The Charge's camera is serviceable but not significantly better or worse than other phone cameras. No one buys a for the camera (despite the death of the ), and the Charge won't change that.

The Charge's data speeds are as breathtaking as those on other 4G LTE devices. Tests showed download speeds in the 10 to 14 Mbit/sec. range -- a variability that's completely normal given the unpredictability of network load and other conditions. By comparison, earlier tests with a ThunderBolt were in the 12 to 16 Mbit/sec. range. The Charge's 3G speeds are in the 200KB/sec. neighborhood.

One more nontrivial thing: The Charge sets a new and higher price point for Android phones. It costs $299 with a two-year contract and data plan, whereas the ThunderBolt costs $249, and most other smartphones cost around $200.

Verizon is promoting free tethering to 10 devices over a 4G network or five devices over 3G for an unspecified limited time, after which it will cost an undisclosed amount of money per month. This is a little open-ended for my taste; I like to know the price of getting hooked before I bite, not after.