Samsung Ultra Edition 8.4

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In the past year, Samsung has built a strong reputation for featuring some of its slimmest handsets in its Ultra Edition series. The new Ultra Edition 8.4 (a.k.a. SGH-Z370) is no exception. Touted as the thinnest 3G phone in the world during its initial European launch in August 2006, the 8.4 improves upon the Ultra Edition 6.9 with several key enhancements, including 3G connectivity, dual cameras and an expansion card slot. The extra features do add slightly to the bulk of the handset, but frankly you'd be hard-pressed to find another phone that's as slim and feature-rich as the 8.4.

Design
Like previous Ultra Edition phones, the number in the model name denotes the thickness of the handset. Thus, in the case of the Ultra Edition 8.4, the mobile measures just 8.4mm. While it may not be as thin as its Ultra Edition 6.9 predecessor, we like that it feels a lot less flimsy. Combined with the solid build quality of the handset, we certainly had no qualms when putting the 8.4 in the back pocket, unlike the 6.9 which somehow felt like it would break under stress.

To better differentiate the new trio of 3G Ultra Editions from the first-generation lineup (unveiled during CommunicAsia 2006), the 8.4 will be offered in silver. This is a conservative yet refreshing change from the black in the original series and should appeal to the mass market audience. That said, there are just too many silver handsets in the market today. Given a choice, we hope to see the 8.4 being introduced in more vibrant colors.

Aesthetics-wise, Samsung adopts a plain-looking yet functional approach for the 8.4, with its design modeled closely after the 6.9. The phone follows a flat, wide footprint, with buttons and connectors on both sides. The microSD card expansion slot can be accessed from the right side and comes with a plastic cover to keep out the dust and dirt. The 1.9-inch landscape display makes it easier to read messages.

Buttons on the keypad are generally well-spaced and large enough for comfortable typing. Compared with the 6.9, Samsung has added two extra keys on the 8.4 for video calls and quick function switch just above the call and end call buttons, respectively. The center navigation button to access the Internet will take some getting used to as it is instinctively a menu button for many other phones.

To enable 3G video calls, the 8.4 comes with a VGA camera right above the TFT screen and a 2-megapixel sensor on the rear. The back camera is aligned with a self-portrait mirror plate on a flat surface that juts out slightly from the rest of the back cover. It's great for taking pictures as it is designed so your finger doesn't block the lens. This design, though, puts the glass at greater risk of being scratched.

For such a thin phone with limited real estate, we're surprised that Samsung still manages to squeeze in a small hook for hanging phone straps and other dangly accessories.

Our main design gripe lies with the phone's 3-in-1 connector. The single port is used to hook up to a wired headset, USB cable and charger, a setback as it means you can perform only one of the three tasks at any one time.