Cell Phones & Plans

At a Glance

What is Good: Shadow is a sleek slider with a custom interface and jog dial that make it easier to use than the average Windows Mobile smartphone.  The SureType keypad fits a QWERTY layout into the space of a regular numerical keypad but has larger buttons than the BlackBerry Pearl or Samsung Blast.  Built-in WiFi and myFaves compatibility.

What’s Not Good: Not everyone will like Shadow’s keypad.  Wider than most slider phones.  Less powerful than many smartphones.  No touchscreen.  EDGE is slow for Web browsing.

Bottom Line: If you’re looking for a smartphone in a sleek disguise, Shadow is an interesting choice.  Though it runs Windows Mobile, it’s really more like a souped-up messaging phone than a smartphone.  The custom UI is a great touch.

Specs:

Make/Model: HTC Shadow
Network: GSM Quad-Band
Data: EDGE and WiFi (802.11b/g)
Carrier: T-Mobile USA (Locked)
Size: 103 x 53 x 15 mm
Weight: 150 - read full review

At a Glance:

What’s Good: All kinds of multimedia, Web, and location-based features; Super slim profile; Speedy EV-DO access; GPS; 106MB Internal Memory

What’s Not Good: Touch sensitive controls are very finicky; End key in an odd place; Call quality only so-so; Camera not as good as original U600

Bottom Line: Samsung brings their Ultra U600 sliderphone to the US in the form of the Helio Mysto.  While Mysto’s thin profile is sexy and Helio’s myriad features are excellent, this handset’s electrostatic touch controls are more trouble than they’re worth.  Helio fans may love Mysto as a companion to their Oceans, but others may look elsewhere.

Specs:
Make/Model: Samsung Mysto
Network: CDMA
Data: EV-DO (1x Rev. 0)
Carrier: Helio (Locked)
Size: 105 x 50 x 12.7 mm
Weight: 95 g
Form Factor: Slider
Display: 2.2″ Color LCD, 320 x 240 (QVGA) resolution, 262,000 Colors
Memory:  106 MB built-in, microSD card slot
Notable Features: Integrated GPS with - read full review

At a Glance:

What’s Good: Excellent QWERTY keypad; WiFi for Email/Web and UMA voice calling; Legendary push Email system; Trackball navigation; Media player with 3.5mm headphone jack.

What’s Not Good: No 3G data; No GPS; Web browser not on par with best smartphones; Memory card hidden behind battery.

Bottom Line: T-Mobile’s version of the Curve is one of the best smartphones around.  It lacks high speed data access data but adds WiFi for data access and unlimited UMA calling, and the inclusion of a 2MP camera with flash and standard headphone jack make this the most consumer-oriented BlackBerry ever.  All in all it’s an excellent smartphone that adds some entertainment value to BlackBerry’s renowned push Email service, and is actually a hair more responsive than AT&T’s version.

Specs:

Make/Model: RIM BlackBerry Curve (8320)
Network: GSM Quad-Band
Data: EDGE (2.5G), WiFi (802.11 b/g) with UMA support
Carrier: T-Mobile USA (Locked)
Size: 107 x 60 x - read full review

At a Glance:

What’s Good: Compact, solid flip phone with front-mounted music controls/speaker, stereo Bluetooth support and straightforward music player; Includes 1GB memory card; Good IM support; Inexpensive.

What’s Not Good: Signal strength issues; Low-res display and less-than-pretty UI; Wired headphones require use of proprietary adapter.

Bottom Line: Beat is a simple flip with a pretty good music player and low price tag.  The phone’s design didn’t do much for me, and the display is low-res, but for a basic phone with music player, Beat’s not bad.  Just make sure you can get good reception with it where you live and work.

Specs:

Make/Model: Samsung Beat (SGH-T539)
Network: GSM Quad-Band
Data: EDGE (2.5G)
Carrier: T-Mobile USA (Locked)
Size: 90 x 46 x 17.8 mm
Weight: 77 g
Form Factor: Clamshell
Display: (Main) Color LCD, 128 x 160 Resolution, 65,000 Colors; (External) Color LCD, 96 x 96 Resolution
Memory:  18 MB built-in, microSD card slot, - read full review

At a Glance:

What’s Good: Full-featured, easy to use smartphone for entry-level price; Clear, bright, high-resolution touchscreen; Compact body with rounded edges; Zippy EV-DO data with access to Sprint TV service; A-GPS works with location-based services

What’s Not Good: QWERTY keys are small and cramped; Display is smallish (if still easy to read); Hardware and software design feels a bit dated; Noticeably thicker than comparable devices; No Music Store access (yet)

Bottom Line: Get Centro in your hands.  If you like the way it feels and if the buttons aren’t too small for you, you might have found yourself the best value currently going in a full-featured smartphone built for consumers.  Palm OS is not slick, but it works well and Sprint’s fast EV-DO data network and excellent music store add value to the device.  But the cramped buttons and small screen will be deal-breakers for some.

Specs:

Make/Model: Palm Centro (690)
Network: CDMA
Data: - read full review