Epic 4G or HTC EVO Shift?

[oudavid1]

Anyone have an opinion?

[OUMallen]

Bought the Shift for my GF just yesterday. SHe's not super techy, so I think it will be just fine. If you're fairly techy and think you'll use a lot of the multimedia functions (and don't mind the extra $$), I think the Epic looked pretty awesome.

[oudavid1]

Bought the Shift for my GF just yesterday. SHe's not super techy, so I think it will be just fine. If you're fairly techy and think you'll use a lot of the multimedia functions (and don't mind the extra $$), I think the Epic looked pretty awesome.

well im a huge nerd, so im usually pretty decisive.

But this is one of the closest phone battles ive ever seen. I mean the internet is divided. Im leaning shift.

[MR2-Sooner86]

I'd get an EVO 4G over an EVO Shift 4G. Of course I could care less about the keyboard and the shift is watered down for some reason.

Here's a good article on the two of them.

Epic vs EVO (http://www.brighthub.com/mobile/htc/articles/107116.aspx)


Design and Display

In the design and display aspect of the HTC EVO Shift 4G vs. Samsung Epic 4G battle, it's a fairly one sided battle. The HTC EVO Shift 4G comes with a 3.6 inch LCD display while the Samsung Epic 4G comes with a much more vibrant Super AMOLED screen that comes in at 4.1 inches. The display on the Samsung Epic 4G is much brighter and more colorful, and of course, slightly larger than the HTC EVO Shift 4G.

The design may be the big pro for the HTC EVO Shift 4G over the Samsung Epic 4G. The HTC EVO Shift has a bit more of a high end look, especially with the silver chrome lining outlining the display. The Samsung Epic 4G is no slouch in the design department, but the EVO Shift 4G does look slightly nicer. The only con would be the capacitivie touchscreen shortcuts below the display that have very visible circles around them. Some may like the design but it can also be a big turn off for people looking for nice clean phones.

Winner: Samsung Epic 4G



Hardware and Software

The HTC EVO Shift 4G comes in a little underpowered with a second generation 800 MHz Snapdragon processor as opposed to Samsung's 1 GHz Hummingbird processor. However, the difference in the two smartphones is minimal at best, as both the HTC EVO Shift 4G and Samsung Epic 4G handle fairly well with their respective processors. In fact, though the HTC EVO Shift 4G may have what seems to be a slower processor, as it is a second generation chip, it actually performs just like the Epic 4G's. Otherwise, both have 1 GB onboard storage with expandable microSD slots and both come with 512 MB of RAM.

From the software perspective, the HTC EVO Shift 4G comes with the slight edge in that it comes preloaded with Android 2.2 as opposed to Android 2.1, which the Samsung Epic 4G comes with. Both come with proprietary overlays, Sense UI for the HTC EVO Shift 4G and Touchwiz for the Samsung Epic 4G. Both overlays are decent, though some would prefer stock Android over anything. Samsung has been very disappointing when it comes to updates, and an official Android 2.2 update for the Epic 4G is still in the works. In the software arena of the HTC EVO Shift 4G vs. Samsung Epic 4G battle, the HTC EVO Shift 4G comes out on top.

Winner: HTC EVO Shift 4G





User Interface

The user interfaces on the HTC EVO Shift 4G and the Samsung Epic 4G are very similar, due to them both running on Android. The difference comes with their proprietary overlays, Sense and Touchwiz. Each overlay works well, with HTC embracing Android and Samsung going more for an Apple iOS look. Both are touch sensitive user interfaces and are easy to learn, understand and master.

The biggest difference in user interface would be the phsyical QWERTY keyboards that slide out from under the displays. The Samsung Epic 4G is spring loaded, while the HTC EVO Shift 4G is a bit like the original Motorola Droid. It feels a bit more solid and requires more of a pushing movement to slide the keyboard out while the Epic 4G is snappier. It's a close one and comes down to personal preference for the sliding mechanism but the Samsung Epic 4G has a snappier feel to its sliding mechanism.

Winner: Samsung Epic 4G





Features

In the features arena of the HTC EVO Shift 4G vs. Samsung Epic 4G battle, it is almost pretty close, except one major con on the HTC EVO Shift 4G, which will be elaborated on. Both the HTC EVO Shift 4G and the Samsung Epic 4G come with 5 megapixel cameras with LED flash, and they both can record 720p video. They both have access to the Android Market and both can play Flash to a certain extent. Since the HTC EVO Shift 4G comes with Android 2.2, it can run Adobe Flash 10.1, while the Samsung Epic 4G is limited to Flash Lite. On that front, it's a close battle.

However, the biggest con for the HTC EVO Shift 4G, that causes it to lose the battle is the lack of a front facing camera. For a 4G smartphone, a front facing camera is key. The Samsung Epic 4G comes with a front facing camera, allowing users to fully utilize Sprint's 4G network to video chat with friends on computers and other smartphones with front facing cameras. The EVO Shift 4G, for one reason or another, decided to ignore that huge advantage that the 4G network offers, and opted to not add a front facing camera. Another 4G smartphone that made this mistake is the HTC G2 on T-Mobile's network.

Winner: Samsung Epic 4G




The Winner

Unlike other previous battles such as the HTC Thunderbolt vs. Motorola Droid Bionic battle, the HTC EVO Shift 4G vs. Samsung Epic 4G battle seems to have a pretty clear cut winner. The Samsung Epic 4G, even though it came out first, has huge advantages when it comes to display, and features while the HTC EVO Shift 4G manages to win a slight edge in design and software. Overall the advantages of the Samsung Epic 4G are too big to ignore and it easily comes out on top in this battle of 4G keyboard slider smartphones on Sprint.

Winner: Samsung Epic 4G

[oudavid1]

Lol thanks. But I had already read everything I could find really. So you wouk go with the evo? I've never had a touchscreen phone so I ki da wanted to segway with a physical keyboard plus the touchscreen. Don't you feel the evo screen is too big?

[Tin Cup]

I hear the battery life sucks for the Epic

[MR2-Sooner86]

Lol thanks. But I had already read everything I could find really. So you wouk go with the evo? I've never had a touchscreen phone so I ki da wanted to segway with a physical keyboard plus the touchscreen. Don't you feel the evo screen is too big?

I have friends with EVOs and they love them. I've played with it and it's a great phone. If I were to get one I'd get the much bigger battery so it'll last longer. The EVO is a little large but nothing that can't fit in your pocket and be bulging out...or maybe you want that I don't know :D

I have a touch screen and I love it. Swype makes texting so much easier.

[oudavid1]

I have friends with EVOs and they love them. I've played with it and it's a great phone. If I were to get one I'd get the much bigger battery so it'll last longer. The EVO is a little large but nothing that can't fit in your pocket and be bulging out...or maybe you want that I don't know :D

I have a touch screen and I love it. Swype makes texting so much easier.

Well i put an ottebox on anyone phone i have. I protect my investments. I dont want one as big as the EVO. I think im gonna go EVO shift. I heard the battery on EVO sucks.

[jumperstop]

I've talked about this in the android thread a few weeks back. I have Epic and love it compared to my buddies Evo. Two things Epic had that sets it apart is the Gorilla Glass and processing speed/memory. Comes with more stock memory which imo is very important. Colors are also more vivid on the Epic.

[jumperstop]

I hear the battery life sucks for the Epic

It does, no more than any other smart phone though. That's going to happen with how fast it is.

[jumperstop]

Lol thanks. But I had already read everything I could find really. So you wouk go with the evo? I've never had a touchscreen phone so I ki da wanted to segway with a physical keyboard plus the touchscreen. Don't you feel the evo screen is too big?

Keyboard is awesome, and it only adds .07 mm. The screen difference between the evo and epic is so small it should come down to other things you're looking for. Like I said epic's colors are a lot brighter and more vivid.

[oudavid1]

I've talked about this in the android thread a few weeks back. I have Epic and love it compared to my buddies Evo. Two things Epic had that sets it
apart is the Gorilla Glass and processing speed/memory. Comes with more stock memory which imo is very important. Colors are also more vivid on the Epic.

What is gorilla glass?

[jumperstop]

Epic has 2.2 now btw

[jumperstop]

What is gorilla glass?

It's just badass screen glass, more resistant to breaks and scratches. Here's a video...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaNWuGtAaxM&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Dropped my phone down a flight of stairs the other day at the gym. Not a scratch or breaks, and although opened with the keyboard out works fine.