Best Verizon Smartphones Under $100 for 2011

As of 2009, 42% of all Americans own or use a smartphone, according to Mobi Health News (2010). Verizon has a great lineup of smartphones ranging from free to $199 with a two-year contract. However, inexpensive smartphones do not always compromise productivity and style. While an iPhone 4 ($199) or DROID Pro ($180) may be out of your cell phone budget, we have compiled plenty of great alternatives for the budget conscious consumer. All prices represent a two-year contract with Verizon.

Droid Incredible ($99.99) Link

The Droid Incredible topped our list last spring as being one of the best new smartphones. While the phone has been out for nearly one-year now, it is hardly outdated. The Incredible features a fast 1GHz snapdragon processor, 8MP digital camera, responsive and easy to use touch screen, 8GB of flash memory, 3G internet speeds, HD video recorder and large 3.7" HD touch screen display. After trying out the Incredible, we were instantly impressed by the processor speed and beauty of the screen. Because of the large screen and fast processor speed, watching media, including videos, was lag free and generally enjoyable from a phone. The downsides? Our biggest drawback with the Incredible was the length of the phone. The Incredible is larger than most smartphones, which makes it harder to carry around and hold.

BlackBerry Bold 9650 ($99.99) Link

The BlackBerry Bold 9650, like other full QWERTY keyboard BlackBerry products, forms a love hate relationship with consumers. The Bold features GPS, fast text (SMS) and multimedia messages (SMS) sending and receiving, 3.2MP camera, Wi-Fi, decent media player and the iconic BlackBerry look. We like the simplicity and ease of use when it comes to sending emails and messages. The keyboard is intuitive and the soft keys make for fast messaging. Although basic, the BlackBerry apps store allows for popular downloads such as Pandora internet radio and Facebook. However, the hard to use internet browser and small screen are a huge drawback for consumers looking for heavy internet use. The major downside is the lack of a touch screen; however, former BlackBerry users will love the layout and latest BlackBerry operating system.

Palm Pixi Plus (Free) Link

The first thing that Verizon customers should notice about the Pixi besides the cool looking design is the price. The Pixi Plus features a 2MP digital camera, 3G network speeds, media player, GPS, email support, touch screen, full QWERTY keyboard and webOS. The webOS is Palms signature operating system that allows for multitasking, internet based productivity and updates. The Pixi looks great and the touch screen is responsive, although small. However, the low quality photos, small keyboard keys and operating system bugs did not impress us. The small keys are a great for sending short messages, but they are too small for optimal typing. Overall, the Pixi is a cool entry-level smartphone, but has some drawbacks that will not appeal to everyone.

Sources:

http://mobihealthnews.com/6178/study-42-percent-of-u-s-uses-a-smartphone/

http://www.verizonwireless.com