Don't say the Evo, and don't say the Epic. I can't afford them, and I don't have 4G in my area anyway. In fact, my budget is around $200, and I'll be buying the phone on eBay. The HTC Hero seems overpriced to me (feel free to correct me on this if you have some reasoning), so I'm really picking between:

Samsung Intercept (No AMOLED screen, EV-DO Rev.0 so slower internet, but will probably upgrade to Android 2.2)
Samsung Moment (AMOLED screen, but will not upgrade to Android 2.2)

I'll probably use the phone primarily for standard tasks, calls, texts, basic android apps and a couple games. I'll also be using it to tether to my laptop at times for internet. I may use it for an MP3 player, but I haven't decided yet (I have an iPod Touch at the moment). Some advice would be helpful.

The Hero and Moment are pretty old now, I'm not sure they'll be too great now.

http://reviews.cnet.com/smartphones/samsung-intercept-satin-pink/4505-6452_7-34135740.html

http://reviews.cnet.com/smartphones/samsung-moment-sprint/4505-6452_7-33775546.html?tag=contentMain;contentBody;1r

Sprint doesn't have such a great variety at the moment, If you have a Touch music the players are pointless.

I would say the Hero. I have the Evo and would reccomend it but i won't since i actually read the OP. The Hero has the zoom in on the web that the moment doesn't. Other than that i am not to sure since i have only played with them in the Sprint Store a while back before we decided to wait and get Evo's instead.

Edit: I don't have 4G where i live either =(.

I have both the Hero and the moment. The HERO looks better, has better support but is freaking slow which  I can't deal with.

The moment is faster, worst battery life ( rooting fixes that) much better screen and actual keyboard.

Oh yeah, just read the Intercept is basically the Moment 2.

4g will be around later on this year or next......why don't you save up for a 4g phone?  Or do you normally get a phone every year or so?

It's not. It lacks features that the Moment has (particularly the AMOLED screen and EV-DO RevA, making it a better screen and faster internet. Intercept, however, will most likely be getting an Android 2.2 upgrade while the Moment will not. I have no idea how important 2.2 is.

@Dallas

I'm not paying $350 for a phone (that's with a 2 year contract, and after the rebate). Especially when on top of that I'm adding $10 a month to my bill for 4G and numerous high-end features which I will not use at all. Actually if I use Cragislist I can get one of these phones (or the Hero) for under $150.

http://forum.sdx-developers.com/

Get the moment, root the phone and follow the site I posted. My phone last a whole day now, it does die when I don't use it like the Hero does. The only thing is the moment is chunky and the keyboard is not the best I have used.

I know you're with Sprint but I grabbed a Droid 2 from Verizon for $200 (with a $100 rebate coming in the mail in 4 weeks) and I fucking love it.  It can do EVERYTHING.  If changing companies is an option, I couldn't reccommend getting a Droid 2 or Droid X more.

No rebate if you buy it at Best Buy. We had to send 2 rebates in from the sprint store but they take it off automatically at Best Buy. We are still waiting to get the 200$ back but it should be coming soon.

Edit: We got 3 Evos (2 black, 1 white)