The basic clamshell from pre-pay carrier Virgin Mobile boasts a sporty white-and-red look with a 1.3-megapixel camera and a speakerphone. Is the Cyclops worth a second glance?
Review summary of the Kyocera Cyclops:
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 The Kyocera Cyclops' eye-popping (sorry, we couldn't resist) look makes it a solid choice for younger chatters who just need a basic calling phone. The clamshell's reliable call quality won't disappoint, and the on-board 1.3-megapixel camera is certainly a plus. However, we're bummed by the relative lack of calling features, such as Bluetooth and conference calling, and the much-vaunted VAM service -- which lets you send voice memos to your buddies -- only works with other VAM-equipped phones (which, for now at least, means the Cyclops itself). Release: November 2006. Price: $50.
Pros: Fun, sporty look; comfortable keypad; 1.3-megapixel camera; solid call clarity.
Cons: Lacks Bluetooth and conference calling; mediocre displays; messaging interface doesn't fit many characters; a bit bulky; VAM voice memos only work with other VAM-equipped phones.
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Full Kyocera Cyclops Review:
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Design
The Kyocera Cyclops embraces a fun and youthful style, sporting a pearly white shell with a metallic red stripe down the middle. The handset's 1.3-megapixel camera with its pronounced round lens also takes center stage. However, the clamshell's appearance looses some points due to its hefty waistline (0.92 inches thick) and its bland, monochrome external screen, which displays date, time, reception and battery info. The internal screen ups the ante with colorful wallpaper options and screen savers, but the screen-door effect on the relatively low-resolution display is disappointing.
Calling - Good
The Cyclops held its own in terms of call quality. Our conversations on the windy streets of Manhattan were loud and clear, and didn't pick up too much of the rush-hour roar. Reception was a bit shifty indoors, barely sustaining a bar or two at a time, but it improved significantly when we took the phone outside. Unfortunately, the Cyclops drops the ball when it comes to calling features, only including a speakerphone and voice tagging. The speakerphone sounded tinny as most do, but was loud outdoors. One of the better features the phone includes is the robust phonebook with plenty of calling fields to keep track of your pals, as well as while-you-type searching. We managed to wring about three hours of talk time out of the Cyclops.
Messaging - Very good
The flip phone features one of the most comfortable keypads we've ever used on an basic calling phone. Typing was a joy with slightly raised, red backlit keys that are evenly spaced and easy to distinguish. Unfortunately, the lackluster messaging interface only fits a measly 55 characters on the display, far shorter than the 160 we prefer. The Cyclops does include AIM instant messaging and VAM (Virgin Mobile Audio Messaging), which allows you to record voice memos and send them off to your buddies as if they were text messages. However, unless your buddies also happen to have a VAM-enabled phone (just the Cyclops for now, although word on the street is that the Kyocera Switch_Back will soon be VAM compatible as well), you're stuck with conventional text messaging.
Related phones: More Virgin Mobile handsets
Price and availability
Available now on Virgin Mobile, the Kyocera Cyclops retails for $50.
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