Top 5 handhelds for October

Once again, the Samsung Omnia topped the charts for October, the third month in a row since it shared the leading spots with the HTC Touch Diamond in August. The Diamond remained strong in second place and we see all the usual suspects again like the BlackBerry Bold and HTC Touch Pro.

The Sony Ericsson Xperia X1 just started to go on sale this month. That's another product that has gotten a lot of attention from fans of Windows Mobile devices. It'll be interesting to see if it can break into our Top 5 for November when we collate this list again next month.

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.	Samsung SGH-i780   CNET Asia rating: 8 out of 10 The good: Attractive price; good QWERTY keyboard; convenient shortcuts; slim design; extra battery included. The bad: Square screen may not work well with third-party programs; optical joystick not as fast as regular directional pad; bundled GPS app not optimized. The bottom line: Though not perfect, the i780 is an excellent choice for those who want the most features in a sub-S$1,000 PDA-phone. Review | See full specs | Rate this