How to choose the best smartphone
Choosing a smartphone is not getting easier, but it is getting a lot more fun. There are so many amazing models from Apple, Nokia, HTC, Palm, and dozens of other companies, so many options, and so many sizes and specs available. Some emphasize media playback and the camera, others have a spacious keypad for typing up long memos to your boss. The trick: finding that one model that suits your primary needs. It’s often easy to start with the phone and then explain who can use it, but we have taken the reverse approach — you have a need; here are the phones that match your strongest preference.
THE BUSINESS USER
Business users usually have three great needs: the ability to type up e-mails and text messages quickly, good battery life, and a durable design that can withstand abuse.
First choice: BlackBerry Bold 9700
A rugged design, a well-proportioned keypad, a crisp display — the BlackBerry Bold is meant for serious road warriors who need to check e-mail and keep tabs on the Web. One of the most important features: the Bold is no consumer device with an easy-to-scratch screen and can withstand a drop or two on a long flight between business meetings. Talk time lasts about six hours, so you won’t be stranded with no access to corporate network. And, BlackBerry Enterprise Server is a secure, reliable way to connect to your corporate e-mail.
Also consider: HTC Touch Pro2
The reality of the business world today is that many companies are using Microsoft Exchange, Office 2007, and other Microsoft tools (and back-end software). The HTC Touch Pro2 is, hands-down, the best Windows Mobile 6.5 device and supports touch input, runs fast for editing Word documents, and has a large enough screen to work well as an entertainment device.
THE COMMUNICATOR
For staying in touch with people by phone, your device needs to support Bluetooth for a wireless headset, pick up well in a crowded room, and — perhaps most importantly — last long enough that you can keep talking all day and not have to keeping connecting the power cable.
First choice: HTC Snap
For those who primarily need a phone for voice communication, battery life is everything. That’s because, while you can use any smartphone occasionally to check e-mail and the Web (and use up only a small amount of battery power), talking drains the battery quickly. Rated for 8.5 hours of talk time, the HTC Snap is the longest running smartphone we’ve found. The form factor makes it light and small enough to carry around all day talking to business associates and friends without the bulky excess.
Also consider: Nokia E72
Like the HTC Snap, the E72 is a good voice communication phone because it is light and small, supports Bluetooth for using an earpiece, and yet is not a rigged phone with a large screen that is intended as much for gaming and media, snapping pictures, or running apps.
THE MEDIA ADDICT
Media on a smartphone must look stunning, play fast and smooth (without any choppiness), and fit on the allotted storage (either internal or on a flash card).
First choice: Apple iPhone 4
No one has ever invented a media phone like the iPhone, the reigning king of touch devices with an improved 5 megapixel camera, up to 32GB of storage, a brilliant screen, and click integration with your Mac or PC for copying files and buying movies and music. The new iPhone 4 model has media features that you might not even notice right away — such as a way to double-tap the Home button to control your music, a wide selection of apps for finding music files and even figuring out which song is playing at the pub.
Also consider: Samsung Galaxy S
Android’s multimedia champion comes with a stunning 4” screen, the ability to record HD video and, best of all, support for a full range of video formats including DivX. The Galaxy S is a true media powerhouse.
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