Top 5 handhelds for September

After working out the list of top handhelds for September, we rubbed our eyes a little in disbelief. Not only is the list not dominated by HTC products, there are actually four different brands represented among the five products in the list. The new entrants for the month in question are the HTC Touch Pro, BlackBerry Bold and Palm Treo Pro. The Palm sits in last position and it will be interesting to see if it can hang in there for October, too.

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.	Samsung Omnia SGH-i900 (16GB)   CNET Asia rating: 8 out of 10 The good: Full range of wireless features; haptic feedback; improved text input methods; navigation software included; attractive design; excellent battery life; Opera 9.5 browser included. The bad: Some apps may not work properly; finger scrolling not consistently implemented; use of microSD slot requires battery removal; no stylus slot. The bottom line: The Omnia is a good alternative to the HTC Touch Diamond with a competitive price and a truckload of features, though Samsung does need to work on the interface to improve its consistency and usefulness. Review | See full specs | Rate this
	2.	HTC Touch Diamond   CNET Asia rating: 8.2 out of 10 The good: Opera browser; YouTube application; TouchFLO 3D interface; sharp VGA display; compact and attractive design; 4GB internal storage. The bad: No microSD card slot; poor battery life; no dedicated audio mini-jack; occasional slowdowns in interface. The bottom line: The Diamond brings much innovation to the Windows Mobile platform and is a great handheld for both business and entertainment. Review | See full specs | Rate this
	3.	HTC Touch Pro   CNET Asia rating: 7.9 out of 10 The good: Sharp VGA display; improved QWERTY keypad layout; 3.2-megapixel camera; TouchFLO 3D; generous 288MB of RAM. The bad: Heavy and thick; lacks OK key on keypad; slight lag when typing; still no dedicated audio jack. The bottom line: Windows Mobile enthusiasts will like the Touch Pro for its range of features, while professionals will appreciate the improved keypad layout which will make getting things done faster. Review | See full specs | Rate this
	4.	BlackBerry Bold   CNET Asia rating: 8.8 out of 10 The good: HSDPA; Wi-Fi; GPS; QWERTY keypad; bright screen. The bad: Camera could be better. The bottom line: Unlike Palm, RIM has built up an impressive product portfolio that is made even better by the addition of the Bold. Aside from offering a plethora of features, the Bold's screen is one of the best we've ever seen. Review | See full specs | Rate this
	5.	Palm Treo Pro   CNET Asia rating: 7.4 out of 10 The good: Compact size and lightweight; convenient Wi-Fi switch; 3.5mm audio jack; simple setup with PC; full range of connectivity options; GPS built in. The bad: QWERTY keypad not as good as previous Treos'; fingerprint magnet; micro-USB port instead of more common mini-USB; 2-megapixel camera. The bottom line: Finally, a HSDPA Treo with built-in Wi-Fi and GPS. It's a pity the keypad doesn't live up to its predecessor's high standards. Review | See full specs | Rate this