Rank 4: Nokia N70


Outstanding features : The first model of the N-series phones by Nokia. There is no major difference from the Nokia 6680, except better design and a 2-megapixels camera.
The phone has a dual camera -- one in front and the other at the back. The front camera is a 0.3-megapixel one, and the main camera is a 2-megapixel protected with a slider.
You can also make video phone calls on this phone.
It features an FM tuner and can play and record audio and video media files.
This is a 3G phone with EDGE and Bluetooth connectivity. Based on the Series 60 Symbian operating system, it comes loaded with pretty useful office applications. It's the ideal PDA-cum-cell phone.
Drawbacks: The miniscule keys make sending SMSs a pain. Moreover, the slider mechanism is not that great and feels tacky.
Final word: The N70 lacks any considerable upgrade from the Nokia 6680. So, if you are using a 6680, it doesn?t make sense to upgrade to this. Moreover, the price is steep.
Cost: Rs 24,419 (Maximum Retail Price)






Rank 5: Samsung D820


Outstanding features : A pioneer in consumer electronics, Samsung has many good GSM mobile phones to its credit.
The much acclaimed D600 is now followed by the D820 -- a slider phone with 1.3-megapixel camera, Bluetooth and EDGE.
The bright 262K TFT screen displays vibrant colours even when you are using this phone in bright light.
The phone comes with 73MB of shared memory and a provision for expanding the same in the form of a Transflash card.
It can play music and video and the camera can capture images at a maximum resolution of 1280 x 1024 pixels and has a 180-degree rotating lens.
Just like the D600, the D820 also has a television-out jack that allows you to display the content of the phone on a television screen after you use the necessary A/V cable.
Drawbacks: Though Samsung is the master of slider phones, the D820 lacks necessary features like FM tuner. Also, for the price they are charging, it should have been a 3G phone (which offers much better data transfer speed when you are sending or receiving information).
Final word: The Samsung D820 is a fusion of immaculate style and function. With the 1.3-megapixel camera, coupled with 4x zoom, this quad-band phone is a good buy for businessmen and youth alike.
Cost: Rs 14,500 (street price)







Rank 6: Motorola RAZR V3i


Outstanding features : V3i has always been appreciated for its sleek design and attractive colours. The latest addition in the Indian market is the pink model; many new colours are on their way.
It has a 256K TFT internal screen and 65K external one.
The phone is iTunes compatible, has Bluetooth connectivity and a 1.2-megapixel camera.
The 10MB of internal memory is not enough, so it has a slot for Transflash cards. The camera is a CMOS one with 8x digital zoom and is quite effective when used in the light.
Drawbacks: When opened, the size of the phone is too long -- it is almost like a remote control.
Final word: Motorola was criticised for the lack of an intuitive interface among their phones. But things have changed for the better with the Razr series. The V3i is a perfect blend of fashion, features and looks.
Cost: Rs 12,990 (Maximum Retail Price)




Rank 7: Sony Ericsson K750i

Outstanding features : The most anticipated new phone in 2005, the SE K750i is a true value-for-money phone.
It doubles as a digital camera with a 2-megapixel camera that has an auto focus lens protected with a slider.
It comes with a 262K colour screen, Bluetooth and Infrared.
The phone scores in two areas -- sound and imaging. It comes with a 64MB memory card and can support up to 4GB of memory. And yes, it also has an FM tuner.
Drawbacks: It's a tad too long when compared to other phones on the market. To listen to music requires proprietary earphones, negating the option of attaching it to any external speaker or earphones like the Walkman series.
Final word: A fully loaded phone with a decent price that fulfils all the needs of music buffs and camera lovers.
Cost: Rs 13,995 (Maximum Retail Price)





Rank 8: Samsung SGH-D600


Outstanding features : Samsung is undoubtedly a master when it comes to creating sleek, attractive slider phones.
Though the earlier phones failed to create an impact in the Indian market, the D500 changed that scenario. It has all the features and was touted as the world's best phone at the 3GSM expo. But it had no room for expanding memory so a successor was promptly planned.
The D600 excels in every aspect, be it looks, features, memory or camera. It has a 2-megapixel camera that gives a whole new dimension to this business class phone. It also accepts Transflash cards.
Drawbacks: Priced slightly priced higher than similar phones offering the same kind of features.
Final word: Pixcel viewer is an asset in a business phone. It allows you to view PDF, word files within seconds. Even a 20MB PDF file opens in less than five seconds.
Cost: Rs 20,999 (Maximum Retail Price)