Pantech Burst LTE smartphone for AT&T - live first look

Pantech Burst

Pantech Burst

Pantech Burst

Pantech Burst

Pantech Burst

Pantech Burst

Pantech Burst

The Pantech Burst is an entry-level 4G LTE smartphone for AT&T that was just announced, and we got to spend a couple of minutes checking it out at CES 2012.

Though the Burst is a budget-priced phone, it still has a 4-inch Super AMOLED display and speedy, 4G LTE data service. In fact, the build quality and overall feel of the phone would suggest a more mid-level price point than the $49.99 price that one actually has to pay to buy one.

While the titanium version of the Burst is an attractive enough device, I was really quite smitten by the sexy brushed red paint scheme that is also available. It really stands out from the crowd, and it's textured look hides finger smudges more than most. I also found Pantech's relatively mild user interface customizations on top of Android 2.3.5 Gingerbread to be attractive and not over-the-top. Functional, without getting overly showy for no good reason.

The user interface also seemed to move along quite nicely thanks to the phone's 1.2GHz dual-core processor. Getting that kind of dual-core power, along with 16GB of built-in storage, is a pretty great feat for such a low-cost device. The Burst has all the makings of a big seller. Value, Performance, and Looks. I like it.

AT&T intends to launch the Pantech Burst on January 22 for $49.99 with a new two-year commitment. For a limited time, buyers will be able to buy the Burst bundled with the new Pantech Element tablet for $249.99.