Slideshow: Choosing the Right Smartphone for You

Mobile handset makers, including Research in Motion (RIMM), HTC, Palm (PALM) and Samsung, now offer sleek, feature-laden smartphones that appeal to both businesspeople and mainstream consumers alike.

"They're trying to steal the iPhone's headlines, steal its thunder," says Dan Havlik, editor of tech education site DemystifyingDigital.com. "It has made the entire category of smartphones more interesting than just a tool for businesspeople."

The growing popularity of these gadgets is evident. Consumers bought nearly 4.2 million smartphones during the third quarter of 2007 — a 163% increase year over year, according to the NPD Group, a market research company.

While many of the latest smartphones double as a camera, web browser, MP3 player and email device, there's no guarantee that they'll do all of those things particularly well, says Michael Gartenberg, research director for Jupiter Research, a market research firm. "None of these phones is going to be the perfect device for everyone," he says.

Our experts helped narrow the field, offering up some of the best options based on the features that matter most. View our slideshow to see which smartphone suits you the best: