THE BEST Cellphones

Element’s customizable Liquid Case for the iPhone is downright sexy, with a transparent polymer base, molded bezel, acrylic flip-lid and a laser-engraved aluminum backplate.

The wait is over for push-to-talk fans: BlackBerry’s Curve 8350i is official and will be available to Sprint customers this week, and features Wi-Fi plus Group Connect with up to 20 people.

If you’re stuck with an entry level phone, you could do a lot worse than Motorola’s i9; this sleek iDEN handset features a RAZR-esque clamshell design, 3 MP camera, GPS, and Bluetooth.

With 18 entries, Intel’s recent Mobile Internet Device (MID) Design Contest is a treasure trove of concept gadgets; we like Peter Kubik’s unfolding, three-paneled smartphone.

Similar to the MacBook, Porsche Design’s P’9522 is carved from a block of aluminum; this minimalist phone features a 2.8″ OLED touchscreen, fingerprint reader and quad-band GSM.

Not content with inlaid ebony hardwood and 24 karat gold, Mobiado’s Pro 105GMT also squeezes in two Swiss timepieces into its case; also included: sapphire crystal buttons.

Don’t let the name fool you — the Android Dev Phone 1 is simply a SIM- and hardware-unlocked version of T-Mobile’s G1, available to Android Market devs for a $25 setup fee + $399.

The second phone to run Android, we actually prefer the conventional form factor of Kogan’s Agora; this Australia-only phone features a 2.5″ touchscreen, 3G and a low pricepoint.

Made with rugged, scratch-proof Xenoy resin, Sonim’s Land Rover S1 will likely outlast their image-conscious owners; it’s submersible, droppable, and withstands salt, fog and humidity.

Not to be outdone by Vertu’s ultra-lux phones, Samsung throws their hat into the ring with the Ego; this baby is mostly about the looks, with a Caltech developed “liquidmetal” case.

True to the ROKR line, Motorola’s new EM35 is designed to rock out tunes with a built-in FM radio and dual speakers for stereo sound; it also uses CrystalTalk tech to improve call clarity.

The N97 is Nokia’s new flagship phone: it features a 3.5″ 640×360 touchscreen with tactile feedback, QWERTY keyboard, HSDPA, Wi-Fi, A-GPS, 32GB of memory and 5 MP Carl Zeiss camera.

Despite being targeted towards budget buyers, Nokia’s 2608 is moderately stylish, with angular lines and a striped cover; it also includes an FM radio, voice recorder and flashlight.

Its squat design recalls the last gen Nano, but Motorola’s Hint QA30 is their first QWERTY cellphone: it’s a dedicated messaging phone, with one-touch SMS, email and IM.

Samsung’s Omnia is now available for order online through Verizon; it features a 3.2″ TFT/haptic display, Windows Mobile 6.1, Wi-Fi, GPS, 5MP camera, Bluetooth and 3G speeds.

We’re really digging these WeSC Bongo headphones, available in Sweden with Nokia 5220 and 5320 cellphones. You can also get the Bongos a la carte, albeit with different colorways.

Nokia’s 6260 Slide has finally been revealed; it’s targeted towards the mass market and the first S40 phone with GPS. Also included: a 5MP Carl Zeiss camera and 3G/HSDPA speeds.

If you can forgive its bulkiness, AT&T’s Quickfire has a lot to offer: this chat-friendly phone features a 2.8″ capacitive touchscreen display, QWERTY keyboard, HSDPA and GPS.

Realizing that anything + Bruce Lee = cool, this limited edition Nokia N96 is engraved with the martial artist’s mug and signature; it also includes an action figure and mini-nunchucks.

If Samsung’s Eternity has left you hurtin’ for smartphone features, LG’s Incite is joining AT&T’s lineup and runs Windows Mobile 6.1; it also sports a 3″ touchscreen, 3g speeds and WiFi.

Motorola’s VE66 is their latest slider phone for shutter bugs; it packs a 5 MP camera with LED flash, auto-focus, and stabilization; other features include WiFi and a 2.4″ TFT screen.

The Asus P565’s 800 MHz CPU makes it one of the fastest WinMo smartphones ever; it also has HSDPA speeds, a 2.8″ touchscreen, bluetooth and a custom Glide UI.

AT&T/Nokia’s 6650 is good value for the money, especially for Symbian fans; running on S60, it features an brushed metal case, integrated GPS and stereo Bluetooth for only $70.

The E71’s little bro, Nokia’s E63 ditches aluminum for a reception-friendly plastic case; it’ll have quad-band GSM and dual-band UMTS, but no HSDPA limits its appeal to the US market.

Prancing pony owners will need Vertu’s Ascent Ti Ferrari cellphone: made from titanium and the same leather used in Ferrari interiors, it even has F430 and 612 Scaglietti ringtones.

iRiver’s Wave is the company’s first foray into the cellphone space, and it’s a looker: the Korea-only phone sports a 3″ 480×272 touchscreen, FM radio, dictionary, ebook reader and Wi-Fi.