The newest version of the Sidekick LX ($200 with a two-year contract, as of 5/1/09), T-Mobile's popular messaging phone traditionally aimed at teenagers, sports grown-up features such as 3G support, GPS, and an improved, more sophisticated design. But ...

Gorgeous high-resolution display Excellent QWERTY keyboard

Awkward button placement Only 6MB of mailbox storage

I'll update this review as I play with the Sidekick LX more. One thing I am certain of: Sidekick fans will definitely appreciate this upgrade

The Nokia N85 ($370 unlocked, as of 4/7/2009) is very similar to the company's N96, but with one big difference: It has an OLED display, and a gorgeous one--a huge boon because the N85 has excellent multimedia and camera features. But like the N95, ...

Gorgeous OLED display Excellent multimedia features

Slider build feels cheap No touch screen or QWERTY keyboard

If you can get past the at-times frustrating navigation, the N85 is a solid buy with its superb multimedia features and high-quality camera

Like the Iqua Vizor Sun, the $100 (as of 3/27/09) LG Electronics Solar Car Kit HFB-500 can get all the juice it needs from sunlight--provided that you can expose the unit to a lot of rays. Following the HFB-500's initial charge, I did not need to use ...

Solar power delivers unlimited talk time Attaches securely to the windshield

Volume buttons can be tricky to access Flashing lights can be distracting at night

I had a great hit rate with the voice-dialing feature. It picked up on the contacts' names I uttered and dialed accordingly. At first I had some trouble getting the last-number redial feature to work consistently; if I didn't hold down the HFB-500's ...

Phone fans had been hoping that Sprint's next-gen version of the Samsung Instinct smartphone would drop weight and beef up on specs. Then, at CTIA 2009, the Instinct S30 ($130 after rebates, with a two-year contract) premiered. Let's just say that the ...

Slimmer profile, smooth lines feel great in hand 32GB of internal memory

Still no Wi-Fi Weak camera capabilities

Samsung has done a solid job on both the original Instinct and the S30; either way, you have to admire the extensive feature list and sharp design you get for the price. But Wi-Fi support, better camera specs, and a snazzier user interface all seem ...

The pricey Samsung Innov8 ($930, unlocked; as of 4/7/2009) innovates in several ways--most notably with its 8-megapixel camera; carrying the highest resolution among phones sold to date in the United States, the Innov8 offers advanced in-camera photo ...

Excellent 8-megapixel camera Intuitive interface

Call quality was mediocre Phone on the heavy side

Since the Innov8 debuted, Samsung has released the Memoir, which also has an 8-megapixel camera and is offered at a subsidized price through T-Mobile. The Memoir boasts similar camera features as the Innov8, but with one notable upgrade: a Xenon flash ...

A chic alternative to the more mundane BlackBerry Curve, the HTC S740 ($550, unlocked, as of 4/9/2009) holds appeal for those who prefer a physical keyboard to a touchscreen. This slim, eye-catching smartphone has a clean interface and a spacious ...

Excellent full QWERTY keyboard Slim design

Mediocre camera Unreliable call quality

The HTC S740 has everything you could want in a messaging and e-mail powerhouse: A fantastic keyboard, a slick operating system, and slim design. If you can tolerate mediocre call quality, the HTC S740 (or S743, when it debuts), is an excellent buy

An unlocked brother to the HTC Touch series phones, the HTC Touch Cruise ($550, unlocked, as of 4/9/2009) has an eye-catching look and a beautifully designed touch interface. But like the other HTC phones we've tested, the Cruise suffers from sluggish ...

Gorgeous touch interface Lightweight and slim design

Spotty call quality Performance sometimes sluggish

The HTC Cruise impresses with its gorgeous display and variety of multimedia features. But like other HTC Touch phones we've seen, the Cruise's touch interface gets is bogged down by Windows Mobile, which makes for a sometimes frustrating experience

The LG Prada II ($500 unlocked) improves on its predecessor in some important ways--such as by offering a physical QWERTY keyboard, 3G network capability, and Wi-Fi support. It's packed with impressive specs, but it doesn't have a vital (and ...

Excellent multimedia features ; Responsive multitouch interface

No GPS

Browsing the Web is a pretty straightforward experience, albeit one that the Prada II's multitouch capabilities enhance somewhat. Nevertheless, I found myself pinching multiple times before the page would zoom in or out. Connectivity was slow at times ...

The LG Prada II ($500 unlocked) improves on its predecessor in some important ways--such as by offering a physical QWERTY keyboard, 3G network capability, and Wi-Fi support. It's packed with impressive specs, but it doesn't have a vital (and ...

Excellent multimedia features Responsive multitouch interface

No GPS

Browsing the Web is a pretty straightforward experience, albeit one that the Prada II's multitouch capabilities enhance somewhat. Nevertheless, I found myself pinching multiple times before the page would zoom in or out. Connectivity was slow at times ...

After a few delays, the Palm Treo Pro is now shipping from Sprint (for $200 with a two-year contract, as of 3/5/09). This smart phone will please Windows Mobile fans with its sleek design and its business-friendly features. Sprint customers seeking a ...

Sleek design Includes applet to close running programs

Keyboard and display feel cramped Below-average camera

The 2-megapixel camera is mediocre. With no flash, pictures appeared dark and blurry. In outdoor shots, colors looked washed out and images seemed grainy. The camera has a few advanced features, namely 8X digital zoom, brightness and white-balance ...