By CNET Staff
03/10/2007
URL: http://asia.cnet.com/reviews/mobilephones/0,39050603,62032879,00.htm

Judges: Kent German, Donald Bell, and Tom Krazit

Barely three months after the launch of the iPhone, Apple debuted its iPod touch. Though their similar designs may lead you to think that the touch is just an iPhone without the phone, in reality they are two distinct devices. Variations in style, features, and media performance become readily apparent to those that dig a little deeper. That's why CNET pitted these two devices against each other to see which one is the superior multimedia player. Of course, we can't compare call quality, so that will be left out of the tussle, but certainly we can compare almost everything else.

Let's have a clean fight, fellas. Ding, ding!

Round 1: Sexiness

The iPhone and the touch may look like identical twins at first glance, but these siblings each has its own style. So which is easier on the eyes? Our individual judges' ratings are based on a 0-to-5-point scale, which results in a final score of 0 to 15 points per round.

Kent	5 There's no escaping that the iPhone is a slick and stylish device. As video players go, it's top of the line. And when compared with the iPod touch its heftier profile gives it a more refined look.	4 Sure, the iPod touch is slimmer than the iPhone, but that's just not enough for me. Also iPod touch lacks the iPhone's sparkling silver border around the front face.
Donald	5 Since its release, the iPhone has been mobbed and groped more than a pre-rehab Lindsey Lohan. The iPhone is undeniably the sexiest product Apple has ever made--even sexier than the Newton.	4 The iPod touch looks like the iPhone's strategically less-attractive wingman. Sure it's lighter and skinnier, but it just doesn't feel as good in the hand or turn as many heads on the street.
Tom	4 It's one of the first mobile phones that captivated people who weren't gadget freaks, and the combination of the touch screen and a sleek exterior is still turning heads.	5 It's the same thing, only shorter and thinner! The iPod touch is a dramatic reinvention of iPod design, and it makes the iPod classic look like an Apple II next to a MacBook Pro in comparison.
Total	14	13

Round 2: Features

What do the iPhone and iPod touch offer under the hood? Here, we examine the features in each device and decide if one offers more. Remember, we're excluding the iPod touch's lack of calling features from this comparison.

Kent	5 Since my major iPhone gripes concern its missing "phone" features (like no 3G), I'd only say that the 8GB of memory is too low. Yet its camera, email, and microphone put it ahead this round. The Bluetooth is also nice, even if it lacks a stereo profile.	4 Sure, its 16GB memory is small for a multimedia device, but with Wi-Fi and the Safari Web browser the iPod touch compares very well against other digital music players. But when compared with the iPhone, it lacks some cool offerings.
Donald	4 Even without the phone, features such as POP email, a camera, weather & stock widgets, a built-in speaker, Bluetooth, and EDGE really make the iPhone a superior device. Plus, the hacks developed for the iPhone are awesome.	3 If we had never heard of the iPhone, the iPod touch would seem like it fell out of a wormhole from the future. Unfortunately, in our post-iPhone reality, the iPod touch just feels like a cheaper derivative of its cooler, older brother.
Tom	4 I'm hopeful that one day Apple allows more applications on the iPhone, but for now, YouTube, Google Maps, Wi-Fi, email, a camera, and, of course, an iPod make this a pretty compelling device.	3 Even without the phone, the iPod touch falls short of what could have been a delightful little computer. The lack of Google Maps, an email client, or a camera is disappointing.
Total	13	10

Round 3: Media quality

Though their music quality is the same, the difference in screen size between the two devices and the iPod touch's lack of exterior speakers may affect video performance. We tell if that's true.

Kent	4 The iPhone's speakers may not sound spectacular, but they're certainly nice to have. Also, its display offers a more enjoyable viewing experience.	4 The iPod touch's display is pretty, but videos looked marginally less attractive. It also lacks the iPhone's external speakers, but I like that its headphone jack isn't recessed as it is on the iPhone.
Donald	4 The iPhone's screen seems to pack a little more punch than the touch. It also includes built-in speakers that, though lo-fi, allow movies to be easily shared with friends.	3 The iPod touch has two things going for it: It includes a small plastic stand for hands-free viewing, and it comes in a more video-friendly 16GB capacity. Still, if I had to choose, I'd rather watch video on the iPhone.
Tom	4 Videos are crisp and clear in landscape mode, although you're not going to have room for too many, even with the 8GB model.	4 The iPod touch has the edge on capacity, with a 16GB model, but that's still small for video players. The screen's a little smaller, but I didn't think it made a huge difference.
Total	12	11

The winner is…

Total points
Apple iPhone: 39
Apple iPod touch: 34