Thread: Samsung SGH-800 Mobile Phone

Samsung have put in decent effort in making the SGH-800. It enters the ring as a typical high-end-almost-digital-camera phone similar to its counter parts at Sony Ericsson, Nokia and LG. The 'Metal' series clicked off pretty well with cell phone users and this rendition (with a better camera) is an icing on the cake.

FEATURES: The brilliant 2.4-inch display screen is simply fabulous for viewing media. The camera makes the most of the specs with a 5 megapixel lens. The 3x optical zoom makes real eye candy for photography enthusiasts. It is blessed with red-eye reduction, brilliant shooting modes, adjustable lens exposure to light, grid lines, an amazing flash and anti-shake among other exciting features. The autofocus and face detection technologies are well implemented in the camera. Somehow the captured images aren't always as impressive as those of even menially built cameras. The sharpness and RGB color balance don't add up to the best possible images.

Motion capture is a bit of a let down which is also the case with the macro mode. Video shootings using the 'Camcorder' are more than impressive. The video file is captured at a good frame rate in MP4 format and is a lot better than still photography. We liked the GUI at first, thanks to the large, visible icons and brilliantly animated wallpaper. The playback of music files can be controlled even in a minimized state. However, the firmware isn't fast which pulls down the operation pace. Images take a long time to capture and need you to hold the camera still for a while after shooting.



The startup of the phone has an elaborate introduction which explains a lot of extra measures to save battery and to display its status. This is for the simple fact that the battery of the phone is the weakest link of the camera. Despite claims of a 220-hour stand-by time, the battery somehow drains quicker than expected. It takes insanely long to charge and heats up as well during the process. The charging port (which is also the USB port) is covered with a fragile looking flap. Though it makes the side of the phone look neat (as compared to some exposed holes) it does make you a little cautious while opening and closing the flap.

The slot for microSD cards has a similar design. The A2DP Bluetooth 2.0 support is helpful for audiophiles to enjoy stereo music wirelessly. It also provides Bluetooth printing. The Office suite provided in the G800 is great to use and so is the PDF viewer. The multimedia support for the phone includes playback of most leading file formats including MP3, AAC, WMA, etc. You can view your videos on a larger scale using the TV-out. It also has a FM tuner.

VERDICT: A good phone for photography enthusiasts but there are better ones out there that fall within the same price range. If you are a Samsung patron then this one will not disappoint you.
FOR: Good camera for video shooting, optical zoom is excellent, fantastic keypad. AGAINST: Slow firmware, bulky size, battery life, heats up while charging.