Quoted from http://www.infosyncworld.com/news/n/7420.html:
Top 15 touch-screen phones – infoSync World
Cingular 8525
Score: 84% When: November 2006 Worth: $400
Simply glancing over the robust specifications of this HSDPA-enabled smartphone was enough to make us drool, and for the most part, the 8525 lived up to our expectations. The phone is fast in every way: over the 3G network, Wi-Fi, and even the Bluetooth 2.0 connection. The Cingular 8525 comes with ample messaging capabilities, including push e-mail, and its sharp dual-orientation display makes the phone’s calendar and today screens a joy to use. Unfortunately, the buggy, if comfortable, keypad gave us headaches (we can only hope our pre-production test unit is to blame), and the typical foibles of Windows Mobile 5.0 made browsing Office documents something of a pain. That said, the 8525 ranks as one of the most impressive Windows Mobile smartphones we’ve tested. More…
Gallery » Sony Ericsson M600i (Unlocked)
Score: 84% When: July 2006 Worth: $500
Quite possibly the ideal size for a business phone, the Sony Ericsson M600i is but a hair’s width from scoring full marks in the messaging, productivity and browsing departments, hampered only by the smaller-than-the-competition sizes of its otherwise excellent touch screen and thumbboard. It also delivers a solid impression in every other department, with the near-sole disappointment being its lack of a bundled USB cable and USB charging support. Add good battery life and nice touches such as a scroll wheel, stereo Bluetooth audio and a clever, agenda-style standby screen, and what emerges is a winning recipe. More…
Gallery » Apple iPhone
When: June 2007 Worth: $499 – $599
Believe it or not, it’s finally here, and it’s even better than we expected. The quad-band GSM/EDGE/Wi-Fi iPhone (yes, Apple held onto the name) defies expections by essentially turning the long-rumored touch-screen iPod into a phone, making for an all-purpose music, video, photo and Web browsing machine that’s even thinner than the latest slim smartphones. We’re not exaggerating when we say this is possibly the most exciting phone we’ve ever seen. More…
Gallery » Palm Treo 750
Score: 85% When: January 2007 Worth: $400
Read the full review » Play video »
When we reviewed the Treo 700wx, we said the Treo was tethered to the fortunes of Windows Mobile, so it is no surprise that Palm has spent some time updating the Windows Mobile experience on the 750. As it stands, Palm’s version of Windows Mobile is the best on the market by far, because it behaves more like the Palm OS, with its one-touch access to your favorite applications and helpful options, like the “Ignore with Text” option for incoming calls. The device itself is starting to show its age: its smaller keyboard and lower resolution screen place it more in the realm of thin smartphones such as the Motorola Q and Samsung BlackJack. From a design perspective, we’ve come to like the Cingular 8525’s form more than the Palm, but the Palm is unbeatable in terms of what’s inside. More…
Gallery » Samsung IP-830w
Score: 83% When: October 2006 Worth: $600 – $750
If you’re a globe-trotting road warrior looking for top-notch productivity and messaging in a handheld, the dual-mode IP-830w might be just the ticket — albeit an expensive one. Messaging options on this hefty smartphone are impressive, and the phone’s CDMA/GSM capabilities mean you can chat and surf almost anywhere in the world. Samsung has gone the extra mile including Picsel Browser, which is an improvement over IE Mobile, and we’re big fans of the MITs launcher window and the long, crisp display. However, we were disappointed by the IP-830w’s iffy call quality, and the problematic thumbboard combined with the tricky Windows Mobile menus means one-handed operation is practically out of the question. More…
Gallery » Motorola MOTOMING
When: March 2007
With its cool flip-open design, touch screen, Linux-based OS and a dictionary that speaks, Motorola’s MOTOMING feels like a next-generation phone. But while it comes packed with features such as stereo Bluetooth, RealPlayer and a 2-megapixel camera, someone forgot to include 3G data support. More…
Gallery » Palm Treo 700p
Score: 91% When: May 2006 Worth: $300 – $650
The Palm Treo 700p certainly isn’t perfect: we wish Wi-Fi were supported, some basic calling features could use some shoring up, and the Palm OS is in sore need of a refresh. That said, with its vivid display, wireless modem capabilities, superior e-mail handling, and better-than-expected picture and video features, the 700p easily ranks as the most satisfying Treo to date. More…
Gallery » Palm Treo 680
Score: 86% When: November 2006 Worth: $200 – $400
While it’s lacking the 3G capabilities of the latest Palm Treos, the budget-priced 680 still delivers the goods with its robust messaging and PIM features. Marking the first U.S. Treo without an external antenna, the 680 boasts the same e-mail and productivity apps as its 3G Treo brethren, as well as Bluetooth dial-up networking for laptops. That said, we’re disappointed by the lack of voice commands and Wi-Fi, and sticklers for office document formatting should pony up to update the bundled Documents To Go application. More…
Gallery » T-Mobile MDA
Score: 83% When: February 2006 Worth: $250 – $400
The T-Mobile MDA is the little communicator that could. Granted, it’s void of fancy features such as high-resolution screens and 3G, but it manages to strike a fine balance between having just enough of the ones that really matter and size. Highlights include a first-rate thumbboard, near all-encompassing connecvitity and excellent battery life, whereas modest performance and limited memory should make power users think twice before purchasing the MDA. Everyone else, however, are likely to find themselves superbly pleased. More…
Gallery » Samsung SGH-E890 (Unlocked)
When: January 2007
The Samsung SGH-E890’s sleek, slim design is a welcome addition to the world of touch screen handsets that can often appear a bit bulky. This phone does away with a conventional keypad, in favor of a touch screen version with nice large keys that were very easy to handle. While the other menus included in the touch screen interface weren’t all that different from the menus we’ve seen on other Samsung phones, they were clear and intuitive. More…
Gallery » HP iPAQ hw6925
Score: 69% When: October 2006 Worth: $380
The HP iPAQ hw6925 feels more like a full-fledged handheld computer than a smartphone, thanks to its powerful processor, as well as its girth. With GPS, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, the iPAQ is a connectivity powerhouse, and the mobile version of Office can handle most popular document formats. The included Photosmart software is better than what you’ll find on other phones, as is the TeleNav suite Cingular had bundled with the phone. Unfortunately, the hw6925 is saddled with a relatively low-resolution screen, and it’s a shame that Cingular isn’t offering this phone on their HSDPA network, as 3G capabilities would make this iPAQ a formidable handset. More…
Gallery » Mio Technology Mio A701 (Unlocked)
Score: 85% When: April 2006 Worth: $550 – $650
As a GPS phone, the Mio A701 delivers the goods with precise positioning, extensive map management functionality, a decent user interface and a bright 2.7-inch screen for hassle-free navigation. Battery life is good, the bundled 512 MB memory card alleviates any storage issues, and aside from being able to boil an egg while waiting for the GPS application to start up, performance is impeccable. While the HP iPAQ hw6915 may be a better choice for business users, the A701 has the upper, better looking and more compact hand insofar as GPS is concerned. More…
Gallery » Palm Treo 700wx
Score: 87% When: September 2006 Worth: $300
More memory and speedy dial-up networking make the Treo 700wx an obvious choice over the older 700w, but the decision isn’t as clear-cut when it comes to other business phones. If you require full Windows compatibility, this is a strong device, and Palm has gone to some lengths to make Windows Mobile manageable with a single hand. Unfortunately, complicated menus stymie the effort. The phone is unfortunately tethered to the fortunes of Windows Mobile — what the system does well, like Outlook and Office, the phone does well. What makes Windows unpleasant also hampers the experience of using the Treo 700wx. More…
Gallery » Sprint PPC-6700
When: September 2005 Worth: $400 – $630
The US gets its first Windows Mobile 5.0 communicator in Sprint’s feature-laden PPC-6700, sporting an integrated thumbboard, EV-DO, Wi-Fi 802.11b and miniSD expansion. More…
Gallery » LG KE850 (Unlocked)
When: February 2007
LG and Prada joined forces to release a stylish, sleek, slim candy bar that features a monochrome touch-screen interface, a 2-megapixel camera, a music player and a document viewer. More…
