Consumer Reports: Best & Worst Cell Phone Deals
 

I just picked up a copy of Consumer Reports. The main article was about cell phones and cell service. I'm happy to see that the Apple iPhone took top honors in the Smart Phone category. I'm a proud owner of an iPhone and love it! I just thought I would post the list of service providers, regular cell phones and smart phones. Here's how they rated...

Cell-Phone Service:
1. Verizon (Had the highest rating in the most areas)
2. T-Mobile
3. AT&T
4. Sprint

Cell Phones:
1. Verizon G'z One Type-S
2. LG Chocolate VX8550
3. Nokia 6315i
4. Verizon Wireless CDM 8945
5. Motorola Krzr k1m
6. Samsung SCH-a990
7. Samsung SCH-u620
8. Motorola Razr V9m
9. Samsung U520
10. Motorola W315
11. Verizon Wireless G'z One Type-V
12. LG VX3450
13. Samsung Wafer
14. LG VX8700
15. Samsung SCH-u740
16. Samsung Jitterbug Dial (Great Call)
17. LG enV
18. LG Chocolate VX8500
19. LG VX9400
20. LG Muziq LX570

Smart Phones:
1. Apple iPhone 8GB
2. Palm Treo 755P
3. Samsung Black-Jack
4. T-Mobile Wing
5. Motorola MOTO Q music 9m
6. Palm Treo 680
7. BlackBerry Curve
8. Cingular 3125 Smartphone
9. Palm Treo 700P
10. HTC Touch
11. Palm Treo 700 WX
12. BlackBerry Pearl
13. T-Mobile Dash
14. BlackBerry 8800
15. Nokia N95
16. T-Mobile Side-Kick iD
17. Palm Centro
18. LG Prada KE850
19. BlackBerry 8830
20. Motorola Q

I was surprised to see that there are so many smart phones and that some of them are actually more expensive than the iPhone. The HTC Touch retails for $580, the Nokia N95 retails for $700 and the LG Prada KE850 retails for $545. That a lot of money for a phone that's pretty far down on the CR ratings list.

So who has experience with some of these phones and what's your take?

Funny, I don't see the mighty Voyager anywhere on that list. Hmm...

Neither is the Sidekick LX or Slide which suggests that this was written before the relase of the "newer" phones. Bare in mind that the iPhone was released in June.

That list is BS. The T-Mobile Wing is horrible and shouldn't even be on that list. Putting the Sidekick on the list as a Smart Phone totally destroys their credability. The iPhone shouldn't be number 1 either.

LOL! As if I ever followed CR anyway...but this just confirms how dumb they really are.

iPhone, #1 smartphone?? You've got to be kidding me. Especially after hearing how corporate America isn't even looking at it, with the lack of just about every useful feature a business person needs (short of hacking it, with limited available 3rd party apps).

iPhone should be #1 on the most kick-*** UI ever, as well as being the most fun and entertaining. NOT in the smartphone category.

i have to agree also, if they said # 1 media phone, but cr always stunk at rating phones.

Look at the list looks like lg is the king maker of phones, i always thought cr and verizon have a close relationship hahahaha.did an at&t phone make the top 20.

Well, it is Consumer Reports, not Industry Manager Reports.

Yes an AT&T phone made the top 20, It's in position 1 under the Smart Phone category. Theres also the Blackjack, Pearl, Curve, 8800, and the Treo 680. AT&T carries the KRZR too.

OK :confused:

Someone asked if an AT&T phone made the Top 20. I was just pointing out the AT&T devices that were on the list of 20 provided by the OP.

Ok..

Anyways, TMobile is ranked 2nd? Howso? In CS or what?

Probably in CS.

Anyone on howard forums shouldn't take this too seriously, as we are all more than the average consumer.

The staff probably wants more free **** from Apple so they put the iPhone as #1....

thats a horrible list

I agree, that list does not make sense to me at all. I don't know what criteria that used for that list, but I would bet most people experienced in some of these phone would disagree.

I have seen other product rankings from them that makes me wonder too. I have less faith in Consumer Reports these days. They are independent and don't accept advertising. So they are impartial, but the people who make these lists don't appear to be very knowledgeable in the products. They must just look at some of the specs or something. No real hands-on thorough testing.