Samsung Epic 4G

The Samsung Epic 4G is the Sprint edition of Samsung's popular and high-end Galaxy S. Aside from the Super AMOLED screen and 1 GHz processor shared with its Captivate (AT&T) and Vibrant (T-Mobile USA) siblings, the Epic 4G adds a slide-out QWERTY keyboard and access to Sprint's WiMAX network.

Size and Weight :

At 4.9 x 2.5 x 0.6 inches, this is a noticeably big phone. Even so, the QWERTY keyboard takes full advantage of all that space -- it's one of the best available today.

Network and connectivity:

Sprint's version of the Galaxy S sports numerous advantages over its T-Mobile "Vibrant" brethren. First, it adds support for Sprint's 4G WiMAX network, which has already spread across numerous urban areas in the U.S. In testing with HTC EVO 4G, Sprint's next-gen network showcased significantly higher data transfer speeds (especially useful while tethering) and the ability to simultaneously make voice calls while transmitting data (not possible using Sprint's traditional 3G CDMA).

Camera and Video:

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: Resolution does not make a camera. But in this case, the 8-megapixel camera in the EVO 4G really is a better shot than the 5-megapixel camera in the Epic 4G. Our test shots showed the Epic returning overly dark outdoor shots in comparison to the EVO 4G, even though they come closer to parity indoors. Small a difference as it makes, the EVO 4G also has a two LEDs for its flash, while the Epic gets only one. Besides opening the door for faster Web surfing and services, the 4G connectivity has made it possible to make face-to-face videoconference calls without Wi-Fi. Both the EVO 4G and Epic 4G offer front-facing cameras to make it possible, but the EVO 4G once again outstacks the Epic 4G on resolution, offering 1.3 megapixels to its 0.3 megapixels (VGA). That said, it doesn’t pose much of a practical difference, considering bandwidth requirements will crush video quality down to a blotchy mess anyway. We’ll hand this one to HTC for the tech specs – with a bright red asterisk that resolution matters even less than normal here.

Memory and Display:

It has 512 MB of RAM, between 8 and 16 GB of memory, microSD expansion (up to 32 GB). What might be the greyest area in our comparison comes down to a matter of preference. With a 4.3-inch LCD screen, the HTC EVO 4G has both immense size and sunlight-resistance in its favor. With a 4.0-inch OLED screen, the Samsung Epic 4G looks like a glittering gem beside its super-sized HTC counterpart… but fades to a dingy bluish gray the moment you bring it out into the sun. Resolution on both models is an identical 800 x 480. While movie fans might prefer the Epic’s brilliant color, we’re awarding this one to the EVO 4G based on practicality.

Entertainment Features:

The TouchWiz music player is touch-friendly and easy to navigate. It showcases album art nicely, too, with an iTunes Cover Flow-style user interface. Sound was clean over my own earbuds, and decent via the external speakers. One of the most intriguing features of the Captivate is the Samsung Media Hub, which will come with all of the Galaxy S phones. Media Hub is Samsung's answer to iTunes, a store for purchasing music and video. Unfortunately, Media Hub is not yet available to users right now; according to my contact at Samsung, Media Hub will launch this fall. Customers will be able to download the service via an over-the-air update. Unlike the EVO 4G, the Epic does not ship with YouTube HQ--a big disappointment. YouTube HQ is a feature that enhances certain YouTube videos' quality tremendously. Unfortunately, without HQ, YouTube videos are almost completely unwatchable on the Epic. With such an incredible screen, it seems like a big oversight.