Samsung SGH-E105 (T-Mobile)

If you're not a Sprint or Verizon customer but you favor flip phones with Samsung's signature silver styling, your options until recently have been limited. Enter the Samsung SGH-E105 for T-Mobile users. This midrange model offers a more basic feature set than the company's SGH-E715 camera phone. Sporting a cool, compact design, the E105 has enough features and functionality to keep you in touch. While battery life was average and volume quality could be better, this handset didn't disappoint. Though the $199.99 price is a bit high, you should be able to find it for at least $100 less.

Editor's note: We have changed the rating in this review to reflect recent changes in our rating scale. Click here to find out more. The Samsung SGH-E105 doesn't try to impress with a flashy appearance. Clad in two-tone silver with a sleek, streamlined shape, the flip phone somewhat resembles the thicker Samsung VGA 1000 for Sprint. But take in the design for a few minutes, and its unassuming look will grow on you. The phone is indeed small, measuring 3.3 by 1.8 by 0.8 inches and weighing 2.9 ounces, and it can fit in any pocket despite its 0.75-inch external antenna. A postage stamp-size external monochrome display shows the date, the time, battery life, signal strength, and caller ID (where available). We found it easy to read in any light and appreciated the tiny LED that can be set to blink for incoming calls; available in seven colors, it can also be turned off. The E105 feels comfortable to hold while you're talking and has a solidly constructed hinge, but we didn't like the plastic material covering most of the mobile.