Samsung G600 review: Slide and snap

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.

Samsung G600 official pictures

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.