hit Canadian shelves via Bell and has found a home at Sasktel. This powerhouse device can satisfy almost any need. Sasktel doesn’t have any other Android Devices but it’s certainly quite a good way to start.

Pros:
– 4-inch, high resolution 480×800 Super AMOLED capacitive touch screen
– Speedy 1GHz Hummingbird processor
– Solid PowerVR SGX 540 GPU for 3D and Gaming
– 5MP 720p HD capable auto-focus camera
-Swype Keyboard Pre-loaded
– DLNA wireless media streaming support

Cons:
– RFS Filesystem slows some system functions to a crawl (File Input/Output)
– No flash on camera
– Battery life a little suspect (possible software related)
– GPS issues

Honorable mention:
None

The Motorola Milestone A854 is basically the equivalent of the DROID from Verizon in the US. It runs on MTS’ CDMA/EVDO 3G network. This is a solid device without a shadow of a doubt with a solid metal construction for which Motorola is renowned for with their DROID, DROID X and DROIX 2 line of phones in the US. Unfortunately it is slightly underpowered for today’s standards

Pros:
– Beautiful 3.7” 480×854 resolution capacitive touch display
– Solid PowerVR SGX 530 GPU for 3D and Gaming
– Hardware Keyboard
– Solid Construction -metal chassis

Cons:
– Still sporting Android 2.1
– Underpowered by today’s standards
– Keyboard is a bit flat and layout is not ideal (d-pad in awkward position)
– CDMA/EVDO, so no SIM card slot to allow use on other networks
– Somewhat heavy

Honorable mention:
None

The Google Nexus One was the first real “pure” Google Experience phone. When Google envisioned Android this was the phone they had envisioned. Even if it has been almost a year since the phone has been released it still has some of the best hardware available, a true testament to how revolutionary the device truly was for its time.

Pros:
– Beautiful 3.7” 480×800 resolution AMOLED/SLCD capacitive touch display
– 5MP camera with auto-focus and LED flash
– Android 2.2 – will most likely be updated faster than most other devices
– Tri-band 3G bands for 3G capabilities in North America and Europe/Asia (900/1700/2100MHz)
– Solid construction – part unibody aluminum construction
– Noise cancellation for crystal clear calls

Cons:
– Screen has had some burn in issues (AMOLED versions)
– No AT&T/Rogers/Bell/TELUS 3G radios
– Very lackluster Picture and Video recording quality (possibly software related)
– Issues with some power buttons
– Spotty multitouch capabilities
– No 720p recording without hacking

Honorable mention:
Motorola Milestone XT720: The Motorola Milestone XT720 is unique device that really never got the recognition that it probably should have gotten. This is also shown by how Motorola has completely abandoned the XT720 as it is not even listed in device upgrade paths leaving it in limbo. This prevents it from being Videotron’s best Android device.