Samsung MyShot SCH-R430

The Samsung MyShot SCH-R430 is a basic clamshell cell phone, and reviews say it distinguishes itself by having superb call quality. In fact, PCMag.com gives it an Editors' Choice in a roundup of "The Best-Sounding Cell Phones," and CNET describes its call quality as "excellent." Other than that, the key draw is the month-to-month plans offered by MetroPCS and Cricket rather than the two-year commitment most carriers require. Plans for both carriers range from $30 to $50 per month, plus optional add-ons. The phone is also available free from Alltel with a two-year contract. The name MyShot might lead you to believe that the Samsung MyShot is a camera-centric cell phone. While it certainly has more to offer than many other MetroPCS phones that lack even a VGA camera, the Samsung Myshot's camera is just 1.3 megapixels with no flash or video capture. In addition, the phone doesn't have a microSD memory slot, so you'll be able to store only about 50 photos at the top quality setting.

Reviews say the Samsung MyShot is pretty average otherwise -- good voice dialing and OK web browser, instant messaging and email performance. Serious texters who want the month-to-month MetroPCS plans should note that the Samsung Messager SCH-R450 is pretty similar to the MyShot, but that it also has a full-QWERTY slideout keyboard. Some owner reviews criticize battery life. It's rated at three hours, which is about average for a low-end phone, but at this writing neither PCMag.com nor CNET has completed its usual formal battery tests. There are small external and internal screens, and reviewers aren't in an uproar about them either way.

We found the best reviews at CNET and PCMag.com, as is often the case with cell phones. Both base their scoring system on significant hands-on testing. So does Consumer Reports, but while it rates many Samsung cell phones, the Samsung MyShot isn't one of them. We found a few owner reviews -- none at Amazon.com and just a few at CNET and PhoneScoop.com.