Buying guide: what touch screen phone to buy in 2009
By Leslie Poston
Blackberry Storm
The Blackberry Storm, by RIM, is the first ever touch screen BlackBerry model. It is a bit clunkier in use and design than the Touch Diamond by HTC and the Omnia or Behold by Samsung, which is in keeping with the BlackBerry line. Early adopters of the device have said that it has a few kinks to be worked out, and many are hoping for a software upgrade in the new year to help iron out any deficiencies and glitches caused by the fast pre-Christmas release. Regardless of any hiccups for this first touch screen in the BlackBerry line, it is still a worth while investment if you are a current BlackBerry user who wants to dip their toes into the touch screen experience. Price point: $199 USD
Specs: EVDO Rev A: (1900/800 MHz), GSM/GPRS/EDGE: (850/900/1800/1900 MHz), UTMS/HSDPA/HSUPA: 2100MHZ, WiFi: None, Size: 112.52 x 62.2 x 13.95 mm, Screen 3.25 ” HVGA+ 480×360 Multi-touch, Gesture Touch, Battery: 1400mAh (removable! take that iPhone!), Memory: 1GB flash for media/ 192 meg ram, Camera: 3.2 MP camera, vanity mirror, no Auto-flash (darn printers!), Audio: 3.5mm jack, bluetooth stereo, Rhapsody OTA purchase and tethered subscription capable, Browser: No flash support.
Apple iPhone 3G
In spite of being hobbled by its ties to AT&T, the iPhone is still a sleek machine that delights Mac lovers, Apple loyalists and PC users alike. If you can live with the fact that the 3G network is not everywhere AT&T serves (and may never be everywhere AT&T serves), causing you to spend plenty of time riding the slower network, you may enjoy this phone for its interface alone. In spite of missing some key elements, like video, the iPhone delivers one of the easiest to use interfaces out there, with a lightening fast learning curve and responsive performance.
Apple went out of its way to improve the call quality with the second generation of its popular iPhone, and if you have used the older version of it you will be able to tell the difference. If you haven’t, it won’t jump out at you as special. The iPhone can switch from 3G to GSM networks, but it does not do it automatically, and in order to do it manually and save precious battery life you have to drill down through several menus to find the magic switch to flip. For someone who is a power user this is a significant slow down. Add in the noon-replaceable battery, and for many this may be a deal breaker. Obsessive email checking, power texting, game playing, music and video and talk time all wear the battery life down fast.
If you like listening to music, watching movies, reading ebooks and RSS feeds, texting and playing games, then the iPhone will be right up your alley. It is a fully functional business machine that offers several connectivity options, including BlueTooth and WiFi in addition to GSM and 3G, but it also leaves plenty of room for play. Its only drawback is battery drain on a non replaceable battery, lack of video, no copy and paste functionality and, of course, AT&T having a proprietary network claim. Hopefully the lower $200 price tag will soften the blow.
Specs: 3.5″ widescreen multi-touch display, 480×320 resolution; 8GB or 16GB (white color is available only on 16GB models); Quad-band GSM/EDGE (850/900/1800/1900 MHz); UMTS/HSDPA (850/1900/2100 MHz); 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi; Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR; Assisted GPS; Dimensions: 4.5″ x 2.4″ x 0.48″ (115.5mm x 62.1mm x 12.3mm); Weight: 4.7 oz (133 grams)
Honorable Mentions
There are plenty of other touchscreen options out there that didn’t make the list. In most cases, they were so similar to an item already on the list, like the LG Vu, the Samsung Behold and Instinct, that it would be repetitive to list them. In other cases, like that of the Nokia N97, the phone is unlikely to be available for purchase in the United States for quite some time (sometimes as long as 18 months). Then other phone, like the LG Dare, have been on the market long enough they are no longer a new face in the touch screen market, though certainly still worthy of purchase. If we left off your favorite, do tell us about it in the comments.
Update April 2009: You may also be interested to check out Alex Zaharov-Reutt’s smartphone reviews of the of the following phones on MOBILE.BLORGE.com:
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February 10th, 2009
Good one. I noticed a very recent article on LGs new touch phone which is to be launched in a aweek. The spec and design is out. Take a look at it in the below link:-
http://www.kanbal.com/index.php?/Electronics/lg-arena-km900-another-touch-phone-rival.html
April 30th, 2009
If you want a brilliant touch screen buy the LG KP500 Cookie it is better than its rival the samsung tocco the LG is better because it has shake control games and a brilliant 3 inch touch screen i give the LG KP500 Cookie 100% it is a outstanding phone!