Editors' Top PDAs
updated June 2, 2006
 
Bonnie Cha, senior associate editor
  Hundreds of PDA manufacturers promise to save your poor disorganized, disconnected soul. We've assembled a list of the top handhelds on the market--from multifunctional Palm-based PDAs to basic Pocket PCs, from bargain-basement deals to flashy bank-busters. Clean up your life with one of these star products. -- Bonnie Cha, senior associate editor
 

Editors' Top PDAs:

Handhelds

  |  Pocket PCs  |  Palms  |  Smart phones


Shopping by brand? According to CNET editors, here are this category's major players.
Asus  |  Dell  |  HP  |  Palm  |  RIM  |  Sony  |  Toshiba
 
Handhelds
PDAs Editors' rating Price Summary
Motorola Q (Verizon Wireless)

6.0 out of 10 6.0
Good
 
The Motorola Q lives up to much of the hype by offering good call quality, an excellent multimedia experience, and the essential productivity tools, all wrapped up in a sexy little package.
Specs: CDMA 800/1900 , Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0 Smartphone Edition , Up to 240 min , 64 MB
 

Palm TX
Released: 10/12/2005
8.0 out of 10 8.0
Excellent
 
The Palm TX offers a winning package of wireless connectivity, productivity tools, and fun for users of all kinds.
Specs: Palm OS Garnet 5.4 , 128 MB , Intel 312 MHzXScale , IrDA , Bluetooth , IEEE 802.11b , 3.1 in x 0.6 in x 4.8 in , Stylus , Touch-screen , 5-way navigation button
 

RIM BlackBerry 8700c (AT&T)
Released: 11/21/2005
8.0 out of 10 8.0
Excellent
$99-$107
from 4 stores
Check latest prices
 
Armed with an Intel processor and EDGE support, the RIM BlackBerry 8700c offers mobile professionals a winning package of performance, productivity, and design.
Specs: Cingular Wireless , GSM 850/900/1800/1900 , BlackBerry Handheld Software , 240 min , 16 MB
 

RIM BlackBerry 8700g (T-Mobile)
Released: 04/17/2006
8.0 out of 10 8.0
Excellent
$99
Check latest prices
 
The RIM BlackBerry 8700g offers T-Mobile consumer and business users a robust, user-friendly messaging device and cell phone with great performance.
Specs: T-Mobile , GSM 850/900/1800/1900 , BlackBerry Handheld Software , 240 min , 16 MB
 

T-Mobile SDA

8.0 out of 10 8.0
Excellent
 
For those who want to do more on the go, the T-Mobile SDA offers a winning package of productivity tools, multimedia, and great performance. We just wish the smart phone had a better keypad layout.
Specs: T-Mobile , GSM 850/900/1800/1900 , Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0 Smartphone Edition , Up to 300 min , 64 MB
 

Palm Treo 700p - silver (Sprint)

7.7 out of 10 7.7
Very good
 
With EV-DO support, increased memory, and enhanced multimedia capabilities, the Palm Treo 700p makes a powerful smart phone even better. Sure, it's not perfect, but the solid performance and new features make it worth the upgrade.
Specs: Sprint PCS , CDMA2000 1X 800/1900 , Palm OS 5.4.9 , Up to 270 min
 

Palm Tungsten E2
Released: 04/13/2005
7.5 out of 10 7.5
Very good
 
The Palm Tungsten E2 delivers the sleek and affordable combination of productivity and entertainment in a package that should satisfy mobile professionals and consumers alike.
Specs: Palm OS Garnet 5.4 , 32 MB , Intel 200 MHzXScale , IrDA , Bluetooth , 3.1 in x 0.6 in x 4.5 in , Stylus , Touch-screen , 5-way navigation button
 

Dell Axim X51v
Released: 09/20/2005
7.4 out of 10 7.4
Very good
 
The Dell Axim X51 series offers a nice combination of features, but we were disappointed by the subpar battery life.
Specs: Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0 , 64 MB , Intel 624 MHzXscale , IrDA , Bluetooth , IEEE 802.11b , 2.9 in x 0.7 in x 4.7 in , Stylus , Touch-screen , 5-way navigation button
 

Palm Treo 700w - gray (Verizon Wireless)

6.3 out of 10 6.3
Good
 
The Palm Treo 700w brings Windows Mobile and a number of useful features, such as push e-mail and photo speed dial, to the much-beloved smart phone, but its heft and its washed-out screen has us giving the edge to the Treo 650.
Specs: Verizon Wireless , CDMA2000 1X 800/1900 , Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0 Phone Edition , Up to 300 min , 64 MB
 

 
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