Features
Below the display are tactile navigation controls, including Talk and End/Power buttons, a Home shortcut, a back button, a trackball navigator and a Menu key. As with the touchscreen, the Menu button is contextual to the application you're in at the time. For example, if you're in the Web browser and press Menu, you'll see options to open a new window, go to a URL, bookmark a page and so on.
The left spine holds a volume rocker and a microSD expansion slot. To access the latter, you have to push the screen open in order to remove the protective cover. On the right side, you'll find a camera activation/capture button, though you can also press the trackball to take pictures. We actually preferred this method, since the dedicated camera key is small. Plus, when holding the phone horizontally, it's easy to nudge the screen upwards while trying to take a picture.
On the bottom of the unit is a mini USB port where you connect the power charger. Sadly, this is also your only option for connecting a headset, as there's no dedicated headphone jack, 3.5mm or otherwise. Yes, there's a headset included in the box, but you don't get the same comfort and quality as you would with a nice pair of headphones. If you want the privilege of using your own 'phones, you'll have to spend extra money to buy an adaptor. Last but not least, the camera lens -- sans flash self-portrait mirror -- is located on the back.
The first smart phone to run the Google Android operating system, the T-Mobile G1 delivers a number of basic core functions and tight integration with Google's products, including Gmail, Google Maps and Google Calendar. Wireless options and multimedia capabilities are also well represented on the G1, but there are some glaring omissions and restrictions that we'll get to later.
The quad-band G1 offers speakerphone, voice dialing, conference calling and speed dial. There's no support for visual voicemail, but one great convenience is that if you have Gmail, all your contacts will automatically be synchronised to the phone book. For caller ID purposes, you can assign a photo to a contact as well as a group ID and one of 33 polyphonic ringtones. There's even a setting to send a contact's phone call directly to voicemail every time.
Bluetooth is onboard but the supported profiles are limited to wireless headsets and hands-free kits. As with the iPhone 3G, there's no love for stereo Bluetooth or tethering, so you can't use it as a modem for your laptop. The latter is a lesser issue for us, but if we can't get a 3.5mm headphone jack, we'd at least like stereo Bluetooth support.
As an alternative to 3G, the G1 has integrated Wi-Fi and it can seamlessly transfer between 3G and accessible Wi-Fi networks. In fact, the smart phone's YouTube application will only present videos in high resolution when you're using Wi-Fi and play the low-res version when using the mobile phone network, in order to optimise the load times. There's an application in the Android Market called iSkoot for Skype, which allows you to make Skype calls via the phone's radio rather than Wi-Fi, but we imagine there will be VoIP clients added to the database.
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User reviews8
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Tom Disturrbed Jones 6 May 2011
Good: Android, and fast internet
Bad: Out of date Android, slow processor, rubbish Qwerty keyboard and too big.
Comment: My first ever Android phone, I now own a Samsung Galaxy Apollo. I had this phone for a few days, It was an absolute brick to hold, my hand barely fits round it, and not even slightly practical. The android is Android 1.5, which is quite frankly the most out of date Android you can get on a phone. So about 100,000 of the apps on the Android Market automatically won't work, and all you'd want this phone for is Android. Because you might as well look elsewhere if you don't want a phone purely for Android. Slow processor, It's 400+mhz or something, it's very slow and struggles to run the simplest games and apps. My main gripe with this phone is the Qwerty keyboard, I only bought this phone because I knew it had a Qwerty which would help for texting. The buttons are stupid, they stick and are made of rubber so you have to put a hell of a lot of pressure, also you have to open the keyboard to have landscape view, making it extremely difficult to use. This phone on release was worth £400, You can get a Samsung Galaxy S for that price, which has over double the processor and is much better. The good is basically the internet is insanely fast, that would be the only reason I would have kept it, but I decided to upgrade to a Samsung Galaxy instead.
Good: Android, fast internet
Bad: Low Resolution screen, terrible touchscreen, Out of date Android, overpriced, Slow processor, an absolute brick and a horrific Qwerty.
Junaid 'Devs' Bux 29 October 2010
Good: the looks and the QWERTY keyboard
Bad: no standerd 3.5mm head jack
Comment: i want this phone so bad
Carl.W 10 June 2009
Good: Slide out QWERTY keyboard, Cupcake update makes this phone on par with HTC Magic
Bad: Battery life
Comment: I do believe CNET need to re-review this phone now that the Cupcake update has occurred.
The touchscreen is highly responsive, and where I was tempted to get an iPhone, as this phone is massively cheaper and has the luxury of three screens to arrange your favourite apps, it means that the phone is set perfectly for your lifestyle.
I've been waiting and waiting for the right phone that I can live with for 18 months, but a fortnight (two weeks) in I can safely say this will be my phone for longer than that.
The QWRTY keyboard takes a little getting used to if you, like me, have just moved from a conventional key design, but once you do, texting, and emailing is a lot easier.
Every smart phone is suffering from poor battery life when fully used, and the G1 admittedly is no different, but I can survive a whole day without charging, only to do this at home, or at my work's desk.
I love how integrated it all feels. Google are becoming a real competitor in this market and how much longer will we have to wait until we see them compete with the mighty Microsoft for becoming the desktop OS of choice.
I have been an Apple user for the last 5 years, but I can now comfortably say I will be migrating totally to Google in the next few months. The power of mobile phones is a lot more than just making calls nowadays...
Overall, highly delighted with my choice and am comfortable to whip this baby out anywhere and be content that my first smart phone is one of the best on the market.
See all 8 user reviews