Holiday gift guide 2011 – smartphones and tablets

Holidays are awesome, there is no denying that. After many months of hard work you get a chance to slow down, relax, and spend some quality time with friends and family. But there always comes that tough moment when you need to go out and fill a shopping cart with presents for all the significant people in your life. And picking the right gifts for your loved ones is not always easy, especially when you are greeted by an avalanche of products screaming “Buy me!” at you once you step into the mall.

But fear not, we've got your back! Welcome to the latest edition of our Holiday gift guide where we select the coolest smartphones and tablets the nation's wireless carriers have in stock. From geeky youngsters that spend most of their time on the web to design-conscious individuals with a taste for shiny things, AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile have the gadgets to suit anyone's preferences.

So, instead of blindly going with the first smartphone or tablet you lay your hands on, or spending hours trying to figure out which one is best, read along and see which are the devices that really deserve your attention.

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posted on 21 Nov 2011, 09:43 2

1. jubbing (Posts: 150; Member since: 20 Aug 2008)

Interesting, no Windows Phones from the AT&T section, with the release of 3 I would have thought maybe 1 might have taken PhoneArena's fancy!

posted on 21 Nov 2011, 09:56 4

2. Jyakotu (Posts: 852; Member since: 12 Dec 2008)

I noticed that too. The Samsung Focus Flash, Samsung Focus S, and HTC Titan are excellent Windows Phone devices. One of them should have been included.

posted on 21 Nov 2011, 10:11 4

3. davecann2 (Posts: 460; Member since: 15 Mar 2011)

I hate to disagree with you guys but I have to be honest. I don’t think Windows Phones are going to catch on. Both Android and IOS have cornered the market and continue to push the competition out. I just don't see an iOS or Android fan switching to Windows Phones. It’s just not going to happen. Just ask Blackberry.

posted on 21 Nov 2011, 10:15 5

5. jubbing (Posts: 150; Member since: 20 Aug 2008)

And I disagree there. With Nokia coming on board, they'll be the real deciding factor for WP7 and so, especially with their brand awareness and marketing power. Just see how much Europe (mainly UK) has been hit by the Lumia 800 ads everywhere.

Fully expect that marketing blitz to hit the states when it comes. If it doesn't work after that, then yea WP7 won't do well.

posted on 21 Nov 2011, 11:05

6. davecann2 (Posts: 460; Member since: 15 Mar 2011)

Good points and I agree. If the marketing for WP7 is strong it may change the industry with a valid three way competition assuming RIM doesn’t have a game changer up their sleeve.

I just recall the strong marketing for the hyped release of the Motorola XOOM and then it failed.

posted on 21 Nov 2011, 23:43 1

13. Sniggly (Posts: 7305; Member since: 05 Dec 2009)

Trouble is that there wasn't really very strong marketing around the XOOM. Sure, it got a cute Superbowl ad (which I loved) but other than that, there wasn't much. Its in store marketing was horrible too, as at Best Buy, the only retailer that sold it besides the carrier stores, it was thrown off to the side while the iPad 2 got its own endcap. Not to mention the salespeople weren't really trained on it so they didn't know how to sell it.

Also, the release was botched by only releasing the 32 gig model with 3G connectivity, which gave the illusion that it was overpriced (when in reality it was only 70 bucks more than an equivalent iPad 2).

Trouble is, Microsoft is kind of botching its marketing up too. They also have yet to get any manufacturer to release a WP7 device with compelling hardware. Hopefully that will change with Nokia's involvement, as WP7 is definitely worth a look for many reasons.

posted on 21 Nov 2011, 12:44

8. SuperEd (Posts: 132; Member since: 18 Oct 2011)

ha ha...you're wrong.

posted on 24 Nov 2011, 06:09

15. jackhammeR (Posts: 1548; Member since: 17 Oct 2011)

so? Android was nothing 3 years ago. The same IOS. You think they will last forever?

posted on 21 Nov 2011, 10:13 1

4. kpfirefighter (Posts: 160; Member since: 20 Sep 2011)

The Galaaxy Nexus would be a great gift............ oh wait they can't decide when to release the phone so maybe a new years resalution!

posted on 21 Nov 2011, 11:56 1

7. ivanko34 (Posts: 617; Member since: 04 Sep 2011)

My brother wants a Samsung galaxy note as me

posted on 21 Nov 2011, 12:48 3

9. SuperEd (Posts: 132; Member since: 18 Oct 2011)

If media like Phonearena, CNET, ZD, etc keep playing down WP7 and in this classic example, don't even mention the TITAN...then of course it will be doomed. Problem is all the media authors have no objective perspective and have their heads up their um...their phones 3mm earbud phone jacks on their driod or iWhatever. Don't get me wrong. i LOVE apple anything, but i also love my windows phone. it really rocks and like it better than my iPhone that i just got rid of. It's just personal preference. I can't help it if the media is ignorant. Maybe we need more media outlets. :-)

posted on 21 Nov 2011, 13:39

10. Cwebb (Posts: 501; Member since: 05 Oct 2011)

Um, wheres the Evo 3d? Even 6 months later its a better phone than the SGS2ET4G and equal to if not better than the Photon. Heck, they even put the design in their instead of the awesome white 3d, which is one of the best phones in the US

posted on 21 Nov 2011, 15:03 1

11. Ivan6479 (Posts: 250; Member since: 26 Jun 2011)

I find it quite funny that they put the iPhone at the top of the list. LMFAO!!!

posted on 21 Nov 2011, 19:40 1

12. ZEUS.the.thunder.god (unregistered)

P.A. gimme a break and please stop putting iphone at top of everything. its a great phone but is no longer the best phone. putting it on top of galaxy nexus or sgs II is very stupid.