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Cheap clamshell cell phone with some cool features
- Fast EVDO network speed
- One-click navigation is easy
- Includes camera/camcorder and music player
- Cool flashing lights
- MicroSD memory card slot (up to 8 GB)
- Slow browser
- Conflicting reports on call quality and keys
- Some say music player is subpar
The primary difference between the Sanyo Katana Eclipse X and the older Sanyo Katana Eclipse is that the newer model has Sprint One Click interface, which gives you customizable shortcuts for various applications. Otherwise, they are basically the same clamshell cell phone with a low-res 1.3-megapixel camera/camcorder and a music player. Reviews of both are divided on call quality, and an essentially negative review by the credible MobileBurn.com says the web browser is not only slow (despite using the high-speed EVDO network), but also "did not format sites correctly, even many mobile-specific sites." Owner reviews also indicate some dissatisfaction with the music player's interface and sound quality. Its headphone jack is a non-standard size, so you'll need an adaptor in order to use your own headphones. The Katana Eclipse X has a microSD memory card slot that can handle up to 8 GB. Some professional reviews describe the keys as being too small and slippery; another says that they keypad is large, but that the keys are stiff.
One cool feature is that the Sanyo Katana Eclipse X "illuminates with bold colors when certain functions are set in motion, such as receiving a message or phone call or even dialing a phone number," says MobileBurn.com's Michelle Ruhfass. Yahoo! Tech's Ben Patterson says the LED stripes "glow in multiple colors (red, green, blue, yellow, purple or orange), and they can blink, pulse, or perform cool little light shows." You can turn off the fireworks if you want. The Sanyo Katana Eclipse X has GPS and support for instant messaging and email. Sanyo also offers the smaller, lighter Katana LX, which gets generally mediocre reviews where some recommend the LG Rumor, which has a full QWERTY keyboard, or the Sanyo Katana II (which is no longer widely available) instead.
We found the best review of the Sanyo Katana Eclipse X at MobileBurn.com, plus some user reviews at CNET and Amazon.com. Because the models are so similar, we also include reviews of the older Sanyo Katana Eclipse from CNET and ConsumerReports.org, which can be attributed to the Katana Eclipse X.
Our Sources
Though shorter than MobileBurn.com's usual reviews, this one is certainly critical enough. Reviewer Michelle Ruhfass says the Sanyo Katana Eclipse X looks good but "seemed to fall short of the mark" with "muddled" call quality and a browser that "performed poorly not only in speed, but also did not format sites correctly, even many mobile-specific sites."
Review: Hands-on with Sanyo's Katana Eclipse X for Sprint, Michelle Ruhfass, Nov. 3, 2008
2. CNET
While CNET has not yet published a staff review of the Katana Eclipse X as of this writing, there are a handful of owner reviews that add up to a mediocre score. There are some complaints that the music player is subpar.
Review: Sanyo Katana Eclipse X -- Black (Sprint), Contributors to CNET
3. Amazon.com
Just a few owner reviews are posted at this writing, one calling the 2-inch interior screen "huge" and another referring to it as "tiny."
Review: Sanyo Katana Eclipse X Phone, Black (Sprint), Contributors to Amazon.com
4. Phonedog.com
This review includes no standardized testing, so it's basically a long user review. Reviewer Adriana Lee says call quality is disappointing, the buttons are too flat and slick to use by feel, and the price is too high for what you get.
Review: Mini-Review: Sanyo Katana Eclipse X, Adriana Lee, Nov. 10, 2008
5. Yahoo! Tech
This is basically a run-through of features, but reviewer Ben Patterson says call quality was "pretty solid" during testing in New York City.
Review: Hands-On Review: Sanyo Katana Eclipse X (Sprint), Ben Patterson, Nov. 5, 2008
6. CNET
This review of the older Sanyo Katana Eclipse rates it "very good." Reviewer Nicole Lee says call quality is great, but the keys are slippery and the camera is not very good.
Review: Sanyo Katana Eclipse -- Silver (Sprint) Review, Nicole Lee, Aug. 17, 2008
7. ConsumerReports.org
The older Sanyo Katana Eclipse, but not the Sanyo Katana Eclipse X, is one of about 50 standard cell phones ranked in a chart, with links to individual reviews on each. A subscription is required to see the report.
Review: Cell Phone Ratings, Editors of ConsumerReports.org
