Samsung X427
Samsung X427
Kent German Former senior managing editor / features
Kent was a senior managing editor at CNET News. A veteran of CNET since 2003, he reviewed the first iPhone and worked in both the London and San Francisco offices. When not working, he's planning his next vacation, walking his dog or watching planes land at the airport (yes, really).
Quick Take: Cingular Wireless hasn't introduced many Samsung phones to its lineup, but with the rollout of the Samsung SGH-X427, its customers have an additional choice. (AT&T has a similar version, the SGH-X426.) At 3.3 by 1.8 by 0.8 inches and 2.8 ounces, it's small and lightweight. And with its basic Samsung silver shell, the X427 somewhat resembles the Samsung SGH-E105 for T-Mobile service. While all three have a 65,000-color main display, however, the AT&T and Cingular models don't stack up in terms of features. For starters, neither has multimedia messaging or an external display, so you're forced to open the handset to see the caller's number--a rarity in flip phones these days. Other features, such as a 500-name phone book, 40 polyphonic ring tones, a calendar, a to-do list, a memo pad, a WAP 2.0 wireless Web browser, are basic, and the dual-band (GSM 850/1900) mobile is not a world phone. Though it's well priced at $119.99 or less with service, those wanting a full-featured cell phone should look elsewhere.