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Group Test: Touchscreen Mobiles

Posted by T3 Magazine on Fri 20 Mar 2009

Everything but the iPhone

While not everyone is privileged enough to get their hands on the touchy-feely mobi god that is the iPhone, we have rustled up the next best alternatives, putting them through their rigorous paces, to see which one makes an admirable alternative to the Apple Adonis.

 

Read our final verdict below, then launch the gallery to get up close and personal with more on our touchscreen alternatives to the all-conquering iPhone.

 

BlackBerry Storm

£490, free on contract

 

Love: An impressive mix of business-friendly and media features
Hate: sluggish performance. No wi-Fi. two-year contract tie-in
We say: White collar and black collar workers alike will dig the storm’s mix of business and media features. the slow navigation and lag time? they’ll dig that less
Score: 3
Find out more: Full review | Pic | BlackBerry

 

Buy one here: The Link | BlackBerry | SuperEtrader

LG Renoir

£360, free on contract

 

 

Love: A great, eight-meg camera and a lengthy list of connections
Hate: Underpowered xenon flash. Nasty, flimsy feel. Poor battery life
We say: All the necessary features are present and correct, but the plasticky case just feels cheap. Another one for the iPhone-but-not-quite pile…
Score: 3
Find out more: Full review | Pic | LG

 

Buy one here: Carphone Warehouse | Pixmania | Three

 

Nokia 5800 Tube

£250, free on contract

 

Love: Excellent audio quality. decent connectivity and touchscreen
Hate: No Comes with Music. N97 coming soon and looks a better bet
We say: The 5800 could have been a legend, but there’s a massive, Comes with Music-shaped hole in the specification. It shoulda been a contender…
Score: 3
Find out more: Full review | Pic | Nokia

 

Buy one here: Carphone Warehouse | All Orange | SuperEtrader

 

Sony Ericsson Xperia X1

£470, free on contract

 

Love: Full slide-out QWERTY keyboard and a respectable camera
Hate: Confusing interface and unresponsive touchscreen
We say: Bulky, ugly and occasionally completely unusable the Xperia is a confused jumble of archaic looks and ill-thought-through features. Fail!
Score: 2
Find out more: Full review | Pic | Sony

 

Buy one here: Play | Elite Gadgets | Carphone Warehouse

T-Mobile G1

From free on contract

 

Love: open-source Android platform and a pretty good touchscreen
Hate: Squished keyboard. Plastic looks. Relatively poor battery life
We say: we love the Android open-source platform in theory, but how about a better handset next time? this one just takes the “fun” out of “functional”
Score: 3
Find out more: Full review | Pic | T-Mobile

 

Buy one here: Carphone Warehouse | The Link | T-Mobile

 

HTC Touch HD

£545, free on contract

 

Love: Huge, hi-res touchscreen. Powerful and smooth-running
Hate: The touchFlo system is still just a veneer over Windows Mobile
We say: A versatile, gorgeous, smooth-running touchscreen phone for windows lovers, this really is the iPhone for people who don’t like iPhones
Score: 4
Find out more: Full review | Pic | HTC
 

Buy one here: Carphone Warehouse | Pixmania  | All Orange