Definitely worth the investment. When you consider how much we use our phone, it’s about time someone came up with a smaller, mini version that can go everywhere, for times when you don’t need anything but the basics. If you guys are looking for a small way to unplug or lighten your load, definitely check out the super compact Palm smartphone.
Full Answer
Should you buy the Palm smartphone?
The new Palm is a tiny phone you're supposed to carry around as a secondary device when you don't want your big phone with you. It's a great idea, but it doesn't get performance basics right. PCMag editors select and review products independently. If you buy through affiliate links, we may earn commissions, which help support our testing.
How powerful is the Palm phone?
Well, Palm doesn't pretend its phone is a workhorse. The Snapdragon 435 processor is aided by 3GB of RAM, but that's not a recipe for raw power. On Geekbench 4, a benchmark that chronicles overall performance, the Palm turned in a score of 2,370.
Why is the Palm phone being sold so weirdly?
The Palm phone is being sold in a really weird way. Palm seems to be acknowledging that it isn't good enough to be your only phone, so it's a $349 purchase and a $10 per month add-on to an existing Verizon account. The phone doesn't have a removable SIM card — it's locked to Verizon and must be set up cloning the number of another Verizon phone.
What are the pros and cons of Palm phones?
One of the big advantages of a Palm versus an unconnected handheld/wearable, or versus a simple phone like the Punkt MP02, would be the ability to tap into your social circles. If it can't, then this small phone has a big problem. The Palm phone can use a PIN or facial recognition to unlock, as it doesn't have a fingerprint sensor.
Can you use Palm phone as main phone?
Yes, you can connect your Palm on its own phone plan.
How long does the Palm phone battery last?
With Life Mode, Palm gets an all-day battery life. Life Mode users can get through a full day with Palm's intended use. Charge time: about 68 minutes.
How much does Palm phone cost?
$349.00Palm phone comparison to other kids phonesProductPhone priceBest overallGabb Z2$99.99Best kids smartphonePalm Phone$349.00Best for budgetsBLU Advance L5$39.99Best kids flip phoneJitterbug Flip2$99.991 more row•Dec 13, 2021
Is Palm phone good for kids?
Running on the Android operating system, Palm is a great first phone for kids, and not just because it's water-resistant and uses Gorilla Glass. It also includes location tracking and intuitive parental control options.
Does Palm phone work with iPhone?
Your Palm can send and receive calls and text messages using the same phone number that you use on your primary device so that you can keep your conversations moving while on the go. In this video, we will go over how to sync text messages and calls between your Palm and an iPhone.
How do I extend the battery life on my Palm phone?
Five Tips to Get the Most Out of Your Battery on PalmTurn off background data syncing. Apps are constantly trying to upgrade, which drains the battery. ... Turn off Wi-fi and Bluetooth antennas when not in use. ... Disable apps you do not use. ... Use Life Mode. ... Minimize notifications.
Is Palm phone waterproof?
The key here is how it feels, and it feels...fun. There's finally a phone that fits in your back pocket, or your coin pocket, again. There's an armband for it, and it's waterproof, so you can take it swimming.
Is Palm phone discontinued?
Shortly afterward, TCL confirmed its plans to revive the Palm brand on future, crowdsourced smartphones....Palm, Inc.Traded asNasdaq: PALMDefunctJuly 1, 2010 (company) 2011 (brand)FateAcquired by HP, retired use of Palm brandHeadquartersSunnyvale, California , U.S.6 more rows
Can smartphones last 5 years?
Despite having such a short lifespan, it's possible to stretch the life expectancy of your smartphone even further with proper care. Some devices can even last upwards of five years if treated gently. However, you might start noticing a decline at around the three-year mark.
Should I get my 12 year old a phone?
The average age kids get a phone is between 12 and 13. With that in mind, it's up to the parents to be the best judge of whether their child is ready for a cell phone.
Should I get my 10 year old a phone?
Age 10 to 12 – At this age, experts recommend the potential of kids owning a phone only to call their parents. It's still not the right age for a smartphone, or at least not one with internet access. A ScienceDaily study shows that girls are particularly affected at this age, often negatively, by owning a smartphone.
Should I get my 8 year old a phone?
The right age to give kids their first cellphone is really up to you. Age isn't as important as your kid's maturity level, ability to follow rules at home and school, and sense of responsibility as well as your own family's needs.
What brand is the Palm phone?
Palm (companion)CodenamePepitoBrandPalm Ventures Group TCL Corporation (In some markets)ManufacturerTinno MobileModelPVG100First releasedOctober 15, 201821 more rows
How does a Palm phone work?
0:275:38Palm Phone hands-on: an Android phone for your phone - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipButton on it you press it it turns the screen on you swipe up to unlock. It. If you double tap it.MoreButton on it you press it it turns the screen on you swipe up to unlock. It. If you double tap it. It will launch the Google assistant.
Who makes the Palm cell phone?
Palm, Inc.Traded asNasdaq: PALMFounderJeff HawkinsDefunctJuly 1, 2010 (company) 2011 (brand)FateAcquired by HP, retired use of Palm brandHeadquartersSunnyvale, California , U.S.5 more rows
Was the Palm Pilot a phone?
The PalmPilot was the first wildly popular handheld computer. Its success helped bridge the previously separate worlds of the electronic organizer, the PC, and later, the mobile phone.
How much does a Palm phone cost?
The device is still only available through Verizon, but the good news is that from now until May 1, 2019, the device is only $199 (assuming you sign a two-year contract with Verizon).
What is the back of a Palm phone?
Like almost every other device on the market these days, the Palm Phone features glass on the front and back of the handset , brought together with an aluminum frame.
How much battery does a Palm phone have?
There isn’t too much to say about the Palm Phone’s battery. It only holds 800mAh of juice, and even with the small display I got just two to three hours of screen-on time.
How to go back to home screen on Palm?
You can tap it once to go back, twice to go to the home screen, and long press to open the Recents menu.
What is life mode on a Palm phone?
Basically, the company made an ultra-powered Do Not Disturb mode that silences all incoming notifications and doesn’t show anything when the phone’s screen is off.
When did TCL buy Palm?
When TCL bought Palm from HP back in 2014, many hoped the Chinese company would breathe new life into the company. At long last, TCL has brought a new Palm-branded phone to the market, but it’s nothing like what once was. Instead of running webOS, the Palm Phone is an Android-powered device with a custom launcher.
Does Palm have a headphone jack?
As if I even had to write it, no, the Palm Phone does not have a headphone jack.
What is life mode on a Palm phone?
Palm has one more tool to help you stay off of your phone when you don't need it: Life Mode. It's basically Do Not Disturb on steroids. It not only prevents a distracting avalanche of notifications from rolling in but also turns off most of the Palm's wireless radios while the screen is off.
How long does a Palm battery last?
As you'd probably expect from a phone this small, the Palm's battery life can be problematic. The company says the phone is rated for about seven to eight hours of use, but that's only if you use the Palm in fits and starts. On the off chance that you ever sit down and use the Palm for web browsing and video streaming the way you would a typical smartphone, you'll be lucky if the battery manages to last three hours. In any other case, this would be unacceptable, but it doesn't seem fair to hold this to the same standard as other phones. Just be aware of the limitations. You could potentially get through a whole day with this thing, but only if you rely on that radio-killing Life Mode to keep you disconnected most of the time.
Is the Palm Pre a credit card?
And yes, it's very small: The Palm is roughly the size of a credit card, though obviously much thicker.
Can you use gesture mode on a Palm?
For one, the gesture mode is only accessible from the lock screen. That isn't a problem unless you happen to have Face Unlock enabled. If that's the case, the Palm will probably see your mug and unlock itself before you even have the chance to swipe up. The irony is, after figuring out how to consistently get into that gesture search panel (usually by averting my face so the phone wouldn't prematurely unlock), the thing barely worked!
Is it hard to use Android apps?
Depending on how big your fingers are, though, actually using these full Android apps can be difficult. It wasn't that long ago that smartphone screens were relatively puny, but big shifts in the industry mean Android has almost completely outgrown displays like this. Trying to hit the right touch targets on-screen can sometimes feel like an exercise in madness, and you're obviously not going to want to edit your photos or watch Jack Ryan on Amazon Prime. Android as a platform is still plenty functional here, even if it's far from ideal, but the Palm sort of feels out of step with modern life.
Is Face Unlock safe?
It's surprisingly fast, but since it relies solely on image data, it's not the most secure way to protect your phone. Oh, and forget about using it in the dark too.
Is the Palm a good screen?
The Palm's subtle design means there's nothing to distract you from the 3.3-inch IPS LCD display. And despite only being 720 p, this is actually a pretty nice little screen. Its diminutive proportions mean we're working with a pixel density of about 445PPI. That puts it in the same ballpark as devices like the iPhone XS Max. It's also plenty bright, and even with my rapidly aging garbage eyes, I never had trouble reading the Palm's tiny screen under broad daylight. For a screen this small, I'd call that a plus.
How much does it cost to connect a Palm to Verizon?
You'll have to pay a $10 monthly fee to connect the Palm to Verizon's network. Palm is the latest retro brand, alongside BlackBerry and Nokia, to hitch a ride with Android in the hopes of making a comeback. It's most associated with the Palm Pilot, Palm Treo and Palm Pre.
What is a palm?
But there are two key things to remember: First, the Palm is meant to be there as a security blanket to the internet, a thin strand of connection to the outside world when you want to mostly concentrate on what you're doing (the gym; a walk) or who you're with (happy anniversary!) and not on a screen.
How long can a Palm submerge in water?
That means it can submerge in a meter of water, about 3 feet, for up to 30 minutes. You can program the Palm to launch Google Assistant or your camera when you double-press the power button. Typing on the Palm is madness.
What is life mode on a Palm?
Life Mode is an option you turn on when you want to limit what you see and do just the apps you pick. Say you're working out and you want to enable only your fitness tracker, your music and your incoming calls.
Does the Palm phone work with iPhone?
Since the Palm is an Android device, there's a huge advantage for Android users. The Palm will technically work with iPhones, but you won't have access to any Apple-specific apps that aren't also available on Android.
Does the Palm have LTE?
The Palm has an LTE connection, but uses your Verizon phone's call forwarding (through the Verizon Messages+ app) to get calls and texts. If anyone texts or calls, your phone and your Palm will both ring. (This is how the LTE-connected Apple Watch works, too.)
Is Palm's comeback risky?
But Palm's comeback is risky. Although it shares a message about digital detox that Apple and Google have recently embraced, it introduces yet another device for people to buy and use -- one that looks and acts a lot like the device they already own.
When will Palm phones be released?
But the finished product doesn't quite deliver. By Philip Michaels June 18, 2019.
How much does a Palm watch cost?
You'd certainly pay more for the watch — the Apple Watch Series 4 starts at $499 if you want LTE connectivity — but you'd get a device that offers the same features as the Palm in a form factor that's better suited for at-a-glance uses. And the watch throws in health and fitness tracking features not found in the Palm.
How much water can a Palm phone drop?
With an IP68 dust- and water-resistant rating, you can drop your Palm in a little less than 5 feet of water without any worry. And the gold band around the phone looks pretty slick, too.
How many buttons does the Palm have?
There's just one button on the Palm — a power button that wakes the phone and puts it to sleep with one press. Two presses summon the built-in Google Assistant, while a long-press lets you power down the phone.
How to unlock a Palm phone?
There's no fingerprint sensor on the Palm, which instead relies on facial recognition to unlock your device. Press the power button and a lock screen appears; stare at your phone for 2 seconds or so, and it'll unlock.
How long does it take for a Palm to die?
The Palm died after 2 hours and 38 minutes, which is more than 7 hours less than the 9:48 average we've gotten from full-sized phones.
What is life mode on a Palm?
With its focus on weaning you off your smartphone, the Palm's most notable feature is Life Mode. Flip that on, and you won't be bothered by any calls or texts. Once Life Mode's on and your screen is off, your Palm won't ring when someone calls, texts won't make the device buzz and notifications will remain as silent as the tomb. Turn the screen back on, and messages and notifications will sync up.
