The Samsung Instinct HD

They may not be among the most sought-after electronics products for the Black Friday weekend, but cell phones and smart phones will still be on shopping lists of a hefty 10 percent of gear shoppers in the days following Thanksgiving, according to the latest Consumer Reports Shopping Poll. And we’ve just updated our Ratings, available to subscribers, to add several models to what is already our largest-ever array of tested wireless phones.

Here’s a rundown of interesting capabilities and select test findings on four of the more interesting new phones. Clicking on their names takes you to the model page for the phone, where you’ll find additional information, including some specs and a model overview. (Subscribers who are logged in will also see full test results.) Prices are with a two-year contract from the indicated carrier, including rebates.

Samsung Instinct HD, Sprint ($250)
Though pricey for a cell phone, this is one heck of an image-taker, with the best video capabilities we've seen on any phone, even they’re not quite up to the high-def quality Samsung claims (images look more like those from a decent pocket camcorder). In our tests, the Sprint was no slouch as a still camera, either, and boasts a flash, manual ISO settings, face and smile detection and multi-shot mode.

Garmin Nuvifone G60, AT&T ($300)
Made by a leading name in GPS, and with one of the best navigation applications we've seen on any phone, this talented cell phone a fine stand-in for a dedicated portable navigation device (PND). It boasts spoken turn-by-turn directions and street names, along with automatic re-routing, preloaded maps of North America, a trip computer, and a helpful "Where am I?" option for emergency assistance.