Top 10 phones of March

The good:  Unorthodox design; 1-megapixel camera; RS-MMC expansion slot.

The bad:  Mono audio output; occasional lag; pricey.

The bottom line: This handset impresses by fusing fashion with function, but oversights like the lack of stereo audio output disappoint.

The good:  Desirable looks; excellent form factor; sharp display; speedy interface; expansive imaging features; Bluetooth works well; generous internal memory.

The bad:  Directional pad flawed; disappointing music functionality; no expansion options; poor battery life; pricey.

The bottom line: The phone has killer looks and some wonderful features including Bluetooth. Its high pricing may put people off, though.

The good:  Excellent display; crisp MP3 playback; miniSD slot; strong camera function.

The bad:  Slow interface; poor music implementation; no Bluetooth.

The bottom line: This Japanese mobile manages to stand tall and proud among the big boys with its stellar offering of music and photo capabilities.

The good:  Speedy Series 60 interface; RS-MMC expansion slot; excellent connectivity options.

The bad:  Lacks external display; poorly positioned keys; mono MP3 playback; unsatisfactory workmanship.

The bottom line: This Nokia’s competitive features are overshadowed by hardware shortcomings.

The good:  Triband; horizontal screen orientation for gaming; excellent multimedia features; hot-swappable Secure Digital expansion slot; Bluetooth and infrared wireless connectivity.

The bad:  Unintuitive design.

The bottom line: Despite some minor design quirks, Motorola's E680 dazzles with its strong multimedia feature set.