T-Mobile G1 review

T-Mobile's G1 is the first touch-screen smartphone based on Google's Android mobile operating system.

The 3G handset is made by HTC, but it's a very different handset from the Touch HD (opposite). It has a smaller 3.2in screen, but it includes a miniature trackball and a full, fold-out QWERTY keyboard.

The G1 makes a great first impression, especially if you already use Google services such as Gmail or Google Calendar. When you turn it on for the first time, it asks for your Google account details and automatically imports your settings and contacts.

The interface is a joy to use. It's split over three screens, which you switch between by sliding your finger across the display. Icons for applications and widgets such as a clock or a search bar can be added or moved by pressing and holding on the screen. A full list of installed applications can be accessed via a tab at the bottom of the screen, and the bar at the top showing connections and running programs can also be pulled down for a more detailed view.

As well as Gmail, you can access POP3 and IMAP email accounts, but Microsoft Exchange isn't supported. Google Talk messaging and Google Maps are also included, with the latter benefitting from GPS support. The WebKit browser is superb, allowing you to zoom in and out of pages easily. Press the home button and it arranges your open tabs as tiles, so you can quickly and easily select the one you want. Many more third-party applications can be installed from the open-source Android Market, so in the coming months you can expect the G1's capabilities to expand massively.

Navigating using the touch screen is easy and precise, but for fine control the trackball is better. Sliding the screen to the right reveals a full QWERTY keyboard. With the keyboard out, the display automatically flips to landscape mode. The keys themselves are small but comfortable to type on.

Although there's plenty to like about the G1, there are plenty of flaws, too. The integrated camera can't record video, which is disappointing. Worse still, there isn't a standard headphone socket. Instead, the supplied headphones plug into the USB port.

The G1 didn't perform well in our battery test, and soon ran out of power when GPS and automatic Gmail synchronisation were enabled. You'll need to manage the phone carefully to get the most from the battery.

Android is a new operating system, so we weren't surprised when it occasionally crashed. The G1's biggest drawback, however, is the lack of synchronisation with Google Docs. While you can write emails offline, you can't edit documents except by using the browser to access Google Docs.

The G1 has some great features, and the operating system could be a serious rival to Apple's excellent iPhone OS. However, we cannot fully recommend it until Google irons out Android's problems, most notably its power management and office document support.