Samsung SGH-P850

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Nokia announced the 3-megapixel N80 last year, while Sony Ericsson unveiled its Cyber-shot K800i and K790i earlier this year. However, it seems Samsung will have the honor of being the first major phone manufacturer out with a 3.2-megapixel camera-phone in the region. The triband SGH-P850, expected to be on shelves in Singapore in the first week of April, will also feature an expandable memory slot, autofocus, TV output and onboard music player. CNET Asia takes an exclusive first look at this retro-looking clamshell.

	The P850 comes with a 3.2-megapixel CMOS sensor. (click for larger image)

Upside: With the imaging capabilities on the current crop of handsets maxing out at 2-megapixels, the 3.2-megapixel sensor onboard the P850 will make it one of the highest-resolution camera-phones you can find in the market when it is released later this month. More importantly, we believe the 3.2-megapixel camera will finally hit the sweet spot for many digicam users out there. Unlike 2-megapixel models which are barely sufficient for 8R (8 x 10-inch) prints, the 2,048 x 1,536-pixel images captured using 3-megapixel handsets are technically sharp enough to produce photo prints up to A4 size, which is the maximum print size for most consumers.

To add to the whole imaging experience, Samsung has included an autofocus feature in the P850, on top of the 4x digital zoom and flash light. Like most camera-phones today, the P850 sports Bluetooth and USB for data transfer as well as PictBridge for direct printing. Captured images can be displayed on the P850's 2.12-inch QVGA panel or an external TV (via the handset's TV output). In addition to an onboard 78MB memory, storage expansion is available via a microSD (or TransFlash) card slot.

	Flipping the swivel screen activates the camera function. (click for larger image)

We like that Samsung has gone beyond convention to give the P850 a retro yet rugged look, opting to use a predominantly black leather-like finish on the exterior rather the traditional plastic or metal casings in most of its clamshells. In fact, the phone, with its swivel display flipped outwards in camera mode, looks and feels ergonomically like a typical camera design. The large buttons also make it easy to type comfortably on the keypad.

Some of the other noteworthy features on the P850 include a document viewer and onboard music player. An "Offline" mode lets users access some of the functions of the phone, without having to turn on the cellular features.

Downside: At 95.5 x 47 x 24.4mm, the P850 is easily considered a brick among today's mobile phones. Our biggest gripe, however, is in the lack of a lens cover. The camera lens element, which is located behind the mobile, protrudes prominently, leaving it exposed to scratches and dust. Interestingly, the swivel screen does not open fully, meaning that the LCD display cannot be properly used for taking self-portraits. Users will still have to rely on the tiny metallic reflector for such shots.

We also have our concerns regarding the use of the microSD card as it is currently available in low capacities (around 512MB) and priced at a slight premium. That said, it's still the most futureproof format in the market today.

Outlook: The high-resolution sensor will be a key attraction for consumers looking to replace their digital shooters with their camera-phones. However, we believe the likelihood of this trend will depend heavily on two main factors: The quality of the images, the user experience (compared with that of a dedicated digital camera). We'll be looking at a full review right after this.