LG Xenon (black, AT&T)

Pros: Touch screen interface is very good once you get used to it
Loud volume via earpiece
small, compact size
QWERTY keyboard
auto correction for texting works well

Cons: external speaker volume for ringtone, message tone, and alerts too low

Summary: I initially got the Samsung Impression, which I also got for my 2 teenage kids. After a week, I returned the Impression, not because it was not a great phone but there was no voice dialing and it was a bit too big. The Xenon is smaller, more compact, and has a nice display. The main reason I liked it over the Impression is that it has voice dialing and speed dialing from the keypad; both mandatory features if you use your phone while driving with a headset.
The talk volume is very adequate, but the external speaker is not loud enough. If I put the phone in my leather belt case with the magnetic closure, you can barely hear the ringing and the vibration is also weaker than other phones I have had. If you carry the phone in your pocket, this would not be as much of a problem. My previous phone was a Motorola V3xx which was VERY loud even in its case. Maybe this is typical of LG.
All in all as my first touch screen phone, I am very happy with it