Bonnie Cha, Senior Associate Editor December 3, 2009
Smartphones with touch screens certainly aren't new; we've seen them on Palm, Windows Mobile, and Symbian devices for years. But what has changed is the way we interact with them. Before, touch screens served as an easy and convenient way to perform simple tasks like opening and closing applications and switching between menus. However, with the introduction of handsets like the HTC Touch and the Apple iPhone, we are seeing (and expect) touch screens to perform more advanced functions.
You can now zoom in and out of Web pages with the pinch of your finger, and drag and drop icons to customize your Home screen. And it's not just HTC and Apple; more and more cell phone manufacturers, including Palm and Samsung, are jumping on the bandwagon and developing new touch interfaces that let you interact with your smartphone in a totally different way. Touch-screen smartphones certainly aren't for everyone, but if you're in the market for one, here are six of the hottest models today.
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| Product name | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $359.99 to $539.99 | $97.99 to $739.99 |
As reviewed: $349.99 | $99.99 | $122.49 to $149.99 | |
| CNET editors' rating | ||||||
| Average user rating | ||||||
| Review date | June 17, 2009 | December 02, 2009 | August 11, 2009 | June 03, 2009 | October 28, 2009 | |
| 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. | While not the most powerful smartphone on the market, the Samsung Omnia II features an improved user interface and a richer multimedia experience to make it a worthy upgrade over its predecessor and one of the best Windows Mobile devices on the market. | Though hefty in size and price, the HTC Touch Pro2 offers T-Mobile's business customers a powerful smartphone with robust messaging, voice capabilities, and a slick user interface. | Despite some missing features and performance issues that make it less than ideal for on-the-go professionals, the Palm Pre offers gadget lovers and consumers well-integrated features and unparalleled multitasking capabilities. The hardware could be better, but more importantly, Palm has developed a solid OS that not only rivals the competition but also sets a new standard in the way smartphones handle tasks and manage information. | Despite some design issues and a couple of missing features, the Motorola Droid is the most powerful and fastest Google Android device to date. It fully embraces the openness of the Android platform and offers Verizon customers a smartphone that certainly rivals the other touch-screen devices on the market. | |
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| Features | ||||||
| Service Provider | AT&T | Verizon Wireless | T-Mobile | Sprint Nextel | Verizon Wireless | |
| Cellular technology | WCDMA (UMTS) / GSM | WCDMA (UMTS) / GSM | WCDMA (UMTS) / GSM | CDMA2000 1X | CDMA2000 1X | |
| Band / mode | WCDMA (UMTS) / GSM 850/900/1800/1900 | WCDMA (UMTS) / GSM 850/900/1800/1900 | WCDMA (UMTS) / GSM 850/900/1800/1900 | CDMA2000 1X 1900/800 | CDMA2000 1X 1900/800 | |
| Wireless Interface | IEEE 802.11b/g Bluetooth 2.1 EDR | Bluetooth | IEEE 802.11b/g Bluetooth 2.1 EDR | IEEE 802.11b/g Bluetooth 2.1 EDR | IEEE 802.11b/g Bluetooth 2.1 EDR | |
| Weight | 4.8 oz | 4.76 oz | 6.3 oz | 4.8 oz | 6 oz | |
| Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications | |
| Buying choices | | | As reviewed: $349.99 | | | |
