Sidekick LX review
- October 24th, 2007
- 113 Comments
I have a thing for the iPhone, if you couldn’t tell. But before I drank the Kool-Aid, I was a Sidekick man. What does it mean to be a Sidekick man? It means you give up a lot to get great email and instant messaging services and few, if any, third-party applications and very little freedom. Huh. Kind of like the iPhone, except without the messaging.
So when I got the LX last week, I wasn’t sure I would enjoy it. After all, I had already abandoned the SK3 and SK ID for the charming animations of the iPhone. So what if the iPhone didn’t have native AIM on the iPhone — there were a few apps that kind of worked. So what if the iPhone didn’t have a solid, real keyboard. I could handle that. So what if the iPhone wasn’t one of the best casual messaging phones on the market? It had some good points. Umm… It was covered in chrome?
Then came the LX. This latest incarnation of the Sidekick is in truth trivially different than its predecessors, but the changes they’ve made in the aggregate are compelling if not striking. Size-wise, the LX is about as big as the Sidekick 3. It feels slightly thinner, but not by much. Generally, it feels like the same case, only refined and colored. In general, the LX feels the way it’s name implies: luxurious. I know. It’s just a phone, but the single color exterior and chrome band around the edge are nicely understated.
If you couldn’t tell from photos, the back of the brown LX has a faux-leather pattern. The leather is actually gummy plastic and offers an easy-to-grip surface, something the iPhone is sorely lacking.
There is a USB port on the side along with all of the standard buttons on the bottom and top. A full sized audio jack makes me very happy and there are fancy little mood lights under the chrome on the edging that light up when you get a message or begin to charge the phone. They’re very unobtrusive, so don’t think you’ll be distracted by them. The squirrel ball, as I like to call it, is standard SK3 issue.
The keyboard is quite nice, using the TRS80 bubble keys we all know and love. They are well spaced and easy to tap even with my meathooks.
The real star of the show is the screen, however. It’s amazing. It makes all other Sidekicks look like Atari 2600s. The screen, which uses Sharp Aquos technology, is bright, crisp, and extremely readable. It not only makes email reading much better it makes images and the UI instantly readable and understandable. The screen is great.
The Danger operating system itself is virtually unchanged. This is a good and a bad thing. It is bad because it’s basically the same damn phone as the SK3 and SKID. This is good because all the things Danger has done right over the years remain, even if you have to put up with little third-party app and sync support and locked down ringtones and themes.
This has always been my pet peeve with the Sidekick series — it is locked down tighter than a drum. Fortunately, there’s not much else you really want to do on the SK aside from IM your friends and send email, so that’s acceptable. However, it does mean for limited OS X support as well as few “productivity” apps, but what those apps could be I couldn’t tell you. This phone does two things well, and Danger wants to keep it that way.
The processor is a bit peppier in this iteration, ensuring you don’t get much lag if you’re swapping between tasks in the OS. AIM and email work exactly the same and if you know all your key shortcuts you’re golden. Users of SK models will take to this model like a duck to gravy and there are no surprises. The phone has a 1.3-megapixel camera with flash and supports MicroSD, albeit through a slot buried under the back panel.
Now, for the $1 million question: should you upgrade. If your SK3 is old, the battery is worn out, and you’re willing to pony up $299, go for it. You will love the new screen. If you’re a first-time SK user, get the LX. If you’re fine with your SK3 or SK ID, wait until we look at the Slide or just hold off until your screen falls off or something. This is not an earth-shattering upgrade.
What the LX has done is remind me why I love the Sidekick series. It’s simple, easy-to-use, and stylish. The keyboard adds an amazing level of fluidity to everyday communication without the rigmarole of similar smartphones. And, I can say this with absolute certainty, the Sidekick IM support is the best there is. Nothing — I don’t care if it’s under WinMo, Palm, or Symbian — offers a similar and more immediate experience. Plus it comes with a carrying case.
MeGaX (Who am I?)
10 months ago
Soo can you like give this to me?
scarlette
10 months ago
how much?
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Nick
10 months ago
How did you get the black lx when only brown and navy blue are available at t mobile? I’d like to know because i’m getting mine next week and i was going to settle with the blue but if there is some other way to get the black then i would do that
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Anonymous
8 months ago
this is the brown one
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Adam
7 months ago
How much do they cost?
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nick
7 months ago
u cant just in some light it looks black but its not its either brown or blue
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koolaid
4 months ago
your dum its the brown
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Les (Who am I?)
10 months ago
I to want a LX. Where can I buy one? T-mobile say its not been launched in the UK yet
funcro (Who am I?)
10 months ago
I can’t remember any TRS-80 that had bubble keys. I think you’re misremembering the Sinclair ZX-80/TS-1000.
Oh, and the LX looks mighty slick.
jeremy (Who am I?)
10 months ago
your stupid!, thats abrown one…i have it
j holiday (Who am I?)
6 months ago
it is a black one stupid
Anonymous
3 months ago
Neither T-Mobile or Danger make a black sidekick lx.
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manny fresh (Who am I?)
2 months ago
you either have a blue sidekick lx or a brown one
ROBERT
10 months ago
WHAT IS THE USB CORED
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lisa
10 months ago
yeah that is the brown one!!! it looks black if not in direct light
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j holiday (Who am I?)
6 months ago
no it is not im rich i have like 5 of them and it is black and if you buy it at the store it is less money for youb poor people.
sidekicklxlover (Who am I?)
3 weeks ago
well obviously your not rich because if you bought 5 sidekick lx’s, then i think that by the 5th one you would have realized that there are only two colors (blue and brown…. and just kuz you have 5 sidekick lx’S doesnt mean you are rich because thats only about $3,ooo.oo wich isnt nothing and its not like you are paying the bill for all of them. =)
JAYME (Who am I?)
10 months ago
I AM A FIRST TIME SK BUYER AND I MUST SAY THIS REIVIEW HAS MADE ME FELL SO MUCH BETTER AS TO WHAT I HAVE JUST PURCHASED, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH ON YOUR GREAT INPUT AND INFORMATION OF THE SIDEKICK LX…I CANT WAIT TO GET IT!!
meee
10 months ago
is the LX better then the slide?
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j holiday (Who am I?)
6 months ago
yes because the lx is better keyboard and it is faster then the other one and it holds more stuff
Da Singin Brotha (Who am I?)
10 months ago
I want a sidekick LX so bad.
I onli want it for textin, im, and internet service
The phone included is 70.00 dollaz a month
not 4 me
Pascallee (Who am I?)
9 months ago
this review is awesome.
just oredered mine off of wirelessbuy.com
hope its as great as everyone says!
ch
9 months ago
this phone is the shit i own a sk 2 and a sk3 and im going to buy the lx very soon im gonna get blue bye from a person who luvs sidekicks the best
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susie (Who am I?)
9 months ago
how much are these, cuz my sister is buying me it for christmas but i really want to know how much.
sushii (Who am I?)
1 month ago
around 3-4 hundred
lb
9 months ago
I love my new sklx I had the razr with us cellular before and hated it. But this is a great upgrade.
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mimi (Who am I?)
9 months ago
i really want the sidekick lx in blue. it looks so awesome. but im wondering about the size. is it as big as a psp? i want a phone that is pretty small. if anyone has any actual size pictures that would be great!!
=]
crystal (Who am I?)
8 months ago
then you should could get the sidekick slide it is the same as lx but it slides up and is smaller
chewy (Who am I?)
9 months ago
what do u think about the keyboard do u think its like the sidekick 2 that itll bubble up eventualy after a lot of typing?
Step (Who am I?)
9 months ago
I had the sidekick 3 and then I went out and bought an unlocked iPhone. I wasnt too happy with the texting on the iPhone because I was so used to the keypad on the SK3. I ordered the sidekick lx and I’m really excited about it but I’m not sure if I’m making the right decision in changing the iPhone for the LX. I love aim and I love texting. I hate that the iPhone has such a great camera but no picture messaging. Also, no text forwarding! But I love most of the features on the iPhone. So, what do you think would be a better choice?? Thanks!
j holiday (Who am I?)
6 months ago
sklx is so much better the i phone sucks and it is 600 even know i can aford it im not gooing to keep it im going to give it to someone even my friend jesseMcCartney said it stinks
manny fresh (Who am I?)
2 months ago
good for you step no one cares
girlliigurl (Who am I?)
9 months ago
well there are only two colors blue and brown. the brown just looks black. That is why i want this phone very bad.
punky jazzy
9 months ago
well i just got the iphone but i really like the sidekick lx is ia as good as the iphone or is it better?????????
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gabiii (Who am I?)
7 months ago
the SIDEKICK IS wayyy BETTER..!!!!! imm bribbing mi parents.. sooo good bye RZR.. (( i hate it… )) and sidekick!!1
j holiday (Who am I?)
6 months ago
sidekicklx it is better it is way more fun and is chepper go with the sidekicklx
Anonymous
9 months ago
does the lx feel cheap like the models at the store cause i ordered 1 and i wanted to know
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Anonymous (Who am I?)
8 months ago
iz the Sidekick iD betr than the lx or the otha way around cuz i dunno wich 1 2 get
sham (Who am I?)
8 months ago
THE Lx i BETTER BECAUSE iT HAS CAMERA AND MPG.. THE iD iS WACk
gabiii (Who am I?)
7 months ago
well the ID only costs $50 with a 2 year contract with t-mobile.. any sidekick is good.. just the LX has a camera.. but other wise.. i can take the ID if i have no other chioce..
robert
8 months ago
does the sidekick lx dome in black
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sham (Who am I?)
8 months ago
NO
kim (Who am I?)
8 months ago
no, it only comes in espresso(brown) and midnight (blue)
Fredlyn (Who am I?)
8 months ago
where can I buy an unlocked sidekick lx..??
gabiii (Who am I?)
7 months ago
u buy it from t-mobile.. then u ask for an unlock code.. i did that with mi RZR
tess (Who am I?)
2 months ago
really ? how much does it cost to get it unlocked by T-mobile.
sihana (Who am I?)
8 months ago
does anyone know where i can get an unlocked sidekick lx in blue??
sihana (Who am I?)
8 months ago
the lx is wayy better than the id . the id is the cheapest sidekick. the lx is so hot. i’d get the lx
Barbara (Who am I?)
8 months ago
does the sidekick lx have AIM for messaging on the phone and which one is better the sidekick slide or the sidekick lx??
Anonymous
8 months ago
which looks more like black blue or brown because alot of people say the brown is ugly when the blue lights turn on ?? and that the blue one looks like a toy? i dont know what to do ?!?!
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Anonymous
7 months ago
just got my sidekick lx, i originally bought the id and realized within three days it was completley whack, not knowing the diff being a first time sidekick user, so i went back and bought the LX and this thing is a beautiful phone front to back, the brown looks classy in the sun, and classy when it looks black, the chrome lineing is a great add, makes the phone look elegant, the camera isnt great but not bad, the padded back is another useful thing that looks classy and was done right, the flashing lights are very helpful instead of havin to look at your phone to check messages, the internet and text is reliable, it doesnt lag in speed, aim is on point, email comes quick, screen is super sharp and radient, overall im happy i made the switch from that POS id to the lx money well spent. i recomend this phone to texters and on the go kinda people, and for people who arent lookin for a loud in your face kinda phone, but more of a good looking subtal elegant phone. the lx also feels very sturdy and well made, well worth the $299
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xAnDy CoUtuR3x (Who am I?)
7 months ago
ahh, well i got my sidekick lx like a month ago, and surprisingly, thanks to my clumsy hands, ive dropped all of them, thats right i have had 3 LX’s so far.. amazing, isnt it? But anyways. the features on the Sidekick is amazing. and i love how it looks so “glamorous”,”sleek”, and “royal”. its just wonderful, and it has a bigger screen then all of the sidekicks.. its truly amazing, and for around $350.00, its pretty worth it. So is the Slide, i have both, lol. So if your looking for a new phone, and your a texter, and are on the go 24/7 (like me), you should invest your money into the sidekick. every penny is worth it.
jessica
7 months ago
i have a blue sidekick lx, i’m completely in love with it. it rules so hard
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xAnDy CoUtuR3x (Who am I?)
7 months ago
haha. i have the blue sidekick too. lol,
it ROCKZ!
$haz
7 months ago
can the LX be unlock? i see theres 2 main companies in ebay selling the unlock codes for $50-$75.
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gabiii (Who am I?)
7 months ago
if u bought the sidekick lx fro t-mobile.. then u shud be able to get the unlock code from themm..
Shannon (Who am I?)
7 months ago
it’s retarded that the sidekick lx does not have WiFi and has a sucky 1.3megapixle camera and cost so much