The Touch 3G improves on its predecessor by delivering a smooth user experience, but there is nothing else to really get excited about.

The Pearl Flip is RIM’s first non-candybar BlackBerry handset and the results are fair but not outstanding. Some consumers will appreciate the Flip design, but the lack of 3G connectivity is a real let-down.

Samsung’s second smartphone to be released on Telstra’s Next G network, the i617T improves on its predecessor but remains let down by the lack of Wi-Fi.

The Omnia is Samsung’s attempt at pushing Windows Mobile as far into the background as possible, but it’s certainly not perfect. With more tweaking to the TouchWIZ interface and a bit more speed, this could potentially knock the iPhone off its perch. As it stands though, it's an admirable handset without being outstanding.

The Sidekick 2008 isn't a bad phone — not at all. In fact, I wrote this entire review on its perfect little keyboard (in the body of an e-mail message, of course, since the phone doesn't support Word documents). It's just disappointing that after all these generations on the market, the Sidekick has been relegated to fashionista status.

For heavy text input, the Touch Pro is a much better option than its little brother, the Touch Diamond. There are still plenty of issues, but the sluggish interface has been slightly improved, and removable storage is a welcome addition.

Unlike its predecessor, the N96 isn't revolutionary but it remains a reasonable upgrade to the N95. It’s expensive and the DVB-H feature is useless in Australia, but as a multimedia device it is one of the better mobile phones on the market.

The HTC Dream build quality is okay, and you need to be very wary of the dataplan small print, but Google Android and its myriad apps make the T-Mobile G1 a winner.

Samsung certainly deserves credit for the i200's design. This smartphone is compact and easy to use, but the lack of Wi-Fi and GPS will force many users to look elsewhere. Overall, the i200 is a credible but certainly not inspiring handset.