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Cheap Phones – Smartphones for first-timers


Remember when PDAs were devices to get your life organized? You got one to compile contacts, sort out your schedule and as an alarm clock every morning. But over the last few years, PDAs have become less relevant because many smartphones do everything they can. Unfortunately, some people have the idea that these advanced handsets are way too expensive and that it’s really difficult to find something affordable.

Hard, but not impossible. There are a handful of cheap phones – smartphones that won’t break the bank for the first-time buyer. They may lack some connectivity features, but that’s a moot point. Ultimately, these devices are accessible, making it possible for the technophobe to jump right in without worrying. Here are our top five smartphones for n00bs, all of which don’t cost too much even at their full retail prices and may even be offered free by operators if you purchase them with mobile plans.
1. Nokia E63

The n00b factor: While the earlier E71 was slimmer and had more features, the lower-priced E63 can still be considered very feature-packed. The deal is even sweeter considering you get a dedicated 3.5mm audio jack so it doubles as an MP3 player which you can use with your regular pair of headphones.


The good: QWERTY keypad; Wi-Fi.
The bad: Lack of HSDPA and GPS.
2. HTC Touch (2nd generation)

The n00b factor: Though it has been around for about two years, the Touch is still one of the more attractive Windows Mobile phones available. This will make sure the first-time user won’t be lamenting that he has to give up some superslim mobile phone (which will probably cost more, too) to use this.


The good: Very compact design; Windows Mobile 6 Professional; TouchFLO interface; attractive modified Home screen; 128MB RAM makes interface snappy.
The bad: Lacks 3G; poor SIM card and microSD slot design.
3. BlackBerry Curve 8320

The n00b factor: Even though it has since been overshadowed by the new Curve 8900, the 8320 remains great value for money given its comfortable QWERTY keypad and excellent push-email feature which is standard on all BlackBerry devices.


The good: Offers integrated Wi-Fi; nice, sleek design; spacious QWERTY keyboard; 2-megapixel camera; good call quality.
The bad: Camera can’t record videos; no 3G support; Web browser isn’t quite as sophisticated as those on competing smart phones.
4. Asus P552w

The n00b factor: Design-wise, the P552w may not be as impressive as some other devices from brands like HTC and Samsung, but it packs in features like HSDPA connectivity at a bargain price.


The good: Fast 624MHz processor; Hold key; good GPS performance; bundled maps; Gester finger scrolling is effective; small and light; inexpensive.
The bad: Lackluster design; poor microSD slot location; camera too basic; poor battery life; cannot make or accept video calls.
5. Acer DX650

The n00b factor: If you can’t get used to the full touchscreen Windows Mobile interface initially, the DX650 has a second screen and numeric keypad so it feels just like a regular mobile phone. It almost feels like you are getting two phones for the price of one, even with its relatively low retail price.

First take
If you take a look at Acer’s new smartphone site, you will notice four products there. These are all Windows Mobile devices and, based on the features, considerably high-end handsets. Acer has another less publicized product, the DX650, a 2.5G smartphone with two faces.
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This entry was posted on June 11, 2009, 11:43 and is filed under Blackberry, Symbian, Windows Mobile. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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