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Best video phones

(Dec 23, 2009)

Kent German Kent German
Senior Editor
Cell phones that play video are becoming increasingly popular. Almost all the major carriers now have 3G networks, which let you to stream video to your phone through a wireless broadband connection. Quality can vary, so we'll save you the trouble of testing the phones by listing our favorite models here. But 3G isn't the only way to enjoy video on your handsets. Some handsets can play real television programming, while others can play videos stored directly on the phone. This list will be updated regularly, so sign up for our Mobile Weekly newsletter. To find ringtones and accessories for these phones, plus advice and tips on how to use them check out our cell phone ringtones, accessories, and help page.

Apple iPhone 3GS

The iPhone 3GS doesn't make the same grand leap that the iPhone 3G made from the first-generation model, but the latest Apple handset is still a compelling upgrade for some users. The iPhone 3GS is faster and we appreciate the new features and extended battery life, but call quality and 3G reception still need improvement.

Price: $299.00 - $299.99 (check prices)

Review date: Jun 17, 2009

  • 4 stars

      Overall score: 8.3 (4.0 stars)

Excellent

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Motorola Droid

Despite some design issues and a couple of missing features, the Motorola Droid is the most powerful and fastest Google Android device to date. It fully embraces the openness of the Android platform and offers Verizon customers a smartphone that certainly rivals the other touch-screen devices on the market.

Price: $199.99 - $599.99 (check prices)

Review date: Oct 28, 2009

  • 4 stars

      Overall score: 8.3 (4.0 stars)

Excellent

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Samsung Omnia II

While not the most powerful smartphone on the market, the Samsung Omnia II features an improved user interface and a richer multimedia experience to make it a worthy upgrade over its predecessor and one of the best Windows Mobile devices on the market.

Price: $199.99 - $549.99 (check prices)

Review date: Dec 2, 2009

  • 4 stars

      Overall score: 8.0 (4.0 stars)

Excellent

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Samsung Instinct HD

The Samsung Instinct HD packs a lot of features and decent performance into an appealing design. But even with all it has to offer, we'd prefer to pay less and get a full smartphone.

Price: $249.99 (check prices)

Review date: Sep 30, 2009

  • 4 stars

      Overall score: 8.0 (4.0 stars)

Excellent

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Sony Ericsson Aino

The Sony Ericsson Aino's luscious display and multimedia offerings make it one of the better unlocked phones we've seen this year.

Price: $499.99 - $579.80 (check prices)

Review date: Dec 4, 2009

  • 4 stars

      Overall score: 8.0 (4.0 stars)

Excellent

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