Samsung F480

To pick up where we left, prepare to meet the next bestseller by Samsung. If you think Samsung F480 is not up to such a challenge you might want to think again. The compact touch-operated handset has every chance of becoming the next best thing since sliced bread. It is extremely pocket-friendly but its own pocket is bulging - so to say - the little fella has it all. Plus, the looks are fantastic, so only one important question remains - is the performance on par with the marvelous specs. Luckily we are just about to answer that question, so sit back and enjoy.




Key features

-Ample 2.8" 262K touchscreen color display of QVGA resolution
-Touch-operated flash UI
-5 megapixel camera with autofocus and LED flash
-Camera comes with face detection and wide dynamic range
-3G with HSDPA
-Great design and high quality construction
-228MB of internal memory
-microSD card slot
-Widgets
-Excellent haptics
-FM radio with RDS
-Great camera interface
-EDGE, Bluetooth and USB connectivity
-Great web browser



Main disadvantages

-Tri-band only
-Display legibility suffers under direct sunlight
-No landscape mode and no virtual QWERTY keyboard
-Fingerprint magnet
-Inadequate flash for the camera
-Video recording capabilities max out at QVGA resolution




Final words

It's not too often that we are so impressed with a handset as we are with Samsung F480. The little fella is an extremely capable device carrying a serious feature pack. In addition, it is so suave and compact that it is bound to earn itself quite a lot of fans. User-friendliness is also among its definite strong points. Some users might miss the Armani logo for the frill of it but we for one won't really grieve over it.

Samsung F480 is expected to hit the shelves on May 19th and - take our word - you might just want to wait until then before you fork out the cash on your next handset.

Samsung F110 Adidas

Samsung F110 is not revolutionary. And no, it's not a high-end gadget either. But it's part of a unique workout system developed by Adidas. The Adidas miCoach system makes your phone a full-fledged workout sidekick recording each of your steps and guiding you along your sports endeavors while playing your favorite music to make sweating a bit more pleasant.




Key features:

-Dedicated sports features:
-On-board miCoach application measuring sports progress and giving voice feedback
-Synchronization with miCoach web-based coaching system
-Built-in accelerometer with step counter
-Stride sensor and heart rate sensor in the extended package
-Comes with sports headset, 3.5mm audio jack remote and an armband
-2 megapixel camera
-1GB of onboard storage
-FM radio
-Stereo Bluetooth
-Works without a SIM card inserted




Main disadvantages:

-Boring design
-Camera has no autofocus
-Poor display resolution and poor sunlight legibility
-Built-in step counter is really inaccurate
-No memory card slot
-No 3G
-No office documents viewer



Final words

When compared to the existing digital sports systems such as the Nike+, the Adidas miCoach phone has a number of strong points - the heart-rate monitor, the free choice of running shoes, the mobile phone functionality, the "double-tap-to-get-stats" feature, and the FM radio. However, the iPod nano used by Nike has larger storage space, higher resolution display, better sunlight legibility and it's more compact.

Successful or not, the Samsung F110 Adidas phone will remain a niche phone and you are unlikely to see much of it on phone-shop windows.

Samsung i620

We have seen lots of phones from Samsung with slider form factor but this time it's a full hardware keyboard that is revealed when you slide the Samsung i620 out - the new mid-range smartphone running on the Windows Mobile 6 Standard edition. Packed with some exclusive features - a rotating D-pad wheel and sensor keys all over, you might as well be blown away by the one-off snowy white color too. So, it's compact, it's QWERTY, it's smartphone - yes this is really an offer you can't resist to play with - and neither do we. So grab yourselves something to drink and join us on this Samsung i620 review.




Key Features

-Windows Mobile smartphone
-Novel design and unusual form factor
-Compact dimensions
-2.2" TFT display
-Tri-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE and HSDPA, 1.8 Mbps
-Rotating wheel and sensor front panel keys
-Full hardware QWERTY keyboard with sufficient backlight
-Bluetooth v2.0 with A2DP
-2 megapixel camera
-microSD card slot




Main disadvantages

-Landscape orientation is not common for applications
-No Wi-Fi
-No autofocus, mediocre camera performance
-TI OMAP 200 MHz processor struggles at times
-QWERTY keyboard has little tactile feedback
-Only 34MB storage memory available to the user




Conclusion

Samsung i620 is a stylish (to some!), neat and relatively compact slider phone, plus it runs on Windows Mobile 6 Standard. The full QWERTY hardware keyboard brings even more functionality to the smartphone. The sensor keys and the useful D-pad wheel help a lot when dealing with the address book, the menus and especially with the gallery images.

In the end - it all boils down to this: the Samsung i620 doesn't offer high-end features but offers excellent implementation of the features that are currently on-board. As such it will have a really hard time coping with Symbian bullies out there.

Sony Ericsson W760

Sony Ericsson W760 made a name for being the first Sony Ericson phone to offer an integrated GPS receiver. With a large QVGA display, stereo speakers, Media Center and the 3 megapixel camera on top, the W760 packs a nice punch. It's an exciting slider that may look no-thrills on the outside, but has all the prospects of becoming a bestseller.



Key features

-Quad-band GSM support
-Tri-band HSDPA
-Built-in GPS receiver
-3 megapixel camera with geotagging
-Walkman player with Shake control and SensMe
-Media center
-Stereo speakers
-FM radio with RDS
-YouTube integration
-2.2" QVGA TFT display
-M2 memory card slot (1GB card included)
-Stereo Bluetooth
-Built-in motion sensor




Main disadvantages

-No video-call camera
-Camera has basic portrait interface and no autofocus
-Poor legibility under direct sunlight
-Integrated stereo speakers are not impressive neither in sound qiality, nor in loudness




Final words

Sony Ericsson W760 is a nice attempt at creating an all-purpose slider. It's got all the goodies many users are waiting for.

Although in dense urban environments our beta unit had a weakish GPS sensitivity, the amount of GPS applications is commendable - especially for a first try from Sony Ericsson.

Samsung G810

The announcement of Samsung G810 must have had many a geek's heart skip a few beats. The handset has all but the kitchen sink and there's Symbian under the hood.



Key features

-5 megapixel camera with auto focus and 3x optical zoom
-Symbian OS with S60 user interface
-2.6" 256K-color TFT LCD display with QVGA resolution
-Wi-Fi
-Built-in GPS receiver
-3G capabilities with HSDPA support
-Xenon flash
-330MHz TI OMAP processor
-130MB of internal memory plus a microSD card slot
-3.5 mm stereo audio jack
-Bluetooth and USB v2.0
-TV-out functionality
-Great metallic design




Main disadvantages

-Large size
-Awkward keypad
-Tri-band only
-Poor sunlight legibility
-Xenon flash is disappointing
-Optical zoom reduces picture quality noticeably




Final words

To begin with, it is quite obvious that Samsung are a bit late releasing the G810.
Samsung G810 has a unique optical zoom feature and is probably the sleekest looking among them all-but-the-kitchen-sink devices out there. It has the performance and snappy user interface, which is probably what's most important in such a phone.

Sony Ericsson C702

Sony Ericsson C702 on the other hand is keen to impress with GPS and splash and dust resistance. Its 3-megapixel camera takes advantage of geotagging, and features face detection, red-eye reduction, autofocus and dual LED




Key features

-Splash and dust resistant
-Built-in GPS receiver
-3 megapixel camera with active lens cover and dual LED flash
-Face detection and geotagging, fast autofocus
-Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE, HSDPA (3.6 Mbps) in the European version
-Fingerprint resistant case
-FM radio with RDS
-Bluetooth (with A2DP)
-Tracker sports application
-Memory card slot for M2 cards (up to 8GB M2 cards supported)





Main disadvantages

-Controversial looks
-No office documents viewer
-Awkward volume/zoom rocker
-No TV out



Conclusion

A midrange cameraphone for the sports minded, the Sony Ericsson C702 sure brings excitement to the company’s Cyber-shot line. With HSDPA and a good media package keeping company to the capable 3-megapixel shooter, C702 has the entertainment sector duly covered. Add the sturdy casing and GPS-supported extras (the Tracker application is more than welcome), and you’ve got the right gadget for those who like their calls with a pinch of adventure

Samsung U900 Soul

One of the first things we saw landing in Barcelona for the MWC last month was a huge Samsung U900 Soul billboard. The South Korea-based company has ever since been doing everything within their powers to keep the handset in the public eye.



Key features:

-5 megapixel camera (autofocus, face detection, wide dynamic range and image stabilization)
-2.2" 16M-color TFT LCD display of QVGA resolution
-3G with HSDPA (7.2Mbps) support
-Touchpad navigation
-Cool looks
-FM radio with RDS
-128MB of shared memory and microSD slot
-Bluetooth and USB v2.0
-Wide dynamic range and image stabilization in camera
-User-friendly keypad




Main disadvantages:

Tri-band only
Only LED flash
Display legibility suffers under direct sunlight
Limited browser capabilities
QVGA video recording at most




Final words

Samsung U900 Soul is quite a capable performer and the sleek looks are a well appreciated bonus. Having spent that extra time with it, we can still testify that the first impression holds. The Soul does have its issues here and there, which just couldn't have escaped the scrutiny of a detailed review. But hey, we won't be the one to cast the first stone. So, if you can put up with the small-capacity battery and the handicapped web browser, Samsung U900 Soul can just be your next favorite handset. Even at this pre-release stage, the U900 has a camera capable of remarkable picture quality. You can also enjoy the texting-friendly keypad.

Sony Ericsson W595

Introduction:
Tired of listening to music alone? You wish to share this experience with friends? According to Sony Ericsson, their new music slider is the perfect opportunity for this.
The W595 is the successor of one of the most successful devices of the Walkman series, the 580, which is being offered at a low price and wide variety of color solutions. The W595 is 3G, its camera supports higher resolution and more features, it’s equipped with stereo speakers and the interesting “share jack”; thanks to which you can plug in two headsets simultaneously, so you can listen to music with a friend.




Performance:
Another wise Tibetan saying says: “Thou can live well, but even then thou may need to call someone…” For instance, you may want to invite a friend over, in order to listen to your favorite band’s new album têt-a-têt via the “shared jack”.





Performance:
Another wise Tibetan saying says: “Thou can live well, but even then thou may need to call someone…” For instance, you may want to invite a friend over, in order to listen to your favorite band’s new album têt-a-têt via the “shared jack”.



Conclusion:
In movies you’ll often encounter the “sequel syndrome” – no matter how many episodes come out from a series, neither of them is able to surpass the original. It’s the same with Sony Ericsson’s W595.

Nokia 7070 Prism

Introduction:
Last year Nokia released two mid-range fashion candybars – the 7500 Prism and 7900 Prism. They demonstrated an eccentric prismatic motive and some interesting customization options by introducing changeable lines and different RGB LED lights. The clamshell 7070 Prism is a lot more simplified compared to the previous Prism models – it doesn’t even have a camera- but it offers the same exotic and attractive design at a lower price.




Design:
The compact clamshell form and its low weight (barely 78 grams) make it feel exceptionally comfortable in one’s pocket.




Performance:
It is very important for the low-end phones to sound good during a call, as they do not offer many other functions to compensate. We’re rather disappointed by the 7070 in this aspect, since we got a lot of complains that our voices sounded sharp and unclear. It was the same form our side so we suggest that you should turn the volume down, because you’ll find it painfully annoying. The loudspeaker is comparatively usable, although we couldn’t understand all of what was said through it.





Conclusion:
Good appearance is a big plus for a low-range phone. In relation to this – Nokia 7070 Prism performs really good, having in mind that its design is somewhat different from the rest of the cheap phones.

BlackBerry Storm

Introduction:
What’s this, the new BlackBerry? Woah, it has no keyboard. And…did it just click? You’ve never clicked a screen before, is that supposed to happen? Is it supposed to feel so…tiring? And why is this screen wiggling around, am I supposed to be seeing the circuit board? Why is it so heavy; the iPhone isn’t this heavy? The interface is pretty neat, but why are page transitions taking so long. Did it just flip orientations on me? I didn’t even move it. Wait, now I did move it and the orientation isn’t following. What’s going on, I thought this was supposed to be an iPhone killer? This is what Verizon is putting their muscle behind? Really?




Design:
The first thing you notice is how heavy the Storm is. It’s nearly an ounce heavier than the iPhone and Bold, and a full ounce and a half heavier than the Diamond and Curve. We appreciate heft for the sake of quality, and in fact have taken some criticism for knocking devices that are too light, but the Storm is just plain heavy. It’s also wide; its 2mm narrower than the iPhone, but 6, 9 and 12mm wider than the Curve, Dare and Diamond, respectively. The 3.2” display makes it tall, but it’s a full 7mm taller than the Instinct which also has a 3.2” screen.




Performance:
Voice quality was very good on the Storm, as was battery life. On our end callers were clear and voices sounded natural. Callers said we were a touch hollow, but that overall we sounded very good and gave us an 8.5/10 rating. The in-call screen is new, with large icons for Speaker, Mute, Flash and Add Participant. Along the bottom the user can access the Keyboard, Notes, Home Screen, Calendar and their Contact list. Our only complaint is that when the phone was resting against our face we often activated the mute button, which is obviously problematic.




Conclusion:
The Storm sets very lofty goals, but misses the mark on many of them and in the process loses its way. At its core a BlackBerry should be a top notch messaging device, which has always allowed us to look past other shortcomings. Not so with the Storm, as the flaws greatly outweigh the benefits. The phone performance is top notch and the Storm is a great media device, but beyond that there isn't much to like. RIM has already addressed software issues and we applaud their swiftness, but we feel that the hardware is a limiting factor with the Storm. The size and weight are awkward, and we can't believe we're saying this but we miss the trackball. The screen play is disconcerting, and we just aren't buying the clickable screen. But most importantly typing is a workout and even worse inaccurate, and without that a BlackBerry just isn't a BlackBerry.

Samsung S7330

Introduction:
We have previously discussed the popular strategy to use the design of a high-end phone for the production of a cheaper model of the same brand. Samsung’s L770 copying the U700 Ultra 12.1 is a typical example of that. But now again, the Koreans have decided to use that trick and the result is S7330, resembling the Soul. The phone is equipped with a 3-megapixel camera, FM radio, microSD slot and a touch-sensitive navigational pad.




Design:
The S7330’s design reminds us of the Soul, but it lacks style and class, which in the high-end model are achieved by the use of quality material. Although it looks metal, only the battery lid is made of that material and the rest is plastic. Nevertheless, the phone is quite massive and heavy.




Interface:
There’s nothing surprising here, especially after we’ve become familiar with the Soul line and most models of the manufacturer. Only small additions to the touch sensitive pad are present. You are now able to store your own themes and even select ones with color “arrows” (figuratively speaking; if we look at it as a D-pad).Unfortunately, you won’t be able to create such a colorful theme and will have to be satisfied with the monochrome ones. Pressing the central part of the pad when at the homescreen now opens a shortcut menu with 12 positions, which can lead to a group of options from the main menu (e.g. settings) and/or to features one step below them (e.g. display settings).





On the right side, you will find the camera shutter and the microSD slot, and on the opposite you’ll see the volume rocker and the charger connector. We think that it’s time for Samsung to join the microUSB party.

Nokia 5220 XpressMusic

Introduction:
One of the latest additions to Nokia’s XpressMusic series is Nokia 5220. The phone catches the eye with a unique vision and affordable price. Like the rest of the devices of the line, it targets the young music fans who want to enjoy their favorite tunes everywhere they go with a good sound quality.



Design:
The most impressive element in the design of the 5220 is its asymmetrical shape, which is a really nice solution and we like it a lot. The materials feel good to the touch and the it doesn’t slip off your hand.The device is compact and relatively light (78 g) which makes it pocket-friendly.





Performance:
We were happy with the operating speed of the Nokia 5220 XpressMusic and only need to say that there’s a slight lag during the menu transitions and upon starting an application, but that wasn’t annoying.
During a call, the voices are real and loud at both ends of the line, but that makes them sharp and unreadable at times. Quality wise, you can get better results by turning the volume down by 1 or 2 levels.



Conclusion:
The market is flooded with various music phone models and you could easily miss the 5220 XpressMusic, because you might think that its design is a result of a designer’s mistake. The asymmetrical shape and the aggressive image of the phone are more appropriate for the young audience, looking for good music sound quality at an affordable price.

Sony Ericsson W980

Introduction:
‘I want a phone which I can listen to music by without compromise!’ - if this thought keeps running in your head, then look here before you go shopping. W980 is one of the latest models in Sony Ericsson’s Walkman series and may just be the perfect fit for you. It belongs to the high class and is Sony’s first device with an FM transmitter, by which you can play music on radio-receivers near you. Like the W960 before it, the W980 offers 8 GB of internal memory.



Design:
The overall appearance of the W980 is quite atypical compared to other Sony offerings. Taking the role of fashion experts of Armani and Ferre’s rank (we are joking), we define it as a combination of retro elements and extravagant charm. We last saw it in the budgeted Z555 which is also made of plastic like this one. However, the material here gives a cheap feel; unbecoming for a high-class phone.




Performance:
Sony Ericsson W980 does not work as fast as some of the Symbian smart-phones, but we are happy that there are no annoying delays when browsing the menus.The sound quality when talking disappointed us. The voice we hear is very unrealistic, robotized and monotonous, accompanied by unpleasant crackling all the time. As a whole, you will have problems with the understanding and you will have to ask to have things repeated even several times. The opposite situation is much better. The sound is monotonous and quite sharp, but is realistic and strong. We are disappointed because understanding what you hear with great difficulties while you are being heard well makes no sense at all.




Conclusion:
Our first experience with W980 impressed us in an unexpected way maybe because most of the time we used headphones while listening to the music. The next day revealed the naked truth. The Walkman is a high class phone but it somehow does not match up with its price. Its materials give the ‘cheap’ feel and the single-hand opening could turn into a real struggle. In addition, the calling could be described as an unpleasant experience and the speakers are even worse than the ones you’d find in a low-end music phone.