Kyocera Mako S4000

Kyocera's Mako S4000 (*est. $100) is considered to be a step up from its K132 (*est. $70). Both models can be purchased with a MetroPCS unlimited plan. The Mako S4000 is slim and lightweight at 3.5 inches by 1.8 inches by 0.7 inches. A VGA camera is built in, but there is no flash. Reviewers call the photo quality decent, and there are a few customizable settings that you can use to fine-tune a picture. However, video is not supported. Call quality is good, but some users complain of talk time being under the estimated five hours. Bluetooth, a speakerphone, instant messaging and voice dialing are all incorporated into the Mako S4000.

Critics say that one of the Kyocera Mako S4000's shortcomings is its internal screen. Although it supports 262,000 colors, its low resolution (160 pixels by 128 pixels) prevents the display from being as effective as it could be. The S4000's flat keys also make navigating the device a bit difficult. CNET's Kent German calls them "slippery" and goes on to say that it is tricky to dial a number by feel. Users at PhoneScoop.com are not too fond of the S4000. One issue that is continuously brought up is the S4000's tendency to freeze while performing tasks such as browsing the web. All in all, the Kyocera Mako S4000 is a serviceable handset, but it won't go above and beyond the call of duty. A better option on MetroPCS might be the similarly priced Samsung MyShot. Extras include a 1-inch, 65,000-color external display and broader support for media applications.

Kent German of CNET offers up an in-depth look at the Kyocera Mako S4000. His review is the most detailed that we found. A shorter article from Tech-FAQ.com does a good job at pointing out the pros and cons of the S4000. While there aren't a ton of online user reviews for the S4000, adequate collections exist at PhoneScoop.com and PhoneArena.com. For this model in particular, the user reviews at Phone Scoop are slightly more comprehensive and useful than those at Phone Arena.