My cellular service contract has run out, and I’m thinking of getting a new phone. With cell number portability coming later this month, I’ll have my choice of providers and any of the phones they offer. What I’m interested in asking is what brand and model phone do you currently use (or have you recently given up) and how do you like it.
I currently have a Nokia 3360. I liked it initially because it was smaller than my earlier Nokia, but I haven’t found it to be particularly durable. It’s small enough that when I’m holding it up to my ear, it can be difficult for the microphone to pick up what I’m saying if it’s noisy out. Although it’s supposed to have an 8 day battery life on standby, but even with the little I use it, it seems that I have to charge it almost every day.
I’m probably interested in one that flips open. I don’t think I need a camera function, but I’d like to hear what people who have it think of the camera.
I have this one, only without the camera. I definitely prefer the folding ones. My previous phone was an old Nokia that had nothing excpet the most basic functions (like, um, the ability to call people, via analog). It’s not even on the Nokia web site anymore, but the closest match I could find (in overall appearance) is this one. Of course, mine had none of the special features, just the bulk.
I have a Nokia 6100. So far, so good. Nice, clear, colour screen, has the functionality I need (including an infrared link, WAP and GPRS), and no really unnecessary whistles and bells. Doesn’t feel like it’ll survive being accidentally dropped, mind.
I can heartily recommend the Nokia 8310 for a cheaper, older model (and ignore the garish colours in that webpage; most come in a sober grey case). Solid, usable, resilient, but handily small.
For “flip” phones, the Samsung A800 seems quite popular. Annoying selection of gimmicky ringtones, however, and sound effects that can’t be switched off.
I have a Nokia 3650 that I adore. Everything you could possibly ever need in a cellphone, and a bunch of stuff you probably don’t. Excellent voice quality, good Web browser, good calendar and e-mail client – my life is in this phone. And it has Bluetooth so I can sync it all with my laptop wirelessly. BTW, it’s not nearly as big as the pictures make it look.
Infinitely extensible, because there are a wide variety of 3rd party apps for it, and it accepts standard MMC memory cards. Of course, it’s probably way beyond what you need, but it serves me very well.
I have the Nokia 3560 and am immensely happy with it. I only charge the battery about once every ten days, it’s extremely durable (I’ve already dropped it a few times and it’s fine), the mic works really well, and the speaker is crystal clear. It has polyphonic ringtones and all these pretty wallpapers for the color screen too. It also has internet capabilities, but I didn’t get the service for it since I don’t need it. I got it for $50 when I renewed my contract.
I have a Nokia 6610. I’ve been through maybe half a dozen mobile phones, but this is easily the best I’ve had.
Things I like about this phone:
• Colour screen;
• Stereo FM radio;
• Polyphonic ring tones;
• It has a loudspeaker so you can use it handsfree;
• Predictive text SMS input;
• It’s not the smallest phone I’ve had, but it’s tiny enough to disappear into my pocket; and
• No protruding external antenna.
I’ve got an LG phone that the made for about 6 minutes last February. It works okay, but you can’t send out text messages, and there are no cases available for it. (And it’s version of Blackjack sucks. You can’t split 8’s, and it’s led me along with a ten showing and an Ace in the hole.)
It’s a flip phone and has turned out to be pretty tough. What’s worse is: I’ve got a Bluetooth PDA and would really like a Bluetooth enabled phone, but being 1 year into a 2 year contract with Sprint ( ) that’s not gonna happen any time soon. They’re supposed to be getting a Sony/Erickson t608i soon, but lord knows what they’ll charge for it. (If I’m being too subtle, I’m not all that happy with Sprint.)
I have a Nokia 6590. No problems so far. The battery’s terrific- the specs are 5 hours talk time and 16 days standby, and that seems to be about right based on my experience.
Sound quality’s fine, microphone is good, and the #1 super-cool feature is that it’s absolutely tiny. Wee, even. Small enough to just pitch in my pants pocket(I’ll be damned if I’ll wear one of those horribly dorky belt clips or holsters).
The GSM service is particularly nice at things like festivals and other places where cells get overloaded- there aren’t that many GSM phones here in the US, so I can almost always get a signal.
A final nice feature is that with the handsfree setup, you can listen to the FM radio band. Really nice for exercising- you can have your phone and a radio at the same time!
Things it doesn’t have(and I don’t miss): polyphonic ring tones and color screen.
DoCoMo 105i, bought about three years ago for my part-time job (I go out to various sites around the country, so having a fixed number where I can be reached is helpful). The phone was free with the service subscription, and is pretty bare-bones: it has 5-10 different ring tones, vibration mode, 500-name memory, and that’s about it.
I may get a new one at some point so I can send email as well. Digital cameras appear to be standard even on the giveaway models now, so I’ll guess I’ll have that, too. No need yet for the videophone or GPS tracking options, though.
Sony ericsson T68i, Indestructible…there are scars all over it, little bits of plastic torn off from where I’ve dropped it on concrete or bitumen. Good phone, few nice options plus all of the gimmicky crap (colour, net, email, gprs, infrared,camera optional). The little toggle button can be difficult to master but once your there you have no worries.
Crap games though!
I heard someone say once that the sony ericsson is the thinking persons phone…but i forgot who it was.
Same as Jervoise. I’ve got a Nokia 6610 and I agree with everything that was said. I love the phone. I wasn’t interested in cameras etc. so this the best option. The radio is great and frees up a bit of space as I use to carry a phone and a small receiver for the radio.
I enjoyed clearing bounce as well but won’t be buying any new games for it.
I have a Samsung SCH 3500, and I love it. My first one lasted me three solid years, and I never had a problem. The battery started fading, and the ear speaker finally gave way this summer, and I bought a brand new one off of eBay for $25.
I’m not sure if you’d be able to find one at stores nowadays. But man do I love this phone.
I have a sharp gx10 (flip phone with camera). Its good but I wouldnt of got it if I didnt work for a mobile phone shop when they came out therefore got it really cheap.
The cameras pretty useful as I dont have a digital camera and quality is ok. I dont know if they have them in the US though.
My best phone was a sony Z7, but its very old and girly!
I have a Nokia 3585i. It doesn’t have a camera. It’s not a flip phone. It doesn’t have a color display. It doesn’t play MP3’s, or lot’s of video games. It doesn’t have bluetooth. What it really is…
…is a phone. It has a good antenna in it, which can be extended, but retracts entirely into the phone. The reception is good, and I can hear very well on it. The batteries last a long time. It’s small enough to fit comfortably in my pocket. I can figure out how to use the speed dial and ring tones without looking at the manual. I can and do send and receive text messages, but I primarily use it as a phone.
Verizon CDMA9500. It’s not as small as most of the other phone out there, but I have big hands, so it works fine for me. I got it primarily for the speakerphone feature (to use while driving), but the color screen and downloadable applications are nice extras.
Can’t quite see the appeal of phones-with-cameras, myself.
This thread intrigued me to research camera phones. From the reviews on ZDnet, good products don’t always go hand in hand with good service providers. And some, like the gx10 above,while clearly superior, are only available in limited areas (in that case, the UK).
The funny thing is, I have a crappy little Startac that I was just considering cashing in. But my wireless carrier has no decent models on their site (that’s AT&T for you). I guess what I learned today is ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’. Maybe when it finally dies the technology will have sorted itself out.
) that’s not gonna happen any time soon. They’re supposed to be getting a Sony/Erickson t608i soon, but lord knows what they’ll charge for it. (If I’m being too subtle, I’m not all that happy with Sprint.)