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| Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1 |
| Full review » Scoreboard » Specs » Gallery » |
 The Sony Ericsson Xperia X1 doesn't quite live up to the hype, but given some serious effort on Sony Ericsson's part to dramatically improve and fortify the Panels interface experience, this could be a much better device in the future. Right now, the panels are useful, but spare, and the best panel, the multimedia panel, is really just a way of accessing what would be a menu on another S/E device. We want Panels with cool features; Panels that actually do stuff, not just goldfish swimming around. Beyond the Panels, though, there is mostly a very plain build of Windows Mobile, with a few surprises, especially in the multimedia department. The phone is still a very nice device, with a top-notch Web browser, great productivity apps and the best hardware specs around. But it could have been designed better, and it could have come to market with so much more. Release: November 2008. Price: $800.
Pros: Great screen. Fast networking. Excellent multimedia experience, from the menus to the players. Great traveling companion, even abroad.
Cons: Panels interface leaves us wanting much, much more. Lacks robust messaging options. Hardware design lacking.
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76%
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Excellent |
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| Palm Treo Pro |
| Full review » Video » Scoreboard » Specs » Gallery » |
 The Palm Treo Pro is aiming squarely at its target audience - Palm devotees who need a serious upgrade. We can't see anyone else falling for the rather dull, underperforming Palm Treo Pro, though owners of Palm's previous generations of Treos might ooh and ahh at the GPS and Wi-Fi, and will certainly marvel at the slick, yet classy shell. Palm's best innovations are really in buttons and hardware shortcuts, but Windows Mobile limits how much Palm can accomplish with this device, and unlike more popular Windows Mobile manufacturers like HTC and Samsung, Palm has done little to nothing to improve the basic Windows Mobile experience. Overall, the Palm Treo Pro is a generally likeably, basic Windows Mobile Pro phone, but without carrier support it seems to lack many of our favorite services, and it isn't nearly enough to keep us from wondering when we'll see the next big thing from Palm. Release: September 2008. Price: $500.
Pros: A new, thinner look with great hardware improvements for the Treo line. Good GPS options. Strong Windows Mobile performance.
Cons: Only Treo owners will fall for this one. To everyone else, this is another mid-range, unlocked smartphone with few additional features or services.
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Mediocre |
64%
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Excellent |
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| HP iPaq 910 |
| Full review » Video » Scoreboard » Specs » Gallery » |
 The HP iPaq 910 is a serious business phone for serious Windows Mobile users who want to have very little fun. Battery life was superlative, among the best we've seen on a Windows Mobile phone, and the phone also leads the pack in networking capabilities with super-fast HSDPA 3G data networking as well as Wi-Fi. It's a solid performer with a staid, though proven design. Unfortunately, it never leaves the Windows Mobile path, and so it feels like a modern smartphone with blinders on, oblivious to the desktop-grade Web browsing and advanced multimedia capabilities we're enjoying on other smartphones. While phones from HTC show off their TouchFLO 3D outfits and VGA screens, the HP iPaq 910 is dressed in its best suit (and it's kind of a wallflower at parties). If you're looking for battery life and stability, this is a good choice, but if you want to do anything more with your phone than what your IT department pre-loads, you'll want to find something more entertaining. Release: June 2008. Price: $440.
Pros: Great battery life. Solid Windows Mobile features. Comfortable, well-formed keys on a large keyboard.
Cons: Nothing really beyond the standard Windows Mobile system. Calls sounded muddy. Phone is a bit large (though it makes use of the extra space). No advanced media or Web browsing features.
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Mediocre |
64%
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Excellent |
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| Nokia E71 |
| Full review » Video » Scoreboard » Specs » Gallery » |
 The Nokia E71 is a great slab-style QWERTY phone, better than almost any on the market. It has a slimmer, cooler design than the Motorola Q9h or the Samsung BlackJack 2, and it can handle almost all of the business tools that those Windows Mobile 6.1 phones use. It doesn't have all of the carrier amenities that we usually ignore anyway, like over-the-air music downloads and streaming video clips, and it could be more localized for U.S. users. Still, we had no problem setting up the phone for our Exchange ActiveSync business e-mail, and all of our favorite business features, like tethered modem support and Office Document handling, worked nicely. The biggest challenge this phone faces is competing with the ultra-low, carrier subsidized prices of its competitors, but if you want the top of the line phone in this form factor, the Nokia E71 is an easy choice. Release: July 2008. Price: $500.
Pros: Great design with a comfortable keyboard and a slim, slick case. Fast networking on AT&T's 3G network. Plenty of features, including GPS, Wi-Fi and Exchange support.
Cons: Setup could be confusing for the U.S. audience. Exchange AciveSync drains the battery significantly. Camera is lousy.
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73%
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| Palm Centro (Unlocked) |
| Full review » Video » Scoreboard » Specs » Gallery » |
_it00.jpg) The audience for an unlocked phone is a special bunch, and we wouldn't recommend this phone as an alternative to a carrier-sponsored version if you don't mind signing a new contract. But if you need the unlocked option, the Palm Centro still makes for an appealing, small smartphone. Everything on the inside screams 2006, but the Palm OS worked pretty well then, and it still works well now. It isn't getting any prettier, and the Web browser is practically ancient by today's standards, but for calling and e-mail, the phone is solid. We recommend trying it before you buy, because the small keyboard might stymie even medium-sized fingers, but if the size fits, go right ahead. Release: June 2008. Price: $300.
Pros: Improved calling interface. Unlocked Centro means T-Mobile users might have a shot. Same small design we liked.
Cons: Same small keyboard, same old interface. Apps like the Blazer browser and Pocket Tunes music player starting to show their age.
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Mediocre |
59%
GOOD |
Very good |
Excellent |
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