Top 5 handhelds for December

There's just no stopping the Samsung Omnia. Once again, it topped our chart for the most popular handheld in December, beating competition like the HTC Touch HD and Sony Ericsson Xperia X1.

The BlackBerry Bold remains the only non-Windows Mobile device to feature in this list. Even though BlackBerrys are usually lauded for their business features, we're pretty sure the Bold's excellent screen and multimedia prowess had something to do with its strong showing these last few months.

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 HD   CNET Asia rating: 8.3 out of 10 The good: Huge 3.8-inch WVGA display; 3.5mm audio jack; improvements made to TouchFLO 3D; 5-megapixel camera; nice design. The bad: Lacks a directional pad; short battery life; no LED for camera; orientation sensor doesn't work in some applications. The bottom line: While it probably won't strike a chord with the average iPhone user, the Touch HD is a great effort from HTC, demonstrating that it can still put more into its already formidable range of high-end handsets. Review | See full specs | Rate this
	3.	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
	4.	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
	5.	Sony Ericsson Xperia X1   CNET Asia rating: 8.4 out of 10 The good: 3.5mm audio jack; full set of connectivity features; GPS; good 3.2-megapixel camera; excellent WVGA display; nice design. The bad: Panel interface can be slow; camera interface and focusing slow; average battery life; optical joystick not particularly useful. The bottom line: Sony Ericsson's first attempt at a Windows Mobile phone is a good one which will satisfy productivity and entertainment needs. Review | See full specs | Rate this