Phone for gf

After my recent run in with eBay, I now know better about making sure the phone works on the correct frequency for your provider. So now that I know what bands it has to have, I need to pick out a decent phone. Since its Christmas, I figured this would be the best time to get my girlfriend a new phone since her's is always cutting out and disconnecting. It was one of those free LG's you get when you sign a new contract. Anyways, I've been looking around and was curious about these phones:

Motorolla v220
Motorolla v400
Motorolla v600
NEC 535
Samsung SGH-X495

A wide range, I know. I'm looking for performance/reliability first, features a distant second. The calling area is anywhere between Erie, PA and Western NY. Any help is always appreciated.

 

I've never seen a V3 for that cheap. Unless you sign up for the 2 year service agreement with Cingular.

 

She already has Cingular service. Her 2 year aagreement isn't up until sometime next year. She just needs a new phone since her LG has been giving her a hard time with reception, dropping calls and various other problems.

I checked out Phone Scoop, and got these rankings.

x-497 (3.5/5)
v400 (3.46/5)
v600 (3.34/5)
535m (N/A) - Not yet released--????

Then I tried cNet, and got these.

x495 - (6.6/10 Editor) (7/10 User)
v400 - (7.6/10 Editor) (6.8/10 User)
v600 - (7.6/10 Editor) (5.7/10 User)
535m - (7.3/10 Editor) (7.9/10 User)

Does anyone know about the 535m? Besides being on the larger size, it seems to be a pretty decent phone.

Like I stated earlier, my main focus is a phone that will get good reception, and not drop calls all the time.

 

I've narrowed it down to the v600, the x495 and the 535m. The 535m and x495 are new in box, while the v600 has been slightly used. Any input?