Samsung announces S5230 and S5600 touchscreen handsets
Early this morning, Samsung announced the two newest additions to its full-touchscreen line up that might not fill a gap, but they sure do look purty. The S5230 and S5600 handsets are aimed at the European market for the time being and may stay there, though the US seems to actually be keeping up with its friends across the pond when it comes to doing away with keypads. It is becoming more and more apparent that the keypad-less form factor is one that Samsung is embracing, fully, so we should expect plenty more of these puppies down the road. Specs:
S5230
- EDGE/GPRS Quad Band (850/900/1800/1900MHz)
- 3.0″ 262K WQVGA LCD (240×400) touchscreen display
- 3 Megapixel camera, CMOS (Smile Shot), 15 fps video capture
- H.263 / H.264 / WMV / MPEG4 video support
- FM Radio with RDS, DNSe
- MP3, AAC, AAC+, WMA, eAAC+, WMA, AMR,MIDI,SP-MIDI, i-melody, WAV audio support
- Music Recognition/SNS/Photo Contact/Gesture Lock/Wide Idle screen/Handwriting
- TouchWiz UI with Mobile Widget
- Bluetooth v2.1 / USB 2.0 FS
- Internal Memory 50 MB + External Memory slot : microSDHC (up to 8GB)
- 104 x 53 x 11.9 mm
- 1000 mAh battery
S5600
- HSDPA 7.2 Mbps (900/2100MHz)
- EDGE/GPRS Quad Band (850/900/1800/1900MHz)
- 2.8″ 16M TFT (240 x 320) touchscreen display
- 3 Megapixel camera, CMOS (Smile Shot), 15 fps video capture
- H.263 / H.264 / WMV / MPEG4 video support
- Video recording supporting QVGA@15fps
- FM Radio with RDS, DNSe
- MP3, AAC, AAC+, WMA, eAAC+, WMA, AMR,MIDI,SP-MIDI, i-melody, WAV audio support
- Music Recognition/SNS/Photo Contact/Gesture Lock/Wide Idle screen
- TouchWiz UI with Mobile Widget
- Bluetooth v2.1 / USB 2.0 FS
- Internal Memory 80 MB + External Memory slot : microSDHC (up to 8GB)
- 102.8 x 54.8 x 12.9mm
- 1000 mAh battery
Not bad, not bad at all. Provided these handsets are well-subsidized, as they are expected to be, we’ll surely see them roaming the streets of Europe. It is also becoming increasingly apparent that Samsung’s TouchWiz UI is here to stay on low and mid-range handsets — yea or nay? The S5230 will drop across Europe some time in April with the S5600 to follow in May.
lookin good. we just need them state side.
naynay
@Hmmmm: -Who- needs them state-side? 12-year olds saving up their allowance?
@backbeat: imagine – a world where some people still don’t want a smartphone; its a terrible place, I know.
@hmmmm.: at least they are free of carrier crapware, but there are cheaper alternatives.
I’m likin the S5230. If that made it “state side”, I would purchase.
There’s a difference between handsets that appeal to kids and handsets that will appeal to general adults. -That’s- the point. The market is becoming saturated with variations of the “TouchWiz-type” feature phones of the world, yet they aren’t making a dent in the market they want to capture.
If/When these come state-side on carriers, they will no longer be free of crapware. If they are spec’d for US freqs, but only available unlocked, they will hardly see the light of day.
I’m quite tired of the endless amount of touchscreen phones coming out. Not everyone wants a touchscreen, especially a resistive screen. If you have to make a resistive touchscreen, please make it decent.
I have the Eternity and it does what I want it to do. I also have a Nokia E51 but found myself drawn to the touchscreen of the Eternity more and more. Although the E51 has more ‘features’ and Symbian, the browsing and gmail/maps with the build in camera and music player have been very satisfying for me.
They look good.
God forbid someone might consider this instead of the “Jesus” iphone….I like the iphone and what it offers but its become redundant in apps and even the older crowd like backbeat have one…something else will come along…
I have a hunch that something else will be either the Palm Pre or the Samsung i8910 Omnia HD (with Symbian OS). I am torn between these two.
Sorry to disappoint you (on 2 counts), DavidThande. Neither do I have an iPhone, nor am I part of the ‘older’ crowd. Or, be your definition, does ‘older’ qualify as anything above ‘12′?
With your obsessive-compulsive nature of intensively studying me, people may start a viral whisper-campaign about your personal proclivities.
Its more curiosity than compulsive…and yes your age sounds bitter and old. With your not good enough for me standards. You’ve decided that BGR has made you the off center judge. I’ve come to enjoy your rebuttal.
P.S. Mac or PC Bareback…opps Backbeat..?
Oh yea and I work at an abortion clinic…business is slow. I’m constantly looking for something to pass the time…BGR…those are my activities!
( Sarcasm )
This dog don’t hunt.
@backbeat? So your a mac?
Did I stutter?
lol!
I’m surprised by the lack of wifi.
Is wifi only reserved for smarthphones?
No, it’s an iPhone exclusive feature. At least that’s probably what the iFanbois will tell you… Oh yeah, I’m replying via my Samsung Eternity…
Recipe for Smartphone Success:
Step 1: Take Samsung Omnia.
Step 2: Skip the production SOP step that instructs the worker to add Windows Mobile.
Step 3: Install Android OS (free)
Step 4: Present to Verizon.
Step 5: Enjoy world domination.