The year 2010 has brought the advent of cheap touchscreen mobile phones to the market. In fact, touchscreens of all sizes and specifications litter retailer displays. There are still the high-end superpowered monsters that offer prime-time performance for a pretty price. Lucky are those who can score these gadgets, while most people will be fine with entry-level touchscreen models that provide the basic experience.

Let’s break down the touchscreen market using certain aspects: capacitive versus resistive touchscreen types, and the market leader iPhone versus the rest of the pack.

Capacitive vs. Resistive

If you browse the spec-sheet of today’s touchscreen phones, you’ll see one of two modifiers preceding the word touchscreen: capacitive or resistive. This modifier denotes what kind of touchscreen technology was used for the display.

Capacitive touchscreens make use of sensors that react to conductive materials, which include human skin.  They are generally faster and offer better responsiveness compared to resistive touchscreens. They are, however, also more expensive—which is why capacitive touchscreen phones also tend to be more pricey.

Resistive touchscreens, while less responsive, are more accurate and generally more durable than their capacitive counterparts. I’ve been using a phone with a resistive touchscreen for a while now, and I have no problems in terms of responsiveness. I guess it boils down to personal preference when it comes to this aspect.

Of course, there are a few other technologies used to make touchscreen devices—such as surface acoustic wave technology and surface capacitance, among others—but the capacitive and resistive variants are the most predominant forms used in current mobile phone models.

iPhone vs. the Rest

Right now, it clearly seems to be Apple’s pet device, the iPhone, versus the rest of the market’s touchscreen offerings.

The iPhone offers tons of apps in its app store, with a good percentage of free ones for those who aren’t willing to shell out some dough. That is, in my opinion, where the gadget really shines and outplays everyone else on the market.

Couple that with excellent industrial design, aesthetics, and a user-friendly phone operating system and you’ve got a quality product worth its hype and its price. The new iPhone 4 is now out, and there are some subtle changes you should take note of in terms of physical design and phone software.

Brand loyalty is a factor many consider. After all, if you’ve purchased phones from a particular manufacturer and it hasn’t let you down over the years, there’s really some stock over your loyalty to a certain brand. Of course, discerning between the different models available in such a stacked market should still be an essential part of your selection process.

Speaking of different models, there’s practically a touchscreen phone for every need. There are entry-level touch phones, touchscreen feature phones, and touchscreen smartphones. It all depends on market positioning and what consumers look for in the spec scheet. In the end, the decision is in your hands. Know what you want, and get the phone that fits the bill—and your budget.