Pantech Flex has dual personalities (pictures)

Meet the $50 Pantech Flex, an Android 4.0 smartphone that gives you much to discuss.

You'll get much of the same Android Ice Cream Sandwich functionality with the Flex's "easy experience" option, but with less complexity. Think one home screen instead of five, and large, easy-press icons instead of the standard mode's profusion of tinier buttons.

I love Pantech's emphasis on looks, and I really enjoy the multiple angles and materials for the Flex's backing. However, its jutting edges aren't as comfortable in the hand as I'd like.

This is the first 8-megapixel camera I've seen from Pantech for the U.S. Unfortunately, the Flex isn't able to meet Pantech's ambitions.

The Flex is fairly thin, and the power button has a grippy, textured feel you can really press.

Here's a closer look at the Pantech Flex's interface in the standard Ice Cream Sandwich view (left), or in the simple mode.

On the left, Pantech's simple mode offers straightforward options in the notifications pull-down in a glance. On the right, you have to dig for more-detailed settings and information in the standard mode.

You can create new application groupings in the apps tray, which you then need to fill with apps.