What is the best phone currently available?

It really depends on your carrier, and what you like in a phone. If you gave us more insight on which features you like we may be able to give good recommendations.

 

If you stay with VZW I'd get a V3c - the new Razr for CDMA. Cingular just had a price drop on the V3 - its now $99 w/ rebate. The V557 is also an excellent choice. If you hold out a little longer the V3i and the V3x are also very promising. Of all the phones I've mentioned the V3x will have a 2 megapixel camera and 3G data. The absolutely latest technology if 3G is being rolled out in your area.

 

You could go with Nokia 6256i :browani:

 

If your priority is coverage (voice), your choice of handset will likely have no impact.

All handsets now send at the same power more or less. All that really matters is your carrier's quality of service where you choose to use your phone.

 

I recently picked up a SE W600i from cingular. This phone is awesome. Quad band, awesome reception, and feature packed.

 

The NOkia 6236i is also a great option depending on what you want to do with a phone. If you want the best possbile reception and battery quality go with Nokia or Moto Verizon phones. The E815 is a good choice as well, same with the RAZR.

 

We presently have T-Mobile & we are Happy with the Phones we have Nokia 6600, Nokia 6101 & Motorola V360
T-Mobile seems to be coming out with Very good Phones worth checking out.

 

Definitley for Verizon Wireless phones, stear clear of the Motorola v265 or 276, or 260. I work for a Verizon Authorized retailer, and these phones are cheaply made and I do not know how many times customers have come in complaining of static, dropped calls, and endless technical issues. They are even being recalled, but they are still selling them. The camera on two of the three models is awful quality as well, but they are fairly cheaply priced, so people go for them.
My advice is, DON'T go for a cheap phone, follow the general rule that you will get what you pay for. Go ahead, spend the extra $50 or so dollars and get a higher quality phone, it will last you longer, and ALWAYS get insurance! It is worth the peace of mind, because Verizon offers very little options (maybe 25% off a retail phone, which most start around $200 or more) if you break your phone or it malfunctions outside of the warranty specifications.
I would recommend the Motorola E815, most samsung models seem to get happy customers, LG8100, and even the LG5200 and new Nokia 6256 I have heard either good commentation or nothing negative at least!


Good luck and remember, don't decline on the insurance!

 

There is no such animal.

And there is definately no such animal without quantifiers as to what YOU consider the best.

You might as well ask ten parents with children which one has the cutest child. You're going to get ten answers and all ten of them will be equally irrelevant.

What do you NEED or WANT. Let THAT be your starting point.

 

Wirelessly posted (Nokia6682/2.0 (3.01.1) SymbianOS/8.0 Series60/2.6 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 UP.Link/6.3.0.0.0)

I am liking nokia phones, mostly.