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This story was printed from CNET Asia.
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Top 10 phones of July

By CNETAsia staff
14/07/2004
URL: http://asia.cnet.com/reviews/mobilephones/0,39050603,39186723,00.htm

Unfazed by its rivals, the Finnish giant muscles into the top spots with the Nokia 6230 MP3-phone and the Nokia 7610 sporting a megapixel camera. Everyone's favorite Japanese-Swede manufacturer soars to number three with its stylish K700i camera-phone, too. Here, we present you in priority the 10 hottest phones for July.

Note: Results are based on readership and telephone polls conducted with various retailers in Singapore.

Five most popular | Next five | Last month's rankings

1.  Nokia 6230
 
CNETAsia rating: 8 out of 10
The good:  Classy executive design; video-capable VGA camera; MP3 playback; FM radio; Bluetooth and infrared; MMC expansion slot.
The bad:  Small display; buggy.
The bottom line: While we're astounded by this Nokia's multimedia abilities and connectivity options, the screen and dodgy software leave an unpleasant aftertaste.

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2.  Nokia 7610
 
CNETAsia rating: 8 out of 10
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.

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3.  Sony Ericsson K700i    
 
CNETAsia rating: 8.3 out of 10
The good:  Classy executive design; top-notch finish; VGA camera with photo light; MP3 player; FM radio; speakerphone.
The bad:  No expansion slot; sporadic pauses.
The bottom line: More than just an incremental upgrade, the K700i addresses numerous imperfections in past models to deliver a winning blend of style, design and unparalleled multimedia.

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4.  Panasonic X70
 
CNETAsia rating: 7 out of 10
The good:  Attractive design; bright, beautiful display; Bluetooth-enabled.
The bad:  Short battery life; low photo resolution; minor stability issues.
The bottom line: The Panasonic X70 is a gorgeous mobile marred by limited photo resolution, minor stability issues, and the lack of Java; it fails to live up to the hype of its formidable predecessor.

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5.  Sony Ericsson T630
 
CNETAsia rating: 8 out of 10
The good:  Stylish new design; full-featured.
The bad:  Software remains a tad slow; significantly pricier than the T610.
The bottom line: The new Sony Ericsson T630, despite the fresh design and new display, really isn't too different from the T610. But given how good the latter was, that's not such a bad thing at all.

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Five most popular | Next five | Last month's rankings

Five most popular | Next five | Last month's rankings


6.  Samsung SGH-E700
 
CNETAsia rating: 8 out of 10
The good:  Fashionable design; excellent display and polyphony; good VGA camera with effective Night mode; huge 9MB memory.
The bad:  Lacks triband; quirky user interface; no programmable shortcut keys; lacks Bluetooth.
The bottom line: An exceptional blend of looks, features and performance, the Samsung SGH-E700 is a top bet for anyone after a compact and stylish camera-phone.

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7.  Motorola E398
 
CNETAsia rating: 7.7 out of 10
The good:  designed with an understated style; bright 65K screen; 3D stereo sound; VGA camera with photo light; external storage; good battery life.
The bad:  Jerky video playback; no video recording; no FM radio.
The bottom line: The Motorola E398 with its host of features is well-suited for sophisticated mobile users while its smart outlook will appeal to executives.

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8.  Nokia 7200
 
CNETAsia rating: 7 out of 10
The good:  Unique appearance; comprehensive feature set; fast and user-friendly interface; comes with stereo radio headset.
The bad:  Plasticky build; disappointing display and polyphony; fabric covers stain easily; lacks Bluetooth; expensive.
The bottom line: This handset will appeal primarily to Nokia fans wishing for a clamshell. Unfortunately, its display and sound fall behind the latest from other manufacturers and may not quite justify the 7200's current high price tag.

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9.  Nokia N-Gage QD
 
CNETAsia rating: 7.1 out of 10
The good:  Hybrid game-phone; comfortable grip for gaming; dedicated MMC slot; Bluetooth-enabled.
The bad:  Small portrait-oriented screen; mono audio jack; no MP3 player.
The bottom line: This updated N-Gage fixes a few design miscues of the original. If gaming holds precedence for you in a phone, the QD is worth considering.

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10.  Sony Ericsson T610   
 
CNETAsia rating: 8 out of 10
The good:  Classy looks; packed with features; wealth of personalization options.
The bad:  So-so camera implementation; detectable screen banding; hissing sound in voice calls.
The bottom line: Despite a few quirks, the T610's all-round quality merits a recommendation. This is a phone with something for everyone. Tech-savvy users will love its connectivity options, while even the average user will appreciate its multimedia capabilities.

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Five most popular | Next five | Last month's rankings