Top 3 Smart Phones. Which review do you trust?

So I decided it was time to upgrade my smartphone the other day. Since the iPhone hasn’t made it to Canada yet, I was left with the decision to go with a newer model Blackberry or a regular Smartphone – such as the HP iPAQ, the Palm Treo or a variety of other mobile choices. Until recently, I’ve been using the Blackberry 8700g and have had no problems to report. While the phone is slightly larger than most of its competitors, the overall usability and quality of the device were second to none. But after the expected wear and tear, it was time for a new one.

Before I made my decision, I did my due diligence and spent a few hours researching my options. As with so many things, I found that the feedback I received from friends/colleagues as well as that on related online forums was much more valuable than those I found through reputable online reviews. A simple search for top 5 smartphones (3 was too small) on Google revealed a number of results. While it’s important to note that each so-called study may have tested for different criteria, you would expect the overall results to be of equal importance. I’ve provided a quick snapshot of four reputable smartphone reviews.

1. CNET had one of their senior associate editors performed a review of the top 5 smart phones in which she ranked the HTC Excalibur number 1 followed by the AT&T 8525 and the RIM Blackberry 8830 in third place.

2. Askmen.com on the other hand ranked the Motorola MPx200 as the top smart phone, followed by the RIM Blackberry 7730 and the PalmOne Treo 600.

3. In a recent survey, PCWorld gave top ranks to the new Blackberry Curve (8300) followed by the T-Mobile Wing and the Nokia E62.  PCWorld performed their study in late June.

4. Finally, computershopper.com performed a similar survey and found the top performing smartphone to be the RIM Blackberry 7130c followed by the Sony Ericsson P990i and the AT&T 8525.

So in looking at the top 3 for 4 separate reviews, I counted 11 different smartphones. While the reviews brought insight into certain key benefits and cons for each of the phones, it really added very little for me making my decision.

Based on raving reviews from colleagues and a number of users on online forums, I ended up buying the Blackberry Curve and I highly recommend it. In addition to the regular Blackberry technology, the phone is equipped with a high quality (2MP) camera, built-in media player and a Micro-SD expandable slot.

Another positive aspect of the Blackberry is the vast number of Blackberry accessories that are available out there. You can find great deals on Blackberry headsets, Blackberry Bluetooth devices, Blackberry batteries, Blackberry cases and much more.

If anyone has any feedback on the Blackberry Curve or other smartphones, please share with us.
I've also included links to each of the above reviews:
1. CNET
2. Askmen.com
3. PCWorld
4. computershopper.com

Eric