Samsung SGH-G800: The Pioneer in 5MP Camera Phones

Author: Moby
Filed under: Samsung
Date: Feb 22,2008

Samsung SGH-G800
Samsung has revolutionized handy technology when it came out with the first ever 5-megapixel camera phone in the form of the Samsung G800. The beautifully sleek G800 has benchmarked the new generation of camera phones. However, it does not only have a 5MP camera to boast about, it also has full features crammed in this great handset.

Samsung has been known for its ultra slim phones, but the G800 probably does not qualify as slim. It weighs about 129g which makes it relatively heavy, too. However, this added bulk is well compromised if you take a look at the G800’s features.

The design of the G800 is seemingly centered around its camera. which we have already expected. At the back is a cover that protects the camera lens and the Xenon flash. The G800 is held horizontally when you take a picture, and there is a dedicated shutter button and a volume rocker for zooming in and out. Aside from these dedicated keys, there are not much buttons to notice in this phone. All keys are mechanical, though we were pleased to see them to be large and laid out quite well. Pressing the Keypad might be a little tough at first, and will need some getting used to.

As far as features are concerned, the 5MP sensor, the autofocus and the Xenon flash (assisted by LED lights), 3x zoom, red-eye reduction and image stabilization are all enough to take camera phones into an entirely new level. It is the closest you can ever get for a digital camera on a phone. We are also glad that it sports a microSD expansion slot to hold more pictures. There are basic photo editing tools pre-installed in the G800, as well as a video editing suite.

The G800 is more than just about the camera. It also features a music player, an FM radio, and 3.5G HSDPA connectivity which allows you to browse at speeds up to 7.2Mbps. It can also support Java games and cool applications such as Google Maps.

In terms of performance, we were actually impressed with the photo quality and the speed at which the camera executes. It looks just like a real camera which take photos with quality that are just like the real thing. We find it even better than that of the Nokia N95, Ericsson K850i and the LG Viewty. The Xenon flash may not have been the brightest, but the photo quality is quite excellent even at low lighting conditions. The music player did its job quite well too, though we would have appreciated it if it rendered pages well on its installed web browser.

The G800 is truly an outstanding phone. Being the first in the family of 5MP camera phones, it truly lived up to our expectations. Though some may find it oversized, the features it bring well compensates for the added bulk. However, if you are used to putting your phone in your pocket, you might as well go for something slimmer with similar features. Nonetheless, we still recommend this phone for its excellent features and performance.

The Samsung G800 is available for $518.00 at ElephantCellular