Top 5 handhelds for February '08

The HTC Touch Cruise started to go on sale in February and, just like its big brother, the TyTN II, made it into our list of top handhelds instantly. Debuting in second place, the Touch Cruise was a top seller with all the operators and retail shops surveyed, with the TyTN II still going strong at number one.

Of all the new BlackBerry devices, the Curve 8320 seemed to be the most popular in February. This is the one with a full keyboard, some multimedia features and built-in Wi-Fi.

It looks like HTC has cornered the market for now. But interest in other devices like the Samsung SGH-i780 and LG KS20 is mounting. There's quite a bit of talk about the Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1, too--let's just hope it'll be launched sooner rather than later.

Note: Results are based on readership as well as data collected from retail outlets (Mobile Square and WhyMobile) and the major mobile operators in Singapore including:

MobileOne

SingTel

StarHub

	1.	HTC TyTN II   CNET Asia rating: 7.9 out of 10 The good: A host of data connectivity options including HSDPA; GPS with bundled maps; good battery life; 3-megapixel autofocus camera. The bad: Heavy and bulky; still QVGA display; no camera light; no audio mini-jack. The bottom line: It may not be a quantum leap compared with the 838 Pro, but the TyTN II maintains what power users loved in the previous iteration--with a few extras. Review | See full specs | Rate this
	2.	HTC Touch Cruise   CNET Asia rating: 8 out of 10 The good: Complete range of connectivity options; integrated GPS; good bundle including car kit and GPS map; attractive design; FM radio. The bad: No dedicated audio connector; no keypad of any kind; no LED for low-light photography. The bottom line: The combination of HTC's Touch interface and a slew of connectivity options makes the Cruise viable for those who balked at the shortcomings of the Touch and Touch Dual. Review | See full specs | Rate this
	3.	HTC Touch (2nd generation)   CNET Asia rating: 7 out of 10 The good: Very compact design; Windows Mobile 6 Professional; TouchFLO interface; attractive modified Home screen; 128MB RAM makes interface snappy. The bad: Lacks 3G; poor SIM card and microSD slot design. The bottom line: With more color choices and much better performance due to the increased RAM, the enhanced Touch is what the original should have been to begin with. Review | See full specs | Rate this
	4.	HTC Touch Dual   CNET Asia rating: 8 out of 10 The good: HSDPA connectivity; numeric keypad for one-hand texting, excellent tweaks to the UI through TouchFLO; slim and attractive design; intuitive modified Home screen; snappy performance. The bad: No Wi-Fi; no GPS; keypad lacks an OK key; no dedicated audio connector. The bottom line: If the lack of Wi-Fi is not a big issue for you, the Touch Dual, with its great design and improved UI, is an excellent choice for both newcomers and experienced Windows Mobile users. Review | See full specs | Rate this
	5.	BlackBerry Curve 8320   CNET Asia rating: 8.3 out of 10 The good: Offers integrated Wi-Fi; nice, sleek design; spacious QWERTY keyboard; 2-megapixel camera; good call quality. The bad: Camera can't record videos; no 3G support; Web browser isn't quite as sophisticated as those on competing smart phones. The bottom line: The RIM BlackBerry Curve 8320 is the best BlackBerry we've seen to date as it offers Wi-Fi, best-of-breed design, and excellent performance. Review | See full specs | Rate this