When you have something like ‘Incredible’ attached to the model name, we expect it to live up to the tag. We get lots of products in our labs which don’t live up to such suffixes but this one is a rare exception. The smartphone is based on Android 2.1 and it may not have any out of the box features but it performs much better than its rivals like Nexus One and Motorola Droid. This phone is our new favorite now and it is due to its power, sleek design and better software. This phone is available from April 29 from Verizon Wireless and costs $199.99 with a 2 year contract and after $100 mail in rebate. The design and shape of this handset is nothing new compared to other smartphones in the market but it is the internal features that make the difference. We will recommend this smartphone as an alternative to Motorola Droid which is another master piece from Verizon. The display is high resolution and the power Snapdragon processor keep the phone working relentlessly.

The Pantech Link is an overdue update over its predecessor – the Pantech Slate. The Link is one of the first devices for supporting the AT&T Cloud services such as Online Locker and the Social Net. It features GPS, 3G/HSDPA support, music player and 1.3-megapixel camera. The Link is available for $9.99 with two-year AT&T contract. It is one of the thinnest messaging phones available in the market, but still suffers from some issues such as its call quality needs improvement. In addition, the HTML browser is not useful due to small screen. Speaking about the design, you will find the micro-SD card slot and the volume rocker on the left side. The camera button and charger/headset jack are on the right side. We will prefer the manufacturer to include the 3.5mm standard headset jack instead of combined port for headset/charger. The camera lens with self portrait mirror sits on the back. If you need a cheap messaging phone with good QWERTY keyboard, then the Pantech Link remains a  [...]

The Samsung SGH-T659 has a design which was popular three years ago. It offers nothing special except the 3G service. If you need a boring and dated design then you can select the SGH-T659. The speakerphone call quality of the T659 is average, while the keypad is slippery and flat. On the bright side, the display is enough bright to display colorful images and fine text. The navigation array is simple and very easy to use. The call quality and captured picture quality are impressive. The SGH-T659 is available for $69 with T-Mobile contract. If you are looking for a modern design then you have to look elsewhere. You have to slide down the phone to access the alphanumeric keypad. Speaking about the exterior of the SGH-T659 – the micro-SD card slot and volume rocker are on the left spine. You will find the camera shutter and charger/headset jack on the right spine. The camera lens with self-portrait mirror is on the back. We will advise you to open the Samsung SGH-T659 prior to capture a  [...]

The Nokia N96 is an impressive smartphone that offers 16GB storage. It costs $776 for the unlocked version and offers advanced multimedia highlights that are enough to replace your portable video or MP3 player. Not only this, but the N96 also offers full wireless capabilities, GPS, 3G support, and productivity suite. It looks like its predecessor the Nokia N95 and keeps similar candy-bar and dual-slider design. The N96 is similar to the HTC Touch Pro in size. We like that the Nokia has employed few tweaks to the overall profile of the N96. You can slide down the phone to access the alphanumeric keypad. On sliding the screen at other side, the N96 will reveal the media playback controls. The screen rotates from portrait to landscape on accessing these keys, but it does not orient back to portrait mode automatically. It is quite annoying that you have to slide up the screen and down back for the same. On the down side, the N96’s performance is a bit sluggish and it froze occasionally.

Not only the LG has manufactured a lot of high-end smartphones including the Expo, but it also provides entry-level handsets to capture the complete mobile market. The company had release the LG Wine for U.S. Cellular last year. It was a good cell phone with a megapixel camera, solid alphanumeric keypad and dedicated shortcut keys. Now, the company has launched LG Wine II UN430 that has glossy plastic shell. It does not remind us of any wine bottle, but still retains a professional folder-type design. The Wine II features dual color display (external and internal), stereo Bluetooth, an FM tuner, music player, and 2-megapixel camera with video recording. It costs $49.95 with two-year contract after a mail-in-rebate of $50. On the downside, it does not come with any preinstalled email app or browser. Also, the Wine II has 2.5mm headset jack rather including a standard 3.5mm jack. We will definitely recommend the LG Wine II if you need an entry-level handset. Design The  [...]

The Samsung had quietly released the Samsung SPH-M240 for Sprint on the same day of launching the Samsung Rogue. The M240 looks like the Samsung SGH-T329 and the SGH-A237. However, the SPH-M240 lacks the color accents like previous handsets. It is completely centered towards simple communication. It costs $19.99 with a service agreement, but does not feature Bluetooth. The battery cover on the back is textured. The plastic skin cannot withstand the bumps, but the hinge is sturdy enough. You will find the 2.5mm headset jack and standard micro-USB port on the right side; while the volume rocker is on the left side. We like that the SPH-M240 has vertical external display similar to that on Samsung SGH-T239. It displays numerical caller ID and date/time. As the M240 is not a multimedia phone so there is no camera and 3.5mm headset jack. You can flip open the phone to access the internal color display and alphanumeric keypad. If your office does not allow for camera phone, then the SPH-M240  [...]

Like other N-series smartphone, the Nokia N79 definitely has excellent and advanced multimedia features including 5-megapixel camera with dual LED flash. It uses the Symbian operating system and offers complete wireless options, nice email feature and productivity suite. The N79 comes unlocked and available for $429 from the Nokia store and online retailers. The smartphone ships with three XpressOn covers (back plates) in red, white and brown colors. This gives freedom to personalize the N79’s overall look. However, the Nokia N79 suffers with some drawbacks including non-touch display, cramped dial-pad and navigation controls. It is important to mention here that the both N79 and the N96 shares most of the features. If you can work without a touch-screen, then the N79 is a good smartphone to buy. 2.4 inches display of the Nokia N79 has 320×240 pixels resolution that supports 16 million colors. It features inbuilt accelerometer to rotate the display on tilting the phone. The navigation  [...]

The Nokia 7705 Twist has a strange swivel design. The Sony Ericsson W600i also had swivel design that remained fine for some time and then flew apart after continuous usage in one month. However, Nokia had improved the design for its 7705 Twist handset. You can open and close it using one hand and move it from center to a corner.  This mechanism feels sturdy, but the long-term durability is on doubt. The Twist has minimalist and clean profile, but is a bit new wave. It will get appearance on the streets. The 7705 Twist offers comfortable keyboard and a good range of features. You can buy it for $99.99 with Verizon Wireless agreement after a $50 mail-in-rebate. However, the volume remains low during call and the captured photo quality is poor. The overall design looks polarizing with small display and 2.5mm headset jack. We will prefer the Nokia to include a 3.5mm headset jack and universal standard charger jack in further models. The new addition is contact ring on the pivot point that  [...]

LG continues to launch the messaging phones for Verizon Wireless. Recently, the company has release the LG Voyager and the enV for the Verizon. Now, the company shows off the LG Cosmos for the same carrier. It looks like the LG Rumor 2 as both has candy bar design, same dimensions, and slides out at the right side to reveal the keyboard. The Cosmos costs $29.99 with two-year Verizon contract after a mail-in-rebate of $50. It features spacious QWERTY keyboard, 1.3-megapixel camera, GPS, excellent call quality, and Bluetooth. However, it lacks corporate email support and EV-DO network. You have to pay additional $5 to access the Web mail services like Hotmail or Gmail. There are pre-entered numbers for social networking Web sites including MySpace, Twitter, and Facebook, at which you can send messages to update your account. It is not a groundbreaking feature; still remains good to update the messages and pictures at above Web sites in seconds with few clicks. The Cosmos does not support  [...]

Samsung is one of the famous messaging phone manufacturers in the United States. It previously launched the Samsung Messager, the Gravity, and the Rant. Now, the company has launched the Samsung Intensity SCH-U450 for Verizon Wireless. It continues to have the candy bar design like the Gravity and the Rant. The SCH-U450 costs $29.99 for its charcoal gray version. Surprisingly, its flaming red version comes free with a service agreement from Verizon’s online store. Turn the phone to 90 degree anticlockwise and then slide it down to reveal the full QWERTY keyboard. Noteworthy that arrow keys on the keyboard are mixed with L, N, M, and period keys. The Intensity SCH-U450 has mobile email – a downloadable application to access the POP3/IMAP4 accounts and the mobile Web email – to access the Web email via browser. However, its navigation array is a bit cramped and it does not support EV-DO network. Therefore, you cannot download the on-the-air songs through V Cast Music. The phone is free,  [...]