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Review of GSM handset Samsung X210

Package:

Handset
Battery
Charger
Wired headset
User Manal

Samsung X210 is a slightly modified edition of X200 from very same manufacturer. Modifications that were introduced in the new model are minimal when compared to previous model: slight design changes and addition of FM radio. Company’s approach is understandable: minimal expenses set for product line-up extension, chance for users to select what they really need.

This handset, just like its predecessor, is presented in clamshell form-fator without external display. Handset’s dimensions are small and remained unchanged (86x43x19 mm, weight – 75 grams). Model is pretty much compact, and fits jeans pocket just as good as shirt’s one. Handset fits one’s palm nicely, large deepenings among all case make it easier to open with one hand. Large opening angle allow using handset comfrotably in all conditions, as microphone will always be close to your mouth.

Model is wholly made of qualitative plastic, there are no concerns about assemgling quality, all deatails match each other perfectly. Surface is varnished, and of course it is very easily soiled. It is understandable that usage of such surface turns budget phone into a more attractive one, solid, but user will be forced to wipe case in order it to look decent. Case is scratch and worn-outs proof. Model is offered in three color solutions: grey, black and silver.

Similarly to X200, X210 has small service LED on upper side. Slot for connecting headset is located on left side, it is covered with plastic cork, which is attached to case. You will see volume adjustment button slightly lower than that and in the end of that side there’s IrDA. Volume adjustment button is convinient to use, but its location is rather unusual, as it is located almost in the middle of case, instead of upper side which is common.

Hole for strap is located on upper side, and interface connecter is located on the bottom one, it is covered with plastic cork, attached to case.

Once you open handset you’ll see small UFB-display with 128x160 pixel resolution (28x35 mm), it is capable of displaying up to 65k coors. Picture rendering quality is good, especially for budget class handset. Display turns pale outdoors, but information is still readable.

Keypad layout is mostly standard for Samsung phones. Big four-positional navigation key with Ok button inside. Two soft-keys which are also rather large are also comfortable to work with. All keys are pressed softly and have average key-press length.

Numeric keypad covers almost all useful area, this is why manufacturer was able to create a really big and comfrotable to wok with buttons. Even those who have large fingers will find it convinient to work with. Faulty key-pressings are nearly impossible to make. Keypad backlight color is white, and it is equally spread among all surface.

Nearly all part of back side is occupied by battery section, its fixation is reliable, there is no backlash and probability of its introduction afterwards is unlikeable. Handset has li-ion battery with 800 mAh capacity. We were testing out this handset in Moscow and it worked for about 3 days in average with about 20 minutes of phone calls, and up to 20 minutes of other functions, followed by 2 hours of Radio usage daily. It takes around 2 hours for battery to charge up completely.

Phone book. You an access it only by pressing right function key in stand by mode or via main menu. There can be 1000 contacts stored in phone’s memory. Each of them can be assigned with unlimited amount of phone numbers (you can select its type: cellular, work, home) and email addresses (up to 50 charatecters). Contact can be added to one of 10 groups.

Each group can be customized with a name, ring tone for call and message, as well as custom image (total 10 of them).

Information in phone book is displayed as list. Phone book search is done via letters or via groups. Information is displayed from both SIM-card and phone memory, there is quick dial support for up to 8 numbers.

Capabilities of x210’s phone book are enough for most users.

Messages. Handset’s memory can store up to 200 entries. Handset supports EMS standard, and there is set of preinstalled small images, animations and melodies. Besides there is a set of emoticons, they might be useful in case person whom this message is sent to has no EMS support. You can create up to 5 custom templates.Pressing right soft key during message input will allow you to change input language and input mode. Handset supports predictive text input (T9).

MMS editor is easy and simple to use. Maximal amount of outgoing MMS message cannot exceed 95b. There are 700kb of memory dedicated for storing MMS.

Call lists. Standard lists (up to 20 events in each) of received, missed and dialed numbers. Calls from identical phone numbers do nto get summed, instead the are displayed separately. When pressing name/number you will get information which includes phone number date and time of call. There are also call timers in this section too.

Sound settings. Here all settings related to sound settings of handset are stored. Unfortunatley this handset is missing profiles, this is why all settings should be done via this menu. You can select several call types: light only, only vibra, vibra followed by ring tone, only ring tone.

Organizer. Alarm clock. There are three independent alarm clocks: single, daily and morning. Each of them can be customized in terms of melody.

Date and time. Here you can setup date and time and select time format display (12/24). World Time function is located here as well.

To do list. Similar to events in calendar, you can only select priority.

Dictaphone allows recording sound during stand by mode and phone calls too (activated only via menu). Continiouty of recording is limited with 30 seconds. Voice tags have 100kb of memory dedicated for them.

Date and time. Here you can setup date and time and select time format display (12/24). World Time function is located here as well.

Besdies above mentioned menu items you can also find calculator and currency converter.

Fun box. WAP. Here is where WAP-browser v2.0 is located.

JAVA world. Handset supports Java MIDP 2.0, 512kb of memory are dedicated for applications. There is only one preinstalled game – COM2US Bowling. Additional applications can be only installed via WAP. Handset has two preinstalled games Fun2Link and Bubble Smile.

Folders with images and ring tones are located in this section too, there are 600kb available for them.

Network. Here all settings related to network are stored.

FM-radio. Radio can work only when headset is conneted, as its cord is used as antenna. Sound can be transferred to headphones or handset’s loudspeaker. Memory can store up to 32 radio stations, each of them can be assigned with custom name (up to 20 characters).You can setup up to 5 reminders. When event occurs you will see the reminder shown on dipslay, and it will also activate the radio and move on to selected frequency.This function may be useful for those who don’t like missing their favorite radio shows. Radio cannot work in background mode, so in order to use other phone functions it should be disabled.

Settings. All standard handset settings are found here. You can install wallpapers (one of 10 preinstalled images, or one of your custom ones), besides display brightness can be modified together with its contrast level. Here you can also select digit color when number is dialed.

You can also actiavet IrDA port in this section, there is a selection of two items: for PC connection or for handset-to-handset connection. IrDA port possibilities are limited, you can only send contacts, and you cannot send images, ring tones or anything else.

Conclusion

Handset provides good network reception quality in almost all conditions. Speaker volume and microphone sensitivty are at good level. Quality of 40-tone polyphonic ring tones is moderate, you can use mmf-tones as ring tones. Volume of those is higher than avearge, however vibra power is weaker than you’d like it to be. There is loudspeaker function, it works flawlessly, however it can be activated within 2 key presses instad of one (2nd is a conformation) which is not that comfortable, really.

As we said in the beginning of this review, this handset is not much different from its predecessor X200. Main difference between two models is presence of FM radio in X210, this allows gathering additional attention by young user. As for shortcomings – limited IrDA possibilities and short amount of built-in memory (and it is not dynamical either), case surface is very easily soiled. Small handset dimensions and convinient keypad can be considered as advantages, phone book possibilities are fine too, as well as presence of FM radio.

At the moment when this review was conducted Samsung X210 price was around 130 USD.

Vladimir Fokin ([email protected])
Translated by Alexandr "Lexx" Zavoloka ([email protected])

Published — 22 September 2006

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