LG and Samsung prove sleek interfaces aren't just for smartphones

We've all seen the sleek interfaces seen on top-end phones like the Palm Pre, but two phones prove that touch controls aren't just for 'do everything' smartphones: the LG Arena, and the sleek, gorgeous Samsung Tocco Ultra.

LG Arena - S-Class goes to the top of the class

LG have forged a new career for themselves as purveyors of some of the sexiest touchscreen phones on the market, a career that began with phones such as the Prada and the Viewty. However, they've now taken their phone interfaces to the next level with the release of the stunning LG Arena, a metal-bodied beauty that comes complete with a pin-sharp 5 megapixel camera, superb media playback, and a TV-Out port that transforms the LG Arena from a simple multimedia phone (albeit one of the best on the market), to a true, portable cinema system.

However, what concerns us here is not the features-list on the LG Arena, but the interface, as it's the first phone to utilise LG's brand new S-Class UI. This is the new interface they plan to roll out across the entire range, and it's wonderful in its simplicity; every app, shortcut, photo or song is shown on a particular face (relative to what type of file it is), on a 3D cube within the LG Arena. You simply swipe your finger across the screen to slide between the cube's faces, and get to whatever function you want. It's incredibly sleek in action, and it makes the LG Arena one the nicest mid-range phones to use, in the world.

Samsung Tocco Ultra - Widgets and keys

With the LG Arena pioneering a brand new interface, rivals Samsung have gone for a more tried and true UI for the Tocco Ultra: TouchWiz. This, again, is optimised for touch controls, but instead of multiple faces of a cube, you get one home-screen, but with many movable and customisable 'widgets'. Don't like the clock where it is on screen, drag to another corner, or even drag it off the screen altogether. The same goes for things like photos or calendar appointments. The Tocco Ultra lets you put them wherever you want on screen, like a virtual notice board. Tied in with that beautiful interface, the Tocco Ultra also has the advantage of a hardware keyboard, that slides down from the back of the phone (a design reminiscent of the top-end Palm Pre), and a better camera, coming in at 8 megapixels. So, the ultimate choice will come down to what YOU want from your phone; the Tocco Ultra has the hardware advantage, but the LG Arena far surpasses it in terms of the interface, and as the interface is what we're focusing on today, the Arena has to be judged the better of the two.