We spend a lot of time talking about our favorite cell phones, but it's equally important that we tell you which handsets you should avoid. Though the following phones aren't completely abysmal, there are better options.
We eagerly waited for Dell to release the Aero, only for it to disappoint. As CNET's Bonnie Cha put it, the Aero is "unintuitive, slow, and limited in functionality." Indeed, you're better off buying just about any other smartphone in AT&T's stable. AT&T also dished out a dud with the Sony Ericsson Vivaz. Even if you can get past its resistive touch screen and frustrating user interface, its sluggishness and unreliable data performance won't impress you. The Xperia X10 will better serve Sony Ericsson fans. There's nothing wrong with buying a basic phone, but AT&T's Samsung SGH-A107 takes simplicity to an extreme. It has no external display, no volume rocker, and even basic phone features are few and far between. If you want a prepaid AT&T handset, the Nokia 2320 will serve you better.
Verizon Wireless also launched a dud with the Samsung Gusto. Though the Gusto offers a couple of feature surprises, its flimsy design and mediocre call quality didn't impress us. You should opt for the LG Cosmos instead; you'll even get a full keyboard for a few dollars more. We also can't recommend the Duet W002. We love that it offers dual-SIM-card slots, but this iPhone clone is an experience in frustration; buy the Duet D888 instead. Our last phone in the list is the Motorola Devour. We can't recommend it for a different reason; it's not a bad device, but there are so many better Verizon Android handsets that are more worthy of your time and money.