Samsung G810 Disadvantages

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. Now, we just had to test it, right? So, get your pulse back to normal and stay with us as we check if the Samsung G810 has the performance to back up those marvelous specs.

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

It's pretty obvious Samsung G810 is having a go at Nokia N95 8GB. We're yet to see about how timely an attempt it is and if the top dog is to fear dethronement. G810 tops the Nokia feature pack with xenon flash, lens cover and face detection. Let's not forget the 3x optical zoom, which is still enough of a rarity. All this comes at the expense of a tad smaller screen: Samsung G810 features a 2.6-inch display, while Nokia N95 8GB has a 2.8-inch one.

Other potential market rivals of the best-equipped Samsung to date are the Nokia N95 classic and Nokia N82. Sony Ericsson G900 could also sneak into the bunch of contenders. With a few other interesting names yet to hit the shelves, users are in for some exciting high-end hustle-and-bustle.

One last thing before we get to the point - a little warning is due of our Samsung G810 being a beta sample. In fact, we can't really remember having the… well… pleasure of welcoming an earlier beta than this G810 to our office. Tweaks and fixes are bound (and more than welcome) to happen before the handset's up for grabs. Of course, we will update this article as soon as we lay our hands on a market unit.

Samsung G800 Disadvantages

It seems Samsung are really stepping on it in the 5 megapixel cameraphone race. In a stark display of audacity, the G800 is pitched as a digicam that can make calls. We usually deal with gadgets that are the other way around but we've been eager to test the Samsung G800 ever since its official launch back in late October. As you may recall, we were lucky to be there, but rubbing shoulders is nothing like getting our hands on the handset sporting the first 5 megapixel camera with optical zoom. So sit back and get ready for Samsung G800, one of the most hyped handsets lately.

Key features:

• 5 megapixel auto focus camera with 3x optical zoom and xenon flash
• Large 2.4" QVGA 256K color display
• EDGE and 3G (with HSDPA)
• Bluetooth v2.0 with A2DP support
• Comfortable keypad
• Stereo FM radio with RDS
• Stylish design

Main disadvantages:

• Bad display processing
• Weak sunlight legibility
• Very slow memory card reading
• No standard 3.5 mm audio jack
• Volume/Zoom key is very hard to press
• Quite chubby

Optical zoom is not new to cameraphones - the 902 and 903 models by Sharp, as well as Nokia N93 and N93i, were equipped with cameras with optical zoom a good while ago. But in Samsung G800 it goes with a five megapixel sensor and a xenon flash, which makes this handset's camera unmatched, at least in the number of features it offers. We are yet to see if quantity means quality but our first impressions back in October were surely positive. Finally, we have to say that the G800's greatest market share rival will be Sony Ericsson's top shelf cameraphone K850. It has the virtually the same specs save for the optical zoom and, in our point of view, the price will play a major role in this duel. We will refrain from including Nokia N95 here because the smartphone functionality puts it in a slightly different niche than the twosome in question.

Now, there is only one last thing that we need to mention before we cut to the chase. The unit we had for testing purposes was a final beta release candidate, so you might expect some minor changes and improvements in both software and hardware before the handset officially hits the shelves - however we don't expect them to be many. We didn't have any problems with it plus it came in the retail packaging that will see the handset selling.

Samsung G600 Disadvantages

Samsung sets two contenders running for glory, with two 5 megapixel newcomers on the cameraphone market. The Samsung G600 was first to be announced, and had the mobile community astir. Featuring quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE support, a glamorous 2.2" 16M color TFT display and stereo Bluetooth, the Samsung G600 is easily a tempting all-around multimedia device. The stylish design, the choice of colors and the metallic touch add up to some really exquisite looks. You may as well have a soft spot for this baby already but we are here to make sure its appeal is more than skin-deep.

Key features

• Stylish design
• 5 megapixel autofocus camera with LED flash and VGA video recording
• 16M color TFT display of QVGA (320x240 pixels) resolution
• Ambient light sensor for automatic brightness control
• Bluetooth with A2DP
• microSD memory card slot
• FM radio with recording capabilities
• TV out
• MS Office documents viewer
• Nice web browser
• Quick menu response and new menu structure
• The enclosed headset finally has a 3.5 mm audio jack
• Dynamic home screen
• Mobile Tracker application

Main disadvantages

• No 3G support
• Upper row of alphanumeric keys might be hard to reach
• New headset/charger jack incompatible with older accessories
• Xenon flash would've suited it better
• Shot-to-shot time on the slow side

Samsung G600 was the first GSM cameraphone by the Korean manufacturer to feature a 5 megapixel camera module. The checkered flag is nowhere in sight in the megapixel race, but obviously 2007 will be marked for the successful conquering of the 5 megapixel barrier. We really don't think the megapixel count is all that important when it comes to image quality - there's so much more to it, like color rendering, digital noise and dynamic range. But let's not get into the photographic mumbo jumbo; we're reviewing a mobile phone after all.

How about a brief look back though, before we go? You know, a little bit of context won't hurt. Samsung D900 proved quite a gifted contender in the 3 megapixel shootouts we did in the past. In fact, it even got our recommendation as the best cameraphone in the slider form factor last year. The G600 is in for quite a challenge meeting this kind of expectations. Samsung D900 is already well in the past though, so let's get on with it. More after the jump.