Related Articles
Another CTIA has come to an end, so it’s time for CNET to pass out our Best of CTIA awards. We had to make a tough choice this year and break away from our traditional categories; because most of the major handset announcements in Las Vegas this year were smartphones (you can blame Android for that) we consolidated the traditional Best Phone and Best Smartphone categories into a category for Best Phone, plus a runner-up. We also couldn’t find a worthy nominee for Best Software/Service so we did away with that category completely. So now, on to the winners.
Bonnie Cha/CNET
Best Phone
HTC Evo 4G
Yes, this is a bit obvious, but we have to give credit where it’s due. Not only is it America’s first 4G phone, but the Android-powered Evo is also a gorgeous device. The display is stunning, it offers oodles of features–we particularly love its capability to act as a hot spot for up to eight devices–and it is really fast.
The Evo is still in early form, but we like what we see so far, from the interface to the hardware to the performance. Sure, we know that it’s really meant for people in a Sprint WiMax market, but even 3G people should get a kick out of this device. Sprint promises the Evo 4G this summer, though we don’t yet know a price or any service plan details. And, in that regard, our only advice is, “Sprint, don’t screw it up.”
Kent German/CNET
Runner-up
Samsung Galaxy S
Samsung rarely lets us down when it comes to a tech trade show, and CTIA 2010 was no exception. The Samsung Galaxy S is a worthy device all around. We’re optimistic about the Social Hub, we love the design and AMOLED display, and the feature set includes messaging, multimedia, a personal organizer, and communication. We also like that it runs Android 2.1
The Galaxy S would have given the Evo 4G a run for its money for the the top title if only we knew more about U.S. availability. Samsung says it will be out by this summer, but we don’t know in what form. We’ll be waiting to see what happens next.
BlueAnt T1
Best Accessory
BlueAnt T1
The BlueAnt T1 is our pick for best accessory thanks to its promise of superior wind-noise performance; it claims to deliver clear audio in wind speeds up to 22 miles per hour. It’s also a really durable headset, with a special protective case that makes it great for the outdoors enthusiast.
