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Budget cell phone is speedy web surfer
- Fast web browsing and video streaming
- Five hours of talk time
- Good call quality, most reviews say
- Memory expandable to 16 GB
- Tiny display (less than 2 inches)
- Boring design
- Speaker sounds "tinny," some say
The Pantech C630, like the slightly older Pantech C610 (*est. $20), is an inexpensive 3G network-compatible cell phone and thus offers speedy web browsing, video display and music downloads, plus a GPS receiver and compatibility with AT&T's Navigator software. The two phones have different form factors, though -- the C610 is a clamshell flip phone with a 2.2-inch display and the C630 is a solid candy-bar style with a 1.76-inch screen. And while the C610 has a rated battery life of three hours' talk time, the C630 is rated at five hours, although at this writing no reviewer has tested that independently.
Reviews describe call quality as good, although some say it will be obvious to the other party that you're on a cell phone. One reviewer says music sounds "tinny" on the speaker but considerably better with Bluetooth headphones, and with a memory expandable to 16 GB (microSD card), you can store a few thousand songs. And at 4.1 inches by 1.7 inches by 0.46 inches and weighing 2.77 ounces, it'll certainly fit comfortably in a pocket. Some reviewers carp about the C630's lack of a self-portrait mirror for the camera.
The Pantech C630 was launched in mid-December 2008 and reviews are scarce at this writing. Some of our usual sources, such as PCMag.com and ConsumerReports.org, haven't weighed in yet, and we found no user reviews at Amazon.com or even on AT&T's website. But CNET published a review a few days after the C630 was launched, and TestFreaks.com added its coverage about a week later. Both did thorough hands-on testing, but rushed efforts are evidenced by the absence of details like battery life tests.
Our Sources
1. CNET
CNET tests a vast array of cell phones and rates the Pantech C630 as "very good," especially considering its low price. Reviewer Nicole Lee says the C630 is less simplistic than it looks, offering advanced features like GPS. Call quality, although not the best, is good enough to work with voice recognition services.
Review: Pantech C630 -- Gray (AT&T), Nicole Lee, Dec. 16, 2008
A decent amount of hands-on use is the basis for a score of nine out of 10 for the Pantech C630. Reviewer Kristofer Brozio stresses that the Pantech C630 is a fine phone with very good call quality, and it also happens to have some cool features.
Review: Pantech C630 -- Gray, Kristofer Brozio, Dec. 23, 2008
3. About.com
This review from About.com's cell phone guide assesses the Pantech C630 from its list of features and specifications rather than testing. This is a good place to find details about the phone without visiting carriers' sites. (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)
Review: Pantech C630 Profile: Low-Cost Cell Phone for AT&T, Adam Fendelman
