Every BBC iPlayer device tested

Apple iPhone 3G and 3GS
The iPhone's iPlayer application is Web-based, and works just like the iPod touch version in every way -- no offline playback, so you need to be in a Wi-Fi zone, but one of the best no-computer-needed iPlayer experiences, thanks to the BBC's iPhone-friendly mobile site. Simply fire up the phone's Web browser and watch iPlayer content stream in glorious H.264 format.

Our score: 9.3 out of 10 (iPhone 3GS), 8.9 out of 10 (iPhone 3G)
Full review (iPhone 3GS)
Full review (iPhone 3G)

Incidentally, Android phones such as the HTC Hero don't natively support iPlayer like the iPhone, but there's a decent free app available called beebPlayer, which works over Wi-Fi and 3G, and is improving all the time.

Nokia N97
It wasn't the phone we were hoping for. It's currently Nokia's flagship device, up against a batch of exciting Android phones and Apple's iPhone. Its resistive touchscreen gave us reason to hate it, but it's quite a large display and thanks to its tilt mechanism and built-in speakers, it's a decent iPlayer phone. You can stream content over Wi-Fi or download it directly to the phone for offline playback without using a computer, with up to 32GB of memory to play with.

Our score: 7 out of 10
Full review

Nokia N96
The questionable build quality of the N96 belied the wealth of its internal features, and it's one of Nokia's more capable iPlayer phones as well. It has 16GB of internal memory, and it's one of the few phones you can side-load iPlayer programmes to from a PC. You can stream BBC content over Wi-Fi, download it over Wi-Fi directly to the phone, and on some networks even stream over 3G. A compelling option.

Our score: 8.2 out of 10
Full review

Nokia N85
Reviewed late in 2008, the N85 proved itself to be a solid all-rounder, scoring 8 out of 10. It can also take advantage of almost all mobile BBC iPlayer features. In addition to Wi-Fi streaming, you can download programmes directly to the phone over wireless broadband -- and over some networks, stream programmes over 3G as well. Also, there's a side-loading option for transferring iPlayer shows from a PC. Note that its pitiful 74MB of internal memory is an enormous problem for downloading, unless you expand via microSD card.

Our score: 8 out of 10
Full review

Nokia N86
Although overshadowed by many recent phones, the N86 proved itself to at least pack some powerful features. As an iPlayer device it's on a par with the N96, with streaming and downloading options of Wi-Fi, streaming over some 3G networks, and compatibility with PC-based iPlayer downloads for quickly loading up content for offline playback at home.

Our score: 7.7 out of 10
Full review

Nokia N95 and N95 8GB
Nokia's flagship-for-a-while N95 phones were a CNET favourite for quite some time. They were also some of the first phones to support the BBC's streaming iPlayer functionality. You'll need Wi-Fi to stream programmes, and the viewing experience is nowhere near what you'll get on more modern phones such as the iPhone or Samsung's i8910 HD, but they're still decent mobiles that can be picked up reasonably cheaply now.

Our score: 8.7 out of 10 (N95), 8.8 out of 10 (N95 8GB)
Full review (N95)
Full review (N95 8GB)

Nokia 5800
We never really liked this phone because it felt like too little, too late. We only gave it 6.3 out of 10 in our full review. But its reasonably large 81mm (3.2-inch) screen makes iPlayer streaming more pleasant than on many Nokia phones. You'll need Wi-Fi to access the iPlayer's mobile Web site, and you can also download shows directly over Wi-Fi for offline playback.

Our score: 6.3 out of 10
Full review

Nokia E71
Back in June 2008, the Nokia E71 became one of our favourite business phones. It scored 8.9 out of 10, bearing away our coveted Editors' Choice award too. Its average-size screen doesn't make it a compelling iPlayer device, but for a quick catch-up of the news over your office's Wi-Fi network over lunch, it's more than capable. You're also able to download shows over Wi-Fi for offline playback.

Our score: 8.9 out of 10
Full review

Samsung i8910 HD
One of the most important things for a video-playing device to have is an awesome screen. This phone has an awesome screen. Suffice to say, if it was a fridge, it'd be stocked purely with bottles of ice-cold win -- it won an 8 out of 10 score in our review, and 9 out of 10 in our user-review section. It'll stream iPlayer content over Wi-Fi, and even over 3G if you're on a network that supports it (currently 3 and Vodafone). There's no option to download for offline playback however, neither via the phone itself or via a PC.

Our score: 8 out of 10
Full review

Samsung i8510
Samsung's i8510 preceded the i8910 HD by almost a year. As an older piece of kit it doesn't offer the same excellent screen. But it'll still stream iPlayer programming via Wi-Fi, and is a smashing smart phone to boot. It scored an excellent 8.9 out of 10 in our full review last year, along with scooping up a CNET UK Editors' Choice award. The only issue we have is that you aren't able to exploit its 16GB of internal memory with iPlayer downloads -- it only allows streaming via Wi-Fi (or 3G on compatible networks).

Our score: 8.9 out of 10
Full review

Samsung Omnia i900
The original Samsung Omnia is now well over a year old. Back in September 2008 we gave it a decent 7.9 out of 10, but in terms of an iPlayer phone it offers identical functionality to the i8510, which scored an entire mark higher. It won't let you side-load stuff from a PC or download content via Wi-Fi, but it'll stream over Wi-Fi or a 3G connection. Again, only 3 and Vodafone currently seem to support iPlayer-over-3G functionality. It's got a large screen, but no 3.5mm headphone socket -- if you want to use headphones, you'll need to use an adaptor.

Our score: 7.9 out of 10
Full review

Sony Ericsson Xperia X1
It's about to be succeeded by the Xperia X2, but until it does, this is Sony Ericsson's flagship Windows Mobile phone. That does mean you need a terrible stylus, but it still got 7 out of 10 in our review late last year. You can stream iPlayer programmes over Wi-Fi or 3G on permitted networks, but unfortunately -- and weirdly -- there's no support for side-loaded content from PCs. Hopefully this is something that will be addressed on the Xperia X2.

Our score: 7 out of 10
Full review

Sony Ericsson W995
Sony Ericsson's flagship Walkman phone earned it an Editors' Choice award in June 2009, along with a respectable 8.3 out of 10. It's also the only Sony Ericsson phone to permit iPlayer downloads over Wi-Fi directly on the phone itself -- no PC needed. It has a great screen, built-in speakers and a proper 3.5mm headphone socket too. You can stream over Wi-Fi, and on certain networks over 3G as well. Of all the iPlayer-compatible Sony Ericsson devices, the W995 is the best.

Our score: 8.3 out of 10
Full review

Sony Ericsson C905
Another Editors' Choice award winner was the Sony Ericsson C905, reviewed in late 2008. A flagship camera phone which takes superb 8-megapixel photos with a xenon flash to back it up, it scored 8.8 in our review. With the iPlayer mobile service you can stream over Wi-Fi and some 3G networks, though there's no offline playback available in any form, so you must be in range of a wireless network of some sort to access content.

Our score: 8.8 out of 10
Full review

Sony Ericsson W705
Without a real 3.5mm headphone socket, the W705 was never going to get higher than the 7.8 out of 10 it scored earlier this year, but it's still a decent phone all the same. You won't be using any of its 4GB of internal memory to store iPlayer programmes for offline playback, because it only supports streaming over Wi-Fi or certain 3G networks. We love its design though, and it has a great little screen.

Our score: 7.8 out of 10
Full review