PhoneDog.com - Cell Phone Reviews

BlackBerry Curve 8350i

4/3/2009 11:15:00 AM

Overview Positives: Well-constructed BlackBerry, feels great in hand, running OS 4.6, offers new media options to Nextel customers.Negatives: Not-so-great call quality, slow data speeds, unpredictable text messaging Introduction It's no secret that iDEN has been a step behind when it comes to new phones. While their CDMA and GSM counterparts were enjoying fast, colorful devices with a slew of capabilities, iDEN users were stuck with relatively drab, boring handsets - until now. The BlackBerry 8350i represents a huge shift forward for Nextel users, who have been stuck with the BlackBerry 7100i since 2005. We spent several weeks reviewing every aspect of the Curve 8350i, and for the most part, came away impressed. Design & Features The BlackBerry Curve 8350i is packaged with the device, battery, a home charger, USB cable, 1GB microSD card, wired stereo headset, belt clip, CD, and instruction manuals. We were pleased that the device offers a belt clip instead of the standard... - read full review

LG Versa VX9600

3/5/2009 2:30:00 PM

Introduction At first glance, the LG Versa may look an awful lot like the LG Dare, but this cell phone is different. What makes it distinct comes in the box: a snap on case that protects the cell phone's touch screen and adds a full flip down QWERTY keypad. It also has many of the high-end features you'd expect: 2-megapixel camera, touch-screen, stereo Bluetooth, MP3 player, navigation system, and high-speed web surfing with the ability to create tabs. In short, the LG Versa is a versatile cell phone that's a great fit for someone who likes a touch screen display and appreciates having a QWERTY keypad nearby if needed. Design & Features Look and feel: The LG Versa looks a lot like the LG Dare, but there's one main difference between the two: the Versa is well, more versatile. It comes with a case in the box. While it's not the slickest case (it's got a fake brown worn leather look), it sure is the most useful one we've seen. Just remove the back of the cell phone by using the... - read full review

BlackBerry Storm

2/25/2009 10:30:00 AM

Introduction The first BlackBerry to sport a touchscreen (that's more of a push-screen) has arrived. That's right, the BlackBerry Storm. There's a lot to like about the Storm and with every new form factor there's also a lot to learn. Read: be prepared to invest a good week to really master the Storm. That said, the Storm is a good looking device and has many features found on the BlackBerry Bold. If you want a slick looking touchscreen smartphone that has a solid media player, great MP3 player with the ability to save songs as ringtones free, and can handle its share of business applications, check it out. Just know this is unlike any other BlackBerry you've seen before. Note: We strongly recommend updating the software as it provides an improved user experience. Design & Features Look and feel: The first thing you will notice about the BlackBerry Storm is that it's all screen and only a few keys. That's because it's BlackBerry's first touchscreen smartphone. About that... - read full review

BlackBerry 9000-Bold

11/6/2008 4:10:00 PM

Introduction The highly anticipated BlackBerry 9000 Bold has finally arrived and it just might have been worth the wait. The Bold sports all the favorite features wanted on a smartphone: WiFi, 3G data speeds for fast surfing while simultaneously conducting calls, stereo Bluetooth, multiple e-mail options and of course, the ability to view and edit word, excel and PowerPoint docs. But the real story here is that the Bold isn't just the workhorse productivity smartphone we've come to expect from BlackBerry; it's also a solid multimedia cell phone with a snazzier interface to make it really pop. Design & Features Look and feel: The first thing you will notice about the BlackBerry Bold is its rockin' display. It seriously shines and looks gorgeous. The next thing you'll notice is the smartphone's weight. It's not terribly heavy, but you will know that you have it with you. Did you really think a smartphone called Bold, would be super lightweight? Probably not. At the same point,... - read full review

BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8220

10/31/2008 12:00:00 AM

At a GlanceWhat's Good: surprisingly music-friendly; external play/pause button; stereo bluetooth, standard headphone jack; UMA capable; unique form factor; slick new BB interface; more compact than other BlackBerries; still has the BB office apps that keep executives aboard, but feels like a fun phone. What's Not Good: no GPS; weak web browsing; some lag here and there.Bottom Line: If you're looking for a strong messaging device that works with a variety of communications platforms, the Flip will not disappoint. It makes calls over Wi-fi, and provides excellent call quality in adverse environments. Pretty much any kind of text communications platform currently available is accessible on the Flip. However, without 3G and a full-blown browser, don't expect to be surfing the night away.Specs:Make/Model: Blackberry Pearl Flip 8220 Network: GSM 850/1900 (There are European/Asian versions) Data: EDGE, Wi-Fi Carrier: T-Mobile Size: 3.98" x 1.97" x 0.69" Weight: 3.6 oz Form Factor: Clamshell... - read full review

Samsung Highnote M630-Blue

10/29/2008 9:45:00 AM

At a GlanceWhat's Good: Very music-friendly; loud and clear speaker; 3.5 mm (standard) headphone jack; stereo bluetooth; comes w/ 1 GB microSD and accepts 16 GB; dedicated music button; Sprint's One Click carousel interface; Sprint TV and Music Store capable; GPS; click-able scroll wheel; SD adapter for quick swapping. What's Not Good: One music button is better than no hardware media controls, but I'd prefer the scroll wheel act as a jog/shuttle, and that some other buttons served as play/pause/skip. I like One Click, but would prefer hardware media control. That's it. Bottom Line: If you like to use your phone as your primary MP3 device, the Highnote is definitely worth consideration especially if you want to listen without the aid of headphones or a car adapter. This one is squarely aimed at music lovers, and nearly all aspects of the phone reflect this. The scroll wheel on the face of the device is not for music control. I want to get that out of the way because this false... - read full review

Samsung Rant Black

10/27/2008 2:00:00 AM

At a GlanceWhat's Good: It's a godsend for mobile text/IM/email addicts; slide-out QWERTY is comfortable and requires about 60 seconds of adaptation; it's Sprint TV and Sprint Music Store capable; music plays in background; stereo Bluetooth; camera with video capture and night shot; photo caller ID; GPS; comes with extra back cover, complete with curly doodles; loads of fun. What's Not Good: Web browsing is low-priority; no dedicated music controls; background noise on Rant end can be problematic; more SD storage out of the box would be nice. Bottom Line: If you like to keep touch on the go, the Rant has got you covered. It's a messaging monster that's easy to use. It supports Sprint TV and the Sprint Music Store, and does surprisingly well in the multimedia department, for a messaging phone. A camera with video and some basic effects make it the perfect accessory for shooting off updates or flirting with friends. With expandable storage and a focus on fun, the Rant is a blast... - read full review

HTC G1

10/16/2008 12:00:00 AM

What's Good: Android experience is excellent; Web browser is amongst best available on cell phones; Great touchscreen; Touchscreen plus trackball plus QWERTY board provides multiple input options; Notifications bar is handy; Great GMail & Google services implementation; 3G and WiFi for fast data speeds; Amazon provides DRM-free mp3 downloads via WiFi What's Not Good: Big, bulky, heavy, and not particularly attractive; QWERTY thumbboard is not as good as those on other recent HTC phones; Lacks 3.5mm headphone jack; No Stereo Bluetooth or video capture/playback support out of the box Bottom Line: Android will change the game, and while far from perfect, the G1 is more than compelling. I have a list of complaints a mile long but they're overshadowed by how fun the Android user experience is on the T-Mobile G1. Specs: Processor : Qualcomm® MSM7201A™, 528 MHz Operating System Android™ Memory ROM: 256 MB RAM: 192 MB... - read full review

Samsung i900-Omnia

10/13/2008 2:40:00 PM

What's Good: Universal landscape mode and universal landscape QWERTY; optically-enhanced action button functions as a scroller or track pad; appropriate use of haptic feedback and accelerometers; excellent 5 MP camera with LED flash, auto-focus and face detection; secondary cam for video calls; embedded GPS; FM radio and overall A/V-friendliness; large, welcoming and sensitive screen; it's a generally comfortable phone that makes you feel cool even though you're obviously using a Windows product. What's Not Good: Windows Mobile may be a bit cumbersome and inaccessible for some users, even with Samsung's TouchWiz UI, which is a bit bland, but better than WM default; reception problems in sketchy coverage areas; no built-in stylus sheath; volume rocker sits RIGHT next to the camera button; in-call screen lock can be a hassle; proprietary headphone jack.Bottom Line: The Omnia is at the top of everyone's list of gotta-try-it touchscreen phones. It has capable hardware and a... - read full review

HTC Touch-Diamond

10/6/2008 2:45:00 PM

What's Good: Stunning hardware design and elegant software user interface; front panel is subdued, intuitive and refined; display is bright and sharp with excellent contrast; sensitive touch-screen; amazing orientation and localized haptic feedback capabilities; secondary camera for video calls; easy internet connection sharing; glorious font rendition. What's Not Good: Stylus is a virtual requirement for accessing certain parts of the user interface; landscape mode is underutilized and landscape QWERTY availability is far too rare; some minor integration flaws between Windows Mobile 6.1 and TouchFLO 3D; no memory expansion options; proprietary HTC USB jack for headphones.Bottom Line: With its unique body and incredibly sleek interface, HTC's Touch Diamond is a beautiful, distinguished handset. The crisp display is a joy to play with, and the screen is very responsive to the touch. The accelerometers are equally sensitive and accurate, and the localized haptic feedback is the best... - read full review

LG Dare

7/17/2008 12:00:00 AM

What's Good: Attractive, highly customizable UI with home screen shortcuts; Compact design with high-res touchscreen; HTML Web browser and Email app with EV-DO Rev A support; VCAST Music and Video Support; Rhapsody streaming music support; 3.2 MP camera with flash and VGA video capture; 3.5mm headphone jack; Accelerometer and proximity sensor What's Not Good: "Full HTML" Web browser is mildly disappointing; Touchscreen can take a bit of getting used to; No VCAST TV support Bottom Line: Dare is the best multimedia phone Verizon currently offers and the best cameraphone they've ever offered. It may well be the best cameraphone available from any US carrier right now, as well. Though the touchscreen is smaller than those of its competitors (iPhone, Instinct, and Vu come to mind), it's bright, clear, and relatively responsive. If you don't need QWERTY or VCAST TV, Dare is the best feature phone on VZW, and arguably the best media-rich handset currently available on... - read full review

Samsung Instinct-M800

6/27/2008 12:00:00 AM

What's Good: Supports every feature Sprint offers; EV-DO Rev. A data speeds; Good touchscreen response; Bright, clear display; Excellent GPS/navigation and voice command features; Good visual voicemail feature; 3.5mm headphone jack and stereo Bluetooth; Second battery included in packaging; Excellent value at $129 retail price What's Not Good: "Full HTML" Web browser is disappointing; No IM support; No calendar synching; No support for user-created ringtones or background images on menu screens; No phone as modem support on mandatory Simply Everything plan Bottom Line: Sprint's new flagship media phone is a very good device, even if I wish they'd skipped the whole "Instinct vs iPhone" marketing campaign. The Web browser needs work and mobile IM addicts will be left in the cold by Instinct, but otherwise Instinct offers solid support across a huge variety of features and excellent implementation of GPS-based navigation and voice activated commands in particular. Though... - read full review

LG enV2

6/5/2008 12:00:00 AM

What's Good: Sleeker and smaller than the original EnV. Comfortable QWERTY keyboard and QVGA internal display make texting fun. Huge external keypad makes dialing easy. VCAST music and video support. Support for laptop tethering (phone as modem). What's Not Good: External keypad makes the phone look like a retro calculator, although I suppose that could be seen as a good thing. Space bar is small and oddly placed. Verizon's menu system can be confusing. Limited Bluetooth functionality. Still a little bulky. Bottom Line: Verizon and LG shrunk the EnV and the results are good. While the original EnV was an innovative but (very) big and expensive high-end phone, the EnV2 is smaller, cheaper, and slots into the middle of VZW's messaging phone lineup. Text addicts who don't need Voyager's touchscreen — and additional size and cost — should find QWERTY bliss with this affordable and capable handset. Specs:Make/Model: LG EnV2... - read full review

Motorola Z9

5/11/2008 12:00:00 AM

What's Good: Great voice quality; fast 3G data speeds; good GPS system; mobiTV compatibility; sleek, attractive design; clean menus and UI; solid build; easy to hold and use What's Not Good: Rather large for a sliderphone; some may not like tiny buttons; heavy Bottom Line: MOTO's Z9 is a top-notch featurephone that provides access to nearly all of AT&T's data and multimedia services in an attractive form factor. The phone is rather large and pretty hefty, which is either kind of nice or really annoying depending on your perspective. If you don't mind - or even like - the Z9's size and heft, you'll be sure to enjoy its big bright display, fast 3G data access, and integrated GPS chip with onboard navigation. Specs:Make/Model: Motorola Z9Network: GSM 850/900/1800/1900 (Quad-Band)Data: HSDPA (3G), EDGECarrier: AT&T MobilitySize: 114 x 54 x 14 mmWeight: 140 gForm Factor: SliderDisplay: 2.4" Color LCD Touchscreen, 240 x 320 (QVGA) resolution, 262,000... - read full review

Samsung Glyde

5/8/2008 8:50:00 AM

What's Good: Touchscreen and Full QWERTY Keyboard in Compact Body; Clean Menus and "Croix" User Interface; 2MP Camera with Autofocus and Flash; GPS with VZ Navigator; Full HTML Browser; Good Sound Quality What's Not Good: Touchscreen Can Be Difficult to Use, Especially Around Edges and Using Web Browser; Slightly Thick Profile; No D-Pad Bottom Line: Samsung shrunk the F700 down to a cool, compact size in making the Glyde. The slide-out QWERTY board is handy and surprisingly comfortable given its small size, and the finger-friendly touchscreen is generally quite good (with a few consistently frustrating quirks). Glyde brings much of Voyager's flash to a smaller, simpler device, and is a fun new option in Verizon's messaging phone lineup. Specs:Make/Model: Samsung Glyde (SCH-u940)Network: CDMA 800/1900Data: 1xRTT/1xEVDO rev.0Carrier: Verizon WirelessSize: 103.8 x 50 x 17.8 mmWeight: 117 gForm Factor: Candybar with Slide-Out KeyboardDisplay: 2.8" Color LCD Touchscreen,... - read full review

Nokia N82

5/6/2008 12:00:00 AM

What's Good: Incredible Camera w/Xenon Flash; Full VGA Video Capture; Excellent Web Browser; WiFi; Extendable Operating System; 3.5mm Headphone Jack What's Not Good: Cheap-Feeling and Plasticky; Small Keys; Music File Sort Issues; S60 OS Too Complex for Average User; Device is Bulky; Very Expensive Bottom Line: Nokia's N82 may be the best camera phone on the market right now, but it's a bulky, complicated, expensive device for geeks and not the average consumer. You want features? N82's got ‘em and then some. You want a stylish phone that's fun to use? Look elsewhere. Specs:Make/Model: Nokia N82Network: GSM (Quad-Band)Data: EDGE, WiFi (802.11 b/g); 3G (WCDMA 2100 - not for U.S. market)Carrier: Unlocked GSMSize: 112 x 50 x 17.3 mmWeight: 114 gForm Factor: CandybarDisplay: 2.4" Color LCD, 320 x 240 (QVGA) resolution, 16.7 Million ColorsMemory: 100 MB built-in, microSD card slotNotable Features: 5MP Camera with Auto-Focus and Xenon Flash; VGA video... - read full review

BlackBerry Pearl-8120 Titanium

4/30/2008 12:00:00 AM

What's Good: Integrated WiFi for Web, Email, and HotSpot@Home UMA Calling; Trackball is easy to use; Integrated IM Clients; Second-to-None Push Email; 2MP Camera with Flash; 3.5 mm Headphone Jack; Compact Size What's Not Good: OS Menus and Fonts Remind me of 1989; SureType QWERTY board will be too small for some; Video capture quality is mediocre Bottom Line: T-Mobile's new Pearl takes a good thing and makes it better by way of integrated Wi-Fi networking for data access and T-Mob's HotSpot@Home service. A few other minor improvements make the handset's media player and keyboard a little bit better. Pearl's still too small for my hands, but it packs smartphone functionality and money saving features into a great device that looks and feels like a phone — not a brick. RIM's gotta overhaul their user interface soon, though. The icons and fonts feel more and more dated every day. Specs:Make/Model: RIM BlackBerry Pearl 8120Network: GSMData: EDGE, 802.11 b/g... - read full review

LG Venus

4/23/2008 12:00:00 AM

What's Good: Beautiful display; Context-sensitive menus; Extensive feature set; VZ Navigation works very well What's Not Good: Half a touchscreen sometimes feels gimmicky and frustrating; Touch controls sometimes unresponsive; Poor voice quality with unacceptable hiss on some calls; Somewhat bulky overall Bottom Line: Venus' half-touch/half-not display is an interesting idea that ultimately frustrated me more than it charmed me. The screens are beautiful and the morphing menus great, but I found myself wanting to touch the entire screen and not just the lower portion. Some won't mind this, though, and for those Venus may be a dream come true: it's a feature-rich slider with a beautiful high-res display and access to all of Verizon's multimedia offerings save VCAST TV. Specs:Make/Model: LG Venus (VX-8800)Network: CDMAData: EV-DO (1x EV-DO r0)Carrier: Verizon Wireless (Locked)Size: 102 x 51 x 15.7 mmWeight: 107 gForm Factor: Slider with Half-TouchscreenDisplay: 2"... - read full review

Nokia N810 Silver

4/21/2008 12:00:00 AM

What's Good: Stylish, compact design with large touchscreen and full QWERTY keyboard; Excellent build quality; Extendable Linux-based operating system backed by Nokia-supported developer community; Ships with Skype and Rhapsody clients installed; Excellent Web browser supports Web 2.0 technologies; WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity; Great for mobile bloggers, early adopters/would-be hackers, and Linux fans What's Not Good: Touchscreen isn't responsive enough and can be hard to use even with stylus; Top row of QWERTY board is cramped, and all keys are mushy to type on; No Stereo Bluetooth support; Overall experience isn't ready for mainstream consumers; Pricey Bottom Line: Nokia's making steps to evolve the N-Series tablets from "strictly for geeks" to "consumer friendly gadgets." The N810 - and newly launched N810 WiMax Edition - represent another step in that evolution, but this is still an Internet device for geeks and not mainstream consumers. To be fair, it's those... - read full review

LG Rumor White

4/15/2008 12:00:00 AM

What's Good: Compact, rugged design with full QWERTY keyboard; Easy to use; Auto-rotating display; Good SMS, IM, and Email integration What's Not Good: Limited functionality beyond voice calling and messaging; No Power Vision access makes for slow Web browsing; Reports of laggy software and keyboard issues (I encountered none); Weak camera Bottom Line: Rumor is a basic candy bar phone with a focus on messaging, and in this regard it really shone in my tests. I found the handset easy and fun to use so long as I kept to its strengths: Messaging and more messaging with voice calling and limited Web and media functionality thrown in. Rumor's comfy QWERTY board, rugged design and soft-grip finish, and auto-rotating display make it a solid choice for cell phone users who value texting as much (or more) as voice calling. Specs:Make/Model: LG RumorNetwork: CDMAData: EV-DO (1x RTT)Carrier: Sprint (Locked)Size: 109 x 51 x 17.8 mmWeight: 117 gForm Factor: Candy bar with... - read full review

Samsung Mysto

3/25/2008 12:00:00 AM

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 MystoNetwork: CDMAData: EV-DO (1x Rev. 0)Carrier: Helio (Locked)Size: 105 x 50 x 12.7 mmWeight: 95 gForm Factor: SliderDisplay: 2.2" Color LCD, 320 x 240 (QVGA) resolution, 262,000 ColorsMemory: 106 MB built-in, microSD card slotNotable Features: Integrated GPS with location based services; 2MP camera with LED... - read full review

Palm Centro Onyx Red

3/20/2008 12:00:00 AM

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: EV-DO Carrier: Sprint... - read full review

BlackBerry Curve-8320 Pale Gold

3/7/2008 12:00:00 AM

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 16 mm Weight: 111 g... - read full review

Samsung Beat-SGH-T539

3/6/2008 12:00:00 AM

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, 1 GB microSD... - read full review

Samsung Blackjack-2-SGH-617 Black

2/29/2008 12:00:00 AM

At a Glance: What's Good: Compact, stylish Windows Mobile 6 smartphone; HSDPA (3G) high speed data; Improved battery life; GPS; Center mounted jog wheel What's Not Good: QWERTY keys are a little small and a little slippery; No touchscreen; Display is smallish for a smartphone Bottom Line: Blackjack II is a solid improvement over its predecessor. There's nothing revolutionary here, but faster hardware, improved battery life, and speedy 3G data make this a worthy update to the popular original. Specs: Make/Model: Samsung Blackjack II (SGH-i617) Network: GSM Quad-Band Data: HSDPA (3G) Carrier: AT&T (Locked) Size: 114 x 61 x 13 mm Weight: 116 g Form Factor: Candybar Display: 2.4" Color LCD, 320 x 240 (QVGA) Resolution, 65,000 Colors Memory: 155 MB built-in, microSD card slot Notable Features: Windows Mobile 6 Standard OS; QWERTY thumbpad; Front-mounted jog dial navigation; Integrated GPS; 2-megapixel camera; Supports AT&T Video Share videocalling - read full review