Nokia 1606

The Nokia 1606 is a very basic clamshell cell phone that offers few features -- no extras like a camera, music player or instant messaging. The most credible review, at PCMag.com, says it's not even very good as a phone -- it has good reception, but voices sound "buzzy, distorted." The Nokia 1606 does offer the advantage of no service commitment for the $80 price tag, and the unusual addition of a flashlight, which you can use even when the phone is turned off. One credible reviewer disses the operating system, based on a brief look at a convention, but a more thorough professional review at PCMag.com says the software "is pretty good."

What the Nokia 1606 does have is a voice recorder -- the phone has 8 MB of onboard memory -- and voice dialer, and a basic WAP web browser. The tiny external display screen is monochrome, and the internal screen measures 1.8 inches and reportedly delivers bright color images. A well-done owner review says that the keys are well-spaced, but that it's a "membrane-type keypad, so not as accurate as possible." (A membrane keyboard means that the keys are not separate, moving parts.) The same owner review says the speaker is loud enough but not of high quality. PCMag.com often tests battery life on cell phones but skips this step on the Nokia 1606. The manufacturer claims 3.5 hours of talk time between charges. PCMag.com reviewer Sascha Segan concludes that if you want a Cricket phone, "I strongly recommend spending the extra $20 for the superior Samsung MyShot R430, which makes clearer calls" (and has a camera).

We found the only thorough professional review at PCMag.com, but even that one is a bit skimpy by the publication's usual standards. But that's as good as it gets in the absence of reviews from usual stalwarts CNET, Consumer Reports, WirelessInfo.com and MobileBurn.com. We also found very few owner reviews, none at Amazon.com at this writing, though the few at PhoneScoop.com and PhoneDog.com are easy to read and helpful.