While they’re not as flashy as the latest smartphones, you can’t beat a classic handset for ease of use, says Mark Prigg
Listen to the phone industry and you’d be forgiven for thinking the all-singing, all-dancing handsets that do everything from playing the latest films to acting as a satnav are the only option. But lower down the mobile phone food chain, it’s a different story.
While more and more manufacturers are focusing on the high end, in the everyday phone market, handsets are excelling in ease of use and – shock horror – actually doing what you want them to with the minimum of fuss.
While even Apple’s iPhone has been criticised for being only an average handset when it comes to calling and texting, there are handsets available out there that are superb at the basic, everyday tasks we actually need our phones for.
Being less feature-hungry also means these models generally have a far superior battery life and, quite often, better call quality. They are focused, lean products without the “bloat” of smartphones – and they are the perfect solution for day-to-day use.
For anyone on a budget, these phones also give you a huge amount of bargaining power – at the very least, try to negotiate some accessories when you buy.
Nokia 6700 - Free with contract, nokia.co.uk
The 6700 is a superb example of exactly how good an everyday phone can be. It’s an incredibly simple, straightforward handset, yet manages to contain practically every basic feature you could want.
Measuring 110mm x 45mm x 11mm, it is a classic “candy bar” design without any sliding or gimmicks, and feels very comfortable in the hand. At 113g, it’s also very light, although be warned that the chrome finish shows fingerprints.
Although it is positioned firmly towards the lower end of Nokia’s range, the specifications are a testament to how advanced even elementary phones have now become. The 6700 boasts a five-megapixel camera with flash, a fast 10.2Mbps data connection and a 2.2-inch screen.
In use, it’s extremely fast, and the interface is simple even for the most technophobic of users. Amazingly, it’s also quite a nice handset for the odd bit of web surfing, although only for simple sites. Email is well supported, and Nokia’s slick PC software makes backing up contacts easy.
PROS Small and perfectly formed
CONS Shows fingerprints
Motorola Dext - Free with contract, motorola.com
The Motorola Dext seems to be the result of too much caffeine in one of the company’s product meetings – almost every conceivable feature has been crammed in, from a slide-out keyboard to a bewildering array of “widgets” for social networking sites.
The Dext is based on a customised version of Google’s Android phone software and, as such, is slick and simple to use, with a growing selection of applications you can download.
However, Motorola has aimed the Dext squarely at consumers, and those obsessed with social networking sites in particular. It looks a little chunky, and is probably the ugliest handset here, although much of that is down to the extra bulk from the slide-out keyboard. The QWERTY keyboard isn’t great, and certainly won’t do for writing long emails, but it’s fine for the occasional Tweet or Facebook status update.
Overall, this is a case of throwing too much into the mix – and as an everyday phone, it just doesn’t cut it.
PROS Great social networking capabilities
CONS Poor keyboard
HTC Tattoo - Free with contract, htc.com
This is the first budget handset to use Google’s Android phone software, and it is small, slick and works brilliantly. As with all Android phones, you’ll need a Google account to get the best out of it, but once you’re up and running, all email, contacts and diary data will be synchronised automatically with Google’s servers.
The touchscreen is relatively fast and responsive, although not the best here. The menus are straightforward, and while the app store doesn’t have the breadth of applications that Apple’s does, it’s off to a good start. The gun-metal grey unit is also controllable via a four-way button under the screen, although I found texting a little fiddly – hitting the right key on the on-screen keyboard can be tough.
On the whole, this is a top everyday handset with the advantage of a great built-in email service.
PROS Great design, easy to use
CONS Texting can be fiddly
Blackberry Pearl 8120 - Free with contract, uk.blackberry.com
The Pearl is at the bottom of the Blackberry range, aimed squarely at the consumer and occasional email market. It’s much smaller than any other Blackberry, and features an unusual keyboard that tries to cram a full QWERTY keyboard on to a narrow phone by doubling up the keys. While it takes quite a lot of getting used to, the prediction software is quite impressive – although even after a week I found myself regularly getting frustrated.
Navigating around is easy thanks to the trackball, which works brilliantly. The Blackberry software has also been refined over the years and is now excellent, with downloadable applications and slick menus.
Although the Pearl has been around for a little while, it is still worthy of inclusion here as, while not excelling in any one area, it is a decent all-rounder for the occasional emailer who doesn’t want the bulk of a “real” Blackberry.
PROS Blackberry software
CONS Tiny keyboard
LG GD900 Crystal - Free with contract, lge.com
The LG Crystal is certainly a unique design, thanks to its transparent keypad, which glows when active, and a number of tricks including finger writing recognition.
However, gimmicks aside, this is a pretty good slider handset and, crucially, the transparent keypad also works as a touchpad, making navigating around web pages simple. It’s a great idea, although it takes a bit of getting used to.
The three-inch screen is good, and perfectly adequate for viewing web pages. There’s also a decent eight-megapixel camera, and an LED flash. The icon-based menu system is also good, and shows off the screen quality well, although it can be a little confusing finding your way around.
The Crystal is a well thought-out idea but somehow lacks the ease of use I was expecting – it seems more of a concept phone than a real product, as once the novelty of the transparent keypad has worn off, it’s a pretty average handset.
PROS Unique looks
CONS Gimmick wears off quickly
Samsung Genio Touch - Free with contract, samsung.com
Inspired by the more expensive phones on the market, the Samsung Genio Touch is an attempt to bring glossy, curved design to the everyday phone market. The 2.8-inch touchscreen works reasonably well, although don’t expect a razor-sharp display, and the rounded button in the middle of the face works well as a main control.
This is a obviously a “designer” handset, and to prove the point it comes with three interchangeable coloured backs. However, look past the gimmicks and this is a great phone. There are about 75 widgets (add-on applications) you can download, including all the usual Facebook/Twitter ones. The menu system is simple and straightforward, although is at times let down by the low resolution of the screen, which makes everything look slightly washed out. There’s also a rather poor two-megapixel camera, an FM radio and a web browser that works surprisingly well.
Overall, it’s a reasonable attempt at an everyday touchscreen phone, but while the customisable backs might sway some buyers, for most it won’t have the ease of use or speed of some of the other handsets here.
PROS Great design
CONS Poor screen
