Simple function and affordable service - that's all some people really want in a cellphone. The LG Lyric from MetroPCS handily fits that bill, complete with a user-friendly design and reliable performance.

Physically, it takes a traditional slider form factor, with a flat but roomy T9-style keypad popping out from the bottom of the handset. The overall design is neat, with clean lines and a slim profile. Construction seems sturdy, as well, with a good feel in hand. The 2-inch screen packs a 320x240 resolution, allowing for sharp display of images and text. It's exceptionally bright and has good colors, too.

As a phone, the LG Lyric makes for satisfying calls. It's not the best sound we've heard on either end, but it's clear enough to facilitate good conversations. Speakerphone calls performed similarly, only adding a slightly loud echo at the highest loudness settings. Battery time is rated at 3.3 hours of talk time, which should work out to around two days under regular use.

The basics are all here - a 1,000-entry phonebook, PIM tools, stereo Bluetooth and the usual messaging (SMS and MMS). Despite the entry-level reputation, it comes with a few slightly advanced features, including a wireless web browser, threaded messaging, IM support (Windows Live and AIM) and aGPS (with MetroNavigator). It also supports ChatLink, MetroPCS' push-to-talk service.

A music player is onboard, with support for MP3 and AAC files. The 2.0 megapixel camera comes with a few editing settings, all while managing to shoot decent images. Shots lack a bit more brightness, but colors appear very natural. You can store media and images on a microSD card up to 16GB.

Overall, the LG Lyric has functional features, good performance and a likable design. With the addition of extras, like PTT, GPS and IM, this is quite an enticing purchase for as low as $114 on MetroPCS ($25 in online rebate) without a contract.

We're used to vertical sliders looking ugly as all hell, so seeing the Nokia 7230 is like a breath of fresh air. Good-looking and stylish doesn't mean a joy to use, though. So how does it fare?

Physically, it brings a sexy, curvaceous shape that's more common in touchscreens than other form factors. The neat layout, band of chrome running along the edges and overall great feel in hand suggest an excellent design aesthetic. Keypad slides out smoothly from the bottom and provides a great experience - well-spaced keys, good feedback and accurate typing.

It comes with a 2.4-inch screen (320 x 240 resolution) that actually looks bigger because of the shape. Display is sufficiently bright with crisp detail. It does have poor viewing angles, though.

As a phone, the 7230 delivers excellent call quality. Voices sounded clean and very natural, with nary a hint of disruption. Speakerphone performed the same way, with ample volume and just a hint of tinniness. Battery life is very good, lasting a full four days of regular use.

A basic slider, there's not much to expect on the features end. It runs Symbian S40, which offers good messaging capabilities and a few other essential niceties, such as PIM tools, a music player (basic but decent quality; the bundled 3.5mm headphones are crap, though) and stereo Bluetooth. Better than most entry-level handsets, it comes with slower 3G speeds (no HSDPA), which top out at 284kbps. There's no WiFi.

The 3.2 megapixel camera is quite poor, managing noisy images. Indoors, it get worse, adding a yellowish hue and a noticeable lack of sharpness to shots. It does come with easy uploading capabilities to both Flickr and Ovi Share, however, in case you're into that.

Overall, the Nokia 7230's best assets are its looks and the way it handles basic phone functions (calls and texts). If that's all you want, this can be a good choice of a handset. Otherwise, there should be a couple of sliders along the same price range (between $150 to $180) that can deliver just a bit more on the features end.

The Samsung Shark 2 S5550 is the most sophisticated of the three models in the new Shark line, bringing a few high-end touches to complement the mid-range handset's feature set.  A few years ago, this slider would have been considered high-end; today, it still sounds like a mighty good device on paper.

Physically, it shares the same sharp and sleek design language as the other Shark phones (like the Samsung Shark S5350).  It feels good in the hand, with a sturdy build and a smooth sliding mechanism (although you can feel it move sideways ever so slightly).  The phone can be operated even without sliding open, which works out perfectly since both the navigation array and the keyboard are done excellently.

The handset comes with a 2.2-inch AMOLED screen with a satisfactory 320x240 resolution.  That makes for nice, sharp details, coupled with rich colors - a rarity for sliders nowadays.  While the display is clear even from odd angles, it does wither considerably under sunlight.  By the way, the decision to use a proprietary port (for both USB and audio) is just grating.

As a phone, the S5550 only manages average calls, with voices coming out sharp and monotonous for the most part.  There was plenty of volume and you can make out conversations - they're just not as natural-sounding as we would have liked.  Speakerphone feature worked the same way, with lots of volume but unsatisfactory quality.  Battery life is rated at 11.7 hours, which is crazy.  It looked good on tests, too.  My guess is this can go on for an easy four to five days of regular use without requiring a recharge.

Samsung hasn't updated their non-touch interfaces for a while and the Shark series bears that all-too-familiar design as well.  It's fast and it gets the job done, but it's completely unexciting.   All the standard features are here - messaging (SMS, MMS, email and IM, the latter via Palringo), PIM tools, music player (the same one Samsung's been using for years, which is decent), stereo Bluetooth and video playback (MPEG4, no DivX/Xvid).

One notable omission is the lack of much bundled apps - no special software to help you run social networking services, for instance.  The browser works fine, but renders complex pages poorly and offers very marginal navigation.   Its 5.0 megapixel camera is a saving grace, though, delivering good quality of images with a decent amount of editing options.  Video is great too, at 30fps.

Overall, the Samsung Shark 2 S5550 could have been great - if they went after a better user-experience on the software side.  As it is, though, it's an adequate mid-range phone with some notable strengths, namely a gorgeous screen, flawless keypad, a good camera and generous battery life.   Not bad at all.

The LG Shine II first appeared across some leaked photos back in the summer.  This time, the fashion-friendly phone goes official after LG USA announced its availability under mobile carrier AT&T.

While I don't exactly get the appeal of supposed "fashion phones," the second-generation Shine offers capable talents that bring more to the table than just its minimalist but stylish slider aesthetic.   As with its predecessor, LG throws in an attractive set of versatile mid-range features to go with the sleek, female-targeted lines.

Phone details include a 2.2-inch mirror LCD (yes, it can double as vanity mirror when you turn the display off), onboard GPS (with AT&T Navigator), a 2.0 megapixel camera module, Java 2.0 support (with access to LG's App Center) and 3G connectivity.  It comes pre-filled with a number of apps and services, including YellowPages Mobile, a wireless web browser, mobile email and AT&T video streaming.

AT&T will debut the LG Shine II on November 22, with pricing pegged at $119.99 on a two year contract (after a $50 rebate).  Yep, that's a full $20 more than the iPhone 3G in the same network, which is a really odd decision.  Honestly, there's no incentive to buy this phone, unless the design particularly appeals to you.

[via Yahoo Finance]

The Samsung SGH-T659 isn't going to win any design awards - it looks like it came out back in 2005.  In fact, the aesthetics are a tad too painful to bear.  However, it does come with a decent set of features at a good price, including 3G connectivity, that should make it worth the consideration.

Why Samsung outfitted a phone in this style is beyond me.  Best I can think of is that there's a segment of the market that's more comfortable with this type of slider and they're looking to service that.  With slim lines and a good weight, it actually handles quite nicely, along with a very sturdy build.

The 2.25-inch screen manages 320 x 240 pixels, with an affable-looking display quality.  I particularly appreciate the larger fonts, along with the spacious navigation array. While it's safe to say I don't care much for the T659's looks, it is an extremely usable basic phone.  Minus points for the flat keypad, though, which makes texting a bit uncomfortable.

As a phone, the SGH-T659 facilitated excellent quality voice calls, with exceptionally clear and natural sound.  It lacks just a little bit more of volume, though, making it difficult to use in extremely noisy places.  The speakerphone was average.  Battery is rated at five hours talk time and, by all indications, that seemed accurate.

Like we said, the phone comes with 3G.  It's a welcome ability, although the device is limited to a WAP browser (no full HTML here), which dampens the experience a bit.   Basic features are all available, including IM and POP3 emails.  More premium capabilities include a 2.0 megapixel camera (very good quality, with plenty of editing options), onboard GPS (Telenav services) and stereo Bluetooth.  The music player is extremely basic and you'll need to pop in an SD card to get content into the phone (it only comes with 80MB of storage).

While unexciting, the Samsung SGH-T659 is a decent handset for the $69 asking price (on a two-year contract with T-Mobile).  The lack of an HTML browser to take advantage of the 3G connectivity is disappointing, though.

Via: Mobiledia

The Sony Ericsson C905a represents the cream-of-the-crop of the company's Cyber-shot line (at least, until Satio comes around).  With a high-resolution 8.1 megapixel camera, a stylish modern design and the latest features you can expect from higher-end models, it's among the most attractive camera phones available with carrier subsidy in North America.

Like all Cyber-shot phones, there's really no place to start dissecting the C905a other than its souped-up optics module.  Among the camera's offerings include four different picture resolutions, numerous photo settings (five color effects, five white balance choices and two quality types), macro mode, an image stabilizer, an infinite focus mode (for long-distance photos), phototagging and various shutter sound options.  Suffice to say, there's plenty to play around with when using the camera's very good UI.

Photo quality is among the best we've seen in today's range of 8 megapixel camera phones.  It's personally my favorite out of every one I've tried (e.g. LG KC780, Nokia N86), capably producing images with bright colors, rich tones and plenty of detail.  A built-in camcorder is also on-board, although it pales in comparison to the still shooter, only able to come up with very average-quality images.

From the back, the C905a looks more like a camera than a phone, largely because of the sliding lens cover.  It's a bit bulky than most newer phones we're used to, but it's a moderate sacrifice for a very capable camera handset.  It sports a slider form factor with standard T9-style keys.  Overall build, including the sliding mechanism, feels solid.

Sony has always been good with display panels and the 2.4-inch LCD on the C905a is quite stunning to look at.  Interface should be quite familiar to users of many of AT&T's feature phones - it's good, but nothing particular noteworthy.

As a phone, it offers excellent voice performance both on the handset and the speakerphone, with a standard set of call and messaging features.  Users can expect SMS, MMS, IM and mobile e-email (with a good set of supported providers, although no Exchange support).

Most notable of the C905a's other features are the 3G connectivity (which allows for decent web browsing, as well as support for AT&T's wide range of broadband services), an excellent music player (almost as good as some of their Walkman phones), and a slew of built-in apps and games.  One glaring sore thumb, though, is the lack of a 3.5mm headset jack.

The Sony Ericsson C905a is an excellent phone, especially if you're in the market for the best camera handset you can get your hands on.  Available from AT&T for $179.99 with a two-year contract, it's also pretty competitively priced.

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Offering a nice break from the glut of messaging feature phones, the LG LX370 is a slim slider handset with some nifty talents.  What you don't get in messaging convenience, you easily gain in the form of a solid set of mid-tier features.

There's really no single marketing angle for the LX370, which is usually bad since that usually means it doesn't offer anything different.  On the case of this handset, it's not such a big problem because it fits in plenty of functionality, all while performing them handily up to par.

Physically, it isn't a bad-looking phone, as much as it is ordinary.  Regardless, it touts a pleasant appearance, coupled with a sturdy build and a good slider mechanism.  In fact, if you have no desire for a QWERTY keyboard or touch display, the LX370 may be one of the best mid-range options in Sprint's inventory.

Display is a 2-inch LCD, with a 240 x 320 resolution. As you can imagine, the fonts are a bit on the small side, although the screen shows them very clearly, with sharp lines and beautiful color.  It uses the same customizable One-Click navigation now common in many Sprint phones that makes it easier to access menus and applications.

As a feature phone, the LX370 lives up to the billing.  It ships with a full web browser, aGPS, access to numerous Google services (including Maps and YouTube), instant messaging, IMAP and POP3 email (including AOL Mail, Hotmail, Yahoo Mail and Gmail) and Outlook Web Access support.  Call quality is very impressive on both ends of the conversation, with voices coming through loud, clear and natural.

It comes with EV-DO Rev A, which allows you to access Sprint's suite of broadband offerings.  Streaming video is surprisingly very good, with little lag in the framerate, if any.  It uses Sprint's music interface, which allows for basic playback controls, including playlists.  A 2.0 megapixel camera is also on board, which, as far as I can tell, is the phone's only real weak spot.  Image quality is way below average, teetering on the realm of mediocre.  Other features include Bluetooth, expansion card support (16GB) and a bevy of standard phone apps.

The LG LX370 doesn't stand out from any pack, either with its looks or capabilities.  What it does is offer a very solid option with good support for most common features mid-tier consumers are looking for.  It's not the flashiest phone you will find, but - as far as we can tell - is as dependable as you'll need your handset to be.

Sony Ericsson just announced a compact slider with a new UI feature they are calling "smart desktop".  Dubbed the Sony Ericsson T715, the phone sports a professional-looking appearance, clad in a brushed aluminum finish with black accents.

Claiming to help you "organize your life in an intuitive way," the handset boasts of an easy facility to gain access to its bevy of organizational and productivity features, though it's difficult to glean exactly how it works from the description.  More poignantly expressed, however, is the inclusion of large fonts and generously-sized buttons to make messaging a tad easier, even without the benefit of a full set of QWERTY keys.

Specs include a 2.2-inch QVGA LCD (that supposedly works great under sunlight), 3.2 megapixel optics, 90MB of internal storage with microSD card expansion, stereo Bluetooth, an FM tuner and aGPS.  It comes with the Netfront web browser, IM, full support for email (including Exchange ActiveSync) and YouTube playback.  Dimensions are 3.6 x 1.9 x 0.6 inches, while tipping the scales at 3.4 ounces.

The phone will be offered in two variations, an international model (with quad-band GSM and 2100 HSPA) and a T715a variant for North America (with quad-band GSM and 850/1900/2100 HSPA).   It will come in two colors, Galaxy Silver and Rouge Pink, with availability slated for the third quarter of the year.

I'm not sure if it's a trend, but there is definite interest in square phones as of the moment, with LG, Samsung and, now, Motorola getting in on the action.  While the Motorola Hint QA30 doesn't come in at a perfect square (it's actually 3.32 x 2.43 inches), the shape is unmistakably leaning towards it.

Sporting a full set of QWERTY keys that slide out at the bottom, the Hint offers a comfortable weight that lends itself well to holding on your hands.  The sliding mechanism, along with most of the phone, seems sturdy, although the battery panel feels like it can fall off at anytime.

Display is an attractive 2.5-inch TFT (320 x 240 resolution) with great colors, sharp lines and very bright appearance.  The menus are decent, although moving between each one puts you through a fading animation that's more irritating than anything else.  Overall, though, it's a very usable interface, with some unnecessary accoutrements to go with it.

Controls aren't the best, however, with buttons proving either too stiff or too small for comfortable use.  Of course, this could vary depending on how you like your buttons to react, along with how big your fingers are.  The keyboard sports raised keypads, which is nice, but the shape made them a bit hard to use without sliding off.  It's a wild guess, but girls will probably have an easier time working with the buttons here.

As a phone, the Hint provided above average voice calls, with clear and loud reception on both ends.  There were some reports of echoes when we called from a busy, public place, though it still proved very usable.  SMS and MMS worked well enough too.  POP3 email is supported, although there's no pre-installed client and you'll have to use a web-based UI.  It has 3G, so you get pretty decent connection speeds.

The phone comes with a 2.0 megapixel camera module that took presentable photos and poor videos.  They weren't all that good, as with most camera phones, but should prove decent enough to take shots in a pinch.  A basic music player is also on board, which works pretty well, despite the lack of any added features.  Other specs of the device include Bluetooth, microSD card support and USB charging.

Overall, the Motorola Hint QA30 is a very solid phone.  While the keyboard could probably use a slight redesign, along with removing the animation on the UI, the device should actually prove a good choice for a messaging handset.  We suggest you test the controls (along with the keypad) before getting one as it may turn out a nice fit with your needs.

Also check out these deals available on Motorola Hint QA30 phone.

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Photo Credit: IntoMobile

Looking more like an iPod competitor than a mobile phone, the Sony Ericsson W205 sports killer looks  for a low-end handset.  The black-clad frame is super-sleek, the controls look dandy and it's easily one of the sexiest budget slider phones to come out in the last few months.

Since it's a Walkman-branded handset, you can expect playback quality that will make audiophiles break out a smile, along with a smattering of music-centric features.  It comes with TrackID music recognition, which Sony claims can name tunes at the press of a button (somehow, we doubt it's ever that fast).  There's also an FM radio on board,  which lets you record a few seconds of songs for use as a ringtone, in case you're too cheap to pay for the recording.

Memory is a disappointing 5MB, which means you'll have to shell out extra for an M2 card, with a 2GB maximum.  Why Sony insists on using their outdated and expensive storage solutions when a microSDHC slot can easily give the phone up to 16GB of low-cost expansion continues to evade good sense - it just makes people (who are on a budget, since it's a budget phone) think twice about getting the device.

Other specs of the handset include a 1.8 inch display, onboard speakers, nominal 1.3 megapixel camera and Bluetooth. There's no price announced but anyone on the hunt for a low-cost phone should definitely consider the Sony Ericsson W205's attractive face and Walkman-quality music playback.

Photo Credit: NewLaunches