Sleek smartphones with QWERTY keyboards

Bonnie Cha, Senior Associate Editor November 1, 2007

Just like in the fashion world, the world of cell phones and smartphones is a very design-driven industry. You've got the superstylish for fashionistas, and the colorful, and the unusual for those who dare to be different. While cell phones have been more adventurous in form factor, smart phones tend to be more conservative and limited in design, because a) they largely cater to a business crowd and b) there's only so much a manufacturer can do with the handset without sacrificing features and usability. That doesn't mean we're stuck in the age of blocky, brick-like smartphones, however. The latest style to saunter down the smartphone runway is the sleek, full-QWERTY device that, whether you love it or hate it, was spurned by the Motorola Q. Frankly, they're all starting to look alike with the trend toward black casing, but we're not complaining; black rules the night. Here are six of the latest models, each flaunting a slim profile for easy portability and a full QWERTY keyboard for all your messaging needs. Read our reviews to see if you should try one on for size.

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