Sanyo Katana LX Review

Performance:

Sanyo’s calling card has long been excellent reception, and the LX doesn’t disappoint. We were able to make, receive and hold calls even in low signal areas, and callers reported that we sounded loud and natural. On our end callers were plenty loud, and with the volume all the way up even too loud. The speakerphone is equally good, another signature of Sanyo over the years. The battery is rated at a more than respectable 4.8 hours (288 minutes,) but in our test we were actually able to achieve 346 minutes, or 5.76 hours.


Conclusion:

We have mixed feelings about the Katana LX, mostly hinging on where it sits in tries to fit into the market. By entry level phone standards it is very good; the battery life is excellent, the design is compact and stylish and there are a few different color options. However, it is currently priced at $49.99 on contract, which puts it head-to-head with devices such as the text-friendly LG Rumor and the more capable Samsung M520, both of which we’d have a hard time passing up for the LX. We have a feeling that the LX will drop in price once the Sanyo 3200 is discontinued, which will make it an excellent value for what it offers.