Top 5 handhelds for March '08

In the savannah, lions kill other animals. They then proceed to eat the fresh flesh. After having their fill, smaller four-legged carnivores and vultures swoop in to feed on the bits of meat off the bones.

That's the imagery that comes to mind looking at the list of top handhelds month after month, with HTC taking up most spots, and the other brands fighting for scraps. Samsung's SGH-i780 went on sale in late March, so it didn't make it to this list. But it's the most read PDA-phone on CNET Asia for April, so we might just see it make a debut here next month.

Not too long back, the HTC Touch Dual lost its status as a SingTel exclusive. M1 began selling it, too, causing it to go on par with the HTC Touch in our list. The TyTN II and Touch Cruise also came to a draw, sharing the spoils in top position for March. But it doesn't really matter, does it? We can all clearly see who the big winner really is.

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
	1.	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 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
	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
	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