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| RIM BlackBerry Curve 8330 (Sprint) |
| Full review » Scoreboard » Features » Gallery » |
_it00.jpg) The Sprint BlackBerry Curve 8330 is a slight but significant improvement over the Verizon Wireless version of the same phone, thanks to the additional apps that Sprint has thrown in. On Sprint's Curve, we found plenty of instant messaging options, including GTalk, our favorite, as well as the Facebook app for BlackBerry. We also liked Handmark's Pocket Express, which didn't quite excuse the poor Web browser, but did make information gathering more pleasant. Best of all, the Sprint BlackBerry Curve 8330 retains the excellent battery life and improved scheduling capabilities we've come to appreciate on this device. Right now, this is probably the best BlackBerry on the market, as well as the best multimedia smartphone Sprint has to offer. Release: May 2008. Price: $200.
Pros: Comes with more useful apps than competitor. Best-in-class battery life. Loads of messaging options. Comes with more useful apps than competitor. Best-in-class battery life. Loads of messaging options.
Cons: Web browser is subpar. Call quality could sound better. Media transfer software would be nice. Web browser is subpar. Call quality could sound better. Media transfer software would be nice.
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Mediocre |
74%
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| Motorola i335 |
| Full review » Scoreboard » Features » Gallery » |
 The i335 is very single-minded. It does what it is supposed to do well—namely, make and receive calls. There aren’t many bells and whistles, and it isn’t the most attractive phone we’ve ever seen, but the rubber does well to protect it, and our callers heard us loud and clear. For Direct Connect customers, and perhaps light calling and messaging users,the i335 is a solid, if uninspiring option. But for anyone looking for anything more should look elsewhere. Release: November 2007. Price: $80.
Pros: Slim, rugged design, good call quality
Cons: Dearth of features, slow SMS, terrible Web browser
| Poor |
43%
MEDIOCRE |
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| Samsung Ace |
| Full review » Video » Scoreboard » Features » Gallery » |
 The Samsung Ace does an excellent job with tethered modem support. And, if you are a Sprint fan who travels abroad, this is one of your few options. But otherwise, the Samsung Ace falls well short of the competition, and perhaps even its own family members. The lack of software we usually consider a given on smartphones, like an Office Suite and IM client, is troubling. Though the phone is an obvious relative of the BlackJack, it doesn't get the improvements we enjoyed in the BlackJack II, like the improved battery life, GPS and better (debatable) navigation. For the $200 price tag, there are certainly better options, even for a dual-mode device. Release: February 2008. Price: $200.
Pros: Dual-mode support means Sprint users can bring phone's abroad. Great tethered modem connectivity.
Cons: No IM client, no Mobile Office. Keys are different, but not better, than BlackJack. Seems more like BlackJack I than BlackJack II.
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Mediocre |
59%
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Excellent |
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| RIM BlackBerry Pearl 8130 (Sprint) |
| Full review » Video » Scoreboard » Features » Gallery » |
_it00.jpg) Well, this certainly isn't the best Pearl of the bunch. Though Sprint's Pearl does show signs of improvement over the first-generation GSM models, it has a few problems that would keep us from choosing it over other models. Most importantly, it was sluggish, and perhaps even buggy. Some Web pages refused to load at all, with no error or warning from the BlackBerry. Dealing with Sprint's music player was a real hassle, and diminished the added value of having the Sprint Music Store on board. Don't get us wrong, we liked the improvements, like the slight graphical upgrade and the ports for a 3.5mm headphone jack and a microSDHC card. But the same can be found elsewhere, without the problems. Release: November 2007. Price: $200.
Pros: Interface just a bit prettier. Very good call quality. Great scheduling options
Cons: Sluggish phone. Web pages load slowly, GPS tracks slowly, music playlist populates slowly.
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Mediocre |
70%
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Very good |
Excellent |
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| Palm Centro |
| Full review » Video » Scoreboard » Features » Gallery » |
 The Palm Centro is the right device for Palm right now. It's a happy little Palm device, priced very competitively, that will bring a new audience to business smartphones and perhaps even reinvigorate the brand just a bit. The phone offers enough features for the price to foster good will, perhaps as long as half way until the next Palm OS update is due. Then, we'll swear we'll start to get tired of the Palm OS. We'll need something new, and this time, there isn't an antenna to cut off. Until then, anyone in the market for a Treo should seriously consider the Centro. If your fingers can handle the smaller keys, it's definitely the one to choose. Release: October 2007. Price: $180.
Pros: Great value. Small size. Screen maintains high resolution of Palm Treo. Runs full Palm OS, can use many existing Palm OS program. Fast networking on Sprint's EV-DO
Cons: Tiny keys. Small screen. Aging Palm OS in dire need of cosmetic update. Scheduling app could use an update. Lacks features and apps of a multimedia smartphone.
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Mediocre |
61%
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Very good |
Excellent |
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