Most people are likely to dismiss the Motorola Cliq XT as nothing but a slightly updated version of the original Cliq from last year. While that may be true to an extent, this device actually deserves better recognition as it improves upon its predecessor in many ways. Heck, they could have named it something else and it wouldn't have been such an issue.

Physically, the most noticeable change from the Cliq is the omission of a physical keyboard. While the general look is similar, the new phone is taller and wider, while reclaiming more portability by being lighter and slimmer. It comes with a 3.1-inch capacitive touchscreen (320 x 480 resolution) that manages excellent colors, but is noticeably less vibrant than higher-end smartphones like the Motorola Droid. The touchscreen comes with both multi-touch (which works on most apps, but not on Google Maps) and Swype (for text input). While it also offers a traditional onscreen keyboard, we did find Swype a much better mode of input once you get used to it.

As a phone, the Cliq XT manages excellent call quality. Everything went through loud and clear on both ends, with rich sound and plenty of volume. The speakerphone performed similarly, with nothing but an occasional, ignorable buzz to break up the near-perfect sound. Battery is rated at 6.5 hours of talk time, which should last for a good two days or more.

The phone pairs both 3G and WiFi, allowing you to have access to fast broadband internet in most situations. Onboard Webkit-based browser performed admirably, loading pages fast and accurately. With pinch-to-zoom and Flash Lite, it allows for a great browsing experience. While the phone uses the same 526Mhz processor as its predecessor, it performed faster in almost every way. It's a sufficiently speedy phone, exhibiting none of the frustrating sluggishness we found on other Motorola phones like the aforementioned Cliq and the Backflip.

Feature set is similar to the Cliq, coming with both Android 1.5 and Motoblur out of the box. As expected, it's got all the usual stuff you can expect from such a combination - Motoblur's social-friendly functions, Google's suite of apps and terrific messaging capabilities, among others. One pleasant surprise is the changes Motorola did to Android's music player, turning out one that not only looks better, but comes with more features too. My favorite additions: running streams from Shoutcast, YouTube and GoTV, as well as the integration with TuneWiki.

The 5.0 megapixel camera module comes with LED flash and autofocus. It only allows for standard editing options, but manages excellent photos. There is a bit of shutter lag, though, so it's not perfect. Other features include quad-band roaming and Bluetooth 2.0.

Overall, the Motorola Cliq XT is easily one of the better mid-range Android phones right now. It's not yet on sale, but is expected to go for around $149.99 with a contract from T-Mobile. At that price, it's easily a better buy than either the Cliq, Backflip or any of the even cheaper Android handsets around.

Need a music phone with a price that's music to your ears? Try the Samsung Trill, a stylish, well-built handset sporting a music player with Bang & Olufsen technology.

Physically, it features slim lines and a curvaceous design. We don't know if you'll love the look (you can judge for yourself in the pic), though I find it a bit too cheap-looking for my tastes. Do note we're talking about the one with the gray and blue color scheme, though - the black version actually looks much better. Overall aesthetic is very similar to the Samsung Trance.

It comes with a 2.1-inch screen, with a 176 x 229 resolution. While small, the display is great with gorgeous-looking color. The slider keypad is a little flat to the touch, but it's well-spaced and comfortable.

As a phone, the Trill manages impressive call quality, with clear calls that are completely void of static. Speakerphone was decent, although voices didn't sound very natural. On the other end, callers reported a slight distortion, but generally good quality. Battery life lasts for around 4 hours of non-stop calls.

Highly-deserving of being called a music phone, it leverages Bang & Olufsen's ICEPower technology to produce exceptional audio quality. With a strong bass and stellar surround sound, it's a worthy replacement for a dedicated MP3 player. The music player is a notch above what you can find in regular handsets, with handy controls, equalizer options, 3D sound and an attractive appearance.

The rest of the feature set is mostly low- to mid-range. There's a 1,000-entry phonebook, basic messaging (SMS and MMS; no email), stereo Bluetooth and GPS. It also comes with a 1.3 megapixel camera module that produces average shots.

Overall, the Samsung Trill is an excellent music phone. If you're looking for a replacement to a dedicated MP3 player and don't mind working with mostly basic features, it can prove to be a great value. US Cellular has it for only $19.99 on contract.