Top 10 phones for May 2007
By Damian Koh
12/06/2007
URL: http://asia.cnet.com/reviews/mobilephones/0,39050603,62020395,00.htm
As fast as the Nokia N95 made it to pole position on our Top 10 chart for April, the multi-talented handset disappeared without a trace in our latest hit list. Our guess is the high cost of owning the N95 may have deterred potential buyers. New entrants to the chart included the Samsung Z370 and Sony Ericsson Z610i which replaced the Nokia N95 and Sony Ericsson W810i. The rest of the handsets merely shuffled positions with the candy-bar Nokia 6300 claiming top spot for May.
Note: Results are based on readership as well as data collected from the major mobile operators in Singapore including :
Top five | Next five mobile phones | Last month's rankings
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1. |
Nokia 6300
CNET Asia rating: 8.3 out of 10
The good: Slim design; sharp color screen; easy-to-use keypad; slick-looking user interface that keeps it simple.
The bad: No auto-focus or flash on the camera; lack of 3G connectivity.
The bottom line: While this isn't the most advanced handset out there, it has a strong casing, a decent all-round feature set and an elegant, straightforward design. This is Nokia at its best.
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2. |
Nokia E65
CNET Asia rating: 7.4 out of 10
The good: Stylish business-oriented phone; wealth of connectivity features including 3G and Wi-Fi.
The bad: Bundled mono headset; no front camera for video calls; barebones 2-megapixel camera with disappointing image quality; keys on top lid could be bigger; soft onboard speaker.
The bottom line: The E65's broad range of connectivity features would attract mobile users who want a little more from their phone sans the bulk.
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3. |
Nokia 6288
CNET Asia rating: 7.3 out of 10
The good: Bundled with 512MB miniSD card; firmware upgraded since the 6280; support for A2DP stereo Bluetooth profile.
The bad: Slider mechanism a little loose; design is slick but lacks the funk factor.
The bottom line: The 6288 improves on the 6280, but while it performs well, it lacks a standout feature to pull in the punters.
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4. |
Sony Ericsson K800i
CNET Asia rating: 7.7 out of 10
The good: Sleek design; clear and sharp QVGA screen; 3.2-megapixel camera; numerous onboard camera settings; BestPic and Picture Blogging function; built-in Xenon flash; good image quality; image stabilizer.
The bad: Lens cover may be prone to scratches; poor camera settings selection interface; sluggish phone menu load time; no optical zoom for camera; no bundled M2 card.
The bottom line: The Sony Ericsson K800i is a competent camera and phone rolled into a sleek form factor.
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5. |
Nokia N73
CNET Asia rating: 7 out of 10
The good: The Nokia N73 boasts a 3.2-megapixel camera with video-recording capabilities, an integrated music player, a vibrant screen, Bluetooth, and a speakerphone. The phone also had extra-long talktime, battery life, and decent call quality.
The bad: The Nokia N73's keypad is a bit cramped. Also, it lacks Wi-Fi and runs slowly when switching between apps or performing multimedia functions.
The bottom line: The Nokia N73 offers a high-quality camera phone plus some nice extras in a stylish package, but its sluggish performance keeps us from giving it higher praises.
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6. |
Samsung Ultra Edition 8.4
CNET Asia rating: 8 out of 10
The good: Slim, sleek design; 3G; microSD card expansion slot; supports Bluetooth stereo; 2-megapixel camera; solid build quality; vibrant display.
The bad: Average battery life; no FM radio; no second battery (like the Ultra Edition 6.9); one port for charging, earphone and USB; exposed lens design.
The bottom line: Samsung's latest 3G handset will appeal to those who want an ultra-slim phone but aren't willing to compromise on functionality.
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7. |
Sony Ericsson W850i
CNET Asia rating: 7.6 out of 10
The good: Great performance; wealth of features, including a 2-megapixel camera, Bluetooth and a digital music player.
The bad: Poorly designed navigation controls; limited integrated memory.
The bottom line: The Sony Ericsson W850i offers the great performance and high-end features we've come to expect from the company's Walkman phones, but its usability is hampered by unintuitive controls.
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8. |
Sony Ericsson W880i
CNET Asia rating: 7.7 out of 10
The good: Slim, attractive design; solid build quality; bundled with a 1GB memory card; 3G; loud speakers; sharp image captures.
The bad: Camera lacks autofocus and flash; buttons are too small; no FM radio; tinny sound quality.
The bottom line: The W880i is slim, sexy and surprisingly packed with features. If you can look past its tiny keys and tinsy sound, this is one music-phone that's worth a closer look.
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9. |
Nokia N73 Music Edition
| Phone type | Quadband | | Networks | GSM 850, GSM 900, GSM 1800, GSM 1900, EGSM | | Connectivity options | 3G, Bluetooth, Infrared, USB | | Weight w/battery | 116 g | | Battery type(s) supported | Rechargeable 1100mAh battery | | Max. talktime (in hours) | 3.7 hours | | Max. standby time (in hours) | 370 hours |
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10. |
Sony Ericsson Z610i
First take There's a distinctive Japanese "kei tai" (mobile phone) look-and-feel about Sony Ericsson's handsets. Possibly due to the part-Japanese heritage, the phone designs typically tend to be clean-looking and simple, with a good selection and implementation of features. The company's latest 3G clamshell, the Z610i, continues to show that distinction by using a glossy mirror finish on top of an OLED display on the front cover, while incorporating a premium feature set that includes a 2-megapixel camera, 2-inch 18-bit display, Bluetooth (A2DP) and additional storage expansion. The result? A stylishly designed handset that promises to offer more than just good looks.
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