Samsung brought their Android-based, Galaxy S series smartphone to market by coordinating the availability from each of the four major US carriers. There's Sprint's Epic 4G, T-Mobile's Vibrant, AT&T's Captivate, and of course, the Verizon Fascinate, the smartphone of focus in this article. The Galaxy S smartphone series include a 1GHz Hummingbird CPU, a 4.0-inch Super AMOLED screen, a PowerVR GPU, 512 MB RAM, a 5.0 MP 720p HD camera, and Wi-Fi capabilities all running on Android 2.1 Éclair. The support of Android 2.2 Froyo will also be included on all Galaxy S phones with upcoming updates.

The Fascinate differentiates itself from the other Galaxy S phones for particular reasons. First, there’s no better Samsung Fascinate accessories lineup on the market than the selection of Samsung Fascinate accessories and Samsung Fascinate cases. The second reason why this stands out is that it can be used as a mobile hotspot. Third, along with the Vibrant, it provides the most memory out of the box. It includes 2 GB of internal storage and a 16 GB MicroSD memory card for 18 GB total that the user can upgrade to 34 GB with a 32 GB card. That should be plenty for most users, but users who suspect they might need more should note that the Vibrant actually allows for 48 GB total due to the 16 GB on-board memory.

The Fascinate is a spectacularly streamlined device that uses the four dedicated Android navigation buttons and the touchscreen to perform everything it does. Because the phone is entirely made of plastic, this has allowed Verizon to have an incredibly lightweight device that almost feels hollow but never cheaply made. Many people will be complaing about the lack of girth, as well as its very minimalist design, but this works for us. In addition, the four-inch length seems perfect. It’s smaller than the Evo, but not as difficult to type on as the iPhone is.

The Fascinate comes with a 1500mAh battery that should be enough to last the workday plus for most users. Android 2.1 is a bit of a hog though, and we expect Android 2.2 to be more so. Therefore, if you tend to hammer the device with a lot of calls and lot of background apps, then you might want a contingency plan. Invest in Samsung Fascinate accessories like an extra battery and a travel charger if you’re on the road a lot, or a chargeable docking station if you’re generally office-bound. But in fairness to the Fascinate, this holds true to the other Galaxy S series phones, as well as other Android smartphones with 1GHz processors.

This new Galaxy S series presents some truly great choices to the consumer. While it’s likely that most smartphone users will end up making a choice based on the carrier, the Fascinate is a worthy option for those shopping for a particular phone. We’d suggest giving each of the Galaxy S series a whirl, and then deciding which one is right for you. For most people, what really matters is what looks and feels best for them.