Smart Phones - PC World

RIM BlackBerry Storm2 9550

Review Date: 18-NOV-2009

RRP: TBA

Though still far from perfect, BlackBerry's Storm2 improves greatly on its ill-fated predecessor. BlackBerry addicts still won't appreciate the cramped touch-screen keyboard and the interface could do with a facelift, but the large display, the addition of Wi-Fi and improvements to the OS make it a decent effort.

Review Date: 12-NOV-2009

Acer neoTouch S200

RRP: TBA

When there are so many phones that offer an approachable user experience, the Acer neoTouch S200's interface remains a sad relic of the slow-motion car crash we know as Windows Mobile. We’d advise you to run, rather than walk, away.

Review Date: 12-NOV-2009

HTC Droid Eris

RRP: TBA

If you can live without a hardware keyboard, the HTC Droid Eris is an affordable and feature-packed alternative to the Motorola Droid.

Review Date: 02-NOV-2009

Motorola Droid

RRP: TBA

The Motorola Droid certainly stands out among the growing Android army due to its superior hardware and enhanced 2.0 software. But will the Android Marketplace catch up to the iPhone's App Store? Therein lies the key to success for the Droid.

RIM BlackBerry Curve 8520

Review Date: 29-SEP-2009

RRP: $399.00

The lack of 3G and GPS and a poor display are downsides, but the excellent optical trackpad and user interface make the BlackBerry Curve 8520 a decent smartphone. This entry-level BlackBerry isn't for everyone, but budget users who are willing to sacrifice some features for a lower price should consider the Curve 8520.

Review Date: 29-SEP-2009

Sony Ericsson Satio

RRP: $1199.00

The Sony Ericsson Satio is an excellent camera phone with a great 3.5in screen, but its not a world-beater. The lack of a 3.5mm headphone jack and an inconsistent user interface detract from what otherwise is a good overall package.

WhistleOut

Review Date: 21-SEP-2009

Nokia 6710 Navigator

RRP: $629.00

Nokia's 6710 Navigator won't replace your standalone GPS due to its small screen. For a mobile phone though, it provides a solid and smooth navigation experience thanks to a combination of good hardware and well designed software.

Review Date: 15-SEP-2009

Palm Pixi

RRP: TBA

The Palm Pixi is a small, sprightly webOS-based smartphone with a lot of potential.

Review Date: 08-SEP-2009

Nokia 5530 XpressMusic

RRP: TBA

A smaller, more compact version of the 5800, Nokia's 5530 XpressMusic is a very similar handset to its bigger brother, though it lacks GPS and 3G connectivity. While we prefer the smaller design, build quality is again questionable.

Buy Now

Review Date: 07-SEP-2009

Nokia N86 8MP

RRP: $949.00

The Nokia N86 8MP is a premium multimedia phone with a price tag close to those of the best touch-screen smartphones on the market. It’s not a bad phone at all, but there really isn’t anything to get excited about.

Review Date: 04-SEP-2009

Samsung Galaxy Icon

RRP: $749.00

The Samsung Galaxy Icon isn't a bad phone by any stretch of the imagination; in fact, it's quite the opposite. The AMOLED display is excellent, the 5-megapixel camera is a nice addition and the interface is slick and responsive. However, we would have appreciated some tweaks to the standard Android UI.

Review Date: 31-AUG-2009

Nokia E52

RRP: $589.00

Nokia's E52 is a strange device when you consider it's an e-mail smartphone that lacks a QWERTY keyboard. If you aren't fussed by the (admittedly excellent) numeric keypad, the E52 offers fantastic battery life in a slim and compact design.

Buy Now

Review Date: 27-AUG-2009

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Samsung HD Icon

RRP: $999.00

The Samsung HD Icon is recommended for anyone after an excellent camera phone. HD video recording is superb, it can take excellent photos and it's a very capable music player, too. The Symbian OS isn't perfect and can be the cause of some frustration, but Samsung has done a much better job than Nokia with this touch-screen smartphone.

Review Date: 19-AUG-2009

LG GM730f

RRP: $979.00

LG's GM730f is a standard Windows Mobile 6.5 smartphone overlaid with the attractive but sluggish LG S-Class interface. The touch screen is a hit-and-miss affair, the on-screen keyboard is small and cumbersome and the phone lacks the polish of Samsung and HTC alternatives.

Review Date: 19-AUG-2009

EDITORS_CHOICE

HTC Hero

RRP: $799.00

The HTC Hero is without doubt one of the most impressive smartphones we've reviewed. The design is distinctive, the user interface is absolutely superb and it's packed with all the latest features. Unfortunately, the Hero doesn't seem to have the hardware needed to keep up with its innovative software, resulting in a sometimes slow and frustrating user experience. It remains a superb phone that is really only let down by slow performance.