LG Cosmos 2

It is still possible to find excellent messaging phones, and the LG Cosmos 2 is one of them. It makes PCMag.com's list of best phones on Verizon Wireless. Experts report that what it lacks in Internet capability and looks it more than makes up for in being, as CNET's Nicole Lee describes it, a "well-built entry-level messaging phone for the budget-conscious Verizon customer."

Almost identical to its predecessor, the Cosmos 2 has a few subtle improvements like the textured battery lid that a PhoneArena.com reviewer says provides a better grip. And where the original Cosmos keyboard slid open to the left, this version slides to the right. Other changes are not so hard to notice, like the upgrade to a standard 3.5 mm headphone jack. The LG Cosmos 2 is somewhat bland in design, but when turned on reveals a 2-inch 240-by-320-pixel screen that  PCMag's Jamie Lendino describes as having "unusually vibrant color for a low-end phone." Below the display is a roomy four-row backlit QWERTY keyboard with raised soft keys that impresses the experts as being easy to use. Lendino doesn't like that the microSD slot is now under the battery cover but says battery life is good, slightly exceeding its rated 6 hours and 10 minutes call time.

Reviewers are universally pleased with the phone's call quality. But, as PhoneArena.com's reviewer says, "the Cosmos 2 is not recommended for those individuals who are looking for a mobile internet device." According to Jamie Lendino the Cosmos 2 is only a 2G phone and "the Myriad 6.2 browser is really tough to use," although he does like the quick user interface. So does Nicole Lee, saying it "was easy to navigate." Included are the basic features one would expect from a simple messaging phone, such as an alarm clock, calendar and calculator. Reviewers are not at all impressed with the 1.3-megapixel camera, partly because it lacks a flash but more because it simply performs poorly. They do like the music player's great sound and ease of use. 

Augmented by a video version, Nicole Lee's review is by far the most comprehensive, while PhoneArena.com's includes a number of helpful images. In his brief but helpful review, Jamie Lendino suggests a couple of alternatives for those who "want e-mail, the Web, or other features."