Samsung F700 vs Apple iPhone vs LG Viewty vs HTC Cruise

Samsung F700
If you build it, they will come -- and Samsung has definitely come to Apple's touchscreen party with this iPhone lookalike. But the F700 isn't a carbon copy of the iPhone even if it looks very similar, no, this touchscreen behemoth packs HSDPA (3.5G) for fast access to the Internet and a 3-megapixel camera.

But that's not all, underneath the F700's large colour touchscreen hides a full slide-out Qwerty keypad that let's you tap out long emails or text messages. Add to all of that an expandable memory card slot and you have a substantial handset that's set to battle it out with the best of them.

The F700 will be available at the end of this month on a monthly contract with Vodafone. For more information visit the Vodafone Web site.

Apple iPhone
This phone doesn't need an introduction -- but can it hold its own against the competition? The truth is that Apple has created a superb touchscreen user interface that's second to none. It's highly responsive, well laid-out and the iPhone's screen is one of the best screens we've ever seen.

But as you might have expected, it's not all perfect. While the interface is easy to use, texting does take some getting used to and unlike the Samsung F700, there's no slide-out Qwerty keypad. There's also no 3G, so unless you're near a Wi-Fi hotspot, browsing the Web can be a little tedious.

The iPhone is currently available for £269 on a monthly contract with O2. For more information visit the O2 Web site or read our full review.

LG KU990 Viewty
LG's most feature-packed handset to date, the Viewty takes LG a step up on the super-phone ladder and in line with the rest of the competition. We were seriously impressed with what it had to offer and in particular appreciated some of its more quirky offerings, including shooting video at 120fps.

But it's not all gimmicks with the Viewty, it also packs HSDPA (3.5G) for fast Internet access, a 5-megapixel camera with xenon flash, DivX video playback and, similar to the Samsung F700, a haptic feedback system that lets you know when you tapped the screen by vibrating the phone, which works very well.

The LG Viewty is currently available on several major networks on a monthly contract. For more information read our review.

HTC Cruise
Windows Mobile smart phones are no longer the reserve of serious businessmen, busily tapping away on the commute into the office. HTC has released some fantastic handsets that not only provide good business features but also come with all the consumer trimmings -- which brings us to the HTC Cruise.

Packed with GPS, HSDPA, a 3-megapixel camera and the TouchFLO interface, first seen on the HTC Touch, that lets you easily navigate the phone's menu using your finger, this phone is no spring chicken. Our only niggle with it is that it runs on Windows Mobile 6, which isn't always finger friendly.

The HTC Cruise has yet to hit shops but will hopefully be available before the end of the year. For more information visit the HTC Web site.