Engadget’s back to college guide: Cell phones

Aug 17th 2010
One Comment
respond
trackback

Hello there! If you are new here, you might want to subscribe to the RSS feed for updates on this topic.

Welcome to Engadget’s Back to high school guide! We know that this time of year might be pretty annoying and stressful for everyone, so we’re here to aid out with the heartbreaking means of gadget buying for the varsity-aged crowd. Today, we’ve cellphones in our sights — and you’ll head to the Back to college hub to look anything else of the product guides as they’re added within the month.

Engadgets back to college guide: Cell phones

Back in our day, the single ” cellular telephone” in school was the person who broke off the dorm wall after our roommates got somewhat too rowdy, but nowadays, a capable, high-power handset is instantly becoming a must-have for college kids of all ages. In spite of your budget, your parent’s budget, or your boy or girl’s budget, we’ve got options that are supposed to help with studying, gaming, music, and even perhaps the occasional call home.

On the cheap

Palm Pixi Plus
Sure, the Pixi wasn’t the precise webOS-based phone even when it was trendy — however’s really hard to argue with a free smartphone, particularly one running a trendy (read: non-WinMo) platform. Add within the indisputable fact that both Verizon and AT&T are selling the Plus version with WiFi, and you have each of the makings of the precise first smartphone.

Key specs: 2.6-inch 320 x 480 display, 2 megapixel camera, 8GB memory

Full review – Price: Free on contract at AT&T and Verizon

You may additionally like…

Nokia Nuron
Like the Pixi Plus, the Nuron is a compelling choice mainly because it’s free — and it includes Ovi Maps Navigation at no charge.

Full review, free on contract at T-Mobile

BlackBerry Curve 8520
An optical pad, great keyboard, and BBM make this a super choice for the long run corporate raider on your family.

Free on contract at T-Mobile

Mid-range

HTC Aria
AT&T’s locking down of Android is an ongoing annoyance, but once you consider the inescapable realities that a ton of folk use AT&T and there really aren’t that many 850 / 1900 Android devices available, that puts things in perspective. We loved the Aria’s shape, size, and cute design touches, the fashionable midrange processor, and the undeniable fact that HTC stuck with an HVGA display despite dimensions that probably could’ve let them justify stepping right down to QVGA. And naturally, Sense works great as usual.

Key specs: 3.2-inch HVGA display, 5 megapixel camera, 512MB expandable storage

Full review – Price: $129.99 on contract from AT&T

You may additionally like…

Samsung Intercept
Four words: it’s available in pink. For some back-to-schoolers seeking the way to get into Android, that could be the sole thing it is advisable to hear.

$99.99 on contract from Sprint

BlackBerry Bold 9650
The promise of a future BlackBerry 6 upgrade makes this phone — considered RIM’s top-of-the-line QWERTY CDMA model — worth a look.

Hands-on, $99.99 on contract from Verizon

Money’s no object

HTC EVO 4G
For our money, the EVO 4G continues to be the most effective phones you should purchase, and it could actually okay be the proper Android device currently sold anywhere on the earth. And in the event you’re in a WiMAX market, it just gets sweeter.

Key specs: 4.3-inch WVGA display, 8 megapixel camera with 720p video recording, 1GB expandable storage

Full review – Price: $199.99 on contract from Sprint