Best cell phones of 2008

Kent German
Kent German Senior Editor April 6, 2009

As 2008 draws to a close, we take this opportunity to look back at the cell phones that were born this year. As usual, we could barely keep up with all the new handsets, but that didn't stop a few handsets from standing out above the rest. Before we start, I admit I did steal a couple of models from Bonnie Cha's top smartphones of 2008 list. Also, because this forum limits me to just a few phones, I had to leave out other models that we liked. But of all the phones of 2008, here are the top picks of the year.

Of course, we'd be remiss if we didn't nominate the Apple iPhone 3G. Yes, it had its stumbles when it first went on sale, but Apple's device remains a potent force in the cell phone world. Even with its faults, it still set the standard for a music phone and a mobile Internet browser. Hot on its heels is the T-Mobile G1. Though we had issues with its design and lack of features, I still think the Google Android Platform represents an exciting change in the cell phone world. Speaking of touch screens, the LG Dare for Verizon Wireless is another winner of the year. It offers a great combination of features, design, and performance. LG and Verizon also get an honorable mention with the LG enV(2). AT&T's Sony Ericsson W760 is so good it won our Editors' Choice Award. Besides being a super world phone, it also offers an excellent player. A recent entry is the Motorola ZN5. Made for T-Mobile, it not only takes good photos but its integrated Wi-Fi makes it easy to get the photos off the phone. Finally, there's the Samsung Instinct for Sprint. I know some people will bemoan its presence on this list, but I still think it's pretty cool. And in case you just want a phone that makes calls, try the Samsung Knack or the Motorola i335.

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Product Apple iPhone 3G (16GB, black, AT&T) T-Mobile G1 (black) LG Dare (Verizon Wireless) Sony Ericsson W760i (black, unlocked) Editors' choice Motorola Zine ZN5 (T-Mobile) Samsung Instinct SPH-M800 (black, Sprint)
Price Please see the updated iPhones from AT&T. starting prices $99-$299.00 $93.98 $61.38 As Reviewed: $300

Check manufacturer's site for availability.
$109.99 Direct From Sprint $129.99 w/ MIR
Buy Now!
CNET editors' rating 4 stars 3.5 stars 4 stars 4 stars 4 stars 3.5 stars
Average user rating 3 stars 3.5 stars 3.5 stars 3.5 stars 3 stars 3 stars
Release date July 11, 2008 October 22, 2008 June 26, 2008 Info unavailable November 3, 2008 June 20, 2008
Bottom line
The iPhone 3G delivers on its promises by adding critical features and sharper call quality. The iTunes App Store is pretty amazing, and the 3G support is more than welcome. Critical features still are missing, and the battery depletes quickly under heavy use, but the iPhone 3G is a big improvement over the original model.
Though we're not in love with the design and would have liked some additional features, the real beauty of the T-Mobile G1 is the Google Android platform, as it has the potential to make smartphones more personal and powerful. That said, it's not quite there yet, so for now, the G1 is best suited for early adopters and gadget hounds, rather than consumers and business users.
The LG Dare is an innovative and feature-rich handset, with several surprises that set it apart from other touch-screen phones.
The Sony Ericsson W760i is the best Sony Ericsson Walkman phone we've seen, by far. It corrects one of Sony Ericsson's usual design pitfalls while offering a generous feature set and satisfying performance. We can suggest a few tweaks that should make it a winner.
The Motorola ZN5 is the best camera phone we've seen so far. But it doesn't stop there, as it's a good phone, too.
The Samsung Instinct stands out as one of Sprint's finest devices to date. It's just too bad its call quality could use some improvement.
Service Provider

AT&T

T-Mobile

Verizon Wireless

Unlocked

T-Mobile

Sprint Nextel

Cellular technology

WCDMA (UMTS) / GSM

WCDMA (UMTS) / GSM

CDMA2000 1X

WCDMA (UMTS) / GSM

GSM

CDMA2000 1X

Band / mode

WCDMA (UMTS) / GSM 850/900/1800/1900

WCDMA (UMTS) / GSM 850/900/1800/1900

CDMA2000 1X 1900/800

WCDMA (UMTS) / GSM 850/900/1800/1900

GSM 850/900/1800/1900 (Quadband)

CDMA2000 1X 1900/800

Talk time

Up to 300 min

Up to 300 min

Up to 280 min

Up to 540 min (GSM)

Up to 240 min (UMTS)

Up to 574 min

Up to 345 min

Wireless Interface

IEEE 802.11b/g

Bluetooth 2.0 EDR

IEEE 802.11b/g

Bluetooth 2.0 EDR

Info unavailable

Bluetooth

IEEE 802.11b/g

Bluetooth

Weight

4.7 oz

5.6 oz

3.76 oz

3.6 oz

4 oz

4.4 oz

Full specifications Full specifications Full specifications Full specifications Full specifications Full specifications Full specifications
Buying choices

Please see the updated iPhones from AT&T. starting prices $99-$299.00

Prices from 1 store Prices from 1 store

As Reviewed: $300

Check manufacturer's site for availability.

Prices from 1 store

Direct From Sprint $129.99 w/ MIR
Buy Now!