Prizefight: Samsung Ultra Edition 12.1 (U700) vs. LG Shine (KU970)
Round 2: Design
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For this round, we delve deeper past a pretty shell. We'll look at the design and appearance of the product, as well as ergonomics, weight and durability. We also look at the placement of the buttons and connectivity ports. A product that scores well in both shouldn't have user fumbling when trying to locate them.
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4
It's thinner, lighter and comes with an eye-catching design that will turn heads for sure. It is surprisingly comfortable to hold, too. Some people may find it a little plasticky, but the U700 still feels pretty solid. Be prepared to constantly deal with fingerprint smudges, though. |
3
The Shine may be a tad heavy, but the stainless steel casing gives it a solid build quality not commonly found in slim phones. Overall, a simple yet stylish-looking phone. Like the U700, it comes with only one port for connecting the headset and charger. |
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3
The phone slides up and down with a satisfying springy motion. Materials-wise, the back feels somewhat plasticky, and the entire package just doesn't feel very solid. The U700 isn't poorly built, but it just can't beat the feel of cold, hard metal. |
4
If you liked the sliding motion of the Samsung, you've love the movement of the LG. The sheer heft of the phone makes sure that opening and closing the handset give an audible snapping sound. Its material does make it a tad heavy, but it sure is solid. |
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4
Even though the U700 can't match up with the Shine's metallic casing, its solid build quality--that is, no moving parts, etc.--makes it a very reliable handset. One thing I don't entirely like is the placement of the volume keys which can be blocked by part of the headset when the latter is plugged in. |
4
I would think the Shine KU970 is a stylish phone for the men, while the Samsung U700 is more suited for the ladies. Nothing beats holding something solid in the hands. Cold, hard metal? Sweet. The external buttons are all on the same side of the phone, which look rather cramped at first but at least you know they are all there. |
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Total |
11 |
11 |
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