Samsung SGH-T229

The Samsung SGH-T229 is a low-end clamshell cell phone that has basically flown under the reviews radar since its release in June 2008. Unless there is something unusually good or bad about such products, most review sources put it on the back burner; and not even owners are champing at the bit to review this phone online. You're pretty much confined to CNET for credible, unbiased analysis, and even CNET fails to perform its usual battery test (the manufacturer rates it at up to six hours of talk time). CNET's Kent German writes that the Samsung SGH-T229 "wouldn't be our first choice for a low-end T-Mobile camera phone" and instead recommends the Nokia 3555. Another option might be the SGH-T229's big brother, the Samsung SGH-T339, which is more expensive but offers Wi-Fi calling and a music player.

To achieve a low price, some features are not exactly top-end. The Samsung SGH-T229 is not exceptionally tiny, at 0.8 inches thick and 2.8 ounces. CNET's German says that call quality is "fairly good" but that voices sound a bit "mechanical." The camera only offers low-resolution VGA and can't shoot video. The internal screen is 1.7 inches and has just a resolution of just 160 pixels by 128 pixels. There is no music player and no microSD memory card slot. The Samsung SGH-T229 does have Bluetooth and a speakerphone, a basic web browser and support for text and instant messaging. T-Mobile phones in general are criticized in owner reviews for blocking third-party apps, so downloading Opera Mini to improve browser performance isn't an option.

We found the only credible professional review at CNET. Normally, CNET has the largest or one of the largest stockpiles of owner reviews, but there are none there at this writing, and none at Amazon.com. Consumer Reports covers lots of T-Mobile phones, but not the Samsung SGH-T229.