WiMax and HSPA+

You just got used to 3G. Now here comes 4G. New "3G+" and "4G" networks, including Sprint's WiMAX and the T-Mobile's HSPA+ system, bring mobile users Internet speeds that are faster than home cable or DSL. Existing 3G networks, like the ones run by all the major carriers, promise download speeds in the 1-2 Mbps range. That's good enough for Web surfing. But WiMAX, HSPA+, and the LTE systems that Verizon and AT&T are starting to set up are much faster—think 5, 8, 12 or even 21 Mbps, with more to come in the future.

These aren't phone-call networks, though they'll probably make phone calls. Think of them as high-speed Internet pipes into anything you're carrying with you while you're on the move—and potentially, hopefully, competition for the cable/telephone ISP duopoly that holds a death grip on home Internet.

So okay, what do you need all this speed for? It's true that beyond about 2 Mbps, the real difference for basic Web surfing comes in latency—not the time it takes to download parts of a Web page, but the time it takes for the servers to start responding to your request.

Our latency tests on the new networks came in just under 100 milliseconds (ms) for a ping, which is better than older 3Gnetworks (think 120-140 ms) but still much slower than wired networks (10-20 ms) and too slow for applications like multiplayer gaming, according to pingtest.net. Video and large downloads are where you really start to need 4G. According to video-calling provider Fring, it takes a solid 500 Kbps for a good video call. Watching standard-def videos on Hulu requires about 1 Mbps, Watching HD video on Hulu requires about 2.5 Mbps. But here's the thing: streaming things like Hulu and video calls demand that you have a certain quality of connection all the time, and wireless links wobble. Ideally you want to have more speed so that when the link wobbles, it never wobbles below the service's minimum.

In terms of large downloads, an hour-long TV show is usually around 350 MB. Leaving room for some overhead, that takes 45 minutes if you have a one-megabit connection, or a little under 5 minutes if you have a 10- megabit link.—Next: First Comes WiMAX >

Apple iPhoneApple iPhone 3GS (AT&T)
$199-299 list
If you like apps or the Internet, this is a no-brainer. The iPhone 3GS's improved processor and graphics chipset significantly boost the speed of everything from Web browsing to games, cementing the iPhone's role as the nation's most flexible handheld computer. No, it still isn't the world's best phone. But phone service isn't the top reason anyone buys the iPhone, anyway.

BlackBerry Curve 8330RIM Blackberry Curve 8330 (Alltel)
$229.99 - $519.99 list
Ah, the joy of a BlackBerry Curve. One of our favorite smartphones ever, the Curve just works—and that goes for Alltel's model too. It's a great buy for anyone who wants a terrific phone with unparalleled messaging, excellent media features, and a bit of Web thrown into the mix. One complaint, though: Alltel could have done a little more to set its model apart from the pack.

LG Xenon (AT&T) : KeyboardLG Xenon GR500 (AT&T)
$99 direct
This lightweight slider phone is aimed at the texting generation. Unlike many sliders with a QWERTY keyboard, the Xenon is a full-blown touch-screen phone. It's styled to look like a bulky RAZR imitator. The Xenon also offers plenty of music, video, and Web browsing power. At $99 with a two-year contract and mail-in rebate, it's tough to fault this handset for anyone looking for a compact messaging device.

Samsung Mythic SGH-a897 (AT&T): FrontSamsung Mythic SGH-A897 (AT&T)
$199.99 - $349.99 direct
Mobile TV is beginning to feel doomed here in the U.S.—unlike overseas, where it thrives. That's not stopping AT&T, which is giving it another shot with the Samsung Mythic. Like several phones before it, the Mythic contains a broadcast TV tuner that picks up FLO TV service (in applicable coverage areas). It's also a rather nice touch-screen slab otherwise.

Overdrive 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot by Sierra Wireless (Sprint) : AngleOverdrive 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot by Sierra Wireless (Sprint)
$99 with two-year contract


Sprint 3G/4G USB U301 : FrontSprint U301
$50 direct with two-year contract

This is Sprint's best USB modem right now, bridging Sprint's 3G EVDO network and Clearwire's new WiMAX network, and delivering better 3G performance than the earlier U300 model.

BlackBerry Tour 9630 (Sprint) : AngleBlackberry Tour 9630 (Sprint)
$199.99 - $499.99 direct
Sprint now has two top-notch smartphones: The Palm Pre and the BlackBerry Tour 9630. While the Pre is more fun and friendlier for Web browsing, the Tour offers great power management, world-phone capability, and a rich third-party app catalog.

Motorola CLIQ XT (T-Mobile) : AngleMotorola Cliq (T-Mobile)
$199.99 direct
The Cliq is a stellar device for the socially inclined. It aggregates updates from social networking sites, photo-sharing sites, and Webbased e-mail. It could easily serve as the center of your connected universe. For a change, that's not hyperbole.

Motorola DroidDroid by Motorola (Verizon)
$199.99 direct

T-Mobile WebConnect Rocket : AngleT-Mobile WebConnect Rocket
Preview (no rating)
T-Mobile's first HSPA+ modem is even faster than the WiMAX devices we tested. But TMobile needs to provide a clear picture of its service plans and network build-out before we jump on board.

Samsung Freeform SCH-r350 (MetroPCS) : AngleSamsung Freeform SCH-r350 (Metro PCS)
$79 direct
The Freeform is a lightweight QWERTY slab perfect for unlimited voice calls and texting. It works with MetroPCS's awesome, low-priced unlimited plans, which range from just $40 to $60 per month (depending on SMS, Web, GPS, and other features). If you love to text—or have a teen who does—this handset is the most affordable way to do it.