T-Mobile Tap (T-Mobile)

The T-Mobile Tap is one of the first truly budget-priced touch screen phones on the U.S. market. It looks like one of Samsung's phones, but it's actually manufactured by Huawei, a Chinese company. The Tap offers a well-laid out interface, Web browsing and messaging apps, GPS, and a 2-megapixel camera at a bargain price of $79.99 with a two-year contract, or $179.99 with T-Mobile's money-saving Even More Plus plan (which removes the device subsidy, but costs up to $240 less over two years). Sadly, the Tap cuts too many corners, and there are too many better options for T-Mobile subscribers.

Huawei Technologies Co Ltd

http://www.huawei.com

• Price as Tested: $79.99 - $179.99 Direct
• Service Provider: T-Mobile
• Operating System: Other
• Screen Size: 2.8 inches
• Screen Details: 240-by-320 TFT LCD resistive touch screen
• Camera: Yes
• Megapixels: 2 MP
• 802.11x: No
• Bluetooth: Yes
• Web Browser: Yes
• Network: GSM, UMTS
• Bands: 850, 900, 1800, 1900, 2100, 1700
• High-Speed Data: GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, HSDPA

BlackBerry Curve 8530 (Verizon Wireless)

Verizon's BlackBerry Curve 8330 remains one of the carrier's most popular models. I liked it so much that, after awarding it Editors' Choice in May 2008, I bought one with my own money. The new Curve 8530 is an incremental but welcome update to the aging Curve 8330. But in a world of new touch-screen devices—including the vastly more powerful Motorola Droid, for just $100 more up front, and the HTC Droid Eris at the same $99 price—the Curve 8530 isn't the standout it once was, even in updated form.

http://www.rim.com

• Price as Tested: $99.99 - $359.99 Direct
• Service Provider: Verizon Wireless
• Operating System: BlackBerry OS
• Screen Size: 2.5 inches
• Screen Details: 320-by-240, 65k-color TFT LCD screen
• Camera: Yes
• Megapixels: 2 MP
• 802.11x: Yes
• Bluetooth: Yes
• Web Browser: Yes
• Network: CDMA
• Bands: 850, 1900
• High-Speed Data: 1xRTT, EVDO Rev 0, EVDO Rev A
• Processor Speed: 528 MHz