First Look: The Samsung Epic 4G, another worthy Galaxy phone

As one of CR's cell-phone testers, I've been evaluating the Samsung Epic 4G (which we obtained as a press sample), and am generally impressed with it, based on my preliminary tests. Available from Sprint on August 31st, the Epic 4G is a worthy addition to Samsung's line of Galaxy S phones, which include T-Mobile's Vibrant and AT&T's Captivate. It also joins the HTC Evo 4G as a phone that runs on Sprint's high-speed, fourth-generation (4G) network in cities where that network is available.

Like other Galaxy S phones, the Epic 4G, priced at $250 with a two-year contract, boasts a bright and sharp (in this case 4-inch) AMOLED display, a 1GHz processor, a good (5-MP) camera, 720p video recording, and a six-axis motion-sensing accelerometer. (The latter is great for playing games like the included driving game demo, Asphalt 5, where you steer the car by tilting the phone from side to side.)

The biggest distinction of the Epic compared with its Galaxy S siblings is its slide-out full-QWERTY keyboard. The keyboard is well-designed and easy to use, with five lines of raised keys with dedicated buttons for numbers across the top row. It also has directional keys, a "smiley" button, and home, menu, back and search buttons.

If you send a lot of texts or e-mails from your phone, this is a feature worth considering. Unfortunately, they keyboard adds a bit of bulk to the Epic 4G. It is about 0.2 inches thicker and over an ounce heavier than other Galaxy S phones, and ranks among the heaviest phones we've tested.

Sprint's 4G network is not available at the Consumer Reports National Testing Center or in my home in the Bronx. However, in May, reporter Mike Gikas traveled to Philadelphia, which does have 4G service, to try out the new network, which he confirmed was indeed faster at downloading Web pages and provided smoother streaming video. Sprint claims the network will allow simultaneous voice and data, high-quality video streaming, and video chat. It's available now in around 60 cities, and Sprint promises further expansion, including to such notable 3G-only cities as Los Angeles, New York City, and Washington DC.

I still found browsing and streaming to be acceptably fast, even on the Sprint 3G network.

Bottom line: Based on our early tests, the Epic 4G appears to be a great all-around smart phone with an impressive display and 4G capabilities. But it may not be the best choice in a Galaxy phone if its physical keyboard isn't a priority to you. For example, the Evo 4G costs $50 less (at $200), has a slightly bigger (4.3-inch) screen, a camera with better resolution (8 MP) and an HDMI output for streaming video, which the Epic 4G lacks.

We'll be adding the Epic 4G, and other models, soon to our smart phone Ratings, available to subscribers.

—David Toner