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Best cell phones of 2010 (photos)

CNET takes a look back at the best cell phones we reviewed this year.

Kent German
Kent was a senior managing editor at CNET News. A veteran of CNET since 2003, he reviewed the first iPhone and worked in both the London and San Francisco offices. When not working, he's planning his next vacation, walking his dog or watching planes land at the airport (yes, really).
Kent German
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1 of 6 Josh Miller/CNET

LG dLite (T-Mobile)

By our estimation CNET has reviewed somewhere in the neighborhood of 175 cell phones so far in 2010. Over the year, we've kept track of our favorites and are pleased to present them here.

These handsets received a score of at least 3.5 stars or 7.7 on the CNET scale. Keep in mind that this list does not include smartphones, but check back in a few days for the year's top handsets in that category.

Rating: Excellent (8.0 or 4 stars)

The bottom line: With its decent midrange feature set and eye-catching design, the LG dLite is a wonderfully girly phone that would appeal to the young, or just the young at heart.

2 of 6 Josh Miller/CNET

LG Lotus Elite (Sprint)

Rating: Excellent (8.0 or 4 stars)

The bottom line: The LG Lotus Elite's stylish design, healthy feature set, and excellent performance make it a great messaging-phone choice for Sprint customers.

3 of 6 Josh Miller/CNET

Casio G'zOne Brigade (Verizon Wireless)

Rating: Excellent (8.0 or 4 stars)

The bottom line: The Casio G'zOne Brigade makes an excellent messaging phone for industrial workers or for those who simply need a rugged handset.

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4 of 6 Josh Miller/CNET

Samsung Reality (Verizon Wireles)

Rating: Very good (7.7 or 3.5 stars)

The bottom line: On its own, the Samsung Reality is a great midrange multimedia phone, but it doesn't hold a candle to the Samsung Rogue from 2009, which has a better design and better features.

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5 of 6 Josh Miller/CNET

LG Vu Plus (AT&T)

Rating: Very good (7.7 or 3.5 stars)

The bottom line: Despite a few design issues, the LG Vu Plus is a full-featured messaging phone with the bonus of live mobile television.

6 of 6 Josh Miller/CNET

Pantech Ease (AT&T)

Rating: Very good (7.7 or 3.5 stars)

The bottom line: Though we have a few quibbles with it, the Pantech Ease is overall a smart hybrid that will please both grandparents and grandchildren alike.

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