Apr 23, 2008

Samsung SGH-F700 with minimalist twist

Announced just one month after the iPhone's momentous launch, the SAMSUNG SGH-F700 bears a striking resemblance to Apple's phone. Touted by some pundits as the iPhone killer, the F700 has yet to fulfill the expectations since its launch last year.

Looks Can Kill:

Without a doubt, the F700 is a looker of a phone. The glossy finish of its exterior manages to conceal the plastic origins of its chassis while you can replace the back cover with a non-glossy version if you can't stand unsightly fingerprint smudges.

The relatively sparse front profile is complemented by side buttons which give quick access to volume and camera functions. The lack of the usual keypad is remedied with an on-screen touch version and a QWERTY keyboard that easily slides out with a whoosh. The USB data connection and earphone jacks are located at the top of the unit, while the microSD expansion slot that supports up to 4GB's worth of data is hidden behind the back cover, which is slightly inconvenient if tolerable. The 3.0-megapixel camera is also located behind, but it lacks a protective lens cover.