AT&T's messaging phone is small, cute, and budget-priced, but there are some usability issues you should know about.
Jessica Dolcourt
Jessica is a passionate content strategist and team leader across the CNET family of brands. She leads a number of teams, including commerce, performance optimization and the copy desk. Her CNET career began in 2006, testing desktop and mobile software for Download.com and CNET, including the first iPhone and Android apps and operating systems. She continued to review, report on and write a wide range of commentary and analysis on all things phones, with an emphasis on the iPhone and Samsung devices. Jessica was one of the first people in the world to test, review and report on foldable phones and 5G wireless speeds.
Jessica began her leadership role managing CNET's How To section for tips and FAQs in 2019, guiding coverage of topics ranging from personal finance to phones to home. She holds an MA with Distinction from the University of Warwick in the UK.
We always like seeing carriers introduce messaging phones, since smartphones aren't everyone's cuppa. AT&T's Pantech Swift certainly looks like the kind of phone I'd expect to see in the hands of sterotypically screeching teenage girls at a Justin Bieber concert, with its purple trim and petite size.
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Side slide
The hardware is the Swift's strong suit. Slide over the screen and you're rewarded with a shallow tilt that improves readability.
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Keyboard close-up
Those with smaller hands will enjoy the compact keyboard that lets your fingers move around without having to stretch to the far reaches of the handset.
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Construction
The phone looks and feels really good, but one drop to the pavement scratched the unpictured corner. Kudos for Pantech for giving the Swift a 3.5-millimeter headset jack.
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Camera
We couldn't say that the 2-megapixel shooter and camcorder impressed us. You can read the Pantech Swift's pros and cons in CNET's full review.
