The Chinese, ladies and gentlemen, are trying their level best to win the cell phone wars.  And though their efforts aren’t necessarily as sophisticated as, say, the iPhone or the Nexus One, what they DO bring forth is downright amazing.  And when the folks out at Chinavasion sent me a LevelUP Quad Band to review, I have to admit I was just stunned.

The LevelUP Quad Band boasts a whole lot of amazing features, including an FM radio, mobile internet, mobile email, a twelve megapixel camera (that’s not a typo, folks. TWELVE.  But I’m told that the resolution is measured at 640×380, so that 12.1 stamped on the front may not be entirely accurate.), a video recorder, video player, audio player, audio recorder, ebook reader, Bluetooth connectivity, and then it starts to get weird.

This thing has an ANALOG TELEVISION built into it.  On the right side of the unit, there’s an extendable antenna that will allow you to receive what few analog television signals are left.  And, as to the reason that it’s called the LevelUP, it also boasts compatibility with Java programs including old eight-bit NES games.

Yes, if you’re a retro gamer, this is the cell phone solution you’ve been longing for.  One one side, you have the standard QWERTY cell phone, but with one small ratcheting click, you can actually TURN THE CONTROLS AROUND a hundred and eighty degrees to reveal not only a set of controls more appropriate for gaming, but also a whole new set of menu options.

This may well be one of the most versatile phones I’ve ever seen.  And while it may not have the sophisticated smoothness of an iPhone or a Nexus One, there’s no denying that it easily has the utility of either of those to match.  There may not be a whole lot of apps, but there are plenty of mechanical solutions, and Chinavasion’s LevelUP is definitely a phone to consider.

The Good

Incredible variety of options

Features you’d never expect to see on a cell phone

The Bad

Analog television of only limited effectiveness

Score 9 / 10

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