What is the best cell phone?

[inferno_gn]

Hi there,

I was wondering, what do you think is the best cell phone out there? Not too expensive, good for the average user, good interface, not so complex. Flip or without? I'm looking for a new cell phone soon (GSM), because my Sony Ericsson Z200 sucks.

Ju Leon...

[TechZ]

From my experience if youre used to an interface, then its easy to use, I use mostly Nokia phones and so they are what I see as an easy to use interface, now its up to you what model you want, flip phones have a longer battery life afaik & the screen is protected, but if you use your phone alot best to stick with the non-flip kind.

http://reviews.cnet.com/Cell_phones/2001-3504_7-0.html
http://www.mobiledia.com/

[Matridom]

interface is important, I personaly prefer a phone that has the basics and is small enough to fit into a pocket.

another consideration is if your going to get a locked or unlocked phone. service providers usualy don't support unlocked phones.

I personaly don't like the nokia phones, they are difficult to configure for GPRS. Some nokia's (like the 66xx series) are almost PDA like in their abilities.

Additionaly, i like flip phones for 2 reasons. GPRS access around here is expensive and most phones have a "1 button connect". on a non-flip, it's easy to have that clicked accidently, flip phone protect the number pad and prevent that. Secondly, flip phone tend to be smaller and more portable then the non-flip version.

To that end, for flips, i recommend samsung or motorola. Motorola tech support is the pits, they won't help with anything. Their phones have more features, like bluetooth and e-mail capabilities.

To that end, i went with a samsung e316 flip phone. The only thing i don't like with it is that i can't use a data cable to upload games. Otherwise i'm super happy with it.

edit: Best site for cell phones, www.howardforums.com

[TechZ]

I guess it depends where you live, I setup GPRS on my Nokia quite easily, I simply text msg to the Telco (there is a fixed number for that, or one click on their site) and they send back the settings which are accepted by the phone and GPRS is all setup.

I've noticed that here alot of the Sim chips have the settings preconfigured as well, for WAP, GPRS, 3G, etc.

I've used both flip and non-flip, with non-flip I could lock the keypad easily in Nokia phones, and I'm sure all non-flip phones have this, so no accidental clicks leading to unwanted bills.

And about flip phones being smaller, I dont think so, it depends on the model of the phone. Samsung make excellent flip phones, the same as Nokia make excellent non-flip phones.

Finding a simple phone nowadays that has a good screen (color) and a few features such as a camera isnt so easy, manufacturers have new models coming out more often now and there is lots to choose from.

With Nokia, its like Microsoft, plenty of apps, games, and accessories about, the rest are more like Apple products, good, but the extras arent that easy to get.

This is ofcourse with reference to the Middle East.

[Matridom]

I've noticed that here alot of the Sim chips have the settings preconfigured as well, for WAP, GPRS, 3G, etc.

This i find hard to believe right now.

specialy considering that my current position involves supporting GPRS on GSM phones.

Some Service providers can one click a "push" message to configure the phone (it's not a text message ) But again, not all providers give this service, mine does not.

The problem with the super small non-flip phones is that they are TOO small to use properly.

and nokia's, i don't like them at all. not one bit.

[crazyman]

Hi there,

I was wondering, what do you think is the best cell phone out there? Not too expensive, good for the average user, good interface, not so complex. Flip or without? I'm looking for a new cell phone soon (GSM), because my Sony Ericsson Z200 sucks.

Ju Leon...

I have had Motorolas,Eriksons ,Nokias,& now I have a LG with Cingular service,and the LG is by far tha best phone I have ever had,also the talk time/batt life is killer,I have never ran out of juice in the battery.




and btw,I am really happy with the features and signal strength and coverage with Cingular.

[TechZ]

How come its hard to believe?

Here (Bahrain) the mobile co. configures the Sim Chips (those that go in the mobile when you take a line), so they already have the settings in them, its how it is here anyway. Also some phones (I suppose they are intended for this region) also have the settings for the major mobile co. on the phones itself.

I guess its called a "push" message, didnt know what the technical term was.

We have two providers and both have this service, either thru a menu on the phone (that is there via the Sim chip), or via their site.

The problem with the super small non-flip phones is that they are TOO small to use properly.

Agreed, but there are also some extremely small flip phones that arent that user friendly due to their size. Small phones are good, tiny arent.

I guess it all depends on what youre personal preference is.

[Matridom]

How come its hard to believe?

Here (Bahrain) the mobile co. configures the Sim Chips (those that go in the mobile when you take a line), so they already have the settings in them, its how it is here anyway. Also some phones (I suppose they are intended for this region) also have the settings for the major mobile co. on the phones itself.

I guess its called a "push" message, didnt know what the technical term was.

We have two providers and both have this service, either thru a menu on the phone (that is there via the Sim chip), or via their site.


Agreed, but there are also some extremely small flip phones that arent that user friendly due to their size. Small phones are good, tiny arent.

I guess it all depends on what youre personal preference is.

I'll look into GPRS settings on the sim chip, but here in canada, that does not exist, and i'm 90% sure it does not in the US(however i can't say with certainty).

[Brian G]

Cell phones suck, for me anyway. I've had 2 Motorla phones and 2 contracts with Verizon. I get dropped calls constantly, calls that won't connect etc. Verizon is supposedly the best in my area. A nice example, I try to make a call from my own house, and cannot even connect. I use my fiance's phone, which is from Sprint, and it works great, and Sprint is supposedly sucky to have in my area. Go figure. Bye bye Verizon in Sept when my contract is over.

[TechZ]

I read a good article on this a while back, black spots theyre called I think, its pretty common since they have to cover a large area, there was one incident where the person's phone worked inside the house, one step out the door and no connectivity

[Radical Dreamer]

I love my Nokia 3620

[Richard1]

It also depends on what you want to do with it. Just a basic cellphone here in the states you can get preconfigured at any mall, strip or otherwise. I am looking forward in the near future to getting a new phone. I have been patiently waiting for a phone that was essentially a computer. Well they are getting there. I'm considering getting the BlackBerry 7100t from T-Mobile which has made great strides in their coverage of my area.

http://www.blackberry.com/products/b...rry7100t.shtml

With this you can view regular HTML pages, albeit with major scrolling, get your e-mail and make calls. This is the integration I have been waiting for. It's not cheap, for unlimited e-mail and internet it's a whopping 29.99 over and above my normal cell phone plan. This thing regularly costs $299.99 but if you already have a T-Mobile phone they are giving a rebate of $100 which is a pretty sweet deal IMO. All they need now is a 100gig HDD and I'll be set for awhile. Oh yeah and BlackBerry needs to add gaming to it's "to do" list.

[WebHead]

Hi there,

I was wondering, what do you think is the best cell phone out there? Not too expensive, good for the average user, good interface, not so complex. Flip or without? I'm looking for a new cell phone soon (GSM), because my Sony Ericsson Z200 sucks.

Ju Leon...

If you are thinking of getting a new cell phone,.. go to a direct store and talk to a sales rep. They are trained to qualify your needs by asking you a gazillion questions and walk you through some models that you might be interested in.

To answer the original question though,.. there is no *best* cell phone. They all have their strengths and weaknesses depending on the user and how they want to use it.

For me, I got a Samsung E316 because:
- small,.. fits in the pocket without weighing it down
- camera,.. to take pics when I'm on the go without having to carry additional hardware
- quad band so that I can use it on other international networks should the opportunity come up
- flip phone,.. just because that's what I prefer.
- It's shiny and cool looking
- easy to use interface

Some things I don't like about the phone I have:
- it doesn't have a built in email client
- the ring tones it comes with are weird
- low battery life (however,.. if charged properly, it lasts about 3 days)
- no usb port

[WebHead]

[QUOTE=Richard1]It also depends on what you want to do with it. Just a basic cellphone here in the states you can get preconfigured at any mall, strip or otherwise...QUOTE]

Be weary of these. The "authorized dealers" tend to be more shady and out for the sale rather than there for customer service as you would find at a direct store. Either way, they both make commission,.. but at a direct store, you are backed by the company with much better return policies, support and warranties.

I say all this stuff because, as many of you might already know, I am a former sales rep for AT&T Wireless. My title was "communications specialist". I worked in the retail store on the sales floor. I've seen it all pretty much.

[WebHead]

..To that end, i went with a samsung e316 flip phone. The only thing i don't like with it is that i can't use a data cable to upload games. Otherwise i'm super happy with it.

edit: Best site for cell phones, www.howardforums.com

Nice! Good phone.

I do like my Moto MPx200,.. but it doesn't have the 850MHz band and no camera, thus I don't use it anymore. I looooove the smartphone interface of the moto though. All in all, the Samsung is my all-time favorite.