Best And Worst Smartphones Of 2010

Now the year is about over, it is worth taking a look back over the year at the smartphones that were released this year. If you are about ready to make a purchase, you can use this to see what is worth looking at or what is worth running from when the sales rep pulls one out to show you.Cnet made the list based on over 200 phones that they reviewed this year. Topping the list is the Samsung Epic 4G on the Sprint network. It is a great phone, but the whole 4G thing just gripes me given that there are no smartphones nor networks that rate as 4G, but I'm going to have to let that go. If you are on the Sprint network, this Android based phone should definitely be on your short list.

Not unexpectedly, the iPhone made the list. This is a mixed bag. The phone has a fantastic screen, called a Retina display as well as two cameras and enough memory to hold plenty of movies and music. The platform is top notch and it has the largest application store backing it up. However, it is on AT&T, which its Achilles heel. AT&T recently won the coveted "Worst Network In the US" award from Consumer Reports. It also has the death grip issue that can be reduced, but not totally eliminated, by strapping on a bumper or a case.

Even though it has only been out a month, Windows Phone 7 also made the list with the Samsung Focus. Cnet advocates this device if you want an alternative to the iPhone with a superior user interface and multimedia capabilities than Android phones typically have.

There is a Blackberry on the list as well, the Blackberry Pearl 3G. Most of the rest are Android phones. Palm's WebOS didn't make the cut.

The worst smartphones? Well, the Kin made the list, of course. I'll let you peruse the rest of the list to see if you were considering one that should be avoided.

On the Best Of list, think any phone is missing?