The Pharos Traveler GPS 137 is the immediate successor to the Traveler 127. In fact, they share almost the exact same features, differentiated mostly by physical design and some variance in performance. As such, it shares mostly the same advantages and disadvantages as the earlier handset.
First off, the 137 is a sleeker, more attractive update with a full touchscreen front panel, compared to the QWERTY-fitted one of the 127. Departing from the clunky looks of its predecessor, the new device fits right into the current smartphone market, with streamlined looks and a very clean design. Build appears to be very good, with a soft back cover.
The large 3.5-inch display is a stunner. Offering a 480 x 800 resolution, it fosters extra-clear images with plenty of brightness to go around. Naturally, the larger screen is a better unit for use as a GPS, as well. It also comes pre-loaded with Spb Mobile Shell, one of the best third-party skinning for Windows Mobile phones to make that tired OS look fresh for a change. It includes an onboard accelerometer, although performance on that end wasn't very consistent.
It comes with the same Smart Navigator software as the Traveler 127, along with a full set of maps, so your GPS service is free. Like we said in that previous review, this isn't the best location-based software around and warrants a consideration, for the most part, only because it comes free with your phone. Too bad, really, because it is a complete system, offering voice and text navigation, multiple routes, POI and trip recording. There are even real-time updates for traffic, gas prices, movies and local weather. It's a good set of features, though, so many of the design issues can be overlooked.
As a phone, voice calls were decent, although it had a persistent background hiss. Speakerphone was largely unusable, other than the most ideal conditions, like a quiet room with great reception. It offers quad-band roaming, along with 3G and Wi-Fi, so connectivity suite is pretty complete. Battery is rated at 7 hours and it can last you a good couple of days before recharging.
Since it's a Windows Mobile phone, messaging and apps suite are on par with industry best. Much of the other features are just pretty standard, though, including a 2.0 megapixel camera (average stills), basic media playback (great movies because of the gorgeous screen) and average HSDPA browser speeds.
Like its predecessor, it's tough to recommend the Pharos Traveler GPS 137. While it keeps its end of the bargain by outfitting a complete phone, implementation is still not solid. If you're looking for value, though, a pre-installed complete GPS software and gorgeous touchscreen (around $500, depending on where you purchase) at this price point sounds like a good deal.
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