Nokia 1680

Compared with rival basic phones like the Samsung Knack (*est. $10) and LG VX5400 -- which garner accolades for simplicity and superb performance -- the Nokia 1680 is at best considered adequate by reviewers and users on nearly all counts. This compact candy-bar phone measures about 4.3 inches by 1.8 inches by 0.6 inches and weighs 2.6 ounces, a featherweight among cell phone contenders. Encasing the phone is a plastic skin that makes the phone feel cheap in the hands of many experts and users, with Kent German of CNET adding that it's not a device for the accident-prone. A 1.75-inch, low-resolution, non-adjustable 160-by-120-pixel display has a faded feel, reviewers say, and the cramped keypad has stiff keys, making for difficult typing even with predictive text entry. The lack of a dedicated clear/back button and volume rocker is another knock against the phone, although German likes the Nokia 1680's spacious and tactile navigation toggle and central OK button.

Overall, the dual-band Nokia 1680 fares well for reception and call quality. The phone's 32 MB of internal memory supports a 1,000-entry phone book, photo caller ID, alarm clock, calendar, notepad, calculator, stopwatch, timer, currency and unit converter and voice recorder. Messaging options differ between the prepaid and contract models. The prepaid handset offers only text messaging; the contract Nokia 1680 offers text and picture messaging and instant messaging and is myFaves-capable, which gives unlimited calling to five favorite numbers on any network with an additional service plan fee. The Nokia 1680 also comes equipped with a 640-by-480-pixel VGA camera capable of video capture, though it produces lackluster photos and lacks editing abilities. Additional complaints abound about the Nokia 1680's slow-responding menu, absent microSD memory card slot and "unremarkable" speakerphone quality. Good battery life, however, is a highlight. With its mixed-bag of attributes, the Nokia 1680 struggles to keep up with the competition, especially when the award-winning Samsung Knack and LG VX540 can be had at a comparable or cheaper price. As German sums up, "The Nokia 1680 is adequate for anyone with minimal cell phone needs, but even moderate users will find it disappointing."

CNET provides a standalone review of the Nokia 1680 that evaluates design, features and performance, while owner reviews from CNET, PhoneScoop.com and Amazon.com offer feedback about how the Nokia 1680 fares with frequent and long-term use. ConsumerReports.org does evaluate cell phones but has not reviewed the Nokia 1680.