The Kyocera Oystr: A Review

Are you looking for a cheap cell phone that is stylish, durable, and trust worthy? There are many cell phones like this available, but which are worth it? The Kyocera Oystr from virgin mobile ranks amongst the top cell phones for less $20 USD.

Style

External

The Kyocera Oystr is a pearl-esque white color, with black trim around the insides edges, and a black external antenna. It has two small grooves aligned vertically down the front of the phone; the center contains the circular VirginMobile logo stamp. Located on the back of the phone is the small speaker for the external speaker, directly below the lanyard hole. Located on the top of the phone is a black headphone jack, and along the left side is the rubber coated volume clicker control.

The Oystr is a clamshell [flip] style cellphone. The hinge is smooth and tight, making the phone sturdy when both open and closed. It feels solid, and mine shows no signs of becoming loose, even after much use.

Internal

The screen is bright, with brightness and contrast controls. While a good screen, it is not ideal for viewing photos. While a nice screen, it's not the 'best'. It is, however, very clear and easy to see, and more than adequate for this phone. The screen is surrounded by a shiny silver lining, which gives it a nice contrast with the complete black internal surface.

The buttons on this phone are exceptionally nice. They are a shiny, silver, metal buttons. They are widely spaced, yet this design adds to the appearance of the phone, rather than detract from it. When viewed the side, the buttons appear to be completely flat with the surface. However, when felt, the buttons have a nice rounding, making them easy to feel. They are very solid, and make a nice 'click' when pressed.

The backlight is equally as nice. A bright blue, it is the perfect color for viewing the keys. Not too bright, not too dull; when added to the silver buttons, they are very aesthetically pleasing, and make typing on the Oystr a pleasant experience. In addition to the blue, the talk button glows green, and the off button glows red.
Sound