2008’s Mobile Phone Highlights!

If you’re a mobile phone fan, 2008 has been a bumper year, with many exciting new handsets reaching the market.  It’s hard to choose the ‘best’ of the year, or even our favourite, so instead of pondering for hours we present our top ten/best of/favourite mobile handset releases of 2008 all in one list.  So, in no particular order, here they are!

Samsung i900 Omnia

Released in the middle of the year, the Omnia i900 was the first Samsung mobile phone to feature a Windows Mobile operating system, which thankfully was the much-improved 6.1 version.  One of two WinMo handsets on our list, we love the DivX video support, up to 16GB of storage and the feeling you’ve got your entire office at your disposal in one, handy device.

Samsung F480 Tocco

Although we saw it at the beginning of 2008 and had to wait until Q2 to actually get our hands on one, the Samsung F480 Tocco was worth the wait.  It introduced us to the TouchWiz interface and a touchscreen interface which wasn’t slow and unresponsive, plus Samsung managed to squeeze HSDPA and a 5 megapixel camera into the sleek, attractive shell.

Apple iPhone 3G

Like it or loathe it, there’s no denying the massive impact the Apple iPhone has had on the international mobile phone market.  The 3G version may not have been the upgrade it should have been over the first, but you can’t argue with a mobile which knocks the USA’s perennial favourite – the Motorola V3 – off the top-selling spot.

T-Mobile G1

The G1 was never about the hardware, it was all about the software.  Google Android is the first free, open source mobile operating platform and therefore it was inevitable it would capture the headlines over the phone which first utilised it.  Seeing as the G1 – or HTC Dream – which houses Android is perhaps not as good as many hoped, the absence of a 3.5mm jack plug is still something which astounds us, this could be seen as a good thing.  However, with Google Market beginning to expand and more joining the Open Handset Alliance, expect big things from Android in 2009.

Sony Ericsson C905

If there was a figure associated with camera phones this year, it would have to be eight.  The C905 is Sony Ericsson’s weapon of war – for a war it is – and it has got it all: Wi-fi, Assisted GPS, HSDPA and of course, the 8 megapixel camera with all the toys one needs to take superb pictures.  It’s as camera-like as it’s possible for a phone to get and if we had a gun against our head forcing us to pick a winner, we may just pick the C905 as the model to end the conflict.

BlackBerry Storm 9500

It was set for a dream release for RIM and the Storm entered the market amidst a mass of online hype, only for the phone’s initial firmware to be slightly unstable.  With the wolves at the door, it was up to the BlackBerry Storm to stand and fight and when it did, the true impressiveness of the phone shone through.  The clickable touchscreen brings considerable feel to the touch process and the media/Internet applications are now equal to most others on the market, and the email system still exceeds them.  It’s only going to get better too.

LG KC910 Renoir

Despite its overly pretentious name, the KC910 is so much more than a pretty face.  The touchscreen and awesome 8 megapixel camera may be the headline grabbing features, but we love the simplicity of the operating system too, with its clear icons, responsive controls and no smartphone complications to deal with.  Add in Wi-Fi, GPS and HSDPA and you have a highly desirable mobile phone.

Samsung M8800 Pixon

It’s a testament to Samsung’s output this year that they have no less than three handsets on our ‘best of’ list, with the Pixon perhaps being the best of them.  Gorgeous looks, a big touchscreen, an excellent 8 megapixel camera and the proven TouchWiz interface make the Pixon look like just another top-end camera phone, however its media capabilities are so good – DiVx/XviD support, GPS, SRS surround sound, TV-out, HSDPA – they elevate the Pixon to the level of ability usually found on so-called ‘multimedia computers’, making the Pixon a must-have for anyone wanting a one-device does all.

Nokia E71

It has been a funny year for Nokia.  They have released some amazing handsets – the Arte series, the new N-series handsets for example – all of which are superb, but not really groundbreaking, something we have come to expect from Nokia.  Next year, the N97 is likely to rate highly, but for this year, our favourite Nokia has been the E71.  The gorgeous, slim, metallic case, brilliantly tactile QWERTY keyboard, a host of connectivity options and GPS, plus the downright simplicity of the thing showed that Nokia could still out BlackBerry a BlackBerry when they tried!

HTC Touch HD

2008 has been a brilliant year for HTC, matching Samsung for quality output.  We liked the Touch Diamond, but it was the Touch HD which really caught our attention.  It did this due to the amazing 3.8″ 480×800 pixel resolution touchscreen, which makes video, the web and even Windows Mobile 6.1 look absolutely incredible!  It’s no one-feature wonder either, as it has Wi-Fi, HSDPA, GPS, HTC’s first 5 megapixel camera and the TouchFLO interface to keep Windows at bay for as long as possible.  Once you see that screen, you’ll be smitten too!

So, these are our mobile phone highlights of the year, what are yours?