Pharos Traveler 137 photos

CNET takes a hands-on look at the Pharos Traveler 137 smartphone.

Bonnie Cha

July 24, 2009 4:05 p.m. PT

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Pharos Traveler 137

First introduced at CES 2009, the Pharos Traveler 137 is a Windows Mobile-based smartphone with integrated GPS and navigation software. Unlike other similarly equipped devices, the Traveler 137 does not require a cellular connection to operate as a GPS device.

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Pricey but unlocked

The Traveler 137 is sold unlocked through various online retailers, including Amazon, Dell, eXpansys, and Newegg, for $599.95, though you can receive a $250 discount if you sign up for a two-year T-Mobile contract through Pharos.

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Familar but attractive design

The Pharos Traveler 137 has a sleek and attractive design that's similar to other candy-bar-style, touch-screen smartphones like the Samsung Omnia.

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Pocketful

The smartphone measures 4.6 inches tall by 2.4 inches wide and 0.5 thick and weighs 4.9 ounces, so it's not the most pocket-friendly device.

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Back view

However, the Traveler 137 has a nice, solid construction and features a soft-touch finish on back to give it a nonslippery texture.

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Touch screen

The Traveler 137's boasts a 3.5-inch WVGA touch screen that displays 65,000 colors at a 480x800 pixel resolution. It's super-sharp and vibrant, however, the smartphone is a bit sluggish, so the touch screen wasn't always responsive and the built-in accelerometer was a bit erratic.

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Navigation controls

While you'll use the smartphone's touch screen most of the time, there are some buttons below the display, including a trackball navigator, a Start menu shortcut, and an OK button.

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Camera phone

The Pharos Traveler 137 features a 3.1-megapixel camera that can also geotag photos with the built-in GPS.

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Good photo quality

We were quite impressed with the photo quality of the smartphone's camera. Images were clear and while colors could have been a little more rich, we were satisfied overall.