LG Select

LG Select

There's nothing wrong with choosing a low-end cell phone, even in an age of powerful smartphones and thousands of mobile apps. The LG Select ($59) is better than most. It contains just enough features to satisfy most users, while retaining MetroPCS's low plan pricing. For just $10 more up-front than the inferior Samsung Contour($49, 2.5 stars), the LG Select offers good value. Just make sure you check out the other handsets MetroPCS is selling for roughly the same price. The silver LG Select looks a little sharper and more sophisticated than most budget flip phones, mainly thanks to its black, gray, and chrome detailing. The varying plastic textures feel good to the touch. The Select measures 3.7 by 1.9 by 0.7 inches (HWD) and weighs 3.2 ounces. The left side contains a volume rocker switch, a covered microUSB charger port, and a covered, non-standard 2.5-mm headphone jack. The right side holds the camera shortcut button. The passive-matrix, 1-inch, 64-by-96-pixel external display is too cramped. While it offers plenty of status info, the fonts overlap each other at times. The brighter 2-inch internal display fares better, with its 176-by-220-pixel resolution and wider viewing angles.