As the release of iPhone 3G is fast approaching, you may be wondering if it is an upgrade you should go far. Especially if you are the owner of the first generation iPhone. If you are looking at the alternatives, then there are two phones which I would strongly recommend. One of them is already released and the other one will be released in a month’s time. Here is a quick and short description of what are the pros and cons of these phones when compared to the Apple iPhone.
Perhaps the best Windows Mobile phone in the market that you can buy today, though I do not recommend this for readers from India.
Where it betters the iPhone:
- Much higher resolution than the iPhone (640×480 as against iPhone’s 480×320)
- Far better camera (3 MP)
- Better PIM applications and Exchange sync capability
- Desktop compatible office suite
- Huge base of freeware and shareware applications
Where it struggles to match the iPhone:
- Though high resolution, the screen is only 2.7″ as opposed to iPhone’s 3.5″
- Only 4GB capacity and no expansion slot
- Windows Mobile default interface will require the use of stylus
- No multi touch
- Resistive touch screen does not offer the responsiveness of the iPhone
This soon to be released flagship from Nokia will be a worthy rival to the iPhone 3G (No one can forget the N95 comparisons we had with the first version of iPhone).
Where it betters the iPhone:
- 16 GB capacity with expansion slot. (Virtually unlimited memory)
- Stellar camera with excellent video recording
- Mobile TV (DVB-H as of now is available only in a few countries)
- Huge base of freeware and shareware applications
- Nokia provided Maps for virtually every country in the world
- Truckload of Nokia services including Ovi etc.,
Where it struggles to match the iPhone:
- QVGA screen
- No touch features
- Brick like form factor may not appeal to many
There are many common features between these 3 devices. The browser on each one is very useable (In fact Safari and the S60 browser share the same codebase). All of them feature GPS and excellent multimedia capabilities. So the choice is yours.
I have left out phones like Samsung Instinct from comparison because they are not strictly ‘Smart Phones’.
Related: Should you buy the HTC Touch Diamond in India?