Updates: new scores for mobile phones

With over 80 tests, our survey of mobiles and smartphones was starting to get more than a little crowded.  We decided it was time for a little spring cleaning, and the current survey now only includes products we've tested within the past year.  Along the way, we've also updated the scores of some products.

We've created two separate archives.  The first archive includes handsets that we tested up until the summer of 2008, while the second includes those tested between summer 2008 and summer 2009.  The most up-to-date is the current survey, which now includes everything we've tested in the past six months.

There are one or two exceptions: some phones, like the iPhone 3G S or Samsung Beat DJ have not yet been replaced by newer models and are still available.  While that remains the case, they'll stay in the ongoing survey.  That doesn't mean you should avoid the archives though, as plenty of the products there are still on sale--often for a great price--both online and in the shops.

We took the advantage of this spring cleaning to re-examine the scores of all of the phones that have remained in our current survey; the scores for the archived models haven't changed.  Some have seen their scores fall, while others have held firm.  Don't worry, though, that doesn't mean we've changed our original opinion about the quality of the models in question, but development in this very competitive sector is very fast.  New handsets are available all the time, and each new model brings more improvements.  One flagship product included in this little update is the iPhone 3G S, which now has 'only' four stars', while the Samsung Omnia HD and Galaxy both drop down to two stars, paying the price for Samsung's policy of agressive product development with no regard for updating existing products.

This little piece of spring cleaning will allow you to choose your phone more easily, and it includes one or two smaller updates that we haven't mentioned here.  Don't hesitate to take a look at the Product Survey and see what's changed.


> Product Survey: Mobiles & Smartphones

> Archive: Mobile Phones 2008-09

> Archive: Mobile Phones 2007-08

> Buyer's Guides: Our Pick of The Best Products