Top Music Phones

Sony-Ericsson W800i
MSRP Price: $450.00
Storage: 512MB; available memory stick duo card slot

The Sony-Ericsson W800i has been around for a while now. However, it is still the best music phone available. The phone comes with a great UI, 512MB of storage (with upgrade ability via memory stick duo cards), and a built-in 2.0MP digital camera. The only things wrong with this wonderful phone are the mediocre call reception, slow USB 1.1 transfers, and high price tag. But if you have the money and want to kiss your iPod goodbye, this is the phone to get. (Read the Digital Trends review)

 

 

Samsung SCH-A950
MSRP Price: $350.00
Storage: 20MB; available TransFlash card slot

Samsung's latest offering to Verizon customers takes full advantage of VCAST. This flip phone features external music controls on top, so you can control the song you're listening to. The a950 also sports dual speakers, to pump out your tunes in crisp stereo sound. Unfortunately, the big problem with this phone is its DRM-loving music playback, so it cannot do MP3 format; you'll need either to buy everything off VCAST or convert your songs to WMA format. The UI is also a bit weak, but the phone is a great buy for those signing a new contract with Verizon. This phone is probably the best deal Verizon currently offers. (Read the Digital Trends review)

Motorola ROKR E1 (E2 picture shown)
MSRP Price: $149.99
Storage: 100 songs via Apple's iTunes software

The Motorola ROKR E1 is a product of Apple and Motorola. This phone is available through Cingular and has not met with much success; the software is slow and offers no real synchronization other than iTunes. In addition, the software on the ROKR E1 allows a maximum of only 100 songs to be stored. However, the phone does have a few nice features such as video capture and playback, Bluetooth connectivity, and a continually dropping price tag (to increase sales). Motorola is launching the ROKR E2 with a completely redesigned interface, increased storage, and the ability to use their iRadio service. Our advice is to forget the ROKR E1 and wait for the E2 to drop this year, or at least to look trendy with the SLVR. (Read the Digital Trends review)

Motorola SLVR L7
MSRP Price: $199.99
Storage: 100 songs via Apple's iTunes software

The SLVR is another iTunes-enabled music phone from Motorola. Following the popular design of their RAZR V3 phone, Motorola made an even thinner candy bar-style phone that can do music—and much more. Still crippled by the 100-song iTunes limit, the SLVR contains 512mb of on-board storage and does anything the ROKR E1 can do. However, the SLVR includes a beautiful design, stereo speakers for great external sound, and a crisp 262k-color screen for videos and pictures. If you are using Cingular and want to be stylish and listen to music, the SLVR is a decent choice. (Read the Digital Trends review)

LG VX9800/The V
MSRP Price: $249.99
Storage: 128MB; miniSD card slot available

Touted as a mobile entertainment center, the LG VX9800 ("The V") is an all-around great phone for Verizon customers. It has rich features such as Bluetooth, a 262k-color screen for videos, movies, and games, dual stereo speakers, a 1.3MP camera, and a full QWERTY-keyboard for messaging. The main problem with the LX9800 is the inability to play MP3s, just like the Samsung a950. Also, the phone has several software issues, so be sure to test out the VX9800 before buying it. If you can get over these hurdles, though, you'll enjoy the VX9800 as a source of entertainment and communication. (Click here to post a user review)

Nokia N91
MSRP Price: Unknown
Storage: 4GB

Nokia's N-series of phones are elite, stylish powerhouses of the mobile industry. Though not affordable, the N91 is a powerful phone with a focus on music. This phone houses a 4GB hard drive for storing music. It features support for playing MP3, M4A, AAC, and WMA audio files and is 3G compatible, featuring WCDMA and EDGE. You'll also find Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and USB 2.0 built into this phone, powered by Symbian OS 9.1 and Series 60. We're excited about this phone, which is due out this year. Keep an eye out for it. (Click here to post a user review)