Way, way back in early June, US Cellular teased seven Android phones and tablets to be released by the end of the year. The breakdown went thusly:
- Three HTC devices -- two smartphones and a tablet (which we presumed would be the Flyer
- A 4.3-inch Motorola device with a dual-core 1GHz processor and world phone radio
- An LG device with a 1GHz dual-core processor, 4-inch touchscreen and "ultra-bright LCD display that is easy to view in sunlight." We figured that to be the LG Optimus Black
- Plus, entry-level phones from Samsung and Huawei.
We've since seen the HTC Desire II and Wildfire S show up in USCC's inventory. So put a check to them.
As for the other devices? We've got US Cellular's entire third-quarter roster after the break, if you're into that sort of thing.
Thanks, Anon!
Motorola Electrify
We now know what Motorola's offering will be. It's going to be called the Electrify. And for all intents and purposes, it's the Motorola Photon 4G, with a 4.3-inch display, Android 2.3, dual-core processor, 8MP rear camera, VGA front camera, HDMI and DLNA output at 1080p, Swype and the ability to be used on GSM networks overseas. It's slated for October release. If that sounds like a long time from now, remember that Sprint just gave the Photon 4G a July 31 street date, so it makes sense that USCC's wouldn't be out before then.
LG 855 (aka Optimus Black)
We're more than happy to say we called this one right -- the LG Optimus Black is coming to US Cellular. Billed as having an "ultra-bright display," it wasn't that big a stretch. And you've no doubt by now read our review. It's fast. It's bright. It's got a 4-inch "Nova" display, Android 2.3, a 1 GHz processor and 5 MP and 2 MP cameras. This is a hot one, folks.
The LG 855 (erm, Optimus Black) is slated for release in September.
HTC Desire II
Here's a familiar fellow. The HTC Desire II (again, news of which we've already broken) is scheduled for an October release, bringing with it a 4-inch display, Android 2.3, the awesome Sense 3.0, a 1.2 GHz processor and 5MP and 1.3MP cameras. Check out our Desire II review (known in Europe as the Desire S) if you haven't already.
HTC Wildfire S
Next we have the HTC Wildfire S. Again, another phone we first saw back at Mobile World Congress in February, and the other one we outed for US Cellular last month. It's slated for an October release, with Android 2.3, a 3.2-inch display (with a higher resolution than the original Wildfire), a 600 MHz processor, 5MP camera and Sense 2.1. It'll come in dark gray, or purple.
HTC Flyer
Here's another one you should recognize. The HTC Flyer is a 7-inch tablet with a custom version of Gingerbread and Sense 3.0. The slide here says a 1GHz processor, but we've come to know the Flyer as having a 1.5 GHz workhorse. It'll have the usual 5 MP and 1.3 MP cameras, and HTC's Scribe note-taking stylus thingy, too, we imagine. It's slated for an August release. Check out our HTC Flyer review if you haven't already.
Huawei Ascend II
Finally, we have the Huawei Ascend II. Huawei largely lives in obscurity here in the United States (if you've never heard of the manufacturer, it wouldn't surprise us in the least). It's thin, it's light, it's got Gingerbread (which is more than we can say for many high-end phones), and it's got a 3.5-inch display and 800MHz processor. Look for it in November.
What's missing?
Something not listed here that was in our original bullet points is an entry-level phone from Samsung. We've got two Samsung phones listed on the roadmap here, but no slides -- the Samsung Character and Samsung Repp.
So that's it, folks. Now as with all things in this crazy little smartphone world, nothing's official until it's official. These release dates could well change -- but we do have US Cellular on record as saying it's launching a flotilla of Android this fall. And quite the salvo it is.
Need a break during quarantine? Why not try Stardew Valley?
Games like Stardew Valley can't cure quarantine fatigue, but they can help you feel in control and relaxed.
These are the best Android phones you can buy right now
There are so many great Android phones to buy, so it can be tough to know which one to get. These are the best of the best at each price point.
These are the best games available on the Oculus Quest 2
Oculus Quest 2 games are enhanced with the latest graphics and let you enjoy VR experiences untethered. But Oculus Store games can get expensive, so you don't want to waste your money. Here are the best games available in your favorite genres.
The LG Velvet is stunningly gorgeous, so get a case to keep it that way
It can be tough to find a great case for a new phone, especially one with a unique and wonderful design like the LG Velvet. But thankfully, there are a lot of solid choices out there and these are our favorites to keep your LG Velvet safe from when life happens.