T-Mobile Sidekick 2008 Phone (T-Mobile)

We snap open the lid on the new Sidekick LX, a slim update to the Sidekick 3 that improves on some key areas.

The good: The T-Mobile Sidekick LX boasts a sleeker design with a larger and much-improved display.

The bad: The T-Mobile Sidekick 3 suffers from a low-resolution screen, and speakerphone quality was subpar.

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Released for T-Mobile, the Sidekick 2008 lets users create shells with the images, colors or designs.

The customizable exterior of the T-Mobile Sidekick iD provides quick modification of the outside of the device with fashionable colors to match anyone’s style, mood or that evening’s outfit.

The best part is that users can not only buy new covers, but they can even design their own from scratch something T-Mobile afforded us the opportunity to do.

The bottom line: The T-Mobile Sidekick LX will continue to attract a legion of young fans with its fresh design and excellent messaging capabilities.

It’s also a bit bulky and heavy, and camera options are limited.

At one point, the Sidekick dominated one of our messaging duel reviews, and it is still an admirable messaging phone.

We don’t think this phone has the same audience as the T-Mobile Dash, for instance, but when a so-called messaging phone can’t handle threaded SMS conversations or Google Talk for IM, we know it’s fallen way behind the times.

We like the improved display, and the software update brings some much-needed additions to the features department.

Although it’s not particularly sexy, the mobile device’s powerful messaging features have earned it wide popularity with the younger crowd, and now, the new T-Mobile Sidekick 3 adds a number of notable improvements and additions that should keep it on the “gotta have it” list of celebrities and urban hipsters alike.

The bottom line: The T-Mobile Sidekick 3 brings some notable additions, such as Bluetooth and an MP3 player, and continues to be a solid messaging device for the younger crowd; we just wish it had a better screen.

The software also brings video recording and playback and stereo Bluetooth support.

Consumers can upload a personal photo or graphic design, or select their own text, shapes, icons or logos.

The signature swivel screen moves to reveal the full QWERTY keyboard providing always-on access to email, instant messaging , and text messaging.

In terms of features of the physical design, the highlights of the device are the new 2.6″ WQVGA display that flips out, the QWERTY keyboard, and the dual navigation offered by the trackball and d-pad controllers.

Everything on this phone could have been accomplished with two buttons and smart use of the trackball, but instead we get buttons galore.