Pantech Matrix C740

Reviews generally rate the Pantech Matrix C740 phone higher than the Pantech Duo, even though the Duo is a smartphone and thus has more advanced features. Both are 3G handhelds with dual slider designs -- both the alphanumeric and full QWERTY keyboards slide out. That means a bit of bulk; the Pantech Matrix is 0.78 inches thick and weighs 4.66 ounces. Most reviews find the slide-out keyboards a bit less fragile on the Pantech Matrix than on the Duo. Unfortunately, reviewers who panned the Duo's QWERTY keyboard as "cramped" don't directly compare it to the Matrix's "slippery" keys, though photos indicate a bit more spacing between the Matrix's minuscule keys. The Matrix is also considered sturdier than the Duo, weighs about an ounce more and, unlike the Duo, has GPS capability.

Otherwise, there is the usual assortment of features: Bluetooth capability, text messaging, instant messaging, email, music player, video sharing and a microSD slot that allows expansion to 32 GB of memory. Most reviews describe call quality as good. While some reviews praise the Matrix's web browsing, PCMag.com and InfoSync describe it as slow. "I wouldn't want to surf non-WAP pages on this device," says PCMag's Sascha Segan. There's some disagreement in reviews about the camera's virtues, but it's a 1.3-megapizel gizmo and you can judge photo and video samples for yourself on TestFreaks.com.

We found the most helpful reviews of the Pantech Matrix at PCMag.com and CNET because their scoring systems make it easy to see how a cell phone rates among its competition. We also found the InfoSync review extremely valuable because it rates each of the phone's major features. Usually we rank ConsumerReports.org' coverage highly, but its latest cell phone feature doesn't include the Pantech Matrix. The AT&T website and Amazon.com both divide product listings and owner reviews by color (blue, red and green) when they are otherwise the same product, making it more difficult to find a consensus. Although in most professional reviews editors stress that the Matrix has a better build than the Pantech Duo, the most common user complaints are about breakage -- but it's hard to tell what kind of abuse led to the problems.