Pantech Pocket Pro Reviews

We want companies to be creative and innovative. We often find ourselves rooting for the little guys that are willing to go out on a limb and try something new and clever, even if there's little chance of succeeding. After all, you never know if something's going to be a hit until you give it a shot. While we're disappointed that the Pantech Pocket didn't work out quite the same way we'd hoped, we applaud the possibilities being explored and would love to continue seeing new and creative ideas to break up the monotony of the same 'ol slate phones that dominate the industry today.

When AT&T introduced the Pocket at the CTIA show back in October, Pantech stated that the phone wasn’t trying to compete with the Galaxys and Droids of the world. The Pocket is an inexpensive phone with a straightforward user interface and the bonus of an extrawide display and support for AT&T’s HSPA+ network. The display doesn’t work for everything: Some of the videos I tested looked warped. If you don’t want to shell out a couple hundred dollars for an Android phone, however, the Pocket is a fine choice for using apps, browsing the Web, sending messages, and making calls.

Its extra-wide face may make you take notice, but at the end of the day, the Pantech Pocket is only as good as it gives. When it comes down to it, the phone's form and performance have ups and downs. The Pocket can ride AT&T's faster HSPA+ network and can take nice outdoor photos, but call quality is rocky, video playback disappointed, and having no flash holds the camera back. The $50 price tag and nice 4-inch screen are the phone's saving graces, making the Pocket an accessible and basically user-friendly Android phone. Still, if you're open to other smartphone platforms, the $50 Samsung Focus Flash running Windows Phone steps up the quality, though it does shrink the screen size.

The Pantech Pocket is certainly a unique device, whose characteristics allow it to excel at some tasks, while impede it with others. The phone's wide display is great for browsing the web, but the slow processor can make loading web pages a chore. Those with fast thumbs will enjoy messaging on a wide screen, but it can be difficult to bang out a quick message when you are holding the phone with just one hand. Add in a disappointingly slow camera and average battery life, and the Pocket becomes just that, another average Android smartphone on the shelf. The only saving grace may be its low cost, as AT&T is only asking $49.99 for the Pocket with a new two-year contract. Still, users who are willing to invest just a little bit more money can find a smartphone that may work a bit better for their needs, even if it might not have the unique character of the Pocket.

In sum, I like the hardware of the Pocket a lot. While it may look unconventional, the materials and build of the phone are spot-on, and the Pocket's odd shape certainly give it a personality all its own. That's what makes it a shame that the Pocket's performance is so uneven. The screen has good resolution and clarity, but lacks brightness. The Pocket connects to AT&T's network easily, but voice calls don't sound good. The menus work well, and the extra screen real estate make for an excellent typing experience, but there are no stand-out features or programs that make use of the Pocket's screen. The real killer for me, however is the camera. The Pocket's 5 megapixel shooter has to be the worst I've used on a phone. If you want a solid imaging device, look elsewhere. If you don't care much about pictures but want a fast typing device, then maybe the trade-off is worth it. I'd recommend the Pocket to customers who primarily use their device for messaging and want to move away from a keyboard-equipped device, but most others can find a good deal on a better phone from AT&T right now. The Pantech Pocket is no rocket in your pocket, and I'm not sure you're going to be happy to use it.

As much as we’d love to give props to Pantech for enabling the Pocket to stand out with its untraditional size, there’s nothing really going on elsewhere to make it a polarizing offering. Actually, it’s more of the same from Pantech’s camp, as they have yet another middle of the road offering that’s affordable on any budget. However, it simply lacks the polish in both the software and hardware side to keep it compelling over the competition – even if it’s priced at $49.99 on-contract. To tell you the truth, you’re better off dealing your hard earned cash into something more magnificent.