The Best Smartphones

The ten best smartphones on the market today.

The first two versions of the iPhone set the standard for smartphones. Now, the iPhone 3GS has come along and raised the bar even higher. It's the fastest iPhone yet, with an improved camera, video recording, the best mobile browser around, and tons (and tons) of available apps. In short, there's not a lot not to like.

If you can't decide between an all-touch screen phone and one with a hardware keyboard only, the Palm Pre has you covered. This slider-style phone offers both, in a slim little package. You also get Palm's very cool webOS platform, which offers true multi-tasking, so you can get more done. It also offers a wow factor not seen on many other smartphones, except the iPhone.

I've always liked Google's Android operating system, but it never really wowed me. Not until I tested the HTC Hero, that is. This is the phone that finally allows Google Android to live up to its potential. Its sleek and attractive on the outside, powerful and customizable on the inside.

Not ready to rely on a touch screen? Then you should take a look at the BlackBerry Tour. This smartphone offers an excellent QWERTY keyboard for easy typing. Plus, you get a sleek design, BlackBerry's awesome e-mail handling, and support for high-speed 3G networks in a world phone that can be used in many countries outside the U.S. If only the Tour had support for Wi-Fi, it would be even better.

The BlackBerry Bold offers 3G service, Wi-Fi support, built-in GPS, music and video players, and a stunning screen. It doesn't offer a touch screen, but you do get a full QWERTY keyboard, which makes typing even long messages a breeze. If you're looking for an AT&T phone that's not an iPhone, look at the Bold.

The T-Mobile myTouch 3G was the second Android phone to hit the market, but it feels light-years ahead of its predecessor, the T-Mobile G1. Where the G1 is boxy and bland, the myTouch 3G is sleek and stylish. You have to give up a hardware-based keyboard to get the slim profile, but, in my opinion, the trade-off is worth it.

The BlackBerry Curve 8900 almost didn't make this less of the best smartphones. Why not? It lacks support for Wi-Fi wireless networks, which really is an unpardonable sin. But it does have a slim design, a great keyboard, stellar e-mail handling, and an absolutely gorgeous screen. If you can't live without Wi-Fi, you'll love the Curve 8900.

Another AT&T phone with impressive features is the HTC Fuze. It features a 2.8-inch touch screen and a stowaway QWERTY keyboard. You also get a 3.2 megapixel camera, GPS, XM Radio, and the TouchFLO 3D interface. The Fuze supports AT&T's super-fast HSDPA network.

Nokia smartphones have long been recognized for their capabilities, but not so much for their looks. With the E71, Nokia is trying to change that. This smartphone features a super-slim chrome design that still manages to fit in a full QWERTY keyboard and a 2.4-inch screen. The E71 runs the Symbian operating system so you'll have access to plenty of productivity applications, and support for most popular types of e-mail accounts. You also get a 3.2-megapixel camera; that's pretty impressive for such a business-centric device.

Yes, the iPhone 3G is not the fastest or newest iPhone on the block. But it's still an excellent smartphone in its own right. You get a big, beautiful touch screen, support for AT&T's HSDPA 3G network, and built-in GPS. And it's also half the price of the iPhone 3GS.