T-Mobile myTouch 4G Slide Pro Reviews

The Slide’s only true competition across any of the carriers comes in the form of the Droid 3, at least until the follow-up to the Samsung Epic 4G arrives at Sprint later this year. But the Slide isn’t one of those headline, flagship devices for a carrier the way the Droid 3 and Droid Bionic are for Verizon, the EVO 3D is for Sprint, and the Sensation is for T-Mobile. Those are all phones that are either pushing technological boundaries (Droid Bionic and EVO 3D) or phones that are just so thoroughly competent (Droid 3 and Sensation), probably some of the most well-rounded devices on the market. The Slide could have easily been in the latter category, but some of the more head-scratching decisions in hardware and software design mean it ultimately comes well short of delivering on that promise.

The myTouch 4G Slide adds a whole heck of a lot more than just a slide-out QWERTY keyboard. It may be a bit dull to look at, but it’s a powerful mobile device that offers a good range of features. The keyboard isn't the best I've used, but typists who prefer real buttons to tapping on glass will appreciate the thoughtful design of the 4G Slide's keyboard. Sound quality was good, but if you need a rampagingly loud speakerphone you might need to look for something else. Battery life was acceptable for this class of device. The 4G Slide could benefit from HTC's Sense user interface, but even without it it has a lot of easy-to-divine features and options. The Android 2.3 Gingerbread system really screams on the 4G Slide with its powerful dual-core processor. HTC did a great job of endowing the camera with extra features -- such as HDR -- that have a noticeable impact on image quality. With the excellent feature list and speedy interface, chances are good you'll get the shot you want. The 4G Slide strikes a good balance. It's not a superphone, but it's no slouch, either. For the text-happy photographer, the myTouch 4G Slide offers all the right touches.

The myTouch 4G Slide is certainly a worthy contender in the race for best cameraphone, but it takes more than hardware and software wizardry to make "the most advanced camera of any smartphone." When it comes to mobile photography, Nokia still reigns supreme with the N8 (which is a far better shooter than it is a phone), and Samsung continues to flex its imaging muscle with the Galaxy S II. It's surprising that despite packing the same processor and battery as HTC's Sensation flagship, the Slide performed worse in our speed and endurance tests. There's also room for improvement in the display and keyboard departments, which don't quite live up to our standards. Ultimately though, none of this really matters -- the Slide is pleasant and easy to use, looks and feels great, and takes gorgeous pictures. As such, your mom won't be disappointed. If you want a qHD display, and can live with less camera, the Sensation is a viable alternative to the Slide for the same $200 (on contract). Still, we think the recently updated G2x remains the best device in T-Mobile's lineup thanks to its top-notch camera and a slightly better display than the Slide for $50 less. Well, what are you waiting for? Go out there and buy your mom a phone already!

When I hear about phones with a single headlining feature, like say a really powerful camera, I worry that the rest of the phone isn't up to snuff. This isn't the case with the MyTouch 4G Slide, however. The Super LCD touch display, slim design and software place the Slide at the top of this year's mega-smartphones. Of course, if you're a serious photographer, the camera on the Slide probably won't cut it for you. But if you snap a lot of photos with your phone or don't want to carry both a phone and a standalone camera at all times, the MyTouch 4G Slide can get the job done.

There's a lot to like about the myTouch 4G Slide. The keyboard is very good, though not as good as the HTC Arrive and other HTC slider phones of the past. The camera is also very good, though not as good as the superior optics and mechanical shutter of the Nokia N8. In terms of "most advanced" camera phone, the myTouch 4G Slide has some great software enhancements that put it above the rest. The sweep shot, burst shot, and high dynamic range modes are very useful and great additions to the smartphone's photography features. Unfortunately, all of these advanced features are overshadowed by the myTouch 4G Slide's frustrating battery life. If you're looking forward to this device, plan on getting a couple extra batteries to swap out during the day.

The MyTouch 4G Slide has elegant and solid hardware, decent speeds, and the best overall camera experience I've had on a smartphone in a long time. For most people T-Mobile and HTC are targeting with this device, that's enough to make the sale. Make no mistake, though, this is more MyTouch than Android -- with all of the caveats that distinction brings. I think that experienced Android users will find T-Mobile's Sense skin overwrought and the insistence on replacing Android search with the Genius feature aggravating. I certainly do and I'm not alone in wishing T-Mobile would just cut it out. If these features actually do appeal to you, they run better on the MyTouch 4G Slide than I've seen run before. If you're a shutterbug or are not dogmatic about a pure Android experience, it might still be worth a look.

From afar, the MyTouch 4G Slide looks like just another Android phone, but this one packs some interesting strengths. It’s dual-core, has a full QWERTY keyboard, and an excellent camera. Did we mention it runs Android 2.3 and has a responsive 3.7-inch screen? For the $99 online price, The MyTouch 4G Slide is probably the best bargain on T-Mobile.

I will say this much: the myTouch 4G Slide is a phone I want to like. It has great qualities: 4G connectivity, an amazing camera, Android 2.3, and a powerful CPU. My philosophy on phones, however, is to never compromise. The phone is what we take everywhere, use all the time, and rely on. If it’s uncomfortable, inconvenient or difficult to use, then it’s not the right for you. I’ll gladly replace my point and shoot with the Slide, but the other problems compromise the Slide on too many fronts.

It's fast with a 1.2GHz dual-core chip, even with HTC's custom software running on top. The keyboard is huge and clicky. HTC still delivers some of the best materials this side of the iPhone 4—the phone just feels like quality. T-Mobile is fast when it's fast—I was peaking around 7-8Mbps around Georgia. Built-in Netflix, still a relative rarity for Android. The camera is legitimately good. It's quick to shoot; the colors are more accurate, the 1080p video more detailed than the iPhone 4; and the software delivers most of the control an average-but-concerned shooter would want.

The T-Mobile myTouch 4G Slide was quite enjoyable to use during my review period. While I was not a fan of the physical keyboard, and would not skip a beat if it were missing, the Slide's powerful processor and just the right amount of HTC Sense made it a joy to use. The software was very stable and responsive, and I never ran into any issues with memory or apps crashing. The solid feel of the hardware was great, and though the camera didn't quite live up to the claims that T-Mobile has made, it still was fun to take pictures with and gave good results most of the time. It was also nice to use a phone where I didn't really have to worry too much about battery life during the day.

T-Mobile has another killer smartphone on its hands with the $199 myTouch 4G Slide. It may be on the hefty side and lacks some of the Sensation 4G's interface enhancements, but this handset has an amazingly fast camera that's packed with high-end features. T-Mobile users clamoring for a physical keyboard who want something a little more grown up than the Sidekick 4G will find the myTouch 4G Slide to be a great fit.

The big, beautiful, Android-based myTouch 4G Slide is T-Mobile's most powerful handset to date, so it's our latest Editors' Choice for keyboarded smartphones on T-Mobile.

We’re absolutely over the fact that the original myTouch 3G Slide wasn’t all that much of a standout hit last year, but after looking meticulously at its successor, we’re amazed at how the device has transcended on so many levels. Obviously, some might still be attracted to the equally capable HTC Sensation 4G on Tmo’s lineup – though, you’ll be missing out with what the T-Mobile myTouch 4G Slide has to offer. Actually, it boasts pretty much everything that the Sensation 4G has to offer, while priced similarly at $200 on-contract, but taking into account that it sports a considerably superior camera, there is no reason why this one should be a no-brainer decision! And yes, it undeniably flaunts the best camera on any HTC device we’ve seen so far – so you won’t be disappointed at all!

If you feel you’d use the camera enough to warrant the purchase, and you want the hardware keyboard or are just a fan of the myTouch line in general — then yes this phone is awesome. It is the new HTC top dog over on T-Mobile (not counting the Sensation) and you wont find anything better for the time being. This phone is well suited and should be a pretty great device for months and maybe years to come.