SideKick 3

July 10th, 2006 | by Vince Veneziani

Video Review

Full Review - Performance and Conclusion

Performance

When compared to the Sidekick II, this device has tons of improvements in all departments except the camera. Bluetooth alone is a selling point to get users to upgrade, as well as the included music player. Increased speed with the EDGE network is a nice feature that makes IMing and web browsing better, but it’s not the only device on the market with EDGE and web browsing. The Blackberry 8700 does it too and has better reception than the Sidekick 3, so those who don’t care about IM but need e-mail and browsing capability might want to stick with an 8700.

Keep in mind that this phone is targeted at a younger demographic. The inclusion of easy-to-use programs that feature IM, e-mail, texting, and web browsing are perfect for most teens/young adults who don’t want anything more than that. Just because it’s not running Windows Mobile isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Anyone who considers themselves a “power user,” however, would be better off with something like an MDA from T-Mobile or a Treo 700. That way you can run applications like SlingPlayer Mobile to keep you even more entertained on the go. 

Conclusion

The Sidekick 3 is a great step up from the older Sidekick II. Users will enjoy the added features and the redesign alone is enough to consider selling your old Sidekick to buy a new one. Unfortunately, the camera is still horrible and the UI remains basically the same as the old one. People will also find themselves with a dead battery if they use it heavily throughout the day. Overall, though, the Sidekick 3 will definitely launch successfully and is worth the upgrade for most consumers.

 
Pros:
 
  • Stylish design
  • Easy-to-use UI
  • Trackball navigation
  • EDGE compatible 
 
Cons:
 
  • Bluetooth isn’t 2.0
  • Camera is still horrible
  • Battery life isn’t long enough

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