Samsung quietly announced a new set of entry-level to mid-range handsets, somewhat balancing out their recent spate of high-end releases. They come with various feature sets, from music-centric capabilities to 3G connectivity.

Samsung S6700

The S6700 is easily the most interesting of the bunch, offering quad-band GSM and dual-band UMTS (3.6Mbps HSDPA) connectivity.   Sporting a slider form factor, the handset boasts a 2.4-inch QVGA display, 3.2 megapixel optics (with dual LED flash), aGPS, Bluetooth and an FM tuner.

Samsung C5510

The second of the mid-range releases, the C5510 is the world-traveler of the bunch, although the 3G speeds won't be available everywhere (for roaming).  It fits in a 2.2-inch QVGA LCD, a 2.0 megapixel camera module (no autofocus), Bluetooth, FM radio and a "Mobile Tracker" feature that allows you to find the phone when it gets lost (a useful tool if you travel a lot).

Samsung M2510

A music-oriented slider, the M2310 touts Samsung's DNSe audio enhancement technology (the same one used in their PMPs),  along with an FM radio (+RDS) and a 3.5mm headphone jack.  It includes a 1.3 megapixel camera, a microSD slot, Bluetooth and an attractive-looking set of dedicated music controls right on the front panel.

Samsung M2310

At the low end of the scale, the clamshell M2310 sports a 2-inch LCD with 120 x 160 resolution, FM radio, a VGA camera module and a microSD slot.

Photo Credit: GSM Arena

Want a good-looking compact phone with just the most necessary of features? Take a look at Sony Ericsson's T700, a handset sporting slim lines with just enough niceties to make it worth your while.

Three things stand out in the T700's feature set, namely 3G support, 3.2 megapixel optics (sadly, not a Cybershot) and stylish looks, punctuated by a 10mm thin body. Do note that it is a global GSM phone, rather than a US handset. While it can be used with AT&T and T-Mobile stateside, it won't come with high-speed data access.

The camera interface, as with Sony Ericsson's previous offerings, is very good, with easily accessible options. Since it's not a Cybershot, though, it doesn't come with autofocus, leading to only one thing: some amount of blurriness in shots. If you can get past that, however, the T700 offers generous resolution and produces considerably rich colors with its still photos.

Physically, the phone is quite the looker, with a gorgeous finish and a comforting feel in the hand. Display is a modest 2 inches (240 x 320 pixels), with very good image quality and superb performance outdoors. I find the keypad a bit small, although they are surprisingly easy to use - very responsive and excellent separation. On the exterior, at least, this phone delivers really, really well.

Interface is similar to what you'll find in Sony Ericsson's other phones, with a good selection of themes, in case you want it skinned. The phone runs pretty fast, from messaging to the integrated applications. Calls, on the other hand, seemed consistently a bit sharp and monotonous, so you may want to investigate that further before buying this particular model.

Multimedia playback is also available. While you shouldn't expect Walkman-quality audio, it's actually pretty good and comes bundled with a useful pair of 3.5mm earphones to boot. MP4 videos are capably handled, although you'll have to limit them to a 320 x 240 resolution - anything bigger, it just won't manage.

For the most part, the Sony Ericsson T700 is a phone that relies on its outward talents to make a case for itself. Stylish, slim and with an excellent screen, it may well be enough to make it worth the purchase too.

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Once the domain of Blackberry's range of professional handsets, front panel QWERTY keys have since found their way into the interfaces of affordable messaging phones.  When it comes to cheap, the $99 Samsung SGH-A177 (available for prepaid customers via AT&T) sure makes a good case for itself.

While it's not going to win any favors for its lack of stylish flair, the SGH-A177 makes up for it in usability.   With a great feel in the hand, it's easy to look past the plastic build and the uninspired form. Measuring 4.29 x 2.32 x .47 inches, it's pocketable and offers a very light feel.  Physical controls aren't the softest but Samsung made them large enough to be easy to use.

Display is a 2.2-inch LCD, with a nominal 220 x 176 resolution.  While images won't look great, text renders well enough while the smart, intuitive navigation runs with little lag.  Suffice to say, that cheap panel serves its intended messaging purpose well.  Keyboard is a bit tight, but offers decent travel and sturdy function.  In fact, you might find typing texts and emails better here than a few more expensive handsets which chose to focus their hardware costs on other areas of the phone.  Numbers weren't as easy to get used to, but it's the kind of thing you'll get the hang of eventually.

Apart from text and emails, it offers decent instant messaging and a WAP browser (though I doubt that kind of connectivity will be a major consideration for getting this device).  Calls are good, for the most part, although the maximum volume level was a bit low for noisy environments, making it necessary to try and find a quieter area when you need to communicate without requiring the other person to yell.

With messaging as the main selling point, there's little else here in terms of other features.  There's a basic music player (but the handset requires a non-3.5mm jack), a VGA camera and Bluetooth.

Remember when we said the Samsung Magnet should be available in a color other than orange?  This handset is basically it, taking on pretty much the same guts, with a few differences in the controls and the obvious finish.  If all you're looking for is a decent-looking phone with great messaging features, the Samsung SGH-A177 will do the job nicely.  You won't get much extras, but for the price, this is as good a phone as you can probably get.

Photo Credit: Wapzon

While a Supernova phone probably impresses images of a high-powered device with an explosion of features, that's about the last thing the Nokia 7100 purports to be.  Instead, it's a decidedly entry-level handset, designed  for users who like keeping their digital lives simple.

Sporting a gorgeous stylish body, the design is about the flashiest thing the 7100 packs.  Small and extremely compact, it comes with a 2-inch 320 x 240 display.  Screen works wonderfully indoors, with crisp colors and sharp lines.  Outside, however, it's barely usable.  Under direct sunlight, it's a total bust.

Featuring a slider form factor, the lower panel pushes out to reveal a standard T9 keypad with firm and tactile keys.  As such, texting is as easy as it can get without a full QWERTY panel.  Voice calls are similarly well-done (a testament to Nokia's commitment to emerging markets), with little noticeable sharpness even at max volume.  Build quality is pretty good with the exception of the back cover, which seems to enjoy creaking and threatening to fall off (though it never actually did during the whole time we used it).

Niceties include EDGE data connectivity via the onboard Opera Mini, as well as Bluetooth and FM radio.  There's also a nominal camera (1.3 megapixels), which is about as basic as it can get with a 2009-era phone.  Music playback is available, although with the paltry storage coupled with no memory card support, it's pretty much a useless addition.  Add to that the 2.5mm headphone port and you've got yourself a loser.  As with most basic handsets, battery life is good - damn good.   Expect not to need replenishing for at least several days on normal use.

For a basic handset, the Nokia 7100 Supernova does its core duties well (looks awfully stylish with good text and calls) while performing everything else pretty nominally.  If you need a backup handset or just don't care about features, though, it may turn out to be all that you need.

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Photo Credit: GSM Arena

Want a good-looking phone for cheap with entry-level features?  Take a gander at the Sony Ericsson S302 Snapshot, a handsome little handset with a blindingly shiny deep blue finish (also available in a less-eyecatching gray version).

I have no idea for the Snapshot name, as the 2 megapixel camera around the back snaps photos with a disturbing lack of detail.  Expect rich colors amidst blurry objects, coupled with a decidedly good camera interface.  The rest of the phone pretty much follows what is to be expected of budget handsets - great calls, good SMS and pretty much below average on everything else.

In terms of looks, you can't help but love the S302.  The deep blue color is gorgeous, further accentuated by the well-executed blue backlighting on the keypad.  Controls and keys are easy-to-use and responsive, creating no problems at all during actual use.

Display is a budget phone-standard 2-inch LCD with 176 x 220 resolution.  It works well even under direct sunlight, although the screen quality itself isn't all that good.  It uses the same interface as with most of Sony Ericsson's newer budget models (W302, W395), which is pretty decent in its own right.

It comes with an onboard music player and FM tuner, which are nice to have but decidedly average in the way of function.  The S302 comes with dedicated playback ON/OFF button in the back, which makes it easy to kill the torturous noise coming from the loudspeaker if you ever make the mistake of playing sounds from it.  Users can play media from an M2 slot around the back.

As with most budget handsets, the Sony Ericsson S302 Snapshot is great if all you want is a simple call and text phone, without any accoutrements designed to make your life easier.  With its attractive blue color, you get the bonus of a midway attractive-looking handset.

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