Samsung Pixon (M8800)

By Damian Koh
Mar 11, 2009

Following in the footsteps of the Innov8 and Omnia, the Pixon heralds a new label for Samsung camera-phones. Unlike the Omnia marquee which has high-end devices like the Windows Mobile-based SGH-i900 and the Omnia HD, the M8800 is the only model in the Pixon portfolio now. Like its immediate competitor the LG Renoir, the 8-megapixel Pixon (M8800) trades a physical keypad for a full touchscreen display.

Design

One look at the Pixon and you'd probably recall Samsung's other touchscreen outings, the F480 or the Omnia. The 3.2-inch 240 x 400-pixel screen (similar to the Omnia) is flush with the entire front surface, with only three mechanical keys at the bottom. The resistive display requires a little pressure to press, rather than just tapping as with capacitive screens, but it'll respond to both finger and stylus inputs.

The Pixon is noticeably shorter than the Omnia due to the missing "chin" at the bottom. On the Omnia, the center key is an optical directional pad. As you move your thumb around the area, the additional length helps to prevent your digit from slipping off the edge. On the Pixon, the center button brings you back to the previous menu. So the extra space needed for the thumb to move around the optical pad is no longer needed.

Although the Pixon has a smaller footprint (and weighs 122g), the top half of the phone is thicker than the Omnia due to the slightly protruding camera module at the back. It is also worth mentioning that the blue rim which surrounds the camera lens is similar to the design approach on the Korean chaebol's own NV-series of digital cameras. Whether this similarity is intentional remains to be seen. As a matter of fact, the 8-megapixel Innov8 was probably the first Samsung camera-phone to sport the blue rim design.

In our hands, the Pixon didn't deliver the solid feeling of the Omnia but is still reasonably well-built. We like the grooved strips that run along the sides of the phone, which breaks the monotony of the design. There's a Hold button along with a Shortcut key and microSD expansion card slot on the left. On the other side of the device, you can find imaging-related controls such as shutter, playback and digital zoom. Lastly, on the front is a shooter which you can use for video calls.

Tags: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., Camera Phone, Imaging, Camera, touch screen

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