In a nutshell: The T-Mobile G1 is the first "Googlephone"
running the Android operating system. The G1 has a large touch-sensitive
display and a slide out QWERTY keyboard. It's best features are
its mobile internet applications such as Gmail and Google Maps,
as well as built-in GPS and WiFi support. Weaknesses include the
dire camera, lack of memory, difficulty interfacing with a PC or
Mac and general "beta" feel to the whole thing. We'd recommend
waiting for the next Android phone, or choosing the iPhone
3G instead.
The
T-Mobile G1 is the first handset to use Google's Android operating
system. To us, it feels pretty much like a beta release, rather
like the original iPhone - good in
some ways, but not really cutting it as a phone.
Available
in a choice of white or black, the device looks a bit like the iPhone's
ugly sister, but you can slide the screen to one side to reveal
a full QWERTY keyboard beneath. The screen itself is touch-sensitive,
giving you a choice of input methods. The accelerometer automatically
rotates the screen between landscape and portrait modes, depending
on how you hold the phone. It's not a small phone: too big to use
single handedly, and really heavy too. Weighing 158g, it's the heaviest
smartphone currently on the market - the same as Sony
Ericsson's Xperia, but not half as good looking.
OK,
so this is the long awaited "Googlephone", and it's all
about Google. This
is a 3G phone that's clearly designed for accessing the mobile internet,
with a large screen, web browser, Google applications and email.
But plenty of smartphones can do that. What's special about the
G1? Well, of course it's great for browsing the web, with its big
screen (3.2 inches is massive, let's face it), ultra-fast 7.2 Mbps
HSDPA connection, WiFi and easy text input. It's
completely Google flavoured. It's integrated with Gmail, Google
maps, Google search, YouTube and Facebook.
But
this is a double-edged sword. Suppose you want to do something that's
not approved by the Google thought police? Like synchronise with
Outlook. Nope, no can do. Won't even speak to a PC. or a Mac. Don't
even think about replacing your BlackBerry
with a G1!
You
can download new apps from Android Market - some free, some you
have to pay for. There are going to be loads more developed in the
future, so no doubt lots of interesting stuff will be available
here. Android is a multitasking operating system, so you can run
apps in parallel, like view Google Maps whilst talking on the phone.
Be careful though, as the more apps you run, the slower the phone
will be and the more likely it is to crash. We don't yet have a
view on how robust Android is. It's not the kind of thing you can
tell from a short test session. We'll have to wait and see what
our users think after they've been using their Android machines
for some time.
It's
clearly intended as a mobile internet device rather than a multimedia
wizard. Cos multimedia wizard it isn't! The camera is about as good
as the original iPhone's camera, i.e. at the bottom of the class.
Although it's rated at 3.2 megapixels, it has no flash, no zoom,
no video capability. There is an MP3 player, but no FM radio. One
good thing it does have though is built-in GPS. This is a nice implementation
that integrates well with Google Maps and even has a digital compass.
The
G1 comes with a 2GB microSD card, which is inadequate really. Thankfully
you can upgrade this to 8GB, but we feel that an 8GB card should
have been supplied in the first place. We're pleased that it's got
quadband support though, as well as 3G.
Even
so, we're disappointed by the number of things that have been left
out. No predictive text, no voice dialling, no video calling, no
MMS video capability, no ability to use the phone as a modem. Pause
for breath ... no ability to sync with a PC or Mac, no FM radio,
no document viewer, no video recorder!
Battery
life deserves a paragraph of its own. Its awful! If you use this
phone as intended (i.e. all the time) you'll need to recharge it
every few hours. And with a device as big and heavy as this, there's
really no excuse for this.
We
think that the G1 is going to turn out to be very much like the
original iPhone. Massively over-hyped, brilliant at some things,
but with too many flaws to be considered a mature technology. Some
will love it, some will hate it. We steer a middle course and have
tried to recognise the good bits, whilst pointing out the bad bits.
Please don't send us hate mail like Apple lovers/haters did after
our iPhone review. Remember ... it's just a phone.
Features
of the T-Mobile G1 include:
Google Android operating system
3.2 megapixel camera with autofocus
Display: TFT, 65k colours, 480 x 320 pixels,
3.2 inches
Love
your mobile? Hate it? Please share your experiences to help other
people choose the phone that's best for them. Please do not review
this phone if you have not used it. This is a review site, not a
forum, so please don't just ask questions. Please do not use swear
words or offensive language, and please, no advertising!
Average
rating from 94 reviews:
Reviewed by Rob from UK on 19th
Jan 2010
I got this phone as a replacement for my HTC 3300, on paper it looks
great qwerty keyboard touchscreen so with a data enabled contract
it seems a good bet for moblie email. The lack of any outlook sync
however kills this phone for business use. In this day and age having
to use outlook web access from a mobile device is simply not acceptable.
Wish I'd stuck with my old phone. Rating:
Reviewed by ilz from london on
4th Jan 2010
this phone have everything i need but its abit too big to fit in
my pocket Rating:
Reviewed by Rochelle from London on
27th Dec 2009
This gadget is totally not suitable for teenagers like me.I mean
the the battery life only last for not more than 4 hours if listening
to songs or capture picture. Its just an utterly useless phone.This
phone is not recommended. Rating:
Reviewed by Dee from London on
19th Dec 2009
Worse phone ever. Have had it for 2months now. Looks good but is
absolutely awful. Dont recommend anybody to buy it. Battery life
last tops 3 hours, speaker on phone & handsfree always play up.
The phone is just totally rubbish. THE G1 IS A COMPLETE AND UTTER
FLOP! Rating:
Reviewed by kevin from London on
14th Dec 2009
This is one ugly phone. You can not pull this out in public its
embarrasing. Seriously, dont buy it. Rating:
Reviewed by Thabang from Cardiff, UK
on 10th Dec 2009
Got the G1 and im on tmobile. This phone is awesome, love it to
bits, the battery life is poor but still i have never had such a
wonderful phone. All the applications, the android market, amazing.
Its giving a giving my ipod touch more room on the back bench Rating:
Reviewed by gary from america on
20th Nov 2009
Personally you did not do all of your researching. The g1 may not
come with all of your features u wanted it to right out of the box.
BUT it has an app market obviously which cupcake released many versions
of video recording apps. Which the g1 works we'll with. And there
as been 4+ different ones. Each one correcting flaws from the last.
Before u know it your g1 can have everything u need it to have.
Please don't be stero typical and be ungrateful of a phone that
doesn't water ur plants for you. Or have breakfast waiting by ur
bedside in the morning. App friendly phones allow u to get what
u want. Allowing "your phone" to be "your phone" my g1 records video.
It has auto rotate for the screen it has a touch screen keyboard.
And many other features. And no signs of slowing or crashing. Keep
up the work. Just look more into things before posting ur reviews.
Thanx. Happy g1 customer. Rating:
Reviewed by Steven G from UK on
16th Nov 2009
I've had my G1 for a year now, and have been using smartphones and
pdas for many years. There's a lot to like about it. Just operating
as a phone, it does a great job. Easy to navigate your contacts,
and then to email, phone, or sms them. Nice intuitive interface
for getting around. It has lots of features including 3G, B/T, Wifi,
Accelerometer, Electronic Compass, Assisted GPS, Real Keyboard,
480x320 Touchscreen, 3 mpixel camera, trackball, mini-usb port,
removable battery, micro-sd slot, proper multi-tasking. Love the
gmail integration. Add a new contact on gmail, and it is on your
phone in a minute or two, likewise the other way round. The email
client works very well (I have it working with imap, 2x pop3, gmail
accounts). The Android Market is great. Lots of really good applications
(and many of them free). AndNAV2, Places Directory, Shazam, ConnectBot,
Weather, Shopping, Games, all bases covered! I'll finish off with
some of the not-so-wonderful things. The battery life is acceptable,
but it 'could' have been better (Still it is better than the iPhone).
It isn't as much of a looker as the iPhone, although it does have
extras which the iPhone doesn't (e.g. keyboard, remove battery,
etc). T-mobile reception is a bit hit and miss. Some menus and options
are hard to find. Rating:
Reviewed by duana from uk on
7th Nov 2009
It is quite good but i dont know how to get the bluetooth to work,
good storage sapce, it is like a brick though, but good camera! Rating:
Reviewed by sandy from usa on
1st Nov 2009
horrible experience - nothing but problems - had to harass tmobile
to finally replace it then the new one has the same problems. Wasted
money and had to change to att so lost money on phone and contract.
DO NOT GET A G1 FROM TMOBILE!!!!! Rating:
Reviewed by Alice from England on
1st Nov 2009
it is alright, its worser than Nokia. the appearance looks nice
with a cool keyboard but the battery is TERRIBLE. The camera is
rubbish and the volume sucks. SORRY but its true...i would recommend
this phone to people who dont really care about the negetive points
i've made otherwise dont buy it! Rating:
Reviewed by paul beattie from Liverpool
UK on 31st Oct 2009
iv had google g1 for a month, only prob is batt life is rubbish
but it does all i need so im v.happy with it and the apps are getting
better..... (even me best mate got one and hes over moon too! only
phone illl trade mine in 4 is an iphone but cant afford one so ill
happily keep this 1!!!! Rating:
Reviewed by Denise from USA on
30th Oct 2009
There is nothing else to say except I LOVE MY G1. The battery life
isn't great, but what internet phones battery is? None that I have
run into yet! There is a pdf viewer that is free to download from
the Android market FYI. I am NOT disappointed and when and if this
phone has lived it's life, I will upgrade to a new G1. ;) Rating:
Reviewed by tom from england on
28th Oct 2009
had it for a year. and i am so dissapointed. battery life is just
horrible. having to restart the phone to get 3g signal. no 3.5mm
jack. and the phone is getting sent back to get repaired again.
no sound through the earpiece again. Rating:
Reviewed by ryan from leeds, UK on
17th Oct 2009
The phone sucks, yeah it might have a qwerty keyboard, but that's
about all its good for. The battery is terrible, internet dosent
always work as intended, overall a very very terrible poor excuse
as a phone Rating:
Reviewed by kat from uk on 15th
Oct 2009
too bulky but overall good :) Rating:
Reviewed by Andrew from UK on
12th Oct 2009
May I suggest your G1 review of a year ago needs updating to take
account of the phone's software update back in May. It now has a
video camera, touchscreen (in portrait and landscape, faster browser
and improved battery life. It is effectively the same as the HTC
Magic which you give one more star (4 as opposed to 3). The only
difference between the devices is that the G1 also has a physical
keyboard and is thus heavier. You could argue it's uglier but that
is a matter of opinion – the fact that the Magic only comes
in white limits its aesthetic appeal somewhat. So come on Ed, why
the glaring inconsistency? Rating:
Reviewed by scott from uk on
11th Oct 2009
I do love my g1 phone but there are a few problems that do occur
with this phone, the main 1 being that it does not take a lot for
the phone to break for example i accidently dropped the phone from
my pocket within 1 week off of getting it and as a result it broke
and did not work, lucky for me i was still within the guarentee
from the shop i bought it from so a replacement was given to me
free of charge, so no problems for a few month and then shock horror
i dropped it again this time from only 6 to 12 inch from the ground
and as a result a massive crack has appeared on my screen this has
been a major annouyance to me. Second problem has to be the battery
life, seems to want to run out in the middle of imporatant calls
or web browsing, and also the video downloads are frankly naff,
with videos taking forever to download, very much a bit of a dissapointment
but like any new type of phone give it a bit of time or wait for
a better upgrade to come out. Rating:
Reviewed by Holly from Uk on
9th Oct 2009
Well, At first i thought. Wow! Touch screen, Keboard and internet
and then after a few weeks it all goes wrong. Internet didn't work
no bluetooth. Worst fun ever and I haven't even had it a month.
Don't get it!!! Rating:
Reviewed by Jayde from england on
30th Sep 2009
I have the white g1 I love it and hate it I'm on my second one already
after getting it in may and its speaker has just broken 2 days ago
so making calls is not possible I've decided to part ways with tmobile
and google perhaps when they make a better phone ill be interested
untill then sucks to be you. Rating:
Reviewed by Danii from England on
21st Sep 2009
Worst Phone I've Had!! I hate it! Don't buy it! You can't hear anything
on the phone and when I took it to the shop they said there's nothing
they can do! It sqeaks all the time and the camera is really bad
.. no zoom, light change settings ... the only thing you can change
about the camera is the shutter sound! Over all I hate this phone
it said internet phone but the internet is slow and won't let you
on half the sites ... Don't Buy It! Rating:
Reviewed by ryan! from Scotlad on
11th Sep 2009
G1 is the best! im on it just now writing this :-d , i love everything
about it . apart from the blue tooth situation ! its amazing , so
easy to type with and so easy to use , 5 starss :D Rating:
Reviewed by j deno from england on
7th Sep 2009
G1 is the best phone out there I'm on it now writing this!! I have
had it for 3 months its crazy good can't believe it got 3 stars
its better than the I phone and the htc magin the vodaphone 1 yer
boiiiii Rating:
Reviewed by Stephen from America on
5th Sep 2009
I am stunned you just ranked the Google G1 only 3 stars! It deserves
5. i have a white G1 and it is brilliant! You're just an iPhone
lover who just sees phones that are BETTER than that bit of overpriced
trash as inferior. The g1 is the best phone there is. The Android
market place might not have as many apps, but that because its new.
[Editor's reply: Well, Stephen, we rated the iphone 3 stars too,
so perhaps you should check some facts before you start criticising
people. :) Glad you like your G1 though.] Rating:
Reviewed by Chiva from England on
2nd Sep 2009
I love this phone! I have had an iphone and enjoyed it. But I would
take the G1 any day. The big advantage is that you can get all the
applications you need for nothing. Browsers, media players, ebooks
and readers, PDF viewers, Beebplayer (live BBC TV and radio channels
and the programmes you like to watch again), as well as all the
games you will ever need. If one of these apps is updated the phone
tells you and you can download the new version in a minute. There
are however two issues that need to be addressed. The camera is
average at best. Videos come out grainy and photos are average quality.
The other problem is the battery life. It is pathetic. However you
can buy a better battery which cures the power problem. All in all
I love it and will stick to google android phones when I get my
upgrades. Rating:
Reviewed by nfudc from london on
1st Sep 2009
big uglu bulky, Rating:
Reviewed by Nicola from London on
18th Aug 2009
I simply love this phone, it does everything you need a phone to
do and more what with all the apps at your disposal. The internet
speed is the best I've experienced on a phone. The one thing however
that bothers me is the terrible loadspeaker volume. Rating:
Reviewed by Daniel iii from United States
on 2nd Aug 2009
i have never seen so many people in love with a phone in my life.
some of the very things you point out as shortcoming of the g1 are
true about the iphone as well. for some reason you fail to mention
that in your so called review. this review is more criticism from
an obvious iphone lover. it is amazing to read all the negative
comments in an so called neutral perspective. [Editor's reply: We've
reviewed over 500 phones in the past ten years and have been rude
about every manufacturer, including Apple. What's your problem?] Rating:
Reviewed by Frank from Singapore on
4th Jul 2009
I love this phone. My previous phones were symbian nokia e71 and
Moto Q9h with (with nasty WinMo). The Android (linux) OS is excellent,
very fluid and intuitive. Yes the hardware looks like it is from
1995. Battery life is abysmal but I have overcome somewhat by plugging
the USB charger into my laptop whenever I am at my computer, which
is 90% of my waking time. I originally did not want the keyboard
but I have grown to like it though it is no match for the Q9H. I
upgraded to Android 1.5 (cupcake) and the speed of the browser is
much improved. At 1/3 the price of the Iphone with 85% of the features
I think this phone is a great value and alternative. Rating:
Reviewed by pecsi from england on
20th Jun 2009
I am so upset at t mobile right now.You see i went out to by the
G1 today went to t mobile in southall(dont go there its terrible
it says starline at the front)to get the combi35 plan thats £30
a month but i did not want to put the t mobile sim in the G1 i wanted
to put a pay as you go one in there . I had no idea that i would
have to unlock it nor did the man.I bought the phone and tried to
put my pay as you go sim in there and it was not responsive when
i tried to sign in to my gmail account so i took it back and got
a blackberry curve best decision i ever made now my life is in order
and so are all my emails.but can someone tell me how to unlock the
g1 because my niece wants one. Rating:
Reviewed by Andrew Nickerson from UK
on 16th Jun 2009
I came to the end of my last contract and fully intended to get
an iphone. I was, however, really put off by the price of the iphone.
I don't know why, but I went into T-mobile. There, I was offered
the G1, 800mins and unlimited texts and internet for £30 a month
- far, far cheaper than the iphone. On top of that, the advisor
gave me a free headset as well. The phone is incredibly simple to
use, and what I thought would be it's biggest failing is actually
it's biggest strength. The qwerty keyboard is very simple and easy
to use, and as a frequent internet browser, am pleased to say the
phone is the iphone's equal in every way (I own an ipod touch).
The apps store has some very, very useful apps and more are added
at all times. In short, this comes highly recommended as a cheaper
alternative to the iphone. If, like me, you didn't want to spend
a lot of money on a phone, but still wanted something that could
do the things an iphone could do, then you could do far worse than
invest in this. Rating:
Reviewed by Richie from UK on
7th Jun 2009
I have had the phone for a week now and I can’t just put it
down! I chose the phone because I read about the cupcake updates
and I am glad I did. In the light of the new cupcake updates, I
think the Mobile Phone UK review should be updated. For example,
the ability to now record video. The android market applications
are awesome. I tried the G1 and the iphone, compared the network
tariffs and to me G1 makes more sense. I settled for the G1 despite
its brick like appearance and lack of good look. I am loving it!!! Rating:
Reviewed by david from uk on
28th May 2009
I love this phone, it does everything short of making the tea. The
application has plenty, maybe not quite in the volume of the i-store.
This is by far the best phone I have had in terms of transferring
files to/from a computer. The keyboard is excellecent. The trackerball
is really useful, every phone should have one. The battery life
is poor if you leave all the functions on, eg bluetooth,gps,3G etc.
You will really appreciate the true value of this phone if you read
the manual and gather tips from the various forum. I guess there
are better mobiles out there vut you could do at lot worse than
the G1 Rating:
Reviewed by Diana from Usa on
25th May 2009
The G1 is great if you're ok with no virtual keyboard, a mediocre
camera and don't mind charging it often. Other than those three
issues (which can be fixed or over-looked), it's an incredible device.
It's quick, offers an excellent browsing experience, is highly customizable
and seems more stable than my Windows Mobile phones. I'm pleased
with the G1 and feel after a few updates it will become the best
smart phone I've ever used. Rating:
Reviewed by lisa from america on
18th May 2009
worst phone ever Rating:
Reviewed by Microstar from UK on
13th May 2009
I've had this phone a few months now and overall I'm very pleased
with it. There are a few flaws, but its easy to use, internet works
well and I find my Googlemail (with calender etc.) very useful.
There is a little application that synchronises my Googlemail with
Outlook, so I an keep up with all my work appointments. Battery
life was a big problem - however I purchased a double-capacity battery
and T-mobile refunded me the money! So no complaints there. With
the high capacity battery it will run for a couple of days of normal
use. Rating:
Reviewed by gavin bradbury from england
on 12th May 2009
I find this phone to be ab fab. Best phone I have ever had. Rating:
Reviewed by Latesnoozer13 from USA on
9th May 2009
Okay, well first off I love this phone it is amaizing!!!! You get
free wifi, apps and games. I have experienced with a lot of Tmobile
phone such as the Sidekick Lx, Sidekick 2008, Samsung gravity, and
the Blackberry Curve. Out of all of these this one is my favorite
by far... heck im even writting this now on my g1! I would definatley
recomend this phone for teenagers and maybe even a few adults. GREAT
PHONE Rating:
Reviewed by Paul F from UK on
8th May 2009
What a fantastic device...cupcake update has improved the phone
even more - I have had all the best phones and like to change them
often, last one was an HTC Touch Pro which was very nice but dogged
with poor sound, this one however has great sound...loud too, has
an application for just about everything most of which are free
on Android market..i cant praise this device enough and dont think
i will be replacing this for a while...it can only get better!!
and yes i have had an iphone .... all just hype....Android is the
future in my opinion - more open source please.... Rating:
Reviewed by Emma 14 Years Old from England,Hastings
on 30th Apr 2009
I Have had alot of phones within competition of th T-Mobile G1,
i started with blackberry curve okay, apple iphone impressive i
guess, HTC touch HD and now the G1 to be honest out of all of them
this has got to be my winner im thrilled to bits with this device,
well done google, keep it up! Rating:
Reviewed by donna from uk on
15th Apr 2009
What can i say, i love this phone. After loads of problems with
my w910i this phone is ace. I sit for age and play on the free games
downloaded from the android market, just the phone if your board.
Downloaded some great soundboards from southpark, Mr T to family
guy! The battery isnt brill but just charge it on a night, it will
last through the day. Its great, although not too good in the pocket!!
Defo recommend this phone. Rating:
Reviewed by jeff from usa on
14th Apr 2009
Here's what sux about this phone: no multitouch, no autorotate,
no dedicated headphone port, no video recorder and the anemic battery
life (there are double life batteries available with replacement
back covers but it makes a monster out of the phone) having said
that, Everything else seems to be great. And the fact that its tied
to gmail and google calender is a bonus for me as a small business
owner. I am not a fan of apple poducts and hate they way they control
their customers so for me, this is the next best thing to an iphone.
Rating:
Reviewed by Caz Buckland.. from England
on 12th Apr 2009
This phone is brilliant. It does everything you need it to do, and
much, much more. You can download for free pretty much any application
you can think of from the android market, and as soon as you've
got to grips with the way the phone works and how to deal with shortcuts
etc, anything is possible. The battery life is a let down, but as
previously said, I put my phone on charge overnight, and take it
off the next morning. It will work fine all day.. admittedly it
may be running low by the evening but it will last, and then I can
charge it again. It all depends on how much you use the internet/applications
etc, and I use them regularly throughout the day. The camera is
actually pretty decent, although I have a digital camera which,
surprisingly enough, is designed for taking pictures, and therefore
I don't need to use my phone. The phone is heavy, but this doesn't
really bother me, and I don't notice it. In my opinion, this is
a great phone, does everything you could want it to do, and I highly
recommend it. Rating:
Reviewed by Nigel from UK on
7th Apr 2009
I am hugely sorry to report that the G1 in my view is a hugely flawed
phone. Here are some of the problems with it: 1. The battery life
is rediculously short and you find yourself planning your day around
where you can plug in your charger. 2. The volume knob (which controls
the ringing volume, etc) sits exactly where you want to hold the
phone when in portrait mode which means that it is far too easy
to accidentally switch the ringer off. 3. The processor is slow.
A friend of mine came round with his iPhone the other day and I
was amazed how he could zip around between applications - MILES
faster than I can on the G1 or my old Blackberry. 4. I find the
interface incredibly non-intuitive. It's as if it's a first beta
version. I can't go into why - there are just so many examples of
where you want to do something - like text someone who has just
rung you - and there is no way to do it. I find that you have to
have a pen and paper handy to copy numbers down. 5. The camera is
blurry and really not worth having. 6. There is no Flash plugin
for the browser which means that many websites don't work properly.
7. The calendar is limited and can't synchronise properly with my
Lotus Notes calendar because it doesn't have different types of
calendar entry. I could go on... I am very sorry I got this phone
because now I'm stuck with it for 1.5 years :-( Rating:
Reviewed by Rob Lavender from England
on 6th Apr 2009
This is a brilliant phone. I've had it for a month now, and have
struggled to put it down. The Android Market is great, and it's
faultless in almost all other aspects. I've seen a lot of reviews
slamming it's size, but I've got to say I've just come back from
a spell in that technological Mecca Tokyo and their phones are all
getting back to about the size of the G1. Better to have a nice
big screen, a full QWERTY keyboard and loads of features than a
stylish-but-insubstantial smaller phone. The other downsides ? poor
battery life and camera ? I'm inclined to agree with, however it's
just not an issue with me. I put it on to charge when I go to sleep
and it's fine all the next day ? I don't stay awake for 48hrs any
more, so I don't mind if my phone doesn't either. And I have a digital
camera which I use for taking pictures ? so I can live without my
old Cybershot phone. I'd pick the G1 over the i-Phone, or any other
phone, any day of the week. Rating:
Reviewed by Felix from The United Kingdom
on 3rd Apr 2009
Despite what the 1 star reviews say this phone is not "poor" and
nor is it a waste of money. Having got mine today I was generally
impressed and especially with the web browser and amount of apps.
The iphone does apparently have over 15,000 apps but let me say
that the Gphone, has quite a few itself and shouldn't be knocked
for that. It has everything from Facebook and Meebo to Doom and
Pac-man. Let's be fair, it's the first version of the phone and
from here on in it can only get better! Bluetooth isn't really essential
for my usage so it's not something I will greatly miss. As for the
video, well, you can even download an app for that too! Rating:
Reviewed by jack oldbury blud from englaaaaaannnnnddddddd
blud on 23rd Mar 2009
this phone is realy good guys ask kids at school and thy will tell
you if it is good or not but i think this is realy good its got
all the thing i need and want Rating:
Reviewed by CJ from Scotland on
22nd Mar 2009
I love my white G1. The battery life is poor but that is due to
it's constant connection online. Downloading power saver app doubled
the life though. Every new phone release will have teething problems
but with the Android market on this phone solutions can be quickly
implemented. It is dissapointing that there is no video or bluetooth
feature but I only really used it for tunes which I can download
using an app. Overall I think it is a great phone and have already
reccomended it to many of my friends. Rating:
Reviewed by H from Scotland on
16th Mar 2009
I have upgraded to the G1 from a Blacberry Curve and I think the
handset is fantastic. I was a bit concerned about the size but it
really isn't as big as you imagine and fits in your hand easily.
The Android Applications, Maps, Location Services etc are all first
class. My wife has the iPhone and while that is good the G1 feels
better in my opinion and not as fiddly. I always take stock of these
reviews and was a bit concerned by some reports but I'm really glad
I went for this. Rating:
Reviewed by Emily 14 yr old from London
on 12th Mar 2009
I Bought this phone i had a blackberry in pink but i grew bored
and i felt it was too buisnessy for a teenager so i looked towards
the T mobile G1.I like it, its okay.I think i would have done better
with an iphone but my dad has one and he has alot of problems with
that. I like the features of the G1 i think the battery life is
a little slow though- none the less i think its an amazing phone. Rating:
Reviewed by joanna from scotland on
9th Mar 2009
I've actually wrote a review before as readers would see but I think
the fact I'm writing another review is a testament to the phone
as I have said before I always find something new in the applications
and believe me I've found a few gems like android tunes, all the
chartmusic loaded direct to your phone to keep that you can also
email on to someone else and if you love music like me the amount
of money saved with this also if you turn off the wifi which you
don't need with the web n walk plus it saves significantly on the
battery this phone just never ends with new applications being added
all the time and with its release in europe there's just more and
more and also a lot of help no doubt ill be back with another review
again. Enjoy!!! Rating:
Reviewed by John Aston from England
on 8th Mar 2009
As loads of people have already mentioned, the battery life is rubbish.
Also, I can't connect to anything with Bluetooth - my PC will pair
with it but cannot send anything. Camera is poo ( no flash ! ) ...
But apart from all that, I love it !!! I haven't got anywhere near
to all the apps. yet but the ones I have used are really good. Rating:
Reviewed by Shabana from UK on
2nd Mar 2009
Ian Berry you hit the nail on the head. Adeel, get rid of your Nokia
Loona and buy a G1. The possibilities are endless. Anybody else
experiencing problems with voice calls? Friends are not able to
hear me at times, it cuts out now and again. Rating:
Reviewed by ian berry from england on
1st Mar 2009
its big its ugly and has teething problems BUT I LOVE IT and here
is why 1,its not an iPHONE 2,the internet capabilities are staggering
3,the qwerty keypad is so easy to use 4,no1 i have met has it 5,the
android market applications are an abundance of choice,some quirky,some
useless,some absolutely essential such as TEXT EASY,the potential
for the OPEN SOURCE applications are mind boggling 6,ITS NOT AN
iPHONE Rating:
Reviewed by Adeel from UK on
27th Feb 2009
Guys save yourself the trouble, don't buy this phone. As we say
in punjabi, this phone is bakwaas!! Rating:
Reviewed by Shabana from uk on
26th Feb 2009
Genius!!! Rating:
Reviewed by alex noble from uk on
23rd Feb 2009
i love the g1 but i wish it had a 5 megapixle camera and if it could
record videos that would be amazing but you should allow it on o2
then more people will buy it Rating:
Reviewed by ryan from ENGLANDDDDD on
20th Feb 2009
AFTER THE DISMAL SONY Z160 OR WHATEVER IT IS CALLED I WENT FOR THIS
PHONE AFTER IT WAS RECOMMENED YES ITS HARD TO USE AND NOT THE PRETTIEST
PHONE GOING BUT WHO CARES. IT HAS A PERSONalioty and is so reliable
its unreal! not a problem i want a g2 when its out Rating:
Reviewed by Daniel white from uk on
17th Feb 2009
I had such high hopes for this phone and at first I loved it, but
even my love for all things google can stop the sinking feeling
I got from the use of this phone. Plus points Its a good phone,
love the market place, nice layout so much potential Bad points
very poor battery life maybe 9 hours standby , the camera is total
rubbish even for 3mp its dire in any conditions other than direct
sun light, also signal is non existent prob due to the choice of
T-mobile in the uk which I have always found to be bad. I am taking
mine back I am so disappointed Rating:
Reviewed by billy from florida on
17th Feb 2009
i have the phone its an awesome phone i think its the best phone
out the iphone is okay and the 3g sucks i recomened the g1 Rating:
Reviewed by John Langston from UK on
15th Feb 2009
I dont currently own the g1 although we have just got it in where
i work. from what i have seen i am very impressed to what it can
acheive with the free applications although i am slightly put off
by the fact it has no protection from viruses when using customized
applications. i really couldnt afford to lose all my contacts or
messages just to get a mr T voice application. we have alot of information
on its plus points and how to sell it over the iphone, and to be
honest it for me is on par if not slightly better. what makes the
iphone good is replicated in the g1. BUT they never tell you what
it doesnt have and to be honest im just as happy with my Tocco.
my view wait a bit longer till the next 1 comes out when the improve
those glitches Rating:
Reviewed by Miss Dee from United Kingdom
on 15th Feb 2009
Best phone I've ever owned! Was recommended to me as a replacement
for the Blackberry Curve (which I couldn't figure out how to use,
now put up with paying an extra £5 a month to receive emails!).
I absolutely LOVE it! I set up a gmail account & there you go, free
emailing once you've completed set up - have 2 different email account
running on it at the moment. User interface looks great and pretty
straight forward & easy to master. Loads of interesting applications
to download (even managed to download an application so you get
an on screen keyboard for texting, rather than having to keep sliding
it open). Keyboard is good layout & easy to use - my friends keep
moaning that I respond to quickly to texts lol. No problems with
crashing etc. Only bug is the battery life, but went out & bought
a car charger so I'm never left in the lurch now ;-). Very eye catching
phone, have been stopped on a number of occasions with people drooling
over the phone and wanting one themselves :- )! No problems browsing
the internet either, no pages too big or small - THIS PHONE IS NOW
MY NEW BEST FRIEND!!! Rating:
Reviewed by Martin Power from United
Kingdom on 9th Feb 2009
Further to my initial opinion's on 07 Jan 2009. The phone is holding
up well. Had to get decent case as it is a scratch magnet and do
not want to be petrified of putting it in my pocket. The phone itself
continues to perform well in every aspect except and this is the
killer the battery which depite some initial improvments after week
1 are now awful. If you use the phone to any great degree then the
batery barely lasts 12 hours which I am sorry T-Mob and HTC is just
unacceptable. I will due to contractual obligations soldier on for
the next 7-8 months but then will look to nget out around month
10 unless the sugested firmware improves the situation. The O/S
is great and looks to have the potential to be everything the iphone
is not but the app market needs to improve very quickly and get
some decent apps out there for video - Core player or Divx anyone??
as short of arnie sounds and fart apps it is a little bare. Here's
hoping for the future Rating:
Reviewed by Arby from Scotland,UK on
8th Feb 2009
Ive had the G1 couple of months now,iam very happy,and ive had alot
of phones over the years,lol.It does everything i want,its easy
to text,good call quality,loads of free apps and the android system
can only get better and better.Were not getting the promised Cupcake
upgrade,but who knows,it still might come.Tmobile are bringing out
there own upgrade,anyday now.The battery could be better,Tmobile
in the usa even gave some people a better one as a free upgrade,but
not in the UK,lol.If you add the free Power manager app,it lasts
alot longer,sometimes i even get 3 days,before it needs charging,but
does me.All and all iam very happy,(ive even stopped looking for
a better phone) now. Rating:
Reviewed by Russell from England on
7th Feb 2009
I received this phone as a "freebie" through work so I could convince
all of my colleagues how awesome it is, so they would sell it. It
is an awful product, it feels cheap, it looks terrible, it's far
too heavy and drains the battery in record time. Since I have it
for free, I'll use it and save my own phone allowance whilst at
work but I really don't rate it highly at all. The only cool feature
is the barcode scanner which works randomly. A huge disappointment.
Rating:
Reviewed by anette grimes from usa on
7th Feb 2009
Got a g1 phone for my birthday and I hate the phone. Camera is awful
to bulky and akward have 2 use both hands to operate keyboard. Very
small key board. I wouldn't recommend this phone at all. Rating:
Reviewed by Gavin Dickinson from England
on 2nd Feb 2009
I agree with your initial statment. The G1 one is a "beta"phone
and I have just sent mine back. It does hardly anything promised
by the network and I am not prepared to wait until an unspecified
date for the release of software. Hopfully it will prove to be a
good phone but I cannot see it rivalling the Iphone. May be wrong,
hope I am not as I have not got one now Rating:
Reviewed by Ian from UK on 2nd
Feb 2009
I have had this phone about 2 months now after having a T-Mobile
Vario2. Good Fantastic HD Touch Screen (one of the best ive used).
Free apps that are mostly very good. Internet Browser Bad. Battery
life (awful). Unable to link up to anything via Bluetooth except
handsfree devices. Calendar / Organiser not as customisable as WM5
or 6 devices. The above review is spot on and says it all. I like
this phone but i think i should have gone for the HTC Touch HD or
new Blackberry tbh. Rating:
Reviewed by Josh from South Wales on
31st Jan 2009
This phone is like my new best friend! I have text messaging to
text my friends, 800 minutes worth of calls, a camera to take pictures
of those unforgettable nights, internet to socialice with my friends
on bebo & facebook, music player so I can have Lady Gaga loud 'n
proud and loads of fun applications to play around with, plus....
it looks HOT and everyone is jellin Xoxo Rating:
Reviewed by Zoe from Engerland on
30th Jan 2009
As many reviewers have said, battery life is abysmal. I can check
my email etc, or I can talk/text people, but it seems I can't do
both without charging midday. That said, I love the fact that I
no longer have to take my laptop with me everywhere I go to keep
tabs on who's talking to me. So despite my earlier concerns, I'm
planning to stick with this, though I hope T-Mobile will SERIOUSLY
look at the battery prob. I almost feel as though I should be carrying
a separate phone for calling, which frankly, just ain't on. Rating:
Reviewed by murat from england on
28th Jan 2009
its very good phone Rating:
Reviewed by Russ from UK on 25th
Jan 2009
First of all I had my doubts about this. It feels rather plastic
and cheap, as if Google rushed it out, and I think they did. It
comes with a 2gb memory card which was nice but getting the back
off to insert the battery and sim card was (and still) a nightmare.
It's NOT the brick everyone says it is. True it's bigger and heavier
than many handsets but so are most phones with these capabilities.
The camera isn't the best but it does have autofocus and the trick
is not to just press and shoot but hold down the button until it
focuses *then* take the shot. As long as it's in good daylight it
will come out ok. People complain about no predictive text - but
it has a qwerty keyboard, why would it need it?? The touchscreen
is good, no complaints there. GPS works well (I managed to get a
signal indoors) and it helped me find a particular shop in Birmingham
when I was lost - it showed me I was 2 streets away, very good.
Loads of good applications and I love the way texts messages are
stacked so each 'conversation' is like an msn chat. Battery life
is a letdown but if you completely discharge it and charge it up
for 6 hours (or overnight) with the phone off, after 3 or 4 days
it becomes ok although is a double power battery available from
some sites. Call quality is fine. All in all I'm happy with it but
would have been more impressed if the build quality was better.
One or 2 things have been left out (it needs an on-screen keyboard
and video capture) but apparently the new software update will address
these and other issues. Rating:
Reviewed by Carlo from England on
22nd Jan 2009
This phone is Tacky save your money and get a Samsung Omnia or Blackberry
or even an iPhone, the G1 just doesnt compare to either of them...
its bad. Battery life is awful, having said that this isn't a business
phone so perhaps you shouldnt really expect it to compare favourably
with the afore mentioned handsets...possibly kids will like it,
have my doubts about adults, I've already given it to my niece. Rating:
Reviewed by joanna from scotland on
20th Jan 2009
I really do love my g1 and I am addicted to the web so am constantly
browsing, I love networking and the camera I really do miss the
flash to post my photos on line. I love the free games the free
applications everyday I look and there's something else for me to
do. I actually would never go back to 'regular' phone I would miss
the QWERTY keypad so much and I'm not a very technical person never
really been interested in the full works before as long as I could
call txt browse I was happy but since the g1 I'm never off the phone
I'm learning loads. Emailing which was literaly 2 steps to set up
and believe me if I can do it anyone can. The google maps are bang
on (certainly everywhere I've travelled) Battery life yes Ill admit
not great If I'm working an 8 hour shift and am only making the
odd call the phone will last but till I get home to charge again
if your browsing you do need the charger which I think its easier
for girls we can stick the charger in our bags guys can hardly walk
about with a charger in there pocket all day. Other than that love
it Rating:
Reviewed by Martha Honey xxx from England
x on 14th Jan 2009
hey , dontttt buyy dis fone pweaz x Rating:
Reviewed by Martin Power from United
Kingdom on 7th Jan 2009
I got the G1 on a 12 month deal with T-Mobile in the UK. The phone
system and the android operating system are great and android definitely
has a future and I can see it coming out on multiple platforms and
then future handsets will determine your preferences. The handset
looks beter in the hand than it does in any of the pictures or blogs
and the white version does sem more sturdy and professional whereas
the black - well looks a little rubbery!! The only gripes I have
are well known: 1. The lack of video is a missed opportunity, but
redeemable via firmware upgrade and that is not along term problem.
2. The lack of a good standard video player I think is really unforgiveable
and to say leave it to the market does miss the point. Yes use the
market but to get a better or more dynamic version but not to get
a version full stop - Poor Google Poor! 3. Battery life is poor
but does improve over the course of the first week and I can now
get 2 days with 3g on with no problems. I shut off the wifi and
gps unless needed. But I had a N95 before and the battery life on
that was always poor but it did not stop it from becoming a future
cult device. I generally think favourably regarding the handset.
It is not a business focussed handset and the lack of an exchange
client can be problematic for some but if google is your thing then
the ability to manage mail, messaging, contacts and calendars and
music is a great convergence divice and for changing the market
and offering choice I think it is to be recommended for all users
who want something a little different. Sure the G1 will be history
in 12-18 months but then hey so are the rest of the mobile devices
which are new until the next new thing. Rating:
Reviewed by Peter G. from USA on
5th Jan 2009
I retain my rating, however after a week of using it, I just CANNOT
put up with the horrible battery life..ended up sending it back.
I guess maybe tmobile will send a spare battery if they were complained
to, but im not much on the side of switching batteries in the middle
of a day. Consider that before purchasing it. Will attempt getting
a BOLD and if not, then a Storm. Rating:
Reviewed by Tony from UK on 4th
Jan 2009
Was going to switch from T-mobile to get an iphone but was persuaded
to give the G1 a go. I like the phone but sadly it was very bad
at keeping a signal, it would lose a signal altogether then had
to be reset to regain it's signal. I recieved replacements from
T-mobile, altogther I had three of these, they all had the same
problem! It's a shame coz it seemed like a useful but of kit. I
had a HTC Vario II up till now, but I will have to get a new iphone
until they develop the android phones a bit more. T-mobile service
was good though. Rating:
Reviewed by Peter G from USA on
31st Dec 2008
At first experience I ABSOLUTELY LOVE this phone. The touchscreen
is nicely responsive and I love the fact that theres a home screen
but you can also drag your home page to the right,,which unveils
an empty page (much like an empty part of a desktop) where you can
place shortcuts for many of the things you acess often. Using it
as a phone gives off no problems and the browser is very good (almost
on par with the iphone but not quite). The trackwheel is very good
(better than all the blackberry ones..curve/pearl/8220/8820 and
etc). The cool things come once you download some of the FREE apps
offered for this phone (all of the barcode scanning apps are not
all that precise but sometimes may become useful and are fun) plus
Shazam is very good at recognizing music (even unregistered tracks
from unregistered mixes) and for some reason apple is advertising
this music recognizing feature in their iphone commercials, but
don't be fooled, it's available to all. And there are probably a
couple hundred free apps for downloading so there's a lot of entertainment
value here. Plus YouTube is on par with the IPhone. Now onto the
negative, the GPS is sub-par and rarely recognizes EXACTLY where
you are and street view is available in too few places. The battery
life is really bad (even without activating the GPS sattelites,
which further drains it). The camera just does not feel like it's
3.2 mp, it looks very VGAish. It's nice that you can dial a phone
number on the touchscreen but it would have been nice to have the
ability to type some things on the touchscreen as well. It's quite
annoying having to flip the screen EVERYTIME you have to type something,
especially if you are on the browser and you want to quickly go
to a url (id rather type NBA.com on the screen than have to flip
the screen open). All the rest of the things you guys mentioned
up there, no MMS video capabilities, no syncing with PC or a Mac,
no T9. and the back that the phone is very heavy. Nevertheless it's
a fun device to have but overall I would agree with the 3 star rating. Rating:
Reviewed by Ez from UK on 23rd
Dec 2008
Guys, you can get most of the things you've been talking about on
the Android Market! MP3 ringtones...try Ringdroid, you can also
download a video player and an on-screen keyboard if you really
want one! So look on your phone before complaining lol! Like 'medbag'
said, T-Mobile are giving a free 8GB sandisk card with the phone,
so who needs more in-built memory? Rating:
Reviewed by Francis from UK on
16th Dec 2008
Definitely not a business tool as there is no activesync, no USB
cradle connection, no MS Office functionality (OK you can read but
can't edit), no automatic synchronisation with outlook or outlook
express (so there go your contacts and calendar) and emails only
work with a Googlemail account not POP3 or Imap. As T-Mobile only
have this phone currently I've sent mine back and am researching
alternate networks for an HTC Touch HD - looks like I'm off to Orange
or Vodafone after having 3 simultaneous monthly contracts with T-Mobile
for the last 10 years. Rating:
Reviewed by medbag from UK on
15th Dec 2008
hmmmmm, dire camera, well most people couldnt care less. lack of
memory, t-mobile are giving a free 8gb sandisk card with it. works
fine with my pc too. i love the iphone 3g but love this even more.
feels more open and you just know there are going to massive improvements
in future updates....its google for crying out loud. the actual
hardware is amazing, love the qwerty keyboard. only problem is the
battery life but even that isnt as bad as what most people made
it out to be. Rating:
Reviewed by Jambo from UK on
12th Dec 2008
This phone is excellent, yes it has some downsides but this is its
first incarnation and already there are loads of apps for it. The
touch screen is not quite as funky as the iPhone but it works well
and the keyboard makes this a much better phone for business use
than the iPhone. Its connectivity is excellent with the ability
to connect to most networks type and it is fast All I can say is
wait until they upgrade the OS and then watch it fly. Rating:
Reviewed by Amara from uk on
11th Dec 2008
I have it..and i think its best if u wanna go on the internet all
the time...its a good fone.. Rating:
Reviewed by joker from malasia on
7th Dec 2008
it's just a waste Rating:
Reviewed by Citizendan from Scotland
on 5th Dec 2008
The phone is OK. I got it free as an upgrade whilst downgrading
my T-mobile price plan(!) V. good for texting and accessing the
internet via a ~£5 bolt on. It claims to do mp3 ringtones but this
doesnt seem an option and bit of a bummer. True the camera is dreadful
but its not an option I ever use. Batteruy is weak also but charging
is fast. Rating:
Reviewed by Jorge from USA on
1st Dec 2008
The only true problem with a phone with a phone on such a young
OS is it's battery life that's about it. The Android market will
boom soon and we'll probably be seeing the features missed by google.
the reason for that being this is a bare bones type phone it was
menat for it all the be created by the developers and programmers
of the world. But i'm still hoping for a battery 2.0 [Editor's comment:
Cool idea - buy a phone with missing features, then wait for someone
to develop them.] Rating:
Reviewed by Nick from Scotland on
27th Nov 2008
Simply the best phone I have ever owned. The goodpoints far outway
the bad and the capabilities available are just fantastic. The android
market allows you select your own bolt ons, mostly free as well!!!
Very easy to use and the maps, email and internet are so easy to
use. A big thumbs up. Rating:
Reviewed by brian from uk on
22nd Nov 2008
great for the internet,rubbish camera,battery life terrible,but
a nice looking mobile,i rushed into getting this on pay monthly,and
the keyboard is nifty, Rating:
Reviewed by Adeel akhtar from England
on 20th Nov 2008
i love this 4ne my wife shabnam gifted it 2 me!! I love u shabnam Rating:
Reviewed by Nick from UK on 14th
Nov 2008
I;m amazed that the review above has left out a KEY feature which
is the 'Street view' on the GPS. This will show you images of your
location incase you are really lost. more can be downloaded at any
time. on top of this the touch screen and instant messaging to any
major client such as MSN or Yahoo can be achieved and have been
missed out of the review. How long did this guy spend on the phone???
10 minutes??? the battery life is on par with an N96 which is approx
48 hours. what i will say is that the London Oxford street street
t-mobile store was open at 7am with a que that has started to form
at 5am and by 9am had sold 50 units!!!!!. that many people cant
be wrong!!! also bear in mind that only 10% of the stock ever made
were back so you will most likely get a white one on the downside,
the camera is pathetic, but better than that on the iphone and you
need to sign up to a gmail account to use it. but these are minor
things for someone who wants a fantastic communications or internet
tool! Rating:
Reviewed by George from uk on
10th Nov 2008
Before buying this phone or any other for that matter, really ask
your self what you want your phone for! Personally I want to browse
the internet on my way to work, which is an hour long bus journey.
This is simply the best phone i have ever had for that, leaps and
bounds better than the LG viewty I used to have. I haven't had a
chance to play with an Iphone or Xperia or Storm, but none of them
have a track ball which is easily the best thing about this device.
The only reason as to why this phone isn't perfect, is that text's
can only be written with the flip out keypad meaning you need to
use two hands. A touch screen image of normal phone keys would be
useful! Rating:
Reviewed by deep from this is england
on 10th Nov 2008
phone's good. 3g, querty keyboard ok. also has a great camera with
many application. problems? really needs a good video player. cant
play youtube videos properly Rating:
Reviewed by thomas from uk on
6th Nov 2008
better than the iphone and kicks arse over the buggy n96. applications
are looking better and better, with best to come. buy it!!!!!!! Rating:
The
T-Mobile G1 is the first handset to use Google's Android operating
system. To us, it feels pretty much like a beta release, rather
like the 
