The iPhone 3GS finally adds common cell phone features like multimedia messaging, video recording, and voice dialing. It runs faster; its promised battery life is longer; and the multimedia quality continues to shine.
THE BAD
The iPhone 3GS' call quality shows no improvements and the 3G signal reception remains uneven. We still don't get Flash Lite, USB transfer and storage, or multitasking.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The iPhone 3GS doesn't make the same grand leap that the iPhone 3G made from the first-generation model, but the latest Apple handset is still a compelling upgrade for some users. The iPhone 3GS is faster and we appreciate the new features and extended battery life, but call quality and 3G reception still need improvement.
The iPhone 3GS finally adds common cell phone features like multimedia messaging, video recording, and voice dialing. It runs faster; its promised battery life is longer; and the multimedia quality continues to shine.
THE BAD
The iPhone 3GS' call quality shows no improvements and the 3G signal reception remains uneven. We still don't get Flash Lite, USB transfer and storage, or multitasking.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The iPhone 3GS doesn't make the same grand leap that the iPhone 3G made from the first-generation model, but the latest Apple handset is still a compelling upgrade for some users. The iPhone 3GS is faster and we appreciate the new features and extended battery life, but call quality and 3G reception still need improvement.
The iPhone 3GS finally adds common cell phone features like multimedia messaging, video recording, and voice dialing. It runs faster; its promised battery life is longer; and the multimedia quality continues to shine.
THE BAD
The iPhone 3GS' call quality shows no improvements and the 3G signal reception remains uneven. We still don't get Flash Lite, USB transfer and storage, or multitasking.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The iPhone 3GS doesn't make the same grand leap that the iPhone 3G made from the first-generation model, but the latest Apple handset is still a compelling upgrade for some users. The iPhone 3GS is faster and we appreciate the new features and extended battery life, but call quality and 3G reception still need improvement.
The iPhone 3GS finally adds common cell phone features like multimedia messaging, video recording, and voice dialing. It runs faster; its promised battery life is longer; and the multimedia quality continues to shine.
THE BAD
The iPhone 3GS' call quality shows no improvements and the 3G signal reception remains uneven. We still don't get Flash Lite, USB transfer and storage, or multitasking.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The iPhone 3GS doesn't make the same grand leap that the iPhone 3G made from the first-generation model, but the latest Apple handset is still a compelling upgrade for some users. The iPhone 3GS is faster and we appreciate the new features and extended battery life, but call quality and 3G reception still need improvement.
The RIM BlackBerry Tour 9630 offers world-roaming capabilities as well as Bluetooth, GPS, and a 3.2-megapixel camera. The smartphone offers a great design that combines a sharp display and an easy-to-use QWERTY keyboard in a fairly compact size.
THE BAD
The smartphone lacks Wi-Fi. The Web browser falls short of the competition, and there's a bit of shutter lag on the camera. You can't save apps to a media card.
THE BOTTOM LINE
With a winning design and fast performance, the RIM BlackBerry Tour 9630 is one of Verizon Wireless' top smartphones for both business users and messaging fanatics.
The RIM BlackBerry Tour 9630 offers world-roaming capabilities as well as Bluetooth, GPS, and a 3.2-megapixel camera. The smartphone offers a great design that combines a sharp display and an easy-to-use QWERTY keyboard in a fairly compact size.
THE BAD
The smartphone lacks Wi-Fi. The Web browser falls short of the competition, and there's a bit of shutter lag on the camera. You can't save apps to a media card.
THE BOTTOM LINE
With a winning design and fast performance, the RIM BlackBerry Tour 9630 is one of Verizon Wireless' top smartphones for both business users and messaging fanatics.
GSM 850/900/1800/1900 / UMTS 2100, Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.1 Standard Edition, Up to 510 min, 192 MB
THE GOOD
The T-Mobile Dash 3G brings some nice upgrades, including 3G support, GPS, and a 2-megapixel camera. The smartphone features a slick design with a nice, full QWERTY keyboard. Other highlights include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and plenty of messaging options.
THE BAD
The Dash 3G does not include the Inner Circle feature or UMA support. The screen size is a bit small. Price is a little high compared with the competition.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Long overdue, the T-Mobile Dash 3G is a worthy upgrade to its predecessor with the addition of such features as 3G support, GPS, and an updated design.
W-CDMA 900/2100 / GSM 850/900/1800/1900, Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional, Up to 510 min, 288 MB
THE GOOD
The HTC Touch Pro2 features a sharp, spacious touch screen and an easy-to-use full QWERTY keyboard. The Windows Mobile smartphone also includes conference call management tools for business users and offers good call quality. It also has Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS.
THE BAD
The smartphone is heavy and bulky. No U.S. 3G support on this version and it's expensive. Onboard memory is low, and we would have liked an upgraded camera.
THE BOTTOM LINE
With a feature set to match its large size, the HTC Touch Pro2 will be a great device for power and business users once it finally hits North America and adds U.S. 3G support.
360 min, With digital camera / digital player, 3.7 oz
THE GOOD
The LG LX370 is a slim and sleek slider phone with an attractive and easy-to-use user interface, GPS, EV-DO Rev. 0, stereo Bluetooth, and great call quality.
THE BAD
The LG LX370 has mediocre photo quality.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The LG LX370 is a great, well-rounded, midtier phone for Sprint customers.
Up to 285 min, With digital camera / digital player, 4.7 oz
THE GOOD
The Samsung Exclaim has an accessible dual-slider design with easy-to-use navigation controls and a comfortable keyboard. It offers a media-friendly feature set and admirable call quality.
THE BAD
The Samsung Exclaim has a nonstandard headset jack and small menu text. The external speaker is unimpressive and the frame size of the streaming video player is tiny.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The Samsung Exclaim is a welcome addition to Sprint's handset line. Its dual-slider design, feature set, and good call quality more than compensate for its shortcomings.
Up to 285 min, With digital camera / digital player, 4.7 oz
THE GOOD
The Samsung Exclaim has an accessible dual-slider design with easy-to-use navigation controls and a comfortable keyboard. It offers a media-friendly feature set and admirable call quality.
THE BAD
The Samsung Exclaim has a nonstandard headset jack and small menu text. The external speaker is unimpressive and the frame size of the streaming video player is tiny.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The Samsung Exclaim is a welcome addition to Sprint's handset line. Its dual-slider design, feature set, and good call quality more than compensate for its shortcomings.
GSM 850/900/1800/1900 / UMTS 900/2100, Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.1 Standard Edition, Up to 510 min, 192 MB
THE GOOD
The HTC Snap for Sprint offers robust e-mail support, including HTC's Inner Circle feature for prioritizing messages. The Windows Mobile smartphone also has EV-DO Rev. A support, Bluetooth, GPS, and a 2-megapixel camera.
THE BAD
Sprint's version lacks Wi-Fi and dual-mode functionality. The smartphone has a plasticky feel, and the QWERTY keyboard is cramped.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The HTC Snap for Sprint offers snappy performance and good messaging features, but the smartphone's plastic build and lack of Wi-Fi don't justify the price.
The Nokia N97 features a touch screen, a full QWERTY keyboard, and 32GB of internal flash memory. The smartphone also offers 3G support, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS and comes equipped with a 5-megapixel camera.
THE BAD
The N97's touch user interface isn't well integrated and can be inconsistent and confusing, especially compared with the competition. We would have preferred a capacitive touch screen instead of resistive.
THE BOTTOM LINE
While the Nokia N97 is packed with features and offers the freedom of an unlocked phone, its clunky touch interface, sky-high price tag, and outdated operating system make it hard to recommend when there are better touch-screen smartphones on the market.
The Nokia N97 features a touch screen, a full QWERTY keyboard, and 32GB of internal flash memory. The smartphone also offers 3G support, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS and comes equipped with a 5-megapixel camera.
THE BAD
The N97's touch user interface isn't well integrated and can be inconsistent and confusing, especially compared with the competition. We would have preferred a capacitive touch screen instead of resistive.
THE BOTTOM LINE
While the Nokia N97 is packed with features and offers the freedom of an unlocked phone, its clunky touch interface, sky-high price tag, and outdated operating system make it hard to recommend when there are better touch-screen smartphones on the market.
CDMA2000 1X 800/1900, BlackBerry Handheld Software, 210 min
THE GOOD
The RIM BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8230 offers 3G and GPS. The smartphone brings an updated interface and adds Documents to Go and a better camera, while still offering solid e-mail capabilities.
THE BAD
The BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8230 lacks Wi-Fi. The SureType keyboard takes some acclimation.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The RIM BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8230 updates Alltel's line of BlackBerrys, but its clamshell design won't please everyone.
The Motorola Evoke QA4 has a sturdy build and an attractive slider design. It offers good call quality and a useful set of integrated third-party applications.
THE BAD
The Evoke QA4's multimedia features are rather bland. It suffers from sluggish performance and unintuitive touch screen.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The Motorola Evoke QA4 has its good points, but we couldn't get over its slow performance, average media features, and clunky touch screen. As such, it doesn't evoke much.
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