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| T-Mobile G1 |
| Full review » Scoreboard » Features » Gallery » |
 The T-Mobile G1 may not have the visual panache and artistry of Apple's UI, but in terms of navigating the phone's myriad and diverse feature set, Google has created an interface in Android that is fun, intuitive and quite powerful. The new Google Android 1.5 "Cupcake" update brings even more parity with the iPhone, and some cool new tricks to the party as well. The phone offers convenience beyond belief without redundantly stacking menu items on top of each other. The apps included with the device, and some of the apps we've downloaded from the Google Market, are fresh and in many cases surprisingly unique. From the Google Maps Street View that creates a virtual world with the built-in compass and accelerometer to the Amazon MP3 store that offers DRM-free downloads to the Compare Everywhere app that scans barcodes and finds local deals on popular products, the T-Mobile G1 offers capabilities and developer access beyond any handheld device we've seen. The new Cupcake update might not push potential customers over the edge, but existing users will be delighted with the onscreen keyboard, the new video recording capabilities and clever UI enhancements, like the desktop folders and the improved look all around. The Google Android OS and the T-Moblle G1 aren't perfect, but they're better than most systems out there, and for an open source OS, they're a fun way to experience what's to come in the world of multimedia smartphones. Release: May 2009. Price: $180.
Pros: Excellent, fun and intuitive new interface design from Google. Solid messaging and Web browsing options. Surprisingly good camera.
Cons: Dull hardware design. Serious reception problems hurt voice quality. Lacks many necessary options, including business e-mail and video player.
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74%
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| RIM BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8220 |
| Full review » Scoreboard » Features » Gallery » |
 With the BackBerry Pearl Flip 8220, RIM has another winner on its hands, and after spending some time with the new polished interface on this lightweight flip phone, we have to say we like it even more than the standard candybar Pearl, which is a tall order. The phone isn't the prettiest, in fact we found the shell to be a bit goofy looking. But as soon as we turned it on and so the rich contrast on the bright screen, as soon as we typed on the wider, more solid SureType keypad, we knew that this would be a compelling device. The interface is still bogged down with long, textual menus, and the Web browser won't win any iPhone converts, but T-Mobile has endowed this phone with a great feature list, including Wi-Fi calling and more messaging options than you'll find almost anywhere else. Plus, it upholds the BlackBerry's great battery life reputation, though we would have given up an hour or two of talk time for some 3G networking. Release: October 2008. Price: $50.
Pros: Great new BlackBerry user interface. Lightweight phone. Good battery life. Great messaging features, especially for IM fans.
Cons: Interface improvements don't go deep enough (especially in the calendar). Poor Web browser for a modern smartphone. Call quality could be better.
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Mediocre |
71%
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| Nokia 6301 |
| Full review » Video » Scoreboard » Features » Gallery » |
 For all its flaws, the Nokia 6301 is still a deceptively nice phone. Under the best conditions, at a Wi-Fi hotspot, calls sounded excellent, and the HotSpot @Home service worked well. We're big fans of this UMA service, as it could save customers a lot of money and provide better reception than normal cellular service. The phone also includes a robust music player with a 512MB microSD card as a bonus, and even some nice messaging options. Unfortunately, the fact that it doesn't use Wi-Fi for data keeps it from being more of a messaging and Web browsing powerhouse, and the tiny keys kept us from carrying on long, textual conversations. The menu also kept many of the best in hiding. Overall, this feels like a low-end phone with a few high-end features stuck on, but for the bargain-hunting HotSpot @Home crowd, those high-end features will simply be a nice bonus, anyway. Release: June 2008. Price: $130.
Pros: Calls sound great under Wi-Fi and when reception was strong. Lots of features for a simple calling phone. Included charging dock.
Cons: When reception was weaker, calls sounded bad or dropped out altogether. Small keys made typing difficult. Lousy camera.
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49%
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| Nokia E71 |
| Full review » Scoreboard » Features » 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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| Apple iPhone 3G |
| Full review » Scoreboard » Features » Gallery » |
 With its faster networking, GPS for location-based services and, best of all, the App Store, Apple takes a significant step forward with the iPhone 3G as a consumer-centric device. This phone is special, and though it's not for everyone (hardware keyboard lovers need not apply), it is a great choice for consumers who wants a true convergence device. It's not only a decent phone, it's the best iPod on the market and the best portable Web browser money can buy. And with so many new apps coming to market in the near future, the Apple iPhone 3G will only get more exciting when it comes to entertainment and gaming. We're still bothered that Apple's iPhone 3G omits some obvious technology and solutions. Still, if you are looking for an entertaining phone, there's nothing that comes close to the iPhone 3G right now. Release: July 2008. Price: $100.
Pros: Faster networking. GPS for location-based services. App Store. New design provides better reception.
Cons: Camera should be better. Lacks some functions that even basic multimedia phones provide, like video recording. No removable battery.
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Mediocre |
Good |
77%
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Excellent |
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