
Less than a year ago, Cingular's 8125 impressed us with its processing power,
slide-out keyboard, and built-in Wi-Fi. But we preferred the Sprint and Verizon
versions of this HTC-made device because they supported faster cellular data
services.
The Cingular 8525 Pocket PC answers the call for more speed by being the
first smart phone in North America to support HSDPA, Cingular's mobile broadband
network, and the first 3G-enabled PDA in the U.S. to have international 3G
capabilities. Add in a couple of other welcome refinements and you have one of
the most versatile Windows Mobile devices money can buy. Because it's the same
weight and size as the 8125, the 8525 is rather chunky, but the device benefits
from a more usable design. In fact, the elegant cluster of call and navigation
keys makes the 8125's layout look scattered in comparison. The slide-out QWERTY
keyboard has large flat keys that are easy to hit with your thumbs, even if they
don't provide the best tactile feedback. Also, the backlighting is uneven, which
can make it hard to find special characters (like “@”) in a dimly lit room. In
addition to the upgrade to HSDPA, the 8525 has several new features. A faster
400-MHz Samsung processor adds speed to Windows Mobile apps. More notable is the
BlackBerry-style trackwheel, located on the left-hand side. The placement means
the wheel is accessible when the handset is opened to reveal the keyboard, but
we assume most 8525 owners will use the five-way navigation pad in this mode.
The first review can be found on
Laptop
Magazine.