Buying Guide > Cellphones > CNET > Technology

Cell Phones: CNET Editors' Buying Guide

If you're a confused cell phone shopper, CNET's buying guide tells you what you need to know.

1. Pick a service provider
2. Carrier basics
3. Choose a plan
4. Points to remember with service plans
5. How to pick a phone
6. 10 key features to consider
7. Phones by personality
8. 5 steps to buying or upgrading your phone
9. Should I get a smart phone?
10. I like my phone, but what else can I do with it?
11. See our expanded carrier chart

9. Should I get a smart phone?

What are they?

Smart phones combine cell phone and PDA functions in one unit and are considerably larger and much more expensive than standard handsets, often costing upward of $600. However, they eliminate the need for two separate devices.	Some smart phones have a candy bar-style design.
Go Back to Top

Why do I want one?

They're most appropriate if you spend most of your time away from the office meeting with clients and need access to e-mail and appointments.	Others look no different than most flip phones.
Go Back to Top

Can I live without it?

The average user can live with the more rudimentary contact features within their cell phones or continue to use a separate PDA if they've already purchased one.	Some smart phones have integrated keyboards.
Go Back to Top

What else should I know?

Keep in mind that if you go the smart phone route, you'll need a plan that can accommodate the extra data required for sending e-mail and surfing the Web. Some carriers offer data plans that provide a monthly allowance of megabyte usage, while others--such as Nextel--charge a flat fee for unlimited usage. Verizon Wireless offers a PDA/smart phone plan that allows you to sync your device with your desktop PC when you're away from the office. Also, if your smart phone supports Wi-Fi access, check to see if your carrier offers monthly Wi-Fi plans.

And others have only a touch screen for typing.

Go Back to Top

Operating systems

Palm OS Pros: Connects easily with other Palm OS devices; simple interface; lots of available applications; Mac compatible. Cons: Not as powerful as Pocket PC.
Pocket PC Phone Edition Pros: Syncs with Microsoft Outlook; offers scaled-down versions of familiar Microsoft applications. Cons: No Bluetooth support; newer devices may not be compatible with older ones; steeper learning curve than Palm OS. Note: Don't confuse Pocket PC Phone Edition with Microsoft's Smartphone platform, which brings Microsoft Outlook connectivity to standard cell phone units.
Symbian Pros: Works well with Bluetooth and IrDA; tight mobile Java integration. Cons: No uniform interface across different devices.
Go Back to Top

Go to Page: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11

CNET Editors' Picks

Cell phones

•	Sony Ericsson P910a
•	palmOne Treo 650 (GSM/GPRS)
•	palmOne Treo 650 (CDMA)
•	RIM Blackberry 7230
•	Nokia 6820
•	Sprint VM-A680
•	Motorola Razr V3
•	LG VX7000

Flip phones

•	Sprint VM-A680
•	Motorola Razr V3
•	LG VX7000
•	Motorola V505
•	Nextel i860
•	Siemens CF62T

Candy bar-style phones

•	Nokia 6820
•	Kyocera KX2 Koi
•	Motorola A630
•	Nokia 6600
•	Sanyo RL2000
•	Nextel i315

Camera phones

•	Sprint VM-A680
•	Sony Ericsson S710a
•	Motorola V505
•	Kyocera KX2 Koi
•	Sprint VM4050
•	Sharp TM150

Smart phones

•	palmOne Treo 650 (GSM/GPRS)
•	palmOne Treo 650 (CDMA)
•	Sony Ericsson P910a
•	Samsung SCH-i600
•	RIM BlackBerry 7230
•	Audiovox SMT5600
•	RIM BlackBerry 7750
•	Motorola MPx220