iPhone 3G Killers

I definitely want to use the word “killer” lightly, because none of these phones truly match the elegance and ease of use of the new iPhone 3G, however, they all (except one) have physical keyboards and offer similar functionality.

T-Mobile iPhone EDGE
What’s that? Yup, the best iPhone 3G replacement is the iPhone EDGE. I’m currently using an iPhone on T-mobile and have not experienced a hiccup. I’ve even been able to use the $6 data plan to get full Internet avoiding the $20 T-mobile plan as well as the ridiculously high AT&T prices. How do the features stack up?

• 3.5″ touchscreen
• EDGE-data speeds
• Email: HTML rendering
• Processor: 620Mhz ARM
• GPS: No Chip, Cell Tower Location
• Extra: It’s an iPod!
• Price: $300 on eBay
• Data: $6/month
• Size: 4.5 x 2.4 x 0.46 inches
• Weight: 4.8 ounces

Sprint Instinct
You’ve been hearing about it for the past 2 months, and they actually ran a number of commercials touting the features and how this thing was going to be an iPhone killer. That is, until Apple released the iPhone 3G, and that whole campaign went out the door. The main ability the Instinct was touting was its GPS (which iPhone 3G has) and its fast EVDO speeds, which the iPhone 3G also has. Then there’s cost, but let’s see how the phone stacks up.

• 3.1″ haptic-touchscreen
• EVDO Rev A data speeds
• Email: HTML rendering
• Processor: “slower than iPhone” (unknown)
• GPS: Turn-by-Turn Navigation
• Extra: Voice Commands
• Price: $129 (after 2 year rebate)
• Data: $69/month
• Size: 4.57 x 2.17
• Weight: 4.4 ounces

Verizon Samsung Glyde
Aside from the ridiculous spelling of this phone, it has a pretty nice feature-set and doesn’t try to compete head-on with the iPhone, and that’s a good move. The Blackberry line has all stuck to the physical keyboards (besides the Thunder), and they seem to have been able to keep their street cred and wall street cred as a result. Verizon has the most reliable network, which should give all Glyde owners a good feeling, and they also have great data speeds with EVDO-Rev A. Now how do the features line up for the Glyde?

• 2.8″ haptic-touchscreen
• EVDO-data speeds
• Email: HTML rendering
• Processor: Unknown
• GPS: VCast with Traffic ($3/month)
• Extra: Slide-out Keys!
• Price: $249 (after 2 year rebate)
• Data: $29/month
• Size: 4.1 x 2.0 x .7″
• Weight: 4.1 ounces

iPhone Killer Verdict

Well, how you doing? Made your decision yet? You’re already locked into your contract anyway, so you’ve already made up your mind, but after looking at this, if this didn’t make you want to switch to AT&T yet, I don’t know what’s holding you back.

My advice

If you’re not on AT&T and want the best iPhone-like experience, I would go with any of the Blackberry devices these carriers offer. The Blackberry feature-set and UI are the next best thing to the iPhone 3g, but you want a touchscreen, right? Take your pick, but the Instinct looks like the next-best given the EVDO speeds and relatively painless feature set. There is news of a true iPhone 3G-killer in the Blackberry Thunder, but the release date is somewhere in the cosmos.

Let us know your choice in the comments.