iPhone 3GS tops Consumer Reports smartphone rankings

The Apple iPhone 3GS proves itself as number one by topping the newest Consumer Reports smartphone rankings with the Palm Pre following closely behind. Some of iPhone’s advantages over the Palm Pre and the Blackberry Storm are its superior display, navigation, web browsing and battery life. The other smartphones’ edge is in the messaging function. The Pre, tagged as a “superior multi-tasker”, is great when it comes to handling multiple applications.

According to Consumer Reports’ Paul Reynolds, they added more attributes to the ratings system and put more emphasis on display, ease of navigation, and multimedia and messaging capabilities, and reduced the ratings weight of talk time and voice quality.

“The iPhone 3G and some other older phones have moved up due to these changes,” wrote Reynolds, “while others, including the Samsung Blackjack II and BlackBerry Pearl Flip, have dropped in their ranking.”

Consumer Reports has also stopped testing smartphones for “sensitivity,” deciding that the real-life reception experience of each phone can no longer be accurately re-created.

The editors are keeping it in mind, though, as well as how to more thoroughly evaluate phone speed, versatility, operating systems and third-party applications. Reynolds explained that “smartphones are among the most complex products we test,” and he encouraged readers to offer their feedback.
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The iPhone 3GS’ nifty features such as its speedy response for browsing and apps, its improved camera functions, updated software and other elements make it the winner among the other tested smartphones, although the Palm Pre is more affordable for consumers and is great for multi-tasking.

More affordable smartphones for Filipinos

Due to the emerging presence of high-end phones, more Filipinos prefer phones that give them loads of features especially touch screen capability just like Apple’s iPhone. Fe Varilla of Samsung Philippines announced that the company will be launching more low-priced phones soon.

The country will see more cheaper mobile phones that will come with features found in high-end smartphones.

These mobile phones are targeted at a mass market looking to have smartphone-like features, representatives from Samsung Philippines said.

Smartphones are usually distinguished from entry-level models with their use of color screens, integrated cameras for video calls and high speed wireless connectivity. These also use different operating systems, such as Microsoft Windows Mobile or the more famous iPhone by Apple.
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According to Varilla, the mobile phone trend is geared towards cheap 3G-ready phones for about Php5,000. Now that’s good news for the budget-conscious Filipinos who want high-end features for their phones at affordable rates. Hopefully, Apple will also make the iPhone more affordable to a larger market in the future.