Ready to make the jump to your first smartphone? Here are some of CNET's recommendations.
Bonnie Cha
Bonnie Cha was a former chief correspondent for CNET Crave, covering every kind of tech toy imaginable (with a special obsession for robots and Star Wars-related stuff). When she's not scoping out stories, you can find her checking out live music or surfing in the chilly waters of Northern California.
While not a major overhaul, the Palm Pixi Plus adds built-in Wi-Fi and gives customers making the jump from a feature phone to a smartphone even more functionality without breaking the bank.
2 of 7 Corinne Schulze/CNET
Apple iPhone 3GS (AT&T)
The iPhone 3GS doesn't make the same grand leap that the iPhone 3G made from the first-generation model, but the latest Apple handset is still a compelling upgrade for some users. The iPhone 3GS is faster, and we appreciate the new features and extended battery life, but call quality and 3G reception still need improvement. Read the review
3 of 7 Sarah Tew/CNET
RIM BlackBerry Curve 8520 (T-Mobile)
The RIM BlackBerry Curve 8520 is a sleek entry-level smartphone that delivers some nice design enhancements and great performance. While available directly from T-Mobile, Wal-Mart offers the better value on the smartphone.
Sprint, Verizon Wireless, and AT&T all offer versions of the Curve 8520/8530.
The Nokia E63 offers a more wallet-friendly price tag compared with other unlocked smartphones and does so without sacrificing too many features; we just we wish the call quality and camera were better.
5 of 7 Sarah Tew/CNET
Motorola Backflip (AT&T)
As AT&T's first Android phone, the Motorola Backflip offers a unique design but it's rather lackluster in the features and performance department. It's a decent choice if you're upgrading from a feature phone, but anyone looking for speed and power should look elsewhere. Read the review
6 of 7 Sarah Tew/CNET
Palm Pre Plus (Verizon Wireless)
The Palm Pre Plus earns its place as the top WebOS device, improving on the Pre with a better design and performance, and upgraded features. Verizon customers looking for a versatile smartphone to balance their personal and work lives will be well-served by the Pre Plus.
7 of 7 Josh Miller/CNET
HTC Hero and T-Mobile MyTouch 3G
Both the HTC Hero and the T-Mobile MyTouch 3G, as well as the HTC Droid Eris, are all good introductions to the Google Android operating system.
