Home › Reviews ›

Review: Microsoft Kin One and Two

Form Basics Extras Wrap-Up Comments 9

Music Camera Photos/Video Browse/Customize Extras

Normally, this page is reserved for all the cool, extra features that a phone has. With Kin, there are none. Instead, I offer you a list of what the Kin doesn't have.

Mapping software or any form of navigation.

A calendar.

A calculator. Or a tip calculator.

A to-do list.

Voice notes. Hell, voice "anything."

A dedicated Bing search app for the web. (You can search the phone for contacts and apps, and Bing search is built into the clunky browser.)

Any sort of weather app or widget.

Verizon-branded services of any kind.

No games.

No voice dialing.

No YouTube.

NO APPS. None. No app store, no app widgets, nothing.

Bluetooth

The Kins do have Bluetooth. I was able to pair both phones with mono and stereo headsets. Bluetooth worked fine on both models. I had no problems at all. Sound quality was better on the Kin One through mono headsets, but otherwise they were on par.

Next page: Wrap-Up

Related

Review: Kin Two

Microsoft's new Kin Two on Verizon Wireless is a social networking magnet with a style all its own. Did Microsoft sacrifice too many features to bring this youthful smartphone to the masses?

Samsung Refreshes Galaxy S Series with S Pen, New Cameras

Feb 9, 2022
Samsung today announced its lineup of flagship phones for 2022: the Galaxy S22 series. The top-end S22 Ultra sees the biggest changes as it essentially absorbs Samsung's Note series with an integrated S Pen stylus and a more Note-like shape and design, instead of the Contour Cut design of the other models.

Samsung Refines its Foldable Phones

Aug 10, 2022
Samsung has announced its newest generation of foldable phones: the Galaxy Z Fold4 and Galaxy Z Flip4. Both have similar designs and features compared to their predecessors, with a slew of small updates and refinements across the board.

Samsung Upgrades its Wearables

Aug 10, 2022
Alongside its new foldable phones, Samsung has revealed its newest smartwatches and Bluetooth earbuds, each with significant engineering improvements. The new Galaxy Watch5 has a 13% larger battery and 60% more durable face compared to the Watch4.

iPhone 14 Plus Offers a Big Screen For Less

Sep 7, 2022
Apple has revealed the iPhone 14 series, with new features, improved specs, and new size options. In place of a Mini option, the iPhone 14 will come in the same 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch screen size options as the Pro models.

Sharp Kin One

2.6" display 320 x 240 pixels
Tegra APX2600 processor
1,240 mAh battery
Hardware Text Keyboard, Headphone Jack (3.5mm)

Sharp Kin Two

3.4" display 320 x 480 pixels
Tegra APX2600 processor
1,390 mAh battery
Hardware Text Keyboard, Headphone Jack (3.5mm)

more news about: