Samsung G800 review: Camera with a phone

It seems Samsung are really stepping on it in the 5 megapixel cameraphone race. In a stark display of audacity, the G800 is pitched as a digicam that can make calls. We usually deal with gadgets that are the other way around but we've been eager to test the Samsung G800 ever since its official launch back in late October. As you may recall, we were lucky to be there, but rubbing shoulders is nothing like getting our hands on the handset sporting the first 5 megapixel camera with optical zoom. So sit back and get ready for Samsung G800, one of the most hyped handsets lately.

Samsung G800 official pics

Samsung G800 lifestyle photos

Key features:

• 5 megapixel auto focus camera with 3x optical zoom and xenon flash
• Large 2.4" QVGA 256K color display
• EDGE and 3G (with HSDPA)
• Bluetooth v2.0 with A2DP support
• Comfortable keypad
• Stereo FM radio with RDS
• Stylish design

Main disadvantages:

• Bad display processing
• Weak sunlight legibility
• Very slow memory card reading
• No standard 3.5 mm audio jack
• Volume/Zoom key is very hard to press
• Quite chubby

Optical zoom is not new to cameraphones - the 902 and 903 models by Sharp, as well as Nokia N93 and N93i, were equipped with cameras with optical zoom a good while ago. But in Samsung G800 it goes with a five megapixel sensor and a xenon flash, which makes this handset's camera unmatched, at least in the number of features it offers. We are yet to see if quantity means quality but our first impressions back in October were surely positive. Finally, we have to say that the G800's greatest market share rival will be Sony Ericsson's top shelf cameraphone K850. It has the virtually the same specs save for the optical zoom and, in our point of view, the price will play a major role in this duel. We will refrain from including Nokia N95 here because the smartphone functionality puts it in a slightly different niche than the twosome in question.

Samsung G800 all over

Now, there is only one last thing that we need to mention before we cut to the chase. The unit we had for testing purposes was a final beta release candidate, so you might expect some minor changes and improvements in both software and hardware before the handset officially hits the shelves - however we don't expect them to be many. We didn't have any problems with it plus it came in the retail packaging that will see the handset selling.

More Samsung G800 pictures