HTC Evo V 4G (Virgin Mobile)

Pros: It's much faster than my Samsung Epic 4g, thinner, lighter, and the battery lasts for quite a while, at least compared to my old phone. WiMax works great (I'm also in Chicago)

Cons: I've had to reset it a couple of times because it had difficulty picking up the 4g signal or moving off of a wi-fi connection. If it searches for 3g towers, it eats up battery life quickly, so make sure 4g WiMax is strong in your area.

Summary: Given Virgin Mobile's prices for minutes and internet, it's well worth ponying up the money for the phone. And no contract, obviously, which is helpful. A good alternative to an iPhone.

Updated on Oct 5, 2012

And definitely invest in a 16GB microSD card. It's amazing how quickly you collect apps and want to put music on it.