T-Mobile announced the next iteration of the Shadow at CES 2009, and the cell phone was officially released on January 28^th. The T-Mobile Shadow (yes, it has exactly the same name as its predecessor) might have a lot to be disliked, but it also has a lot to like—it really depends what you’re looking for and what you’re already accustomed to.

If this is going to be your first venture into the wider world of smartphones, the T-Mobile Shadow will likely be a safe choice (kind of like upgrading from a Gremlin to a BMW 1-Series). However, if you have an iPhone, getting the Shadow would feel like sliding into a ’89 Hyundai Colt. What makes the Shadow undesirable just from holding it is its cheap feel; a toy phone from Toys ‘R Us feels just as solid.

As a 5.3-ounce slider, you’ll hardly notice the T-Mobile as you chat away for five hours or as it sits in your pocket on standby for six days—though you might want to change your pants. While some will complain about the Windows Mobile 6.1 operating system (OS), most will be impressed by the inclusion of UMA support, Wi-Fi connectivity, and the faster processor. Other intuitive features on the T-Mobile Shadow are the control buttons and navigation wheel that appear below the screen and the cluster formation of eight applications categories, such as the one that groups all text and messaging.

Personally, I like full QWERTYs, so, needless to say, the two-letters-per-key QWERTY is disappointing. Speaking of the QWERTY, the way it lights up is a bit spotty, making the T-Mobile Shadow a bit too “shadowy” and reminiscent of some futuristic cell phone concept you might have seen in Terminator. Given that this smartphone is from the usually solid and well-built HTC house, one would expect more from the backlit keypad and the 2.6-inch QVGA display, which is dull in appearance due to the subpar showing of just 64,000 colors.

Despite any intuitive features that the T-Mobile Shadow has, it fell about three years short in the camera department, giving us a pitiful 2 megapixels to play with. The T-Mobile Shadow, with 64MB of RAM, Bluetooth stereo, and Wi-Fi is a fair shake for $149.99 and a two-year contract—especially if you’re looking for an entry-level smartphone.