Verizon has finally blessed a keyboarded phone with its ultrafast 4G LTE technology. Here's a closer look, in pictures.
Jessica Dolcourt
Jessica is a passionate content strategist and team leader across the CNET family of brands. She leads a number of teams, including commerce, performance optimization and the copy desk. Her CNET career began in 2006, testing desktop and mobile software for Download.com and CNET, including the first iPhone and Android apps and operating systems. She continued to review, report on and write a wide range of commentary and analysis on all things phones, with an emphasis on the iPhone and Samsung devices. Jessica was one of the first people in the world to test, review and report on foldable phones and 5G wireless speeds.
Jessica began her leadership role managing CNET's How To section for tips and FAQs in 2019, guiding coverage of topics ranging from personal finance to phones to home. She holds an MA with Distinction from the University of Warwick in the UK.
The Samsung Stratosphere's claim to fame is pretty simple: it's Verizon's first 4G LTE smartphone with a QWERTY keyboard of any type.
2 of 5Josh Miller/CNET
Deja vu?
Does this phone look familiar to you? The Stratosphere is a souped-up version of the Samsung Epic 4G, which was originally released for Sprint in 2010.
The keyboard here has responsive, rubberized keys that snap back when you press them, and a full five rows so that your numbers and letters don't have to elbow each other for space.
There's a 5-megapixel camera on the back, and a nice, gently nubbly texture to the material coating the back. We're overjoyed Samsung and Verizon steered clear of glossy black plastic on both sides.
