Ask Engadget: Best current smartphone for under $200?
By Darren Murph 
posted January 2nd 2009 1:11AM
posted January 2nd 2009 1:11AM
It's 2009, folks, so we figured we'd start it off with a bang (and about a gazillion comments in this post). George, a proud member of the USMC, is pondering what to do about a new smartphone, and given that your New Year's resolution was undoubtedly to ditch your dumbphone in favor of a more sophisticated model, you'll probably be interested as well. "I am currently in the market for a new carrier and phone. I have Verizon now, but I am not all that happy with its service in my area. With the release of all the high end phones nowadays, one could get easily lost in the details. I currently have the LG Voyager; I like the phone, but I feel trapped and can't do much with it unless I pay for every little thing. I would like a mobile with WiFi, camera (with flash if possible), touchscreen, etc. I would like to stay under $200 with a 2-year contract. Any advice would be wonderful."
It's tough, ain't it George? There's the G1, iPhone 3G, Bold, Storm -- the list rolls on. So, let's spark up a sane, intelligent conversation on the pros and cons of each, all while remembering that our ideal handset sadly didn't arrive in time for Christmas. Interested in getting your own inquiry up in here? Send one over to ask at engadget dawt com.
I work for a multi-carrier reseller. I tested all of the phones we carry that fit Georges criteria. I agree that the iPhone keyboard takes getting used to. But in the end it is the best choice for almost everyone. Very good wifi range/speed. It's not the best iPod, it's not the best Internet device, it's not the best GPS device, email machine, or phone. What it is though is the best device that does all of them. If you want a good camera get a canon. If you need video, get a flip. No phone takes as good pictures or video. The iPhone is the best all-round device.
I agree, E 71 is a good option and with the recent Best Buy Promo you can get it @ $ 199 with a T-Mobile contract. Has email, wi-fi, 3G (read on for details), nice stable OS and a full qwerty kbd. Nice form factor and light weight as well. But no touch screen (not a big issue). Just a note though, the 3G bands are designed for ATT's network. Nokia also makes them with the regular world 3G band of 2100 but don't think they are sold here at Best Buys, also T-Mobile's 3G band is special and the regular E71 supporting 2100 wont work on it either. Thus you would be stuck with EDGE. But if you don't care about data, then you should be fine. Overall its a great phone
Refurb AT&T Tilt!!
I have a HTC Touch Diamond, and I would not suggest it, with it's laggy WinMo and lack of physical keyboard. Perhaps the Touch Pro would be a good choice.
And side note, please tell me this is ridiculous, I pay 20 dollars a month for TWO MEGABYTES of data. Canada blows.
@Andreas
You wrote: LMFAO - you just called the iPhone fully featured....... someone tell me how a non-MMS phone can be fully featured? **cough** video anyone?
----
Quite easily: I don't consider either of those things to be a feature
:P
Phone cameras are crap. They are what they are, which is a convenient method for the manufacturers to restimulate the US market in 2002 by marketing a gimmicky and mostly useless way to "communicate." When I want to record an image that is of zero future value but might be amusing to someone else at the moment, I'll snap it with my crapraphone, and use facebook, twitter, .mac, or email to share it with whoever and get to easily download it later so that I can marvel at how genius I was to take such a clever picture in a nonprintable format. Honestly, I almost wish I didn't have a cameraphone at all, maybe I'd be more likely to remember to bring a camera with me so that when the moment struck, I could take a picture worth taking. Best camera phone? An iPhone in my right pocket, and an Elph in my left, and if Canon/Apple/anyone made them talk via bluetooth, I'd be way way happier about the whole thing. Even then, I'd not bother with MMS's 300k limit and low reliability.
When I want a usable picture, I use a camera. A 5 or 6 or more megapixel camera with a real lens, ideally an aperture, a bright flash if appropriate, a flexible and high ISO, an actual shutter, and noise reduction for the sensor. When I want a video camera, my requirements are substantially different from anything I'd want weighing down my pocket on an everyday basis- for one thing the lens alone tends to be bigger than any phone I've owned- and anyway, I have yet to grasp the value in amateur video.
hmm so in short, I'm of the "if it can't be done right, it's not worth doing" persuassion about picture/video messaging and camera/video phones.
yay for starting engadget flame wars
I should flame myself back by conceding, my iPhone loses in the fact that many "lesser" phones have microSD slots, which conceivably could let me shoot a shot on a real camera and then utilize it on the phone...
1. STORM
2. Curve
Direct quote from PC Magazine
Definition of: Smartphone
A cellular telephone with information access. It provides digital voice service as well as any combination of e-mail, text messaging, pager, Web access, voice recognition, still and/or video camera, MP3, TV or video player and organizer (see PDA).
Introduced in 1994 by IBM and BellSouth, the Simon Personal Communicator was a combination phone and PDA. Often mentioned as the first smartphone, the Simon was costly and heavy (see personal communicator). It took another decade before smartphones became widely used, and Apple's iPhone caused a frenzy when it came out in 2007 (see iPhone).
a direct quote from wikipedia, not an encyclopedia, but the general consensus
A smartphone is a mobile phone offering advanced capabilities beyond a typical mobile phone, often with PC-like functionality. There is no industry standard definition of a smartphone.[1][2] For some, a smartphone is a phone that runs complete operating system software providing a standardized interface and platform for application developers.[3][4] For others, a smartphone is simply a phone with advanced features like e-mail and Internet capabilities, and/or a full keyboard.[5][6]
look like the iPhone might be smart after all
This would most definately have to be the Sprint Instict....now with email synch it offers everything one needs and more (TV/Video, GPS, EVDO Speed, great browsing, great screen....you have to try it...it is an outstanding device.....and at less than $130 with new contract it is a bargain....you can even get it for free with a two year contract by some retailers....
OT..sorry. How do I Ask Engadget a question?
E71 or iPhone 3G refurbished... See there's a lot, even the BlackBerry 8900 is a great phone... Personal preference, personal choice... Now the Palm Pre will change the game however... www.AtomicSub.net
iPhone 3G = garbage. ALL Windows Mobile Devices = trash. Nokia = ok. BlackBerry = best smartphones for "smart" people that actually work and need to send emails... (not boys playing stupid games on their iPhones...) www.atomicsub.net whether you like it or not....