CNET's Best of CTIA Awards

CNET picks the best products from CTIA 2010.

Kent German Former senior managing editor / features

Kent was a senior managing editor at CNET News. A veteran of CNET since 2003, he reviewed the first iPhone and worked in both the London and San Francisco offices. When not working, he's planning his next vacation, walking his dog or watching planes land at the airport (yes, really).

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Jessica Dolcourt VP, Content Operations and Commerce, CNET Group and CNET Labs

Jessica is a passionate content strategist and team leader across the CNET family of brands. She leads a number of teams, including commerce, performance optimization and the copy desk. Her CNET career began in 2006, testing desktop and mobile software for Download.com and CNET, including the first iPhone and Android apps and operating systems. She continued to review, report on and write a wide range of commentary and analysis on all things phones, with an emphasis on the iPhone and Samsung devices. Jessica was one of the first people in the world to test, review and report on foldable phones and 5G wireless speeds. Jessica began her leadership role managing CNET's How To section for tips and FAQs in 2019, guiding coverage of topics ranging from personal finance to phones to home. She holds an MA with Distinction from the University of Warwick in the UK.

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Nicole Lee Writer

I started my career with CNET all the way back in 2005, when the (original) Motorola Razrs were all the rage. Since then, I've written about everything from consumer electronics to internet culture for outlets like CNET, Engadget and Yahoo. Outside of work, I'm a big fan of baseball, board games, tabletop RPGs and improv comedy.

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Bonnie Cha Former Editor

Bonnie Cha was a former chief correspondent for CNET Crave, covering every kind of tech toy imaginable (with a special obsession for robots and Star Wars-related stuff). When she's not scoping out stories, you can find her checking out live music or surfing in the chilly waters of Northern California.

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Kent German

Jessica Dolcourt

Nicole Lee

Bonnie Cha

March 26, 2010 8:34 a.m. PT

2 min read

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.

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."

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.

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.

Mobile Guides

Phones

Foldable Phones

Headphones

Mobile Accessories

Smartwatches

Wireless Plans