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The quirky AT&T Reveal features a slider form factor and is a quick messaging phone.  I got some hands on time with the phone and wanted to share my evaluation.  The Reveal currently costs $79 with a two year contract.

Hands on:

With the keyboard tucked up or unslid, if you will, the phone is a simple, well, phone.  You’ve access to numbers and basic phone function.  Pantech did a great job on the feel of this phone, even though it’s plastic the materials feel high-end.  The phone is relatively narrow and feels good in hand.

The keyboard what separates this phone.  The number keys on the main part of the phone stay active even while the qwerty keyboard is slid down.  I found the keys to be too small and too close to the main part of the phone for my large fingers to reach.  In short, I wasn’t a fan.

Enter the preteen.

Figuring I wasn’t the target market for this phone, I let my daughter give it a go.  She normally uses the Pantech Slate, a super-thin quick messaging phone.  She found the Reveal to be fantastic.

She raved about the Reveals many background choices and better ringtones than the Slate.  She found the number pad to be a huge help when texting and she even found she was a faster typist on the Reveal because of it.

She also found the Reveal fits better in jeans than the Slate.  I am guessing width had something to do with this comment.  She also mentioned the camera has more zoom capabilities over the Slate.

Summary

We both found the operating system to be equally simple.  The Reveal does have GPS which might be nice for some.  The form factor worked for both me and my preteen.  I’ll defer to her recommendation as I am sure Pantech was thinking more about the youth of America than a jaded, smartphone wielding blogger.  We give this one a thumbs up.

I am assured (wink, wink) that this would make an excellent holiday present for a teen or preteen.

Product page: [AT&T]