There aren’t a lot of budget-friendly Android smartphones on the market with built-in QWERTY keyboards. Most of the ones that do have QWERTY keyboards don’t come with built-in touchscreen displays as well. That’s where the Pantech Crossover comes in, as it features not only a 3.1-inch touchscreen display for input, but also a slide-out QWERTY keyboard that should make typing out long e-mails or text messages a piece of cake.
The Crossover carries modest specs. As mentioned earlier, it has a built-in 3.1-inch touchscreen display which has a native resolution of 320x480 pixels. It’s also equipped with a 600MHz processor and 512MB of RAM, which together handle the default operating system, Android 2.2 Froyo. Other hardware features include a 3-megapixel camera, Bluetooth with A2DP, GPS with A-GPS, microSD card support, and microUSB connectivity.
AT&T definitely has a wide range of Android smartphones in its stable. But few are as rugged-looking as this one. At 146 grams and 14mm thick, it’s certainly quite hefty. But then again, thanks to its chunky design, it manages to pack a high-capacity 1500 mAh Li-Ion battery. It may not be as tough as any true rugged smartphone, but based on looks and physical attributes alone, this phone should be able to withstand more than its fair share of abuse. And that’s a good thing, especially since the default software may be a bit lacking.
Need To Know: Pantech Crossover
1. The combination of a touchscreen display and full QWERTY keyboard makes navigation and user input trouble-free. (The Good)
2. Very affordable through AT&T. (The Good)
3. Has built-in Wi-Fi connectivity. (The Good)
4. Default software is outdated and probably won’t be updated to much later versions of Android. (The Bad)
What the Critics Are Saying...
- Armando Rodriguez, PCWorldAs with other entry-level Android phones, with the Pantech Crossover you really get what you pay for. Sluggish performance, subpar call quality, and horrific audio playback make this phone a tough sell. If you have a text-happy teenager who doesn't use apps and who already owns a stand-alone MP3 pla...
- Jamie Lendino, PC MagazineThe Pantech Crossover has plenty to offer the budget-minded Android smartphone shopper on AT&T, although we would have liked to see a more responsive screen and faster CPU.
- Joshua Munoz , Android CentralThe Pantech Crossover is, without a doubt, one of the more unique Android phones on the market right now. That being said, unless you're absolutely dying for one of it's features (like the slide-out keyboard), I'd move along.It's not that the Crossover is a bad phone, per se. It performs well and wo...
- Mike Perlman, InfoSyncPantech's first Android phone is a solid choice. Its polished, unconventional interface was welcomed and its modest processing guts surprised us with a snappy performance. We liked the octagonal, sporty design, in addition to the full QWERTY keyboard.A phone like the Crossover will be reliable, offe...
- Chris Burns, Android CommunityA solid little phone on AT&T running Android for those who are looking to first get into smartphones on the Android wave. That’s what we’ve got here. Pantech have come out swinging very small, soft fists, but given that this device is generally decent, we look forward to their next m...
Prices (Where to Buy)
Common Questions
We've got you covered! Download a free PDF copy of the Pantech Crossover user manual here.
Pantech backs up the Crossover with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.
If your Crossover has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact Pantech support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find Pantech's contact information here. If your phone is off warranty and needs repair for a physical problem such as a broken screen or bad battery, you should visit an authorized service centre or a local phone repair shop. You can also connect with others in The Informr Community Forum to find and share answers to questions.
Resources
Manuals / User Guides
- Pantech Crossover Manual (PDF)
Maybe one of your friends will find this review helpful? Please help us spread the word.