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Phones from the lesser-knowns (roundup)

Just because you've never heard of a cell-phone-maker doesn't mean they have bad phones. Here are five good buys from lower-profile manufacturers.

Jessica Dolcourt Senior Director, Commerce & Content Operations
Jessica Dolcourt is a passionate content strategist and veteran leader of CNET coverage. As Senior Director of Commerce & Content Operations, she leads a number of teams, including Commerce, How-To and Performance Optimization. Her CNET career began in 2006, testing desktop and mobile software for Download.com and CNET, including the first iPhone and Android apps and operating systems. She continued to review, report on and write a wide range of commentary and analysis on all things phones, with an emphasis on iPhone and Samsung. Jessica was one of the first people in the world to test, review and report on foldable phones and 5G wireless speeds. Jessica began leading CNET's How-To section for tips and FAQs in 2019, guiding coverage of topics ranging from personal finance to phones and home. She holds an MA with Distinction from the University of Warwick (UK).
Expertise Content strategy, team leadership, audience engagement, iPhone, Samsung, Android, iOS, tips and FAQs.
Jessica Dolcourt
Pantech Crux (Verizon Wireless)
Pantech may not be a household name, but the Crux is a fine feature phone. Josh Miller/CNET

Not every manufacturer enjoys the instant name recognition of Samsung and Motorola. But that doesn't mean they don't produce phones worth owning.

We periodically gather up the latest handsets from manufacturers that tend to scoot below the radar. After all, it wasn't so long ago that HTC was barely a speck on the map.

Our latest batch of five cell phones includes one promising Android smartphone.