Motorola Boost i425t / i425e

Like the Motorola i290 (*est. $50), the Motorola i425 has few reviews; CNET has a detailed standalone evaluation, and owners post comments at both CNET and PhoneScoop.com. Even so, it becomes clear that the i425 is appealingly thin and lightweight with great call quality, but some features are a reminder that the i425 is the cheapest phone in the Boost lineup: flimsy construction, a dimly lit keypad, small display and a glossy finish vulnerable to smudges and scratches. As one user cautions, "Don't mistake it for something more than it is."

The design of the i425 is similar to the i290 and the Motorola i335 (*est. $60), albeit with rectangular versus rounded corners. At 4.9 inches by 1.9 inches by 0.9 inches, it is the same length and width, but nearly 0.4 inches thicker than the other two models. It weighs 3.4 ounces, about half an ounce heavier than the i290. Kent German of CNET says that the construction is cheap and flimsy, a stark contrast to the rugged, military-certified design of the i335. The no-frills hardware of the i425 remains much the same as on the other models: a tiny 1.5-inch, 130-by-130-pixel display, a speakerphone with voice-activated dialing and a 2.5 mm jack. A camera and music player are not part of the package. The i425 features text, multimedia and instant messaging, though, plus a somewhat limited web browser and a 600-entry phone book. As with all of the Boost handsets, it is GPS-enabled and offers push to talk. The latter, however, is supported by the older iDEN network, which is not nearly as fast as a 3G network for data transfer, but suffices for making and receiving calls. Good call quality, combined with downloadable ringtones, wallpaper and games, is enough to satisfy basic cell phone aficionados looking for a good buy. As one PhoneScoop.com user sums up, "it's a great little phone" for the money.

CNET has a standalone review of the Motorola i425, with a detailed look at the phone's design, features and call quality. Rounding out this review are user comments from CNET and PhoneScoop.com, which help to verify CNET's findings and reveal potential problems with long-term use.