Top 10 mobile phones

Rank 1: Nokia N90

Outstanding features: The second in the Nokia N-series, the N90 has a Carl Zeiss optics 2-megapixel lens with auto focus (in simple language, this means you can take good print quality pictures with your phone), video capturing and flash.

It is a dual display phone with a 262K colour main screen and 65K colour external screen. It has a 5-way navigation joystick, comes with a 64MB Multimedia Card and supports RS-MMC (this means your battery will last a bit longer). There's also a 31MB of internal memory to get you started.

A 3G phone, it has Bluetooth, EDGE (which ensures those streaming videos run smoothly) and supports playback of media files in MP3/ AAC/ MPEG4 formats.

Drawbacks: The phone is too large to hold once opened. There is a slight lag in performance as it has a Symbian-based operating system. It still lacks an FM tuner and is heavy on the pocket.

Final word: The Nokia N90 is a good multimedia phone but is priced higher than competitors with similar features. However, with M-Blogging (mobile blogging) catching up, the N90 has a good way to go.

Cost: Rs 32,500 (Maximum Retail Price)

Rank 2: Sony Ericsson W810i

Outstanding features: The 'Walkman' tag already suggests what the phone is meant for.

The phone offers 262K TFT display (which means your brightness and colour display are much better), is a quad-band product (can be used anywhere across the world) with EDGE and stereo speakers.

Audiophiles will enjoy its excellent sound.

The phone's 2-megapixel camera boasts auto focus and digital zoom; it even lets you capture videos. The VideoDJ allows you to enhance videos, jazz them up and share them with friends.

Drawbacks: No shutter for the camera. Also, it does not offer too much value as an upgrade from the W800i, which cost a few thousand rupees less.

Final word: The quad-band, the excellent sound quality and camera make it a good buy.

Cost: Rs 23,500 (Maximum Retail Price)

Rank 3: O2 Atom

Outstanding features: A Windows Mobile phone powered by an Intel PXA272 416 Mhz chip.

This is a tri-band phone with EDGE, WLAN (translated from jargon, this means it is wi-fi enabled phone and you can use it at coffee shops like Barista and airports that offer access to the Net), FM radio, Infrared, Bluetooth and a high-resolution 2-megapixel camera. The display is huge, with 2.7-inch TFT touch screen and 262K colours. A stylus is provided.

It supports MP3, WMA, WAV and AMR audio formats. The camera quality is great and videos look good. Sound quality from the stereo speakers and bundled earphones is excellent.

Drawbacks: Slightly sluggish in performance, coupled with a body and screen prone to finger smudges. The lack of a keypad makes it a little uncomfortable to use.

Final word: Based on Windows Mobile OS 5.0, this is a complete PDA phone that can replace your laptop. The 2-megapixel camera and huge screen make it more appropriate for capturing moments, but it is priced way too high.

Cost: Rs 38,000 (Maximum Retail Price)


Rank 4: Nokia N70

Outstanding features: The first model of the N-series phones by Nokia. There is no major difference from the Nokia 6680, except better design and a 2-megapixels camera.

The phone has a dual camera -- one in front and the other at the back. The front camera is a 0.3-megapixel one, and the main camera is a 2-megapixel protected with a slider.

You can also make video phone calls on this phone.

It features an FM tuner and can play and record audio and video media files.

This is a 3G phone with EDGE and Bluetooth connectivity. Based on the Series 60 Symbian operating system, it comes loaded with pretty useful office applications. It's the ideal PDA-cum-cell phone.

Drawbacks: The miniscule keys make sending SMSs a pain. Moreover, the slider mechanism is not that great and feels tacky.

Final word: The N70 lacks any considerable upgrade from the Nokia 6680. So, if you are using a 6680, it doesn?t make sense to upgrade to this. Moreover, the price is steep.

Cost: Rs 24,419 (Maximum Retail Price)

Rank 5: Samsung D820

Outstanding features: A pioneer in consumer electronics, Samsung has many good GSM mobile phones to its credit.

The much acclaimed D600 is now followed by the D820 -- a slider phone with 1.3-megapixel camera, Bluetooth and EDGE.

The bright 262K TFT screen displays vibrant colours even when you are using this phone in bright light.

The phone comes with 73MB of shared memory and a provision for expanding the same in the form of a Transflash card.

It can play music and video and the camera can capture images at a maximum resolution of 1280 x 1024 pixels and has a 180-degree rotating lens.

Just like the D600, the D820 also has a television-out jack that allows you to display the content of the phone on a television screen after you use the necessary A/V cable.

Drawbacks: Though Samsung is the master of slider phones, the D820 lacks necessary features like FM tuner. Also, for the price they are charging, it should have been a 3G phone (which offers much better data transfer speed when you are sending or receiving information).

Final word: The Samsung D820 is a fusion of immaculate style and function. With the 1.3-megapixel camera, coupled with 4x zoom, this quad-band phone is a good buy for businessmen and youth alike.

Cost: Rs 14,500 (street price)

Rank 6: Motorola RAZR V3i

Outstanding features: V3i has always been appreciated for its sleek design and attractive colours. The latest addition in the Indian market is the pink model; many new colours are on their way.

It has a 256K TFT internal screen and 65K external one.

The phone is iTunes compatible, has Bluetooth connectivity and a 1.2-megapixel camera.

The 10MB of internal memory is not enough, so it has a slot for Transflash cards. The camera is a CMOS one with 8x digital zoom and is quite effective when used in the light.

Drawbacks: When opened, the size of the phone is too long -- it is almost like a remote control.

Final word: Motorola was criticised for the lack of an intuitive interface among their phones. But things have changed for the better with the Razr series. The V3i is a perfect blend of fashion, features and looks.

Cost: Rs 12,990 (Maximum Retail Price)

Rank 7: Sony Ericsson K750i

Outstanding features: The most anticipated new phone in 2005, the SE K750i is a true value-for-money phone.

It doubles as a digital camera with a 2-megapixel camera that has an auto focus lens protected with a slider.

It comes with a 262K colour screen, Bluetooth and Infrared.

The phone scores in two areas -- sound and imaging. It comes with a 64MB memory card and can support up to 4GB of memory. And yes, it also has an FM tuner.

Drawbacks: It's a tad too long when compared to other phones on the market. To listen to music requires proprietary earphones, negating the option of attaching it to any external speaker or earphones like the Walkman series.

Final word: A fully loaded phone with a decent price that fulfils all the needs of music buffs and camera lovers.

Cost: Rs 13,995 (Maximum Retail Price)


Rank 8: Samsung SGH-D600


Outstanding features: Samsung is undoubtedly a master when it comes to creating sleek, attractive slider phones.

Though the earlier phones failed to create an impact in the Indian market, the D500 changed that scenario. It has all the features and was touted as the world's best phone at the 3GSM expo. But it had no room for expanding memory so a successor was promptly planned.

The D600 excels in every aspect, be it looks, features, memory or camera. It has a 2-megapixel camera that gives a whole new dimension to this business class phone. It also accepts Transflash cards.

Drawbacks: Priced slightly priced higher than similar phones offering the same kind of features.

Final word: Pixcel viewer is an asset in a business phone. It allows you to view PDF, word files within seconds. Even a 20MB PDF file opens in less than five seconds.

Cost: Rs 20,999 (Maximum Retail Price)


Rank 9: Nokia 3250


Outstanding features: This is the successor to the Nokia 3230. Touted as a music phone, it features a unique twistable keypad that acts as a regular keypad as well as a media player keypad.

This Symbian music phone sports a 2-megapixel camera with 4x zoom, EDGE and Bluetooth. The music player supports audio formats such as MP3, WMA, and AAC. The phone also has a visual FM tuner. A 512MB SD card takes care of your storage needs.

Drawbacks: Slightly on the heavier side, with looks that aren?t so refreshing (looks almost like the Nokia 3230). The much needed 3.5mm stereo jack is missing; as a result, you can?t hook it up with your favourite earphones.

Final word: Loaded with strong features that should appeal to music enthusiasts and shutterbugs alike.

Cost: Rs 20,000 (Maximum Retail Price)

Rank 10: Samsung SGH-X700


Outstanding features: With a candy bar form factor, this phone is loaded with features that are generally found in much more expensive models.

It offers crisp display with a 262K colour TFT screen, features an MP3 player, FM Radio, dual speakers, Bluetooth, expandable memory and a 1.3 -megapixel camera. The camera features a multi-shot option and self-portrait mirror that can take photos simultaneously, one after another.

Drawbacks: Fingerprints noticeable on the display screen.

Final word: Samsung has tried to put in maximum features and has succeeded to some extent. If decent camera quality and great music satisfies you, then the X700 is the best choice.

Cost: Rs 14,699 (Maximum Retail Price)