Tech: Smart phone buys

CNET.COM | Updated 8/17/2012

When it comes to smartphones, $100 is a darn good deal. A price hike usually gives you a step up in features, but if all you need is a hardy smartphone, these are some of your best bets.

LG SPECTRUM (VERIZON)

★★★★ out of five stars

The good: It has fast LTE speeds, a dual-core processor, Android 2.3 and lots of HD video features, including a stellar 4.5-inch HD display.

The bad: Call quality and camera quality are inconsistent, and the interface can be cumbersome at times.

The cost: $20-$200.

The bottom line: The clean design brings preppy style to some of the fastest 4G LTE data speeds around. The attention to HD is admirable, but a few interface and performance flaws could scare away some potential buyers.

 

SAMSUNG GALAXY S II (AT&T)

★★★★ out of five stars

The good: It boasts a beautiful display and a thin design. With a dual-core processor, the Gingerbread device delivers fast performance, good battery life. Camera quality is excellent.

The bad: Parts of the phone feel flimsy.

The cost: $100-$410.

The bottom line: Sleek and powerful, this great performer is one of AT&T's top Android smartphones.


SAMSUNG GALAXY S BLAZE 4G (T-MOBILE)

★★★★ out of five stars

The good: It offers a pretty 4-inch Super AMOLED screen, Android Gingerbread operating system, a solid 5-megapixel camera, a speedy 1.5GHz dual-core processor, and T-Mobile's faster HSPA+ 42 speeds. Call quality was also quite good.

The bad: Its promised data speeds didn't always deliver. The chassis looks a little plain.

The cost: $50-$495.

The bottom line: This solid midrange Android smartphone packs a punch at a reasonable initial price. But it isn't for those looking for the cutting edge.


NOKIA LUMIA 900 (AT&T)

★★★★ out of five stars

The good: Its eye-popping unibody design sets a new direction for smartphone style. Its LTE speeds, vivid 4.3-inch screen, and 8-megapixel camera are high points.

The bad: Problems with call quality and minor design flaws like some gaps in the construction and weirdly placed buttons get in the way. The designer camera optics are good, but don't live up to the hype. The phone shoots only 720p video.

The cost: Less than $100.

The bottom line: Despite some flaws, a unique design, high-end features and fair price make this the best Windows Phone yet.