Welcome to Verizon Wireless Phones, a part of infoSync Reviews. Here you'll find in-depth reviews of Verizon Wireless phones by RIM, HTC, Samsung, Motorola, Nokia and LG. If you don't find the Verizon Wireless phone you're looking for here, please check out the following resources: Resource Center for Cell Phones, Ask The Editors and Expert Guides.
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| Motorola Droid |
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 The Motorola Droid is a fascinating device, and a great addition to Verizon Wireless' lineup. It's the exact opposite of the Motorola CLIQ. While the CLIQ provides an innovative and deeply integrated social networking platform on top of a shoddy piece of hardware, the Motorola Droid is one of the most solid phones we've used, but it adds little to Google's own innovation. That's fine with us, since Google has added plenty of cool new features to Android 2.0 that will change the smartphone market for the better. Google Maps now includes a great, free turn-by-turn navigation system, and the interface gets improvements like a dedicated in-car mode that make us wonder why nobody else thought of this. The Droid hardware is rigidly constructed and loaded with high-end features. We especially liked the dazzling screen that packs more pixels than any other U.S. carrier phone, the 5-megapixel camera (though our unit's camcorder feature was bonked) and the fast processing that kept the system at a steady sprint. Even battery life was great on this phone, a rarity among Android devices. If Verizon Wireless and Motorola really want to dethrone the Apple iPhone 3GS, they'll have to significantly improve the music and video players, and we're hoping to see Flash 10 support in the Web browser sooner rather than later. But in the last couple months, Motorola has made a significant turnaround, and we're pleased to be able to highly recommend a Moto phone once again. Release: November 2009. Price: $200.
Pros: Excellent build quality. High-end features, especially the large display. Google Maps with Navigation is fantastic and free.
Cons: Verizon Wireless didn't add much to Google's stock interface. Camera was disappointing. Most features were superlative, but nothing unique.
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| HTC Droid Eris |
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 There's no doubt about it, the HTC Droid Eris is one of the best smartphones we've used. Like the nearly identical Sprint HTC Hero, it represents a serious step forward in smartphone design, and if you're a smartphone user looking to step up to something better, the HTC Droid Eris does a great job at nearly everything it can do. Ironically, comparisons to the Apple iPhone 3GS don't quite pan out, because everything Apple's phone does well, the Droid Eris doesn't, and vice versa. From advanced calling features to deep social networking integration to wide customization options with active, useful widgets on the desktop, the HTC Droid Eris on Verizon Wireless bests Apple's device, and even comes in ahead of the slightly faster, much larger Motorola Droid. But where the Apple iPhone 3GS excels, in ease of use, multimedia features and the deep App Store library, loaded with high-end games and apps, the HTC Droid Eris, like all Android phones, falls flat. We'd also like to see a much better camera tacked on this phone, and Verizon would be wise to patch up some holes in the feature set with VZ Navigator and tethered modem support. Still, the Droid Eris isn't just effective, it's delightful, and though new smartphone buyers might be intimidated by the complex system, time spent learning the ins and outs of the device will be rewarded handsomely. Release: November 2009. Price: $100.
Pros: Best interface on a mobile device. Social networks integrate neatly with online contacts and calendars. Detailed and useful information presented during calls.
Cons: Interface may be too complicated for new users. Lacks GPS turn-by-turn navigation. Camera is horrible.
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| LG Chocolate Touch |
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 The LG Chocolate Touch is a fun, high quality phone for making calls and listening to music. If LG had simply stopped there and not tried to do so much with their first tablet-style Chocolate phone, we'd probably be much happier with it. Call quality was solid, and battery life was great, without resorting to a massive, heavy power cell. Music sounded great on the LG Chocolate Touch, which gets an audio boost from Dolby Labs, and there were even some gimmicky, fun features that let you play along with your favorite tunes. Sure, we wish there was better sync software for media, and the menu system seems like a halfhearted attempt at emulating a smartphone OS, but if you don't mind using Windows Media Player to sync, and if you weren't looking for a real smartphone anyway, the LG Chocolate Touch isn't a bad choice. If any other feature is important to you, though, from social networking to Web browsing to e-mail for both business and pleasure, you'll want to avoid this phone like a spastic dancer with two left feet. The onscreen keyboard is completely unusable, and the other features are so undercooked, they're raw. Video playback didn't work; messaging was confusing, difficult and buggy; and many extra features were buried under Verizon Wireless' disorganized, lingering interface. If you like the style and music is your life, the LG Chocolate Touch wouldn't be a bad choice, but if you want anything more from your phone, go for something smarter. Release: November 2009. Price: $80.
Pros: Great music playback with some fun additional features. Solid call quality with better battery life than we expected.
Cons: Lousy, unresponsive touchscreen hurts many features, especially messaging. Besides music and calling, little to recommend on this phone.
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| RIM BlackBerry Storm 2 |
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 If you are already decided on the BlackBerry Storm and you've only been waiting for RIM to fix the long list of problems with the first model, fear not, because the BlackBerry Storm 2 addresses almost all of the complaints buyers had with the original. The BlackBerry Storm 2 is faster, more responsive, built better and more feature-packed than the first Storm. Even so, the interface was wildly inconsistent, as if the phone could never remember when you're supposed to press and when you're supposed to lightly tap; when you're supposed to swipe or when you should just point. Sometimes, it simply didn't work. Sometimes, the interface design was so counterintuitive that we decided to give up. Even with the improvements, and they are significant, using the BlackBerry Storm 2 was a real chore, as the extra pressure required to 'click' makes every action a bit harder compared to other touchscreens. The interface design was continually frustrating, even while newer phones, like the HTC Hero on Sprint, manage to surprise and delight with clever and adaptive touchscreen interface ideas. All the basic BlackBerry features are present in the Storm 2, like the great integrated messaging inbox, the deep access for IT managers, and newer features like the BlackBerry App World and the tightly integrated Facebook app. Plus, the screen on the Storm 2 is one of the best we've seen on a phone, and it's great for watching movies and videos. But if you want BlackBerry features, buy a classic BlackBerry with a keyboard, and if you want a touchscreen phone, there are much better options on the market. Release: October 2009. Price: $180.
Pros: Faster, more responsive than original BlackBerry Storm. Fantastic display quality, great for movies. Well-organized messaging.
Cons: Interface design is frustrating and cumbersome, even when SurePress works well. Browser still lagging. Some features could use a serious graphical boost.
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| HTC Imagio |
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 To answer the critics who complain that Verizon Wireless doesn't have any unique smartphones, here's the HTC Imagio. The phone packs most of the best features we've seen across HTC's Windows Mobile lineup, then throws in Verizon Wireless' best services, including V Cast Mobile TV. It's a big phone, but touchscreen fans will like the huge, 3.6-inch, hi-res display. Plus, now that the phone comes loaded with Microsoft's newest Windows Mobile 6.5 operating system, the latest mobile OS is as pleasant to use as ever. There are a few lingering remnants from the older generation that keep this phone from being superior, disappointingly in the multimedia and GPS features, both of which are usually perfect features for the form factor. The HTC Imagio has all the great calling and contacts features of the Touch Pro2, plus Web browsing with Flash video support, and even the blossoming Microsoft Windows Marketplace. The interface is still a bit flat, with few options to customize the main menu tabbed screens or add features to the main display, and Windows Mobile is still behind the curve compared to some of the more snazzy smartphone systems out there. But the HTC Imagio is still a rock solid device, with plenty of great and occasionally unique features, and if you're a dedicated Verizon fan looking for an innovative, high-end smartphone, the HTC Imagio deserves consideration. Release: October 2009. Price: $200.
Pros: Large, responsive touchscreen. Great features, especially for calling and contact handling. Solid Web browsing.
Cons: Disappointing camera. Media player could use an interface upgrade. VZ Navigator should be much better on this device.
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