Most Popular PDAs and Smartphones of October 2006

[Ed Hardy]

Welcome to the monthly listing of the most popular handhelds and smartphones on Brighthand. This report is compiled based on the number of views each product page receives, so every time someone clicks on a product they're giving it a vote in these monthly rankings.

These ranking don't necessarily indicate which models are the best selling, just which ones Brighthand readers are most interesting in learning more about.

Although not at the top, Palm, Inc. has four models on this list, far more than any other company. The growth of interest in smartphones is clearly still underway, as they make up seven of the ten models on this list.

 

1. HP iPAQ hw6900 Mobile Messenger (Previously #1) - This Pocket PC uses a tablet shape with a built-in QWERTY keyboard, a form-factor that's become very popular for cellular-wireless devices. It also includes Wi-Fi, a miniSD slot, and the latest version of Windows Mobile. HP iPAQ hw6900 Reviews | HP iPAQ hw6900 User Opinions
2. Nokia E62 (New) - This smartphone brings many of the features offered by the Motorola Q to the GSM audience. However, unlike the Q, the E62 uses the Symbian OS with the S60 user interface, and it therefore is more phone-centric. Nokia E62 Reviews | Nokia E62 User Opinions
3. RIM BlackBerry Pearl (Previously #7) - Even though this is a smartphone, not one of RIM's larger cellular-wireless handhelds, it still breaks new ground for this company, as it is its first BlackBerry of any kind with support for playing music and displaying video.RIM BlackBerry Pearl Reviews | RIM BlackBerry Pearl User Opinions
4. Cingular 3125 (HTC Star Trek) (Previously #3) - The shape and size of this Windows Mobile Smartphone immediately invites comparison to Motorola's wildly popular RAZR phone. But the 3125 offers far more functionality than the RAZR could ever dream of.  Cingular 3125 Reviews | Cingular 3125 User Opinions
5. Palm Treo 680  (New) - This smartphone runs the Palm OS, and has the same general shape as past Treo devices, but is slightly slimmer and has no antenna. Nevertheless, Palm promises that the reception is better than past Treo models. Palm Treo 680 Reviews | Palm Treo 680 User Opinions
6. Palm Treo 700wx (Previously #2) - Treo 700wx is a Windows Mobile smartphone. It is an updated version of the Treo 700w, a device that Verizon Wireless has been offering since early this year. The biggest improvement in the newer version is an increase in the amount of RAM. Aside from this, though, the latest Treo greatly resembles its predecessor.Palm Treo 700wx Reviews | Palm Treo 700wx User Opinions
7. Palm TX  (Previously #5) - Palm's TX is appealing for its integrated Wi-Fi and easy to digest price point. Most people find this Palm OS handheld to be easy to use, and it offers a large and crisp display. Palm TX Reviews | Palm TX User Opinions
8. Sony mylo (New) - Although most people would not consider this to be a "true" handheld, nevertheless it allows users to exchange instant messages, browse the Internet, listen to music, send emails, and view photos. It is able to connect to open Wi-Fi networks and wirelessly stream songs to other mylos. Sony mylo Reviews | Sony mylo User Opinions
9. Sony VAIO UX Micro PC (Previously #4) - The Sony VAIO UX Micro PC is a full Windows XP computer not much bigger than a typical handheld. It's fairly expensive, but it packs a great many features into a small package, like a keyboard and numerous wireless networking options. Sony VAIO UX Micro PC Reviews | Sony VAIO UX Micro PC User Opinions
10. Palm Treo 650 (Returning) - Now several years old, this Palm OS smartphone is now widely available around the world, in both GSM and CDMA versions. Palm Treo 650 Reviews | Palm Treo 650 User Opinions

Falling out of the top 10 most popular handhelds and smartphones from the previous month are the:

• Motorola Q
• Dell Axim X51v
• HP iPAQ h6300 Series
• Nokia E50

 

[Masterchief]

Wow the 650 is back on the list. Very interesting. Not surprising I guess since so many people own it.

[Ed Hardy]

Until the Treo 680 becomes widely available (about next spring) the Treo 680 is the best Palm OS smartphone most people have access to. I expect it to continue to sell well for many more months.

[docschmoozer]

While I do realize most people prefer the all in one smartphone--there really was only 1-2 PDA's listed here. For those of us who come to this section of the forum for PDA info--can there be more info on PDA's and PPC's rather than taking up all of this space about smartphones. There is an entire section in the forum devoted to that topic. I am still looking for a good old WM 5 PDA.

[Ed Hardy]

You have to realize, this list isn't picked by the Brighthand staff. It's a list of devices our readers have shown the most interest in learning more about in the last month. It just works out that what most people are looking at is smartphones.

Probably the reason for this is the market for traditional handhelds is steadily declining, while the smartphone market is taking off.

This hasn't escaped the attention of device makers. I can think of one (1) new traditional handheld being launched in the U.S. this fall, the iPAQ rx5915, while I can't even count the number of new smartphones.

Trust me, we're giving traditional handhelds as much attention as we can; we just published an extensive review of the rx5915. But the writing is on the wall, and much of our attention is going to be focused on the various types of cellular-wireless devices.

There's only so much we can say about one new handheld and a bunch of others that debuted last year.

p.s. If you're looking for a good Pocket PC, I can't say enough good things about the Dell Axim X51v.

[Masterchief]

Until the Treo 680 becomes widely available (about next spring) the Treo 680 is the best Palm OS smartphone most people have access to. I expect it to continue to sell well for many more months.

Thats true. I hope that the 680 follows the the 650 in being released for both GSM and CDMA networks eventually.

[Adama D. Brown]

Thats true. I hope that the 680 follows the the 650 in being released for both GSM and CDMA networks eventually.

Nope, the 680 is GSM-only. The 700p is the CDMA equivalent.

[DJ Rome]

The equivalent? They seem wildly different, but I guess they're similar. Didn't even think about that.

[headcronie]

The 700p runs circles around the 68o. High speed internet, live TV... I can't believe the 680 is going to be GSM only...

[holvoetn]

Why not ?
There is already a CDMA version with 700 range, 680 is filling the gap on GSM part.

Don't forget this device is going to be marketed primarily in Europe and Asia where most people are not using dataplans as is being done in US. Too expensive for the time being ...