For an economic-ranged mobile phone, the Samsung C5010 has its share of admirable qualities. Nicknamed the "Squash," this little wonder is supposedly getting props for coming out as the first affordable multimedia 3G phone. But let’s see if the hype pre-supposes the actual product.
Design
Before anything else, however, we’d like you to take notice of its slick design and appreciate its piano-finish Monobloc exterior. Much like any other basic phone, it is light, plasticky, and pocket-handy. The C5010 is actually quite polished for a candybar smartphone. First look at this pretty device compels us to think that this little unit is trying to make a good impression.
'Welcome to 3G'
We turn on the phone and are straight away greeted with this very message, not to mention the 3G sign labeled on the upper left side of the screen. Fair enough, its connectivity service – which includes 3G, GPRS class 10, and EDGE class 10 – is the sole cherry in its cone, but everything else is pedestrian for today’s techie standards.
Features
The C5010 boasts its best line of features: 1.3 megapixel camera, Java applications, Bluetooth capabilities, and FM radio with recording – still all too basic. With a screen resolution of just 128 x 160 pixels, picture quality isn’t as impressive either. One relief coming is its USB and fax data capabilities, quite a reliable feature if used as an office phone.
The home menu also comes off too cluttered for the phone’s small screen. Three columns containing menu icons, photo IDs, and a time and date pointer all isolated in one page is simply trying too hard. Moreover, the gizmo should help organize the user and not the other way around.
But to any consolation, the Samsung C5010 has a very decent MP3 player, capable of playing nearly all file formats, and the sound system is okay as well. Given today’s headset culture, that’s a nice vindication move on the phone’s part.
Handiness
The rubberized keypads instigate far more tapping sounds than the usual plastic button, but that’s just a small hang-up in exchange for a pretty handy texting experience. Access to menus is simple and easy; at one point, we thought we were coursing through a Nokia phone. It depicts your everyday user-friendly phone and is more convenient than its touch-screen counterparts.
Its call and SMS response is smooth enough; the last thing you’ll ever complain about this phone is its connectivity options. Internet browsing and checking e-mail messages is possible, though we’re not too crazy about its non-Web-friendly resolution.
Verdict
More convenient than entertaining and better than basic, the Samsung C5010 is certainly user material, one you can have a long relationship with. But if one day a more gorgeous, sexy new phone sparks your interest, go ahead and give in to the temptation.
Click here to see the Samsung Squash C5010 in the Buyer's Guide.