Top 5 handhelds for September
The top handhelds for August continue their reign in September, but with a reshuffle. The HTC Touch takes top spot this month, jumping from third place the month before to overtake both the Dopod D810 and O2 Xda Atom Life.
The D810 and Atom Life remain neck to neck in second and third places respectively. The HTC P3600i, the model that will replace the D810, doesn't seem to be making an impact on D810 sales, at least not for now. For more information about these models, read our prizefight between the Atom Life and the P3600i.
There is still strong demand for the BlackBerry 8707, most likely due to units purchased from large organizations from the operators. There are a slew of new BlackBerry devices now available including the Curve 8300 and 8820, so we might see demand for the 8707 cool soon. The QWERTY-enabled O2 Xda Zinc has been relegated to last place. With the HTC TyTN II finally available, let's see if the Zinc will get bumped off as users get more choices for PDA-phones with slide-out keyboards.
Note: Results are based on readership as well as data collected from retail outlets (Mobile Square, WhyMobile and Trends Mobile) and the major mobile operators in Singapore including:
Last month's rankings
Click here for a feature comparison table.
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1. |
HTC Touch
CNET Asia rating: 6.8 out of 10
The good: Very compact design; Windows Mobile 6 Professional; TouchFLO interface; attractive modified Home screen; good battery life.
The bad: Lacks 3G; slow processor; poor SIM card slot design.
The bottom line: Though the TouchFLO feature is very cool, the real reason to get the Touch is because of its stylish and compact design. That's if you can look beyond the fact that it doesn't have a keypad and, more importantly, 3G.
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2. |
Dopod D810
CNET Asia rating: 8.4 out of 10
The good: Many wireless options including HSDPA; GPS for navigation; good battery life; stylish design; compact and lightweight.
The bad: Lacks FM radio; fingerprint magnet; no software or maps included; speakers face backwards; lacks audio jack.
The bottom line: The D810 impresses with its host of wireless connectivity options. The presence of a GPS chip that works well sets it apart from the competition in this weight class.
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3. |
O2 Xda Atom Life
CNET Asia rating: 8 out of 10
The good: Stylish design; 1GB flash memory; faster processor compared with the Atom Exec; plentiful connectivity features including 3G and HSDPA; proprietary software that enhances user experience.
The bad: Fingerprint magnet; sub-par audio quality; difficult to feel buttons on the sides; narrow viewing angle on LCD.
The bottom line: The Xda Atom Life is one of the most full-featured handhelds we've come across, but it does come with a premium price tag.
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4. |
BlackBerry 8707v / 8707g
| Form factor | Pad | | Connectivity options | 3G, Bluetooth, GPRS/GSM, USB | | Operating system | Others | | Monochrome or color | Color | | RAM | 64 MB | | Rated battery life | 5 hours |
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5. |
O2 Xda Zinc
CNET Asia rating: 7 out of 10
The good: Slide-out QWERTY keyboard; solid feel; wide range of connectivity options including A2DP; faster Intel processor compared with the 838 Pro.
The bad: Soft keys hinder typing; 2.5mm audio jack; no HSDPA; average battery life.
The bottom line: With a faster processor, the Xda Zinc has a slight performance edge over the Dopod 838 Pro but falls short by a slight margin in terms of aesthetics. Unless you're looking for a QWERTY handheld, there're more options out there.
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