It's been almost two months since my first Up and Comers post. Technology moves so quickly, there are more than five new phones I'm itching to get my paws on. But the one at the top of the heap remains the same:
Seriously, it's specs and feature set are so far ahead of anything else out there, the N95 still reigns supreme in my Fantasy Phone League. The folks at Nokia List ran a review of a pre-production model, but it seems to have disappeared from the Web. Absence makes the heart grow fonder ...
2. Verizon enV (LG VX-9900)
The Verizon V - aka LG VX-9800 - is the only phone that's ever made me wish I had Verizon service. The enV is the just-launched sequel to the V. The dual-screen, opens the "long way" clamshell retains the QWERTY thumbboard and V-CAST compatibility that made the original so clever and quick, but also features an upgraded 2 megapixel camera, stereo Bluetooth, and (gasp!) a new user interface. Could it be the perfect balance between smartphone and multimedia phone?
This one will likely never see United States air. Too bad. The soon-to-launch in Korea P9000 is so futuristic looking that I'll have to use it to believe it. Half CDMA PDA phone, Windows XP computer with WiMax connectivity, this baby packs a 5" screen, QWERTY keyboard, and 30 GB hard drive into an origami-like folding design that weighs just over one pound. Sure, it's too big to be a mobile phone. But it's way too small to be a computer, and that's got me curious.
I still want to check out the w950i, but the 850 actually has more features if less storage space than its big brother. Featuring a new Walkman interface and 2MP camera in a slider form factor, the 850 is the sequel to my longtime favorite w800/810, which is still one of the best music phones you can buy.
I'm in the midst of reviewing the N73, which might be my favorite Nokia handset to date. But what if the N73 was a flip instead of a candy bar? It'd be the N75, more or less. A music-centric clamshell rumored to be launched on Cingular, the N75 features a 2 MP camera, high-res display, external music controls, and UMTS/HSDPA 3G connectivity along with quad-band GSM and EDGE support. When it launches, the N73 just might be the best mobile officially supported by a US carrier.