Pros: COOL factor, EXCELLENT coverage capability, very slim.
Cons: Don't buy it for the camera.
The Bottom Line: This phone is an excellent, practical phone with a COOL edge. It gives nice coverage in even rural areas, compared to other Sprint phones
I researched LOTS of phones and I decided on this phone for 2 reasons: it would give the best coverage in hard-to-reach areas and it's COOL! After using this phone for 1 year, I have been 100% satisfied that both of my reasons were completely accurate.
*** This review is written from the standpoint that you have already decided (for whatever reason) that you are going with the Sprint network. *** I am NOT going to critique Sprint services -- only use this to decide between the different models of phones that are compatible with the Sprint network.
Most of the time I use the phone on the Sprint network in a relatively urban area (Charlottesville, VA). I have very few problems with the phone being able to pick up service. Battery life is excellent (usually 2-3 days with intermittent use) and recharging is SUPER fast (like, 1 hour?).
I routinely make a 2 hour drive to visit my parents that takes me through some fairly rural areas of central Virginia. With my old phone (on the Sprint network, too), I would often drop calls 4-5 times along the way, and I would usually see a landmark and BAM, I knew I was going to drop the call and had to wait 45 minutes before I got reception back. However, with this phone, I only drop calls in 1 or 2 spots and I just redial the phone in 100 yards and I have no more coverage issues! AND, the reception is SUPER clear! If I have problems hearing the other person, it's 99% of the time THEIR cell phone! This is very comforting, as I am often driving alone in the evenings and would hate to get stuck with a broken down car with no way of calling for help.
When I was researching phones, this was only 1 of 3 phones that had what Sprint calls "Dual-band, Tri-mode" functionality. Without getting to technological, this means that it can pick up 2 types of digital signals PLUS an analog signal -- which translates into more types of towers that the phone can tap into, which means better coverage in rural areas. The other 2 phones that had this functionality were 1) WAY more expensive and 2) not NEARLY as COOL!
*** If you make all your calls in an urban area (say, New York City), I would imagine that coverage is not an issue!
So, my second reason was that this phone is SOOOO COOL! It is super thin -- probably not as thin as the RAZR phones, but still pretty thin (and not as expensive!). It fits nicely into a pocket or purse. It has a cool "click" feel when you flip it open. It has a display with the time and caller ID on the outside. And it just looks cool! This is definitely a personal preference, so I recommend just going into a Sprint store and testing it out in person.
It is reasonably easy to use. And because it is so flat, it is also longer and wider, so when you flip it open it actually goes from your ear to almost your mouth, which feels comfortable as you are talking. This phone has stood up to the occasional use by my toddler, and it's rugged enough to take the abuse I give it in my purse without a cover or case.
NOTE: I am an intermittent user, and I do NOT use the camera features, the text messaging, the bluetooth, or any other fancy features. I would NOT buy this phone for the camera. I haven't put in a lot of time learning to use the camera, but it's not super easy to get the pictures OFF the phone without paying an arm and a leg to email them or hook the camera up to a special cable. If you need a digital camera, buy a digital camera. The other features, I just don't use in my everyday life so I cannot comment on them.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 50 Recommended for: Stylish Trendsetters - Hip and Trendy
The pink katana II is an ultra-slim, stylish phone with a digital camera with zoom, a large color display, bluetooth, and the complete range of unique...More at kajeet
The pink katana II is an ultra-slim, stylish phone with a digital camera with zoom, a large color display, bluetooth, and the complete range of unique...More at kajeet
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