Hot on the heels of the LG Esteem ($319, 4 stars), LG has upped the ante even further with the Connect 4G. It's still pricey, at $319, and 4G LTE on MetroPCS doesn't equate to quite the same speeds you'll see on other LTE networks, but the LG Connect 4G still has plenty to offer. In fact, with its beautiful display, comfortable design, and fast dual-core processor, it's the best contract-free smartphone available right now, and well worthy of our Editors' Choice award.

Design and Call Quality

The LG Connect 4G feels like it was designed for everyone who thought the LG Esteem was just too big. As far as smartphones (and my hands) are concerned, the Connect 4G feels just right. It measures 4.6 by 2.5 by .5 inches and weighs 4.8 ounces, which should fit into most palms and pockets perfectly. The Connect's 4-inch, 800-by-480-pixel NOVA capacitive touch display looks fantastic. It uses IPS LCD technology, much like the display on the iPhone 4S, though the Connect is even brighter. LG claims the phone is capable of 700 nits of brightness, while the iPhone has been measured at 541 nits. The 4S is still sharper, but the Esteem looks plenty bright. Viewing angles are good, and with the brightness turned up, the Connect is more readable than most phones in sunlight.

Made of plastic with a textured, dark gray back panel, the Connect looks and feels like a quality device. The front is all glass, surrounded by a thin, shiny black plastic ring. Unfortunately, this phone lacks an HDMI out port, which would allow you to easily connect to a television or monitor like the LG Esteem can. But then again, the Connect is a heck of a lot smaller and more portable than the Esteem, so it feels like a fair trade.

The Connect works on MetroPCS's LTE network where it can find it, and on the much slower 2G CDMA network where it can't. MetroPCS has no 3G data network. There's also 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, which connected to my WPA2-encrypted Wi-Fi network without a problem. Reception was fine, and call quality was average. Voices sound clear in the phone's earpiece, but thin and a touch robotic. Calls made with the Connect are also clear and feature decent noise cancellation, but voices can sound a touch grainy. Calls sounded fine through a Jawbone Era Bluetooth headset ($129, 4.5 stars) and voice dialing worked fine over Bluetooth without training. The speakerphone sounds fine, but it's just slightly too quiet to use outside. Battery life was average at 5 hours 11 minutes of talk time.

Data Plans and Apps

4G LTE on MetroPCS is not the same as 4G LTE on AT&T or Verizon. As we discovered in our Fastest Mobile Networks testing, MetroPCS is aiming to offer solid speeds at low prices, rather than spectacular speeds for a hefty premium. The carrier's average 4G speeds are more like a very good 3G network, though I pulled in higher speeds on the Connect than I have on any other MetroPCS device so far. Speeds averaged 4.5Mbps down and 4.2Mbps up on the Connect, which should be fast enough for most anyone.

MetroPCS's biggest selling point is its inexpensive monthly plans. For $60 per month, you get unlimited talk, text, and data, along with unlimited music from Rhapsody or video on demand from MetroStudio. A $50 plan gets you unlimited talk, text, and Web with 1GB of streaming data, while a new $40 plan offers unlimited talk, text, and Web with 100MB of streaming data.