Kyocera Echo (Sprint)
We’re not stretching the truth when we say that Sprint’s Kyocera Echo is one of the most unusual phones we’ve ever seen. Sure, it looks pretty boring when you take if out of the box, but a little exploration reveals a second display that flips out from behind the first to form a huge 4.7-inch screen. Don’t feel bad if you’re scratching your head at this point; indeed, the Echo has had an interesting life so far.
Perhaps it was because Sprint held such a major media event to introduce it–David Blaine locked himself in an aquarium–but the Android-powered Echo faced a backlash following its debut. The general reaction from cell phone fans was, “That’s it?” Others proceeded to dismiss the handset as just too weird. Admittedly, we were a bit baffled as well, but after spending time with the Echo we can report that the wacky design offers a few advantages. We welcome the extra space for mapping and Web browsing and the “simultasking” and “optimized” modes bring a unique user experience.
Of course, the dual-screen design also comes with some drawbacks. The seam between the two displays can be a bit distracting and we worry about the durability of the flip-out hinge. What’s more, the design is the Echo’s only draw. The feature set inside is pretty standard, the Android OS version is Froyo, and data speeds top out at 3G. Sprint may have been concerned about getting the Echo under the magic $200 price point, but this is a device that would really benefit from WiMax support. The Echo won’t be for everyone, and even Sprint has more or less admitted that it’s a niche device, but we encourage you to at least give it a chance.
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