Cell Phones / Expert Reviews

Looking for just the right phone? Read our impartial reviews, written by experts and phone owners like yourself.

Latest Expert reviews (3655)

INQ Chat 3G Mobile Syrup
The INQ Chat 3G is being billed as “Canada’s Ultimate Social Phone”
INQ Chat 3G

Ian Hardy from Mobile Syrup ( about 1 year ago )

N/A

Overall, this device is an entry level QWERTY that’s perfect for messaging and keeping connected. Sometimes while in use I felt the phone lagged a bit and was responding slow. It’s available at TELUS but if you have $80 I would splurge get the HTC Desire instead. However it’s a ... More

LG GS170 PhoneArena
Unfortunately, the LG GS170 couldn't even live up to do what it was primarily made to accomplish – phone calls
LG GS170

PhoneArena Team from PhoneArena ( about 1 year ago )

4/10

When a device is crafted to dabble in the entry-level segment, you'd expect features to be slim with an emphasis on good calling quality. Regrettably, the LG GS170 fails in many aspects to deem itself as a worthy option for even the most casual of basic handset users. It's like one of those gifts... More

Motorola Droid 2 PhoneArena
The Motorola DROID 2 takes the customary route of being a successor by playing it safe with its upgraded features over the original
Motorola Droid 2

PhoneArena Team from PhoneArena ( about 1 year ago )

9/10

When you have an army of Android devices out there, especially when we witness multiple top shelf devices being released, it makes it rather difficult for any specific one to stand out unless it's able to set the bar higher. Back in the fall of last year, the Motorola DROID was able to make a name... More

Motorola Milestone XT720 CNET
The XT720 isn't perfect, and a few flaws stop it from being the best Android smart phone out there
Motorola Milestone XT720

Luke Westaway from CNET ( about 1 year ago )

8/10

We think it's great to see more and more Android smart phones entering the higher end of the market. The XT720 has a few too many imperfections (the highly reflective screen, the sluggish feel to the menus) to topple beasts such as the HTC Desire and the iPhone 4, but it comes darn close. We like... More

BlackBerry Torch 9800 Phone Scoop
Beyond the software, the Torch 9800 itself isn't a home run
BlackBerry Torch 9800

Eric M. Zeman from Phone Scoop ( about 1 year ago )

N/A

The BlackBerry 9800 Torch with BlackBerry OS 6 and the new WebKit browser on board together make for the best BlackBerry yet. BlackBerry OS 6, in particular, pushes the Blackberry platform back into the fray with Apple and Google. But I'm not sure BlackBerry OS 6 has much of a fighting chance.
... More

BlackBerry 9300 Pocket-lint
It doesn't feel like a substantially new device
BlackBerry 9300

Chris Hall from Pocket-lint ( about 1 year ago )

7/10

The BlackBerry Curve 3G  hasn't really gone very far in relation to the world around it. It doesn't feel like a substantially new device, at least it doesn't whilst it still uses the current v5 operating system. This may all change with the roll out of v6, but as it stands, it only really offers... More

BlackBerry Torch 9800 MobileBurn
There's still a number of areas that put the Torch 9800 behind some of the competition running other, more modern operating systems
BlackBerry Torch 9800

Todd Haselton from MobileBurn ( about 1 year ago )

7/10

The BlackBerry Torch 9800 offers a few firsts for RIM and AT&T. The Torch is RIM's first attempt at a BlackBerry that sports both a full QWERTY keyboard and a touchscreen. It's also the first commercially available BlackBerry that runs the new Blackberry 6 operating system, which offers a host... More

Samsung Galaxy Apollo PhoneArena
The design is nothing impressive, and the CPU plus the screen resolution render browsing often choppy and pixelated
Samsung Galaxy Apollo

PhoneArena Team from PhoneArena ( about 1 year ago )

7/10

The Samsung Galaxy 3 should make a compelling mid-range Android device with its capacitive screen, polished TouchWiz interface with SNS integration, and generous battery size. Its strengths are mainly the social networking integration and the extensive video format support, but for quality indoor... More

Nokia C6 PhoneArena
The Nokia C6-00 left an average impression at the reviewing afterparty
Nokia C6

PhoneArena Team6 from PhoneArena ( about 1 year ago )

6/10

Everything about it is run-of-the-mill for a Nokia touchscreen handset, and we can't think of a feature that will distinguish it much from the N97 mini, for example, even by price. If it falls way down in price, the Nokia C6 might make a worthy alternative to the 5800 XpressMusic for people who are... More

Pantech Jest PhoneArena
It is an OK messaging device
Pantech Jest

PhoneArena Team from PhoneArena ( about 1 year ago )

6/10

Based on our usage of the Pantech Jest, we feel that it is an OK messaging device that has a nice 2.6” display and comes in at a low price, but the poor call quality and signal reception has us concerned, as this still hasn’t been fixed since we reviewed the Razzle and Blitz. We can only... More

BlackBerry Torch 9800 PhoneArena
The Torch 9800 is a worthy device to continue RIM's legacy as it easily maintains all the aspects about BlackBerry with a dash of some new features
BlackBerry Torch 9800

PhoneArena Team from PhoneArena ( about 1 year ago )

8/10

First things first, traditional BlackBerry users will find the Torch 9800 as a worthy device to continue RIM's legacy as it easily maintains all the aspects about BlackBerry with a dash of some new features. RIM's attempt in attracting new users might prove difficult despite boasting a prized form... More

Nokia C6 TechRadar
Occasionally laggy with its ageing OS
Nokia C6

Matthew Bolton from TechRadar ( about 1 year ago )

6/10

While we're criticising Symbian for being laggy, we should mention that C6 does feel robust, software-wise. Though it lacks shine, it's got features coming out of every port (save for proper social network integration). There are useful widgets, speedy internet access and a nice screen, but those are... More

BlackBerry Bold 9780 Tracy and Matt
A communication master piece
BlackBerry Bold 9780

James from Tracy and Matt ( about 1 year ago )

N/A

Overall the BlackBerry Bold 9780 is a fantastic smartphone. If email, instant messaging, and social networking are your top priority then the 9780 will serve you well. As far as I am concerned there is no better device to do these things. The keyboard on the 9780 is just superb and in my opinion the... More

BlackBerry Torch 9800 BGR
While the BlackBerry Torch isn’t a complete screw-up, it’s far from the Apple-killing, Android-slaying device RIM thought it would be
BlackBerry Torch 9800

Boy Genius from BGR ( about 1 year ago )

N/A

In a world where things are supposed to get simpler and easier to use, the BlackBerry Torch 9800 unfortunately complicates things. Is it the “best BlackBerry yet”? It’s certainly possible. Though it’s most definitely not the easiest to use, and even RIM’s best product at... More

BlackBerry Torch 9800 Wired
A smart fusion of utilitarian form and BlackBerry function
BlackBerry Torch 9800

Terrence Russell from Wired ( about 1 year ago )

7/10

Rubberized battery door and volume rockers ensure a solid grip. Great clarity and call quality. Features du jour are in attendance: GPS, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Sports an impressive set of EQ options for music playback. The definitive upgrade for hardcore BlackBerry users.
Not quite on the same level... More

Samsung Intensity II PhoneArena
The Samsung Intensity II U460 follows closely in the footsteps of the Intensity U450
Samsung Intensity II

PhoneArena Team from PhoneArena ( about 1 year ago )

7/10

So is the Samsung Intensity II U460 worth buying if you have the original Intensity U450? Not really. The only noticeable upgrade is the QVGA display, as most everything else is pretty much the same, except for some minor cosmetic differences. But that being said, the Intensity II is a pretty decent... More

Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 mini Mobile Tech Review
Decent reception, sharp call quality and solid 3G web experience
Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 mini

Lisa Gade from Mobile Tech Review ( about 1 year ago )

7/10

We can't give a final star rating to these two charming baby Android phones since Sony Ericsson wasn't able to provide us with ballpark pricing. Our guess is that they'll sell for $300 to $350 without a contract, and if that's the case, we give them a thumbs-up if you're looking for an incredibly pocketable... More

Apple iPhone 4 The Gadgeteer
It’s a capable and fun phone to use
Apple iPhone 4

Julia from The Gadgeteer ( about 1 year ago )

N/A

It’s probably not going to be a surprise that I have a love / hate relationship with the iPhone 4. I’ve enjoyed using the iPhone since I purchased the original one. I love the display, the camera and of course, the wide variety of quality applications. That said, I am not a fan of AT&T’s... More

Sony Ericsson x10 Mini Pro CNET
The power of Android makes the Mini Pro much more than just a novelty phone
Sony Ericsson x10 Mini Pro

Flora Graham from CNET ( about 1 year ago )

7/10

The Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 Mini is charmingly tiny, but we don't think there's a big market for such a small phone. The addition of a keyboard makes the X10 Mini Pro surprisingly usable, as long as you don't mind its little screen. It's not a phone for media lovers or Web junkies, but, if you're... More

Motorola Bali CNET
It is not unlike most other Motorola phones with its design
Motorola Bali

Nicole Lee from CNET ( about 1 year ago )

7/10

The latest Motorola handset to join the Boost Mobile family is the Motorola Bali, which is not unlike most other Motorola phones with its design. In fact, its thin profile and flat controls remind us a lot of a certain other famous Motorola handset: the Razr. That puts the Bali squarely in the old-fashioned... More

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