But the phone costs only $100 (with contract). I will compare this phone to some of its more expensive Android brethren, but only to illustrate the differences. Ultimately a like the Zio should be graded on its value--the features and performance you get for the money--and not on its absolute quality as a smartphone.

The first thing you’ll notice about the Zio (other than its price tag) is how light it is. The phone weights a scant 3.7 ounces. Since i was used to carrying around an , the Zio seems insubstantial in comparison. But just because something is lightweight doesn’t mean it’s cheaply built. And though some users may be put off by the toylike feel of the phone, others will appreciate the light weight.

The 0.5-inch-thick Zio has a candy bar design. The top and bottom of the phone are trimmed in silver plastic. At the bottom, below the touchscreen, you’ll find a trackball (very useful for scrolling through lists and around Web pages); Home, Menu, Back, and Search touch buttons; a power/end call button; and a button that brings up your call history.

At the top are the accelerometer (for rotating between landscape and portrait orientations) and an ambient light sensor, which adjusts the brightness of the screen to suit the environment. On the right edge is a MicroSD memory card slot and a dedicated camera button for shooting stills and video. The left edge of the phone accommodates a mini-USB slot, a volume rocker, and a standard headphone jack. The back holds a camera and the speaker port.