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Here at Absolute Gadget, we're as impressed by the shiniest mobile phone as the next man (or woman). Samsung has been particularly prolific in recent times – and its waif-like products have been ticking all the right boxes in the style department. Not content with producing some of the most desirable consumer handsets, the company also has a range of Blackberry-rivalling smartphones.
The SGH-i600 is one such product, and at just 12mm in depth, it’s no thicker than a conventional mobile phone. The 2.3-inch display is also the same size as a regular phone, but it’s fitted sideways. And with more width, it's a whole lot easier to read text messages and webpages.
As with most corporate products, a QWERTY keypad is built-in. The keys are slightly cramped, but it’s still easy to type at speed. Thankfully, those with stumpy digits are well catered for, with each number assigned two keys – creating a larger surface area to press.
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The SGH-i600 is far from perfect, however, and we were sad to see the omission of Windows Mobile 6.0. There’s also no office suite to create or edit documents, so you won't be able to spend the afternoon working in the park if the British weather gets its act together.
The Windows Mobile 5.0 OS lacks the simple email wizard found on newer rival devices. Those in the know will still be able to access their accounts using Microsoft’s Exchange server, but the less than technically minded can forget it.
Once our email account was configured, push email technology helped to deliver messages quickly. A Wi-Fi adapter is also built-in, making VoIP calls a possibility. When you’re out of range of your wireless network, a 3G/HSDPA connection offers the fastest download speeds currently available on a mobile device.
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While connectivity is comprehensive, we were not so impressed with the camera. At 1.3-megapixels, resolution is lower than most of its rivals, and picture quality failed to live up to expectations. With no dedicated shutter key, and no way to launch the camera at the touch of a button, it felt little short of an afterthought.
The slim casing inevitably means compromises have been made over battery size and true to form, the tiny battery needed to be charged every day or so. With this in mind, Samsung has included a bigger, additional battery in the package as standard. Although this nearly doubles the i600’s depth, it meant we were able to go for a week between charges under reasonable use.
The i600 is a well-equipped device, and performed well. It also has its rivals licked for style. However, it's difficult to recommend to those who put function ahead of form. The switch to Windows Mobile 6.0 has made rival devices a lot easier to use, and the lack of office suite just can't be ignored.
VERDICT: 7/10
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