Top 10 phones of CTIA 2007

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	Home / Cell phones

	Top 10 phones of CTIA 2007	By Staff, 30 March 2007

The list of CTIA 2007's Top 10 phones is packed with high-quality handsets that'll dominate this year.

HTC Advantage

The HTC Advantage X7501 is an interesting piece of design, even though most people who see it come away wondering the same thing: "Who's it for?" It is an internet tablet with 3G telephony built-in, and we'd have to spend some quality time with the strange, two-piece contraption, but there is no denying the appeal of letting those two powerful magnets slap together. Also, now that Windows Mobile 6 is officially on board, we should see some better media, and more functional Office editing on this "Smartphone's" 5-inch touch screen.

» HTC Advantage image gallery
» The best smartphones

Samsung F700

It was curious that at their "Blogger's Breakfast" here in Orlando at CTIA 2007, Samsung did not have a working model of the F700 Ultra Smart phone, like seeing Gallagher without a sledgehammer (which is also strange, because he was at the breakfast, and there was no watermelon in sight). We know people who have spent quality time on the phone, so there is a working prototype out there somewhere, but not enough prototypes that they can't make casual press appearances. Does the lack of a working unit mean problems for the iPhone competitor?

» Samsung F700 image gallery
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Motorola MOTORIZR Z8

The difference between the angle of the slide on the RIZR Z8 and other slider phones isn't vast, but in terms of catching the eye for a cool design, it makes a huge difference. With colored highlights at the joints, the Z8 has a very organic looks, and is almost uncanny in the way the joint on the phone bends slightly like a knuckle, but it isn't only the unique slide mechanism that recommends this phone. The feature set is impressive and high-end, including a sharp QVGA screen, 3.6Mbps HSDPA, and support for microSDHC cards, this phone is a bold step into the slider category for Motorola, which has entered only hesitantly so far, with only one slider on the U.S. market at press time.

» Motorola MOTORIZR Z8 image gallery
» The best multimedia phones

LG VX8700

The LG VX8700 is a new design direction we haven't seen yet in the U.S., but unfortunately the aesthetic may be its most valuable import. The brushed metal case is a nice design choice that we think will catch on across a range of CE products because it repels fingerprints so nicely, and looks great with the mirrored accents. Still, we can't help but wish Verizon Wireless would open up a bit on control of the phone's menu structure. The LG VX8700 has some stylish and modern looking brushed metal themes to go along with the phone's overall look, but they still fall into the "Get It Now" hierarchical system. For the right price, though, this phone could be a trendsetter.

» LG VX8700 image gallery
» The best multimedia phones

Motorola Q q9

The Motorola Q q9 looks every bit like a Q, in person you could walk right down the line of devices and hardly realize that you're looking at a new device. Still, it is much more rounded, making it easier to hold, than its cousin. The BlackJack still feels less wide, but the keyboard on the new q9 was very satisfying to use. We look forward to a longer test to put the new device through its paces.

» Motorola Q q9 image gallery
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Samsung UpStage

The Samsung UpStage from Sprint is undeniably thin, and the design is intriguing, but we wonder if the constant flipping would get annoying. The music player is the same old thing we've seen on all of Sprint's phones, which is really unfortunate, as a new music player interface would be required for the phone to seriously compete in the crowded music phone market. By offering song downloads at $0.99 from Sprint's music store, however, the UpStage could still have a decent chance when it gets available in late April.

» Samsung UpStage image gallery
» Samsung UpStage video preview
» The best music phones

Motorola MOTOROKR Z6m

Perhaps Motorola should not have dropped the name RIZR from this slider for the name ROKR, which carrier so much baggage. Unlike the first ROKR, the ROKR Z6m supports Windows Media 11, not iTunes. The phone has a nice looking display, with a menu structure that is different from your standard Motorola phone. The icons were cleaner, more modern looking. Motorola tells us the phone is based on the new Motorola OS, which we presume is the Linux-based system. The phone looks a lot like the RIZR, but the shell works better as a slider than a clamshell, so it is an appealing phone. No word on carrier or available yet.

» Motorola MOTOROKR Z6m image gallery
» The best music phones

Sony Ericsson K810

The Cyber Shot line of camera phones needs to learn a few lessons from the Walkman line. Take the top-of-the-line models, the K810 on the camera end, and the W880i on the Walkman lineup. The K880 is bulkier, and sports some higher-end optics, but it lacks the style of the W880, and the Cyber Shot interface is not as engaging as the Walkman player. Otherwise, the Xenon flash and autofocus mean the camera can be taken seriously, though we'll reserve judgment on images until we've taken some ourselves. 3.2-megapixels may sound low compared to gangly phones with higher density sensors coming from other Asian manufacturers, but it's perfectly acceptable for the K810 if the lens is great. We could forsake a few million pixels for a better looking image any day.

» Sony Ericsson K810 image gallery
» The best multimedia phones

Nokia E61i

The Nokia E61i is a natural evolution for the Nokia E61. It is improved a little bit in almost every way. The keys are a bit more rubbery, providing a more tactile, less mechanical feel. The body is noticeably thinner, and tapers to a thin edge. We didn't have a good enough network connection to see it in action, but we'd like to hear more about an American model - E62i anyone?

» Nokia E61i image gallery
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Nokia E90

The Nokia E90 is big, very big. In person, it looks like a larger, more polished version of the LG enV. It isn't a pocketable device, more something you'd toss into a briefcase or bag. Closed, the phone is ridiculously large, like a parody of a candy bar. Open, however, you see the wonderfully large keys and the bright, sharp screen. Nokia should have ditched the external phone, and placed this phone more in competition with the HTC Advantage than with an average smartphone.

» Nokia E90 image gallery
» The best smartphones