Breaking Windows - Sony Ericsson and Samsung Windows Mobile Phones Put to the Test

In the world of smartphones, it's not unfair to say that Windows Mobile is one of the premier operating systems that mobile phones can be built around. There are two big contenders for the title of best Windows Mobile phone, at the minute: the Sony Ericsson X1 and the Samsung i900 Omnia. But which one is best? Let's put them to the test and find out!

Samsung i900 Omnia - Windows Mobile for the masses

Announced a couple of days before Apple launched the iPhone 3G (hmm, do I spot a bit of attention-grabbing), the Samsung i900 Omnia is a beautifully powerful, incredibly good-looking mobile phone. Sitting within a sleek, metal shell, it's following the pattern of an increasing number of mobile phones, and stripping down the number of keys, focusing instead on just a touchscreen interface. Also, like an increasing number of mobile phones, Samsung have taken Windows Mobile, and put their own interface on top of it, making the insides look as good as the outside (not literally, obviously. If you take a Samsung i900 Omnia apart, you'll find cables and circuit boards, which aren't noted for being sexy). Not only has it got a slick interface, but the hardware features are spot on, with 5 megapixel camera, HSDPA, and GPS. It's fair to say the Samsung i900 Omnia is one of the most powerful mobile phones going.

Sony Ericsson X1 - the first of a new breed

The Sony Ericsson X1 is a mobile phone of firsts, in more than one way. For one thing, it's the first phone in Sony Ericsson's new Xperia range of mobile phones. For another, it's the first EVER Sony Ericsson mobile phone to be built around Windows Mobile (with the almost obligatory personalised interface on top). Finally, it's first mobile phone (not just from Sony Ericsson, from anybody), to feature the innovative 'arc slider' design. What's that? Well, when you slide out the screen, to unveil the QWERTY keyboard, it doesn't slide in a straight line, but instead, it arcs slightly upwards, angling the screen so you can see it more easily, while you're typing. Massive kudos go to Sony Ericsson for that, since it's such a useful, clever feature, I genuinely can't believe we've never seen it on any other mobile phones before now. In terms of hardware on the Sony Ericsson X1, you get a 3 megapixel camera, HSDPA and WiFi, GPS and that aforementioned QWERTY keyboard, all wrapped up in a gorgeous (and I mean properly gorgeous) metal body.

Sony Ericsson or Samsung - which should YOU buy?

So, when it comes down to it, which of these two super-powered mobile phones should you drop your cash for? Should you go for the sleek, slim Samsung, or should you go for the more functional, but equally sexy Sony Ericsson? If you compare the two mobile phones, some conclusions should become apparent. For example, take the cameras in both mobile phones. The Samsung clearly wins that fight, as it has a much higher res camera than the Sony Ericsson. However, after the camera, the Sony Ericsson REALLY comes into its own. The simple fact that the Sony Ericsson X1 has a QWERTY keyboard is a massive plus point over the Samsung, even if the Samsung is the slimmer of the two mobile phones. The keyboard adds that much more ease of use, that it's basically an essential feature. Finally, there are two areas that the Sony Ericsson absolutely canes the Samsung in. First, the speed. The Sony Ericsson X1 appears one of the fastest, smoothest Windows Mobile phones I've ever seen, and although the Samsung is good, it's just not quite AS good. Finally, there's the screen. The Samsung has a slightly better one, but the Sony Ericsson has FOUR times the screen resolution, completely dwarfing the Samsung. And for that reason, of these two gorgeous mobile phones, the Sony Ericsson X1 is the absolute, and outright winner!