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Basic cell phone that's easy-to-use and affordable
- Easy to use
- Large buttons
- Loud volume
- Long battery life
- Buttons can be slippery
- Too basic for most users
- Slow web browsing
The Pantech Breeze gets great reviews as a budget cell phone. Some credible professional sources rank it as the top choice in that category, though some say it's not as easy to use as its name implies. Designed to appeal to older users and anyone seeking an entry-level cell phone, the Pantech Breeze has large buttons (including three speed dials), loud volume, a speakerphone, a 2.2-inch LCD display screen, and basic and advanced (some say difficult) menu settings. But the phone also has a number of extras, such as a VGA (less than 1-megapixel) camera that also takes video, plus text messaging, calendar, alarm clock, caller ID, Bluetooth and a 500-entry address book. It also offers instant messaging and web browsing, but the connection is sluggish and most web pages load very slowly, making these features not very worthwhile. Most reviews say the reception quality is decent.
The Breeze is a flip phone that measures 4 inches by 2 inches 0.7 inches and weighs 3.4 ounces. Although battery life is rated at three hours, some reviewers say they get 10 or 11 hours of talk time between charges if they just use it as a phone and stay away from the other features. Some reviews say that since the buttons are flush with the surface, they can be slippery. Like most cell phones, pricing varies depending on the service plan -- at its lowest cost, the Pantech Breeze is coupled with a two-year commitment to AT&T.
We found the best coverage of cell phones at CNET and Consumer Reports, where the ratings are clearest, the testing is solid and the reports are the most current. PCMag.com also offers good analysis. There are just a few user reviews at Amazon.com.
Our Sources
1. CNET
CNET tests thoroughly before rating products, and the Pantech Breeze tops this roundup of five basic cell phones, although each gets the same rating of 3.5 out of five stars. The full review, which includes a video, describes the Pantech Breeze as being a great basic choice for seniors. Contrary to the article title, the Breeze does have a camera, however, though not a very good one.
Review: Best Basic Phones (without Camera), Kent German
2. ConsumerReports.org
ConsumerReports.org tests and ranks the Pantech Breeze alongside 48 other cell phones. There are also links to editor and a handful of user reviews, but a subscription is required to access the ratings.
Review: Cell Phone Ratings, Editors of ConsumerReports.org, Jan. 2009
3. PCMag.com
PCMag.com compares eight cell phones ranging in price from free to about $100 in this "best of" article. The Pantech Breeze (rated "good") is listed first, but it's unclear whether this indicates a preference over the others or why. The review does say it's not as easy to use as advertised.
Review: The Best Cheap Cell Phones, Jamie Lendino, Aug. 1, 2008
4. Amazon.com
Just a few owners at Amazon.com weigh in on the Pantech Breeze, all rating it highly. The consensus is praise for the large buttons and loudness, although one user says there ought to be a warning if you are a pay-as-you-go customer because of extra charges for certain features, like accessing the web.
Review: Pantech C520 Breeze Phone (AT&T), Contributors to Amazon.com
This roundup compares four simple cell phones using informal tests, and while phones aren't listed alphabetically, it's also not clear if they are listed in order of preference. The gist is that the Pantech Breeze is simple enough for basic use, but that the advanced menu can be confusing.
Review: 4 Cellphones for Seniors, David LaGesse, 4 Cellphones for Seniors
