In the world that is simply run by the phone that is in your pocket, it can difficult to choose what phone you are going to take the journey with. Naturally, you should go with an Android phone for the numerous selections and not the “one” iPhone. But figuring out whether to spend less and get a low-end Android phone, or spending more to get a high-end Android phone can leave someone going bonkers. That is simply where a certain mid-range phone comes into the picture for a pretty cheap price tag.
The Pantech Burst comes to us from AT&T, and it was first spotted at CES 2012. Not much buzz behind this phone. Pantech is not quite one of the top OEMs out there. They only have two phones, and one tablet that is running our beloved Android OS. The Burst might not catch your eye at first, but there is definitely a “bang for your buck” with this phone.
Specs
The Pantech Burst rocks a 1.2 GHZ dual-core processor. The 4-inch super AMOLED display is very pretty to look at even with the brightness set very low. 16 GBs of memory run your apps and is upgradable to 32 GBs. 5-megapixel camera is not exactly top of the line but it can shoot in 720p HD. All that I just talked about is powered by a 1650 mah battery. For a “mid-range” phone that definitely has a lot of power under its hood.
Software
Now yes, it does not come with Ice Cream Sandwich, but what do you expect with a mid-range phone running on the AT&T network. It is rocking Android 2.3.5, but I heard that in the coming months it will be getting upgraded to ICS. Pantech created their very own skin for this phone. Kind of AOSP, kind of not. It has the familair feel as stock, with some added tweaks. You have the ability to place the traditional Android widgets as well as Pantech widgets. The notification bar has those toggles such as WiFi or blutetooth buttons that have been found in certain ROMs out there. There is also a dock on the bottom of the homescreen but unlike many home replacements out there, you cannot customize it with any apps of your liking. Bit of a let down, but it has the main apps on the dock such as, text messaging, dialer, browser and app drawer. One disappointment I might add as well is that if you place a scrollable widget on one of your homescreens, it simply will not scroll. So basically if you want to utilize any kind of scrollable widget you should use a different home replacement.
The lockscreen is very unique, and if you are a MIUI lover out there you will like it. The lockscreen has multiple shortcuts to certain apps such as your messaging, phone dialer, email, etc. Probably on of the best features to the Pantech UI.
 
 
CPU Performance
The Burst packs quite a punch. The dual-core processor scored pretty high on quadrant. Running a few tests I was always getting between 3300-3400 which I was not expecting. The dual-core processor really runs the phone nicely and I really did not suffer much lag while going from app to app, or running through web pages on the browser.
Battery Life
The 1650 mah powered battery lasted me the day. I had the phone on WiFi and played a few games since it was a lot smoother playing games than on my G2. I would think that on a heavy usage day you will be able to use it all day at work and still be running on one charge as you get home for that first beer of the evening.
Design
The phone holds very nicely in your hands. The thin design is heavy and I actually really liked the red color that I was sent. The phone also comes in black and titanium as well, so pick your poison. The body is super sleek and durable. Of course, you will still want to get a cover for it. It is fairly light and the screen kind of reminds me of how the iPhone screen is. If it drops face first you are going to have a nice spider web crack in it and be a sad little Android user.
Camera
The camera is mediocre at best. Only 5-megapixels but it does shoot in 720p HD. There is no camera button on the side so you will have to use the touchscreen button. Not really anything to cry about. The pictures are not instant either. Takes about 2 or 3 seconds before if finally takes the picture. Overall, it is  not something to be excited about, but it holds out.
Conclusion
I really would suggest ANYONE to get this phone. From die-hard Android users to Android newbs. The die-hard Android users have a lot of room here to improve this device. I could only imagine getting this phone rooted and getting some ICS on it. It would measure up to a Galaxy Nexus in my opinion. For the Android newbs, it is a good starter phone. My brother finally decided to jump into the 21st century and I convinced him to get the Burst. He absolutely loves it. It is simple, user-friendly, and it just runs great. So if you are on the AT&T network and want to get a rockin phone with a cheap price tag $50 for a new contract, upgrade and I promise you will not be disappointed.
