Samsung Exhibit 4G

A great price makes the Samsung Exhibit 4G a compelling option for Android fans on the lookout for a deal, without sacrificing features.

As the carriers dash to strengthen and expand their 4G networks, more high-quality 4G-capable phones are hitting the market. T-Mobile's Samsung Exhibit 4G is the sixth 4G phone for T-Mobile's HSPA+ network. Like the T-Mobile Sidekick 4G, the Exhibit is a more affordable handset that's still feature-rich without leaning too heavily on your wallet. What helps it stand out is a balance of value with up-to-the minute features. In addition to its speed, it runs Android 2.3 Gingerbread, Google's most current OS. It has a punchy 1GHz processor, two cameras, movie rentals, and live and on-demand programming from T-Mobile TV.
The Exhibit costs just $79.99 after a mail-in rebate and with a new, two-year service agreement, and it comes in black and violet. (We reviewed the black one here.)

Design
The Samsung Exhibit 4G is a medium-size candy bar phone with rounded corners up top and some interesting angles at the bottom. It stands 4.7 inches tall by 2.3 inches wide by 0.5-inch thick, and it weighs 4.2 ounces. The Exhibit doesn't look premium, but it is comfortable, thanks to the soft-touch finish on its black or violet back cover, and a similar but more rubbery material surrounding the phone face. Samsung's characteristic shiny black plastic shows up on the front, spines, and accents. Flip up the Exhibit's base and you'll see it's made of harder plastic with an alligator skin design.