1. Apple iPhone (AT&T) 

Problems abound with the new iPhone 3G, from lag during text entry to horrific voice and data service on AT&T in major metropolitan areas.  But iPhone is still the best all-around handset in the game, which means it's still the phone I carry every day and still rests atop my Top 5.  The closely monitored App Store extends iPhone's functionality into smartphone-meets-mini computer land, and the best-in-class touchscreen, Web browser, photo viewer, and media player make iPhone the easiest and most fun to use multimedia-rich feature phone out there.  Beware, though, Apple: the competition is creeping closer and I personally am jonesing for a QWERTY board on my phone.  Lucky for you T-Mobile and Google botched what should have been a home run in the G1 (see my Top 5 I Haven't Yet Used list).

2. BlackBerry Bold 9000 (Rogers - Canada; Coming Soon to AT&T) 

I never thought I'd actually lust after a BlackBerry but the Bold changed all of that when I tried it out at CTIA a few weeks ago.  It's everything a business phone should be with a healthy dash of style to boot.  Slim, powerful, and multimedia-rich thanks to a gorgeous new display, gussied up media player and Web browser, and integrated 3.5mm headphone jack and camera w/flash.  Could I actually leave my multitouch iPhone experience for the trackball and QWERTY board of Bold?  Ask me after it launches in the US; the answer might just be Yes.

4. Nokia E71 (Unlocked GSM)

Sexiest Nokia ever.  I know the hardcore phone phans will cry foul on this one, claiming that the N96, N95, and/or N85 should all be ranked higher than the E71.  But for me the E71 gets the nod for three reasons: Style, All-Around Functionality, and Mass Appeal.  The E71's metal body is shiny and sleek, the QWERTY board is entirely usable, and the phone packs a ton of connectivity and functionality.  While the other Nokias I mentioned may have higher-res cameras or larger displays, the E71 brings plenty to the table and provides a legitimate BlackBerry/iPhone alternative for the power user and more style and pocketability than the oversized N95/96.  If only Americans could learn to embrace Symbian ...

5. LG Lotus (Coming Soon to Sprint) 

Honorable Mention:  LG Dare (VZW), LG Voyager (VZW), BlackBerry Curve (Multiple Carriers), Nokia N96 (Unlocked GSM), HTC Touch Diamond (Sprint), Samsung Instinct (Sprint), Nokia XpressMusic 5310 (T-Mobile)

• BlackBerry Bold: November ETA
• HTC Fuze (Touch Pro): 10/23
• Samsung Mirage i907 (Omnia for the US): 10/21
  
• Nokia 6650: 10/23
• Motorola V9x: 10/2
• Pantech C740: 10/14
• BlackBerry 8320: 10/21
  

All of that being said, Boy Genius is still "sticking very firm" to their October 2nd launch date for Bold on AT&T.  Only time will tell for sure.

So what'd I see yesterday and what'd I think?  Let's start with HTC:

HTC

First off, thanks Eric for getting us out of the convention center and to a bright, airy space with good coffee for our meeting.  Always nice to do these things with a bit of style and some clean air and natural light ;-)

• Touch Diamond: I've got a Sprint-branded review unit to unbox and review, and I'm looking forward to it.  I like what HTC and Sprint did with the back panel of the phone, and the minor "Sprintifications" to TouchFlo 3D look good.  Sprint Music Store and Sprint TV seem to work well, too.  Look for a full video or two soon.
  
• Touch Pro:  On the one hand I'm really excited for Touch Diamond + QWERTY.  On the other hand, this sucker is thick.  On the third hand (?), the Sprint-branded version has a nice silver/grey color scheme and rounded edges that give the device a sleek look that almost helps you forget how thick it is.  Touch Pro will launch at a relatively small $50 premium over Diamond, so I'm very curious to see how it fares in the marketplace.  Bulk aside, it looks to be a pretty sweet Windows Mobile solution.
  
• S740: I was surprised by how much I dug this phone person.  It's long, skinny, and not paritcularly thin, and there's no touchscreen, but somehow it really worked for me.  I think I liked how roomy the QWERTY pad was and how it felt like a phone when I held it to my ear - the long, narrow body put the microphone closer to my mouth than most current cell phones do.  Also, the S740's unique shape made it feel like an artifiact from the future.  Too bad for us it'll only be available in Europe; an unlocked GSM version will work in the U.S. but won't offer compatible 3G bands.
  
• Touch HD:  Didn't see this one, didn't get any word on it, but I'm guessing we should keep our eyes open for more on this forthcoming all-touch, WVGA badboy.
  
• Dream/G1: Zip, nada, nothing.  Must find HTC today and try again :-)
  

Looks like we'll see the Touch Diamond by the middle of this month (that'd be September) at an on-contract/after rebate price of $249.99.  Rumors are pointing to Sunday the 14th as the exact date, as Sprint seems to have a thing for releasing new phones on Sundays.  Touch Pro (basically Touch Diamond with a slide-out QWERTY board) will supposedly drop on October 19 at a cost of $329.99 after rebate when you sign on for two years of service.

Meantime, CellPhone Signal has "confirmed" the upcoming debut of Sony Ericsson's W760a 3G Walkman phone on AT&T.  While the phone sounds good, what with its 3.2MP camera, integrated GPS, motion sensor and dual WCDMA American bands, I can't help but be a little disappointed that seven full months have gone by since I first tried this one out at CES and it's still not available stateside.  Maybe it was initially planned as a T-Mobile exclusive to coincide with their 3G rollout but got pushed back since said rollout hasn't yet happened?  Who knows, but CPS says to keep an eye out for an AT&T-branded W760a in the coming few weeks.

Beyond the new HTC, Sprint users can (supposedly) expect these other releases this Summer ... unless this thing is a complete and total hoax ... or it's for real but the launches get pushed back, as often happens:

• July 13: Palm Treo 800W, BlackBerry Curve (Red) -- These could actually be slated for 7/21, it's hard to tell from the image
  
• July 27: LG Rumor (Blue)
• August 17: MotoRAZR VE20, Sanyo Katana Eclipse (SCP-6750), Two PC Card refreshes
• September 2: HTC MP6950 (as per above), Samsung M220 & M320, Motorola Renegade V950 & i365
  

Check out the original post over on Sprintusers.