The Sidekick 4G came out a few months ago, and has yet to be upgraded to Android 2.3 (Gingerbread). Still, it can’t match the power of some of the dual-core devices on the market and for all the flair, the graphics of the Sidekick are somewhat minimalist. We also like that the phone runs a 1GHz Hummingbird processor, which has an ARM Cortex A8 CPU and PowerVR GPU, which seems to be one of the best GPUs around. At its launch in April, it retailed for $99, but its current price maxes out at $80 with a two-year contract - not a bad price for specs like these. Then again, this isn’t priced as a cutting edge phone. The 1GB of internal storage and 2GB microSD card included don’t match the 8GB to 16GB top phones have, either. Same goes for the 512MB of RAM, about half that of top competitors on T-Mobile and other carriers. This is good, but top phones now have 4.3-inch screens with resolutions exceeding 960 x 540. The screen is 3.5 inches and has a resolution of 480 x 800 pixels. SpecsĪs an Android phone, the Sidekick 4G is decent, but not cutting edge, by any stretch. They are welcomed additions, as is the front-facing camera. With that said, we do like the rubber-gripped edges on the back and the dedicated camera button. The audio jack is in a similarly odd spot, placed on the side of the unit, as if you’re going to listen to tunes only while using the keyboard. When held in landscape, the button is a bit easier to press, but we’re still puzzled why Samsung and T-Mobile chose the location from a functional standpoint. While most phones place it in the upper right (when held vertically), the Sidekick 4G’s power button is on the lower left, making it a bit awkward to press if you’d like to lock or unlock the screen. The placement of the power button is strange as well. We wish Samsung (the phone’s manufacturer) and T-Mobile would have compromised and put home in a usable position. The solution: You’ll have to hit the back button a bunch of times. This layout works fine when you’re typing with the screen kicked open, but if you’re using your phone with the screen retracted (vertically), this layout is a hassle because it puts the home button, a necessary one, on the top of the phone, well out of reach. Fans of the Sidekick brand will be familiar with the touch wheel (not really a wheel anymore) and the layout of the face buttons, which are curiously placed to surround the keyboard in a landscape orientation, with the home, jump key and settings buttons on the left and the menu and back buttons on the right, along with the touch pad. The navigation button layout is as strange as the screen. The Sidekick always led the pack in terms of screen size. We do wish Samsung had opted for a larger screen, as 3.5 inches is a bit small now that 4.3-inch Android phones have taken over.
It doesn’t jolt open so fast that you drop the phone, and you can flick it open while holding the phone vertically or horizontally. We initially had our doubts on the gimmicky kick to the screen, as it’s a bit difficult to get the hang of, but it works well. What is 5G UC? Here’s what that icon on your phone really means Moto G Power 5G adds a flagship feature to a budget phone T-Mobile’s newest plans are exciting for new (and old) customers In the race to make phones thinner, the quality of the keyboard has often taken a backseat. Keys have a healthy amount of space between them and a deep, satisfying click when you press them.
Sidekick cell phone full#
The QWERTY keyboard has a full number row and is one of the better keyboards we’ve used. It’s a strange process, but it works pretty well, allowing a lot more space for the keyboard than a simple sliding design would. With enough pressure, it “kicks” out, revealing a spacious five-row keyboard underneath.
Instead of simply sliding the screen forward like most keyboarded smartphones these days, you open the Sidekick 4G by putting pressure on the left bottom side of the screen. No, the screen doesn’t kick to the side like the original “smart” phone did so many years ago, but it does still have kick. The first thing you’ll notice about the Sidekick, aside from the fact that it runs Android, is the strange way it reveals its keyboard. The question is, does the Sidekick 4G fit the bill? Design and feel Today, texting isn’t our number one concern, but there’s still a place for a good QWERTY smartphone. Before all these Android phones and all this touchscreen nonsense, the Sidekick helped usher a class of phone that was sold not because it made good calls, but because it made texting easier. The original Sidekick was a revolutionary phone when it debuted back in 2002. Custom user interface doesn't enhance Android
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