Smartphone Reviews; Best SmartPhones; ConsumerSearch

Best smartphone overall

*Est. $100 and up with contract Compare Prices

Reports say the latest release of Apple's iPhone 3G (an AT&T exclusive) makes a great smartphone even better. New software, which is available by download to owners of the original iPhone, adds Microsoft Exchange support… for business and access to the iPhone App Store, where thousands of applications for work and play can be downloaded for free or at low cost. The iPhone 3G uses AT&T's speedier 3G HSDPA network (where available), but some users report dropped calls in areas where AT&T's 3G and slower EDGE networks overlap. The iPhone 3G is a great multimedia player, with a fantastic user interface. Web pages display perfectly, and navigation on its touch screen is a breeze.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

CNet.com: Reviewers Kent German and Donald Bell offer a lot of detail regarding the Apple iPhone 3G's performance in testing and include ...

PCMag.com: Despite some shortfalls and hiccups, the Apple iPhone 3G gets an Editors' Choice award here. Positives include improved call ...

ConsumerReports.org: This update rates a lot of smartphones, including the Apple iPhone 3G. Testing meets Consumer Reports' typical rigorous ...

About.com: About.com's guide to cell phones Adam Fendelman looks at price, battery life and Internet browsing in this comparative review. He ...

The New York Times: Although technology columnist David Pogue is impressed with some of the improvements in the Apple iPhone 3G, he sees few ...

The Wall Street Journal: Walter S. Mossberg reports that the Apple iPhone 3G "mostly keeps its promises." However, he adds that while the phone itself ...

Computer Power User: Anand Lal Shimpi looks at the differences between the original iPhone and the iPhone 3G and how the improvements stack up. Based ...

MobileTechReview.com: The Apple iPhone 3G is named an Editor's Choice here. Reviewer Lisa Gade says that the original iPhone is not meant for corporate ...

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Best QWERTY smartphone

BlackBerry Curve series

Free to $250, depending on carrier Compare Prices

Reviewers agree that the award-winning BlackBerry Curve is a serious business tool. With a superb full QWERTY keyboard, unrivaled push email, corporate integration and the ability to edit Microsoft Office documents, it's… a solid choice if productivity is your priority. The Curve offers top-notch messaging power and multimedia functionality including a built-in camera. Call quality is generally excellent. One drawback that BlackBerry models share is poky network speeds and a slow web browser, but for business purposes, the BlackBerry Curve is the device that experts consistently recommend. Different versions of the Curve are available for Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T, Sprint, Alltel and Metro PCS.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

CNet.com: CNET likes the Curve's ergonomics and integrated Wi-Fi, but says its browser isn't as efficient as some rivals'. Even so, Bonnie ...

PCMag.com: The 8330 is a favorite at PCMag.com, with Lendino praising its ease of use, excellent messaging support and improved multimedia ...

MobileTechReview.com: Lisa Gade compares the Curve 8300 to its closest relative, the 8800, but likes the 8300's ergonomically friendly "curvy" design ...

Laptop Magazine: While the only real difference between the 8300 and the upgraded 8310 is the addition of GPS and new colors, Kenneth Butler ...

TopTenReviews.com: Editors say the 8350i -- the sole smartphone in the BlackBerry Curve lineup with versatile push-to-talk capability, GPS and Wi-Fi ...

CNet.com: Cha "absolutely recommends" the new Curve 8900 for its "better design, improved features and faster performance," even though she ...

PCMag.com: Reviewer Sascha Segan says the BlackBerry Curve 8900 bests its predecessor, the 8320, earning PCMag.com's Editors' Choice as the ...

About.com: Cassavoy compares four BlackBerry devices -- the Curve, Bold, Pearl and Storm -- along with the services and support provided by ...

Kiplinger Personal Finance: In this roundup of Apple iPhone alternatives, reviewer Jeff Bertloucci notes that the Curve 8320 is easy to use but lacks the ...

PCMag.com: Segan provides an overview of the four different smartphone platforms -- RIM BlackBerry, Apple, Windows Mobile and Symbian -- and ...

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AT&T

for $29.99

Best Verizon smartphone with touch screen

Samsung Omnia

*Est. $100 with new contract; $200 with renewal Compare Prices

Unlike other Samsung touch-screen phones, like the Instinct, the Omnia is a full-featured smartphone. While its finicky touch screen can't compete with that of the slick Apple iPhone 3G, the Omnia still packs a multimedia… punch, with an elegant 3.2-inch display, Opera Mobile web browser that flawlessly displays web pages, Wi-Fi, 5-megapixel camera and 8 GB of internal memory. The plodding Windows Mobile undercuts the Omnia's horsepower, as does the cramped virtual keyboard. Still, reviewers agree it outperforms the BlackBerry Storm and is more robust than the Samsung Instinct.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

CNet.com: CNET's Bonnie Cha points out that the Samsung Omnia might see a lot of comparisons to the BlackBerry Storm. Overall she would ...

Laptop Magazine: This five-part analysis covers the ups and downs of the Samsung Omnia. Editor Stewart Wolpin particularly likes all of the ...

PC World: This concise write-up highlights the Samsung Omnia's ability to handle all of the applications required of a smartphone. Although ...

InfosyncWorld.com: Although the Samsung Omnia tries to accomplish a lot and generally succeeds, Philip Berne finds its user interface to be ...

PhoneArena.com: The Samsung Omnia is an award winner at PhoneArena.com. Editors here call the Omnia "one of the best smartphones currently ...

CNet.com: More than 200 users have shared their opinions of the Samsung Omnia at CNET. An average rating of four out of five stars is ...

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Best Sprint smartphone with touch screen

HTC Touch Pro

*Est. $300 with contract Compare Prices

The HTC Touch Pro gets the nod as the best smartphone for Sprint users. Reviewers like the user-friendly interface and big 2.8-inch touch screen. It's also lightweight and svelte enough to slip easily into a pocket.… Multimedia features are a highlight, and you can use the phone to watch TV or listen to satellite radio. Business users will appreciate the ability to edit and create Microsoft Office documents, and email support is excellent. Call quality is good.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

PCMag.com: PCMag.com rates the Verizon version as "fair" and links to an earlier "good" evaluation of the Sprint version. Reason? "Verizon ...

CNet.com: CNET tests lots of cell phones and rates the HTC Touch Pro as "very good" despite being bulky and sluggish. The touch screen is ...

InfosyncWorld.com: InfoSync gives a good analysis of features, and its score of 77 out of 100 ranks it with the HTC Fuze atop the business ...

Amazon.com: About 10n owner reviews exist at Amazon, too small of a sampling for any real consensus. Most rate the HTC Touch Pro four or the ...

ConsumerReports.org: ConsumerReports.org tests about two dozen smartphones, including the HTC Touch Diamond, but not the HTC Touch Pro.

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Best world smartphone

Samsung Saga i770

*Est. $100 with contract Compare Prices

The Samsung Saga i770 is a world phone that lets globetrotting business executives keep their phone number nearly everywhere they go. Reviewers say the Saga is a solid device with a full QWERTY keyboard, vibrant 2.6-inch… touch-screen and navigation touch pad. In addition to the Opera Mobile browser, Bluetooth and GPS functionality, the Saga has Windows 6.1 Professional Edition for working with Microsoft Office documents. The fast EVDO Rev A network supports fast data transfer, while Wi-Fi fills in the coverage gaps. Glitches include poor reception, no instant-messaging client and sluggish performance.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

CNet.com: Cha compares the Samsung Saga world phone to Samsung's Epix, Ace and Omnia, as well as the BlackBerry 8830 World Edition and ...

CNet.com: More than two dozen Samsung Saga owners share their thoughts, and overall, they like the touch pad, full QWERTY keyboard and ...

PCMag.com: Lendino contends that "there's not much of a story to the Saga, especially in light of the competition." The Saga's biggest ...

InfosyncWorld.com: While the Samsung Saga isn't necessarily a powerhouse upgrade to the Samsung BlackJack II and Samsung Epix, Berne says it trumps ...

Brighthand.com: The Saga is nowhere near as elegant as the (unlocked) HTC S740 in Edwards' view, but this world phone's sleek functionality, nice ...

PhoneScoop.com: Nearly a dozen users agree that the Saga has great form factor, with its full QWERTY keyboard, optical mouse and Opera Mobile ...

Amazon.com: Pros and cons go head to head in a handful of user reviews about the Samsung Saga. While the Saga rates well for its good ...

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Amazon

for $149.99

Smartphones: Reviews

Best smartphone overall

Best QWERTY smartphone

Best Verizon smartphone with touch screen

Best Sprint smartphone with touch screen

Best world smartphone

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