1.Samsung Impression
Carrier: AT&TPrice: $199.99 with two-year contract and rebates.
Though it’s not technically a smart phone, the Samsung Impression looks the part with its sliding Qwerty keyboard and 3-megapixel camera. Its standout feature is its 3.2-inch touch screen, which uses an advanced display technology known as AMOLED to make images particularly bright and clear
2.Samsung Propel
Carrier: AT&TPrice: $49.99 with two-year contract and rebates.
AT&T currently carries another Samsung messaging phone, the Propel. Like the Impression, the Propel has a slide-out Qwerty keyboard and connects easily to instant messaging and e-mail. At $49.99, it’s a fraction of the price–and with color choices including orange and white, it’s also a little more fun.
3.LG Xenon
Carrier: AT&TPrice: $99.99 with two-year contract and rebates.
LG designed the Xenon to multi-task among texting, Web browsing and media-playing (music and video). Users can add their most frequent contacts to the home screen and sort contacts into categories, such as friends, family and work.
4.Pantech Matrix
Carrier: AT&TPrice: $49.99 with two-year contract and rebates.
The Matrix’s claim to fame is its dual sliding keyboard: Slide it up to make a call or horizontally to text. Shoppers should check for ease of use, however, as some users say the keys on the Qwerty keypad are quite small.
5.Sidekick LX
Carrier: T-MobilePrice: $249.99 with two-year contract and rebates.
Yes, the Sidekick has a reputation for being a teenagers’ phone. But the LX, the newest addition to the line, boasts some grown-up features, like Exchange Active Sync support. The addition will allow users to access work e-mail along with the phone’s entertainment programs. Road warriors will appreciate the handset’s built-in GPS technology.
6.Samsung Rant
Carrier: Sprint NextelPrice: Free with two-year contract and rebates.
Sprint calls the Rant the “ultimate texting machine.” Like other Sprint feature phones, the handset sports Sprint’s “One Click” user interface software, designed to connect users quickly to the Web and e-mail. It also plays TV in real time through Spri
7.Sanyo SCP-2700
Carrier: Sprint NextelPrice: $29.99 with two-year contract and rebates.
Want to look like a BlackBerry user without busting your budget? The Sanyo SCP-2700 does a great imitation for just $29.99. The Samsung Magnet (on AT&T) has a similar look–and, at $19.99, is even cheaper.
8.Samsung Behold
Carrier: T-MobilePrice: $79.99 with two-year contract and rebates.
It’s easy to mistake some multi-function phones for smart phones. The Samsung Behold packs a 5-megapixel camera, large touch screen and 3G connectivity. But its proprietary Samsung operating system limits downloading of third-party applications–a key feature for any smart phone.
9.Motorola Evoke QA4
Carrier: AlltelPrice: $79.99 with two-year contract and rebates
The Motorola Evoke is in the same category as the Behold. Though its rounded touchscreen brings to mind Apple’s iPhone, the handset’s customized operating system doesn’t support a wide range of applications. Instead, Motorola created seven widgets to bring sites and services like MySpace, Google and YouTube to users.
10.LG Versa
Carrier: Verizon WirelessPrice: $199.99 with two-year contract and online discount
LG has devised a creative way to offer users a full touch screen and a full Qwerty keyboard: The answer is the Versa, a touch-screen phone with a detachable keypad. The handset’s 3D user software has won praise from reviewers, but is specific to the phone, limiting downloadable applications.