When you're as popular as the iPhone, you're bound to have some enemies. The competition is catching up, but the impression the iPhone has made on them is undeniable. Full-bodied touchscreen phones that do more than just enable calls and grainy pictures are now a hot item thanks to Apple — though maybe you're still on the fence as to whether or not the iPhone 3G is right for you. Maybe you're in the middle of your current plan and don't want to switch, or maybe AT&T's coverage isn't all that great in your area. Either way, you've got options.
Click Continue to see what phones are looking to settle the score.
1. HTC Touch DiamondHTC finishes cutting its 3G diamonds in July for a variety of carriers. The Diamond does a lot to distinguish itself with its looks and interface, and yet its clickwheel won't help you forget how iPhone-influenced it is.
Like the iPhone:
• Virtual keyboard
• Turn-by-turn GPS directions
Not like the iPhone:
• Glossy frame with angles to resemble cut diamond
• Horizontal menu system (rather than a panel of favorites)
Secret weapons:
• iPodesque clickwheel and four buttons
• 3.2 megapixel camera for stills and video
• Choice of cellular carriers
Weaknesses:
• 4 GB of internal memory
• Smallish 2.8-inch touchscreen
2. Samsung Instinct
Samsung comes out swinging in 3G for Sprint on June 20th. The Instinct does a lot of things right, but, at the same time, almost everything it gets right the iPhone did first. Including the case design.
Like the iPhone:
• 3.1-inch touchscreen
• 2 megapixel camera for images
• Upgradable memory up to 8GB
• Virtual keyboard and 3 hard buttons
• Turn-by-turn GPS navigation
Not like the iPhone:
• It... Ah... Hmm...?
Secret Weapons:
• Camera can also record video
• Customizable favorite menu buttons
Weaknesses:
• Relies on Sprint's proprietary services for music and video, among other things
3. LG Vu
LG's 3G "TV phone" is already available, also on AT&T, and shares a lot with the iPhone. One big problem with that: it competes directly with the iPhone for AT&T's customers.
Like the iPhone:
• 3-inch touchscreen
• Virtual keyboard and 3 hard buttons for phone control
• 2.0 megapixel camera
Not like the iPhone:
• Navigation screens categorized into segments
Secret Weapons:
• Vibrating feedback for the touchscreen
• Streams AT&T's Mobile TV service
• Allows for voice and data use simultaneously
• Camera also shoots video
Weaknesses:
• Competing with the iPhone on its own network
And there's one more shadowy contender off on the horizon, where a storm's certainly brewing — the recently announced Blackberry Thunder. When the first iteration of the iPhone was released last year, it took a lot of heat for not offering a full corporate suite of software that has Crackberry users loyal to the brand. And now RIM is planning on a full, touchscreen Blackberry with the Thunder:
editor@dvice.com
By Observer at 8:06 PM ON 06/09/08
Iphone killers? Hardly, they're nice but wouldn't exist with out the iphone and quite frankly they all look like chinese iphone knock offs. I know they must have cool features including many that are not included with the iphone, but Honda's have more cup holders than Mercedes. So what?
By merd at 11:56 PM ON 06/09/08
none of these with the exception of the unknown crackberry touchscreen are iphone killers. i want to know why dvice is fellatiating apple so much. sorry if that was inappropriate, however one or two articles today would have been plenty. 5-6 is excessive. i really hope nokia gets it together. samsung seems to be trying but is seemingly unfocussed by releasing all of these variants. crackberry may actually do it, but WHEN? i've been out of contract for some time now on t-mobile and their phones straight up suck right now. no way am i getting a HTC wing with no hiSpeed web for 300 with a contract. time to get with the demand and trends and offer what people want. fast processing, higher capacity, multifunction, work capable, wi-fi, gps, 4g, phone/canopener/girlfriend/truck/phazer/electric razor/coffee maker/butlers with touch screens.
By Thomas Roy Garner at 6:39 AM ON 06/10/08
All I can say is wow, gas costs soaring plus $4.00-$5.00 gallon, job employment is looking shaky, flooding in the midwest. But then, stand in line and shell out $199+ for apple phone revision xyz? I don't think so.
I still chuckle and laugh at all of you tech heads that have the MUST HAVE syndrome of having to have the first iPhone @ $499+ how do you feel now knowing that this version is over 1/2 the cost of what you bought yours for?
Have fun w/ your iPhone while driving your Hummer...
By Thomas Roy Garner at 6:48 AM ON 06/10/08
ok, stupid me... correction:
I still laugh at the tech heads that have the MUST HAVE syndrome of having to have the first iPhone @ $499+ how do you feel now knowing that this version is **** under ***** 1/2 the cost of what you bought yours for?
By iMotionsrt-4 at 7:48 AM ON 06/10/08
lol @ all those trend whores that bought $500 iphones and couldn't even text message lol. My dads yellow screen nokia can even text message and it cost him a whole $0 for a 2 year contract.
I'll stick with my refurbed crackberry that cost me a whopping $20 upgrade fee.
By Smurf at 8:55 AM ON 06/10/08
I agree with Imotionsrt-4. I've had a Moto Slvr from US cellular for almost two years and i find it far sleeker and smaller than the Iphone. It may only have a 640x480 vid/camera but thats why I take my 8MP panasonic with me. besides after all the times I dropped it and it still keeps going I love. As for GPS crap, GET A MAP you pansies. Apples of any kind suck.
By imotionsrt-4 at 10:21 AM ON 06/10/08
Right on Smurf. People are also forgetting that the iphone connectivity cost is going up in cost. From $20, to $30 for unlimited service. So in a terms of "total" cost, it's going to cost an additional $240. It's those good ole marketing techniques that suck people in. Just like the grocery stores pimp stuff out at 3 for $1 but the normal price is $.25. You think you are getting a deal but actually spent more money.
By Money MIke at 8:16 PM ON 06/10/08
That image blew my mind, did anyone else check that out?
By RG at 5:21 AM ON 06/11/08
If you want a phone better then the iphone, go for the LG Viewty.
By The Apocalypse at 10:17 AM ON 06/11/08
"Hardly, they're nice but wouldn't exist with out the iphone..." Don't be ridiculous. Apple didn't invent anything, all they have done is put shiny things in front of the multitudes of technology sheep in the world. They are not revolutionary, they are not innovative, they are not anything more than overpriced packages on technology that has existed in one form of another for many years now. The fact that most people don't pay enough attention to what they are buying to realize that is nothing more than good marketing, not technological revolution.
By adsfasdf at 9:16 AM ON 06/12/08
To all those above knocking the iPhone as nothing more than good marketing I challenge you to set yourself a few tasks, like changing the options or using an e-mail-attachment in another app and then compete your favorite phone against the iPhone. Or better still, observe somebody who doesn't know either one beforehand. And you find why the iPhone is superior - because the UI and the integration with the PC/Mac/cloud is seamless. I have an new BlacBerry at work and its idiosyncrasies are driving me and everybody else insane. Give me a superb experience with perfect marketing anyday, it sure beats having to devote time to reading manuals. Those other phones are nice and well done, but only if you want to spent time learning how to operate them.
Apple makes products for the masses, not nerds. It's funny that they have such a devoted nerd following ;-)
Peace
By JunkJugget at 11:21 PM ON 06/12/08
For all those who think the LG and HTC are "cheep Chinese Clones" of the iPhone should really do their research before making a stupid comment. For one thing, both LG and HTC have been making Touch Screen handsets WAY before Apple even thought about making a "phone." For example: LG made the TouchPoint 3000 for Sprint in 1999, which was a full touch screen device. Second, the LG VU is actually based off of the LG Prada, which launched months before the iPhone was even announced. Just because you paid WAY to much $$$$ for a P.O.S. does not mean your P.O.S. was the first and the greatest. It's simply not.
By tonytaiby at 8:28 PM ON 06/16/08
Even though I don't own one at the moment, the iPhone has revolutionized smart phone industry. Regardless of whether you get an iPhone or some other device, the real beneficiery of this competition has been the consumer. We all has different requirements and preferences, so let more of them come... Toyota may be making the most reliable cars, and everyone may own a Camry but that does not mean I should have one :) It's all about choices folks.
By ObsydianEnjal at 4:27 PM ON 06/25/08
iMotionsrt-4: iPhone is a very capable phone which is why it is in a great position take on the industry. Sure it can't MULTIMEDIA message, but thats different from TEXT messaging and most mms' that are sent stupid digital chain letters with pictures. And yes the monthly cost does go up and it really pisses me off that people keep saying it like its a flaw. If you were handing out devices that were going to eat the bandwith of your network like PacMan, wouldn't you charge more too?
Smurf: Stop being a idiot. The whole point of any convergence dvice is so that you AREN'T carrying around a bunch of different dvices! Besides, Motorola sucks, has always sucked and will continue to suck when it comes to mobile dvices because it is the evil step child of Microsoft! I've never met a dvice harder to use than Motorola than a Windows powered machine!
RGhe Apocalypse & JunkJugget: The reason there will never be an iPhone killer is because although Apple may have not invented the technology THEY KNOW HOW TO MAKE IT WORK BETTER! THE WHOLE APPEAL OF APPLE PRODUCTS IS THAT THEY ARE NOT JUST BEAUTIFUL BUT EASY TO USE!! What a novel concept? Something that works and is easy to use.
By Sohel at 9:53 AM ON 07/01/08
hahaha...love the like by 'observer'.. honda got more cup holders than a Benz..so what? hahahaha... u couldn't say it any better! Out of the 4 only the HTC one looks interesting and I'm saying this becoz I used their last year's model offered by AT&T and that is one the best featured phone I've ever used...other 3...'made in china ipone wanna be...' :)
By Borg at 5:58 PM ON 07/09/08
id rather wait and get the the nokia touch series 60 over symbian device at least the nokia OS is not as restrictive as mac even know there both linux based.
By bjack at 10:59 PM ON 07/26/08
The instinct is a great phone,but there's one problem, it's too small. Why didn't you guys make it the same size as the iphone? It seems as if you guys design it for females only. You missed the opportunity to make the instinct a true ipod killer.
By bjack at 11:06 PM ON 07/26/08
The instinct is a great phone,but there's one problem, it's too small. Why didn't you guys make it the same size as the iphone? It seems as if you guys design it for females only. You missed the opportunity to make the instinct a true ipod killer.
By MickeyHD at 3:46 PM ON 08/01/08
I would buy an iPhone if not for one thing. I refuse to do business with AT&T.
It amazes me that Apple would put their iphone eggs in one phone company basket.
By doorman at 12:28 AM ON 08/21/08
I actually feel stupid buying an iPhone 3G, it's not as fast as on TV even with full bars, my wifi is faster.
By apple1064 at 6:32 PM ON 10/03/08
People are so slow... If anyone actually looked up anything then you would know that apple was far from the first to create a full touch screen phone... In fact just to show how far behind they are the Vu has been out for about 2 years as the Lg prada... And the prada was the second version... There was also the Lg viewty... The HTC touch (sprint) has been out for a minute as well... Im not sayin the iphone is bad... Sure it has it's good points but don't act like a touch screen phone wouldn't have come along without it...