X

Best and worst two-in-one phone designs (pictures)

Extra hardware capabilities supercharge mild-mannered cell phones into stronger tools for work and play. Some just happen to do it better than others.

Jessica Dolcourt
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).
Jessica Dolcourt
xperiaplay.jpg
1 of 8 Josh Miller/CNET

Transformer phones

The smartest phones serve as nerve centers for computing, communication, and entertainment -- aspirations that yesterday's feature phones and today's superphones both share. At times, manufacturers get creative (sometimes very creative,) attaching extra hardware that turns phones into music, gaming, and photographic workhorses. For better or for worse, these hybrids stand out from the crowd.
SonyEricssonWalkman.jpg
2 of 8 Sony

Sony Ericsson W760i: Music phone

Remember the reign of music phones that coupled feature phone capabilities with dedicated hardware controls? Sony Ericsson's W760i Walkman slider was one of the smoothest operators.
34195350_FT.JPG
3 of 8 Sarah Tew/CNET

HTC Surround: External speakers

AT&T and HTC paired up for the wacky Surround, one of the company's first major experiments with rich audio. Slide out the surround speakers, press the button at the top to activate surround sound, and let 'er rip. Unfortunately, the phone was heavy, the speakers mostly neglected, and overall sound quality a little mediocre.
34505263_BUTTON.png
4 of 8 Josh Miller/CNET

Sony Xperia Play: Gaming console

Small enough to wedge into your pocket, the Sony Xperia Play nevertheless had tiny analog controls for Android gameplay that went beyond tapping and tilting the screen. An ambitious product on paper, the Play's gaming response time lagged and screen quality just wasn't crisp enough.
Samsung_Galaxy_Zoom_35792092-8699_2.jpg
5 of 8 Josh Miller/CNET

Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom: Advanced camera phone

Outfitted with a huge optical zoom and flexible, easy-to-use controls, the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom is more compact point-and-shoot than smartphone. In fact, its cellular radio is almost superfluous. In that light, the awkward-for-a-phone, not-quite-good-enough-for-a-camera Zoom is so niche, it's hard to peg who would really want to buy it.
nokia-lumia-1020-main.jpg
6 of 8 James Martin/CNET

Nokia Lumia 1020: Advanced camera phone

Nokia took a more focused approached to advanced camera phone mechanics. Its Nokia Lumia 1020 packs in a larger sensor size and fancy 41-megapixel image capture, while remaining just slim enough to carry around. The handset isn't perfect, though, but any flaws in its physical design (like the slightly bulging camera assembly) are minor enough and serve the central function of taking better photos.
Asus_Padfone_35827814_-9059.jpg
7 of 8 Josh Miller/CNET

Asus PadFone (September 2013): Tablet

The third in Asus' PadFone line, this latest effort -- which we call the Asus PadFone (September 2013) -- pairs a high-powered 5-inch superphone with a separate tablet dock. The phone's processor powers the "tablet" screen and populates its content, too, making this combo a true two-in-one that's also truly compelling.
AppPrime-note3.jpg
8 of 8 Josh Miller/CNET

Samsung Galaxy Note 3: Pen and paper

Rescuing the stylus from fuddy-duddy obscurity, Samsung's Note line reinvents productivity and multitasking with a slim wand that helps out with a few tricks of its own. Samsung's Galaxy Note 3 takes multitasking even further with some new moves.

More Galleries

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera
A houseplant

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera

20 Photos
Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra
magic-v2-2024-foldable-1383

Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra

10 Photos
The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum
Samsung Galaxy S24

The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum

23 Photos
Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design
The Galaxy S24 Ultra in multiple colors

Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design

23 Photos
I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites
img-0368.jpg

I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites

34 Photos
17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About
Invitation for the Apple September iPhone 15 event

17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About

18 Photos
AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?
img-1599-2.jpg

AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?

17 Photos