HTC Amaze 4G & Samsung Galaxy S II Official From T-Mobile [New HSPA+ Android Handset Announced by T-Mobile Complete With Specs, Features, Release Dates & Pricing]

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T-Mobile announced today at GigaOM Mobilize 2011 two new Android handsets ready to offer 4G HSPA+ capabilities, the HTC Amaze 4G, previously dubbed as the Ruby, and the Samsung Galaxy S II. Well, considering the T-Mobile Galaxy S II was already announced I think this qualifies as only one new smartphone launch, but, nevertheless, we have more details about both handsets.

The HTC Amaze 4G will offer HSPA+ 42Mbps compatibility, and it is deemed to be one of the fastest T-Mobile devices alongside the Galaxy S II.

Let’s look at some of the specs and features of the Amaze 4G:

• 4.3-inch qHD super LCD multitouch display
• 1.5GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S3 Processor
• NFC capabilities
• 8-megapixel camera with dual LED flash, 1,080p HD video recording and backside illuminated sensor for improved low light performance
• camera features: SmartShot, PerfectPics, SweepShot, ClearShot and BurstShot
• Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread with HTC Sense on top.
• HSPA+ support for up to 42Mbps speeds

T-Mobile’s Galaxy S II, one of the three U.S. versions announced by Samsung in late August, is not exactly a new device, but it’s definitely one worth considering. We’re looking at a 4.52-inch monster, slightly bigger than the regular 4.3-inch Galaxy S II handset sold by most worldwide carriers. Other features include a 1.5GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S3 Processor, Android 2.3.5, NFC support, DLNA and HDMI connectivity and HSPA+ 42Mbps speeds.

Both smartphones will be available for pre-order starting with October 10 and will hit stores on October 12. Coincidentally that’s around when the new iPhone 4S/5 is expected to also start selling, so you may have a tough smartphone choice ahead of you already.

As for prices, you’re certainly going to be disappointed to hear that T-Mobile is not going to sell these two babies for $199.99 with new two-year contracts, which is the expected subsidized smartphone price for new releases. It would seem that T-Mobile believes it needs some extra cash from you upfront. The Amaze 4G will cost you $259.99 and that’s after a $50 mail-in-rebate card and with a new two-year agreement while the Galaxy S II will cost $229.99 after a similar $50 mail-in-rebate card and also with a new two-year service.

Comparatively, Sprint is selling its Galaxy S II version, one similar to T-Mobile’s model, for $199.99 with new contracts, so you can certainly be annoyed to see T-Mobile overcharge for these devices. HSPA+ may be called 4G, but it’s not real 4G, is it, folks? Verizon high-end 4G LTE handsets have also been priced above that $199.99 psychological line, but they were discounted soon after launch, not to mention that third party retailers have offered better deals for most of them almost since their launch.

Even so, it’s one thing to charge extra for LTE support, and another to do the same thing for HSPA+, no matter how fast it’s expected to be.

What Android smartphone are you buying next from T-Mobile? The Amaze 4G or the Galaxy S II? What do you think about their prices?

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