Samsung i500

Previous Palm-powered phones, including Samsung's own i300 and i330, all had at least one fairly significant drawback. Some were a little too bulky; others had screens that weren't quite up to snuff. No, it's not perfect, especially if you're looking to do serious e-mailing. And yes, we'll nitpick and bemoan its current over-$299 price. But the i500 is still a tempting choice for those who want to consolidate their phone and PDA.

Sony Ericsson T616

After months of anticipation, the Sony Ericsson T616 has arrived in stores. Small enough to fit in the pocket of your jeans, the T616 manages to pack a camera, a 65,000-color LCD, wireless Web and e-mail access, more than 20 polyphonic ring tones, Bluetooth support, and an infrared port into a slim, sleek package.

LG VX6000

Until now, Verizon Wireless has lagged behind Sprint PCS and other carriers in the camera-phone arena. But with the release of LG’s VX6000 and Verizon’s Get Pix service, that will change. This sleek, strong-performing, and affordable handset (under $100 after rebate) rivals other camera phones, and it should quickly become one of Verizon’s best sellers.

HP iPaq H4350

With the H4150 and the H4350, HP has delivered two slim iPaqs with included Wi-Fi. Both have almost identical specs and features, but the latter has a built-in keyboard and ships with a larger, higher-capacity battery for $50 more. But the trade-off is the unit's size, as it's longer than your standard PDA. For some, that won't be a deal breaker--the H4350 is still slim and fairly light. But in an ideal world, HP would develop a slider-style design similar to that of the Sharp Zaurus SL-5600. That said, this is a highly functional handheld. It should especially appeal to a business customer who can afford the $400 price tag.

Nokia 3620/ 3650

It's been a little while since Nokia delivered a groundbreaking mobile to the market. The company finally has another one with the 3620/ 3650, which features a built-in camera that captures not only low-resolution still shots but also video clips. Additionally, it's equipped with Bluetooth, a built-in speakerphone, and an expansion slot for adding memory cards. And while the 3620/ 3650 certainly isn't inexpensive, its near free price tag is competitive for a leading-edge phone. That said, it faces stiff competition from other multifaceted, high-end models such as Sony Ericsson's P800, which sports many of the same features in an arguably sleeker package.

Palm/ Handspring Treo 600

Handspring is still shaking things up with the Treo 600, a wholly new design that adds a camera, an expansion slot, and other new ingredients to an already potent blend of phone and wireless PDA. The big news isn't that the Treo 600 can do all this--other devices can too. It is that the Treo 600, which is available from Cingular, T-Mobile, and Sprint for about $449 with service, does all of them well.