Here's a guide in buying or choosing today's three popular SmartPhones:
A look at the main strengths — and drawbacks — of three popular smart phones
The main strengths - and drawbacks — of these three phones:
HTC Droid X: for avid Internet users
With its fast Google-driven browser, Verizon's fourth Droid model may be a great buy for those who like to use their phone to access the Internet. The Android-powered devices were billed as the iPhone killer, and they do have several features that make them competitive. Motorola (NYSE: MOT - News) added several more to the Droid X model, such as an 8-megapixel camera.
Strengths: At 5 inches long and 2.6 inches wide, the Droid X has a 4.4-inch display that would suit users who want readability. "It's a handful, but a manageable one," Gikas said in his review. Gikas also likes the device's keyboard, which has a "Swype" feature that makes its touch-screen keyboard easy to use. The time-saving tool allows users to slide their fingers over the keyboard, rather than lifting them, when typing a word — and yet still avoid typos.
If you're looking for a phone with a big screen, great search tools and on a reliable network, get the Droid X," said Paul Eng, who also reviewed the phone for Consumer Reports.
Drawbacks: Droid phones are notoriously clunky. One of the largest phones on the market and weighing in at 5.5 ounces, it's not a good pocket phone. Also, if you prefer carriers other than Verizon, this model's not for you. Finally, some reviewers note that the screen's resolution is not as fine as the iPhone 4's resolution.
IPhone 4: for photo/video and app lovers
Strengths: A high-resolution touch screen makes it easy to read text; two cameras allow video chat; and a 5-megapixel camera with a flash takes great pictures. Gikas said he likes the phone's video-editing feature. And it's a good phone for people who like to play with apps — the iPhone serves as a platform for more than 300,000 applications.
"If your looking for a sharp screen, great multimedia features and a great source for content, choose the iPhone 4," Gikas said on Consumer Reports' website.
Drawbacks: Users have no carrier choice outside of AT&T. The iPhone 4 has that antenna issue. CEO Steve Jobs said Friday at a press conference that the company will give free protective cases to iPhone 4 buyers to alleviate the problem.
The BlackBerry: for email addicts
Strengths: In addition to its "push" feature, BlackBerry's email capabilities include linking several accounts to one master inbox, so users don't have to check multiple sources. BlackBerry users can choose from dozens of small and large carriers including AT&T, Verizon, Cellular One and T-Mobile. If you like using your thumbs to text, most Blackberry models have a physical QWERTY keyboard ideal for thumbing. BlackBerry also has two touch-screen models.
Drawbacks: Some reviewers say the BlackBerry models are clumsy with video streaming and slower with Internet use. The models that do have a camera don't offer much in the way of megapixels. For example, the BlackBerry Curve, one of the most recent models, has a camera with only 2 mega pixels. Finally, for those who prefer smaller phones, most of the BlackBerry models, which average 4.3 inches high and 2.4 inches wide, may be too large.
Original Article by Rebecca L. McClay
Source:Droid X vs. BlackBerry vs. iPhone 4
