Pantech Duo Cell Phone Review - Value & Comparisons
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Mark Brezinski Published on November 15, 2007 Comment on this |
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Value (4.0)
The Duo is available from AT&T for either $449.99 outside of contract, or $199.99 with a 2-year contract and a $100 online rebate. Though not a bad deal necessarily, it's not the best deal out there. For example, the original BlackBerry Curve is much cheaper and offers slightly better functionality. If you're looking for a newer phone, the Palm Centro is only $100 and offers similar functionality. The T-Mobile Shadow also runs Windows Mobile Standard, is available for $50 less, and looks like an expensive device. The one thing none of these phones have, however, is the dual-sliding form factor. This will most likely be the determining factor for how you should value the phone. If this is the main feature that you're interested in, then the Duo is a good choice. If you want a Windows Mobile phone, the Duo is also a good choice as it's uncharacteristically responsive when compared to other phones with the OS. If you want a Windows Mobile phone with more aesthetic appeal and a much better home screen, the Shadow beats the Duo. If you're looking for a cheap and functional device, we'd recommend the Centro or Curve. If you're on the fence and like the dual-sliding but not the price, then we'd recommend you wait a few months as the Duo's price will probably come down a bit.
Comparisons
Helio Ocean - The Helio Ocean is an obvious comparison as it is the hip, young father of all dual-sliders. The Ocean is certainly a better looking phone than the Duo, with a more aesthetic design, cleaner interface and more solid construction. It also costs about the same. The two devices are meant for different users, however. The Helio Ocean is designed for hip young things who like to IM their friends at poolside Hollywood parties, while the Duo is more designed for everyday users and business people. 
BlackBerry Curve 8320 - The BlackBerry Curve is a better device in terms of software and cost-benefit ratio; you simply get more for your cash. But It's a bit bigger than the Duo, and doesn't have the dual-slide, which means it doesn't have a keypad. What it does have, however, is Wi-Fi, and the ability to make calls over this using T-Mobile's hotspot@home service. Again, however, it's important to know why you want the device in the first place. The Curve is probably a better business device, but it doesn't have the cool factor the Duo has. If you're not looking for the best business device out there, but want a neat little handset, the Duo is definitely an option.
Palm Centro - This decision comes down to two things: form factor (again) and operating system. Of course, the Centro isn't a dual-slider, and as such only has a QWERTY -- and a bad QWERTY at that. In the case of OS, it's simply a matter of what you're used to. If you like Windows Mobile, you'll love the Duo because it's fast. But fans of Palm's OS will prefer the Centro; although Palm OS is beginning to show its age, it remains a solid OS that's easy to learn.
HTC Tilt - The Tilt offers far more than the Duo does, but also costs $100 more. Its namesake tilting screen might satisfy those who like flashy features, although the phone doesn't have a keypad. But the Tilt does have the downside of being much slower in operation than the Duo; the Duo reorients the screen in a second or so when you open the QWERTY keyboard, but the Tilt takes a couple of seconds at least. If you don't mind the extra investment and significantly more lag, the Tilt is worth it. If you want the cheaper and faster phone, the Duo is your choice.
Nokia N95 - Nokia's N95 is a feature-packed phone. It soundly trumps the Duo in this regard. It also has a bit of a dual-sliding form as well, although instead of a QWERTY, it has media controls. The N95's main flaws are its is a somewhat laggy OS. Also -- and we're sure this will most likely be the determining factor in this match up -- the N95 costs about $500 more than the Duo. This bout will undoubtedly come down to the size of your wallet or purse, and just how desperately you want to slim them down.
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