f there’s one thing the Samsung Armani phone has in abundance, it most definitely is style. Slim, compact and high-tech, the fully touch-operated Armani phone is not just the final touch to your look - it’s the finish with a flourish. Anyway, with us the tech junky tends to get the upper hand over the fashion savvy, and we are eager to find out if there’s more to it than what meets the eye. The really promising Samsung Armani phone seems the right mix between technology and looks, but we’re more interested in how it fares as a gadget, not an accessory.

Samsung Armani official photos

Key features:

• Stylish looks and high-quality build
• Small dimensions and compact “card” form factor
• 2.6″ touchscreen TFT display with QVGA resolution
• Vibrating haptic response
• microSD memory card slot
• Stereo Bluetooth
• 3 megapixel camera
• Office documents viewer
• Rich retail accessories

Main disadvantages:

• Slow interface response
• Slow memory card reading
• Awkward web browser controls
• No 3G support
• No camera auto focus

The model designation that hides behind the Samsung Armani name is actually Samsung P520. That alone may be enough of a hint that the Armani phone is an offshoot of the Samsung P-series. The Samsung Armani has inherited the same form factor and has the same size and weight as the Samsung P310 for example.

The Samsung Armani phone comes in two retail packages - standard and extended . The difference between the two is the Bluetooth headset in the bigger one.

The standard contents of the retail box are a hard leather case, charger, data cable, memory card, a wired stereo headset, soft pouch as an alternative to the leather case and, finally, a cleaning cloth.

All the contents of the box look really classy and are all Giorgio Armani branded. The user guide has the most exquisite covers we’ve seen, for example.

The standard box contents are anything but standard

Armani adds a touch of unique style to the Samsung portfolio

So after you’ve had a taste of what’s coming, you are welcome to hop aboard and stay with our Samsung Armani phone review right after the jump.

Samsung merilis dua ponsel yang memiliki kesan lembut yang ditujukan bagi para wanita yang konsen terhadap fashion dimana cenderung lebih memperhatikan penampilan dibanding dengan sisi fungsionalitasnya.

Samsung L310
Samsung L310 adalah sebuah ponsel kulit kerang (clamshell) yang memiliki corak hitam dan emas. Ponsel tri-band ini hadir dengan dimensi yang cukup kompak, yaitu : 93.4 x 44 x 17.9 mm dan memiliki sejumlah aplikasi khusus wanita, seperti Daftar belanja, tipe kehamilan atau (penghitung) konsumsi kalori. Ponsel ini memiliki sebuah layar selebar 1.8? dengan resolusi 176 x 220 piksel. Kapasitas media penyimpanannya dilengkapi dengan memori internal sebesar 20 MB yang dapat diextend melalui slot kartu memori microSD.

Ponsel ini juga dilengkapi dengan fitur-fitur multimedia terkini, semisal kamera 2 megapiksel, MP3 player dan konektivitas Bluetooth, juga ada USB v2.0.

Ketersediaan ponsel ini dipasaran diperkirakan sekitar bulan Februari dengan kisaran harga sekitar 240 EUR diluar pajak.

Samsung L320
Ponsel kedua yang diluncurkan adalah Samsung L320 yang memiliki desain kulit kerang yang lebih agak bundar dibagian tepi-tepinya. Ponsel ini diperkirakan sebagai penerus dari Samsung E570, yang hadir dengan dua layar, yaitu untuk layar utama bertipe TFT LCD dengan resolusi 176 x 220 dan layar eksternal beripe OLED dengan resolusi 176 x 16 piksel. Kamera 2 mega piksel plus USB v1.1 serta Bluetooth v2.0 juga disematkan pada ponsel ini disamping semua aplikasi khusus wanita yang ada di Samsung L310.


Kapasitas internal memori yang ada pada ponsel ini sekitar 17 MB dan untuk memenuhi kebutuhan pengguna akan media penyimpanan telah disediakan juga slot kartu memori microSD. Ponsel ini dibanderol pada kisaran harga sekitar 220 EUR dan diperkiralkan akah hadir dipasaran sekitar bulan Februari 08.

Kedua ponsel Samsung L31 dan Samsung L320 diberitakan telah mendukung GPRS dan EDGE untuk memenuhi kebutuhan komunikasi datanya.

Subdued elegance and decent feature set give Nokia 6555 its edge in the crowded midrange. The two quality displays and great keypad provide for comfortable handling, while 3G support adds to the excitement with this elegantly tall and sleek clamshell.

Key features

• Stylish slender clamshell
• High-quality 2-inch QVGA 16M color TFT display
• Comfortable keyboard
• UMTS and EDGE support
• microSD memory card support up to 4 GB
• Good music player
• Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP profile
• microUSB connector and 2.5mm jack

Main disadvantages

• Shiny surfaces suffer fingertips
• Loose hinge and the “cracking” back cover
• Only 1.3 megapixel camera with rather basic interface
• Memory card slot under the battery
• No FM radio
• No video calls support
• microUSB port is still not widely popular
• No headphones and memory card in the retail package

Nokia 6555

Nokia 6555 is a midrange 3G-enabled handset, joining the clamshell ranks of the Finnish company. The form factor inevitably brings back memories of the likeable push-to-open Nokia 6131. Nokia 6555 lacks the auto-open functionality but the 3G support is one of the strong points of this stylish clamshell.

Nokia 6555 in hand • tall but comfortable

Slender black

The first thing about Nokia 6555 to sure make an impression is its elongated silhouette. Compared to 6131, Nokia 6555 is 8 mm taller and 4 mm narrower, keeping the same thickness. The actual dimensions are 99.6 x 44.3 x 19.6 mm, at a weight of 97 g. We are testing the black variety, but Nokia 6555 is also available in sliver, red and beige. The colors only vary on both the front and rear framing; the middle glossy sections on the face and the back of the handset are always black. Enclosed in handsome chrome-colored accents, they do contribute to the stylish looks and feel of the device, but are critically prone to fingerprints.

Official pictures of the other color versions

The phone is all made of plastic. Those expecting elite expensive materials could be disappointed but after all it’s a midrange handset, which by the way looks above its class. The glossy finish and the mirror external display are nicely highlighted by the chrome accents, which do enhance the elongated shape of Nokia 6555.

We couldn’t help reminisce of the KRZR K3, which is a true looker. The 6555 is another Nokia clamshell, along with the N76, to feature a chin at the foot of the lower flip in the style of the Motorola RAZR bunch and its offshoots. In Nokia 6555 the chin is reclined to match the etched end of the flip, giving the handset its sharp profile in both open and closed position.



Nokia 6555 all around • not slim at all • a-la-Motorola chin

A cushion for the flip below the keypad • Nokia 6555 is a tall clamshell

Three connectors are placed at the sides of the handset. At the bottom on the right is the charger plug, while the 2.5 mm headphone jack is at the top. The microUSB port is on the left, along with the lanyard eyelet. The side of the flip features the dedicated camera key and the volume rocker. The whole threesome offers good elevation and tactility.

Volume and shutter keys on the flip • microUSB port • 2.5 mm headset jack

The whole rear panel is the battery compartment cover. It features the same chrome-colored accents as the front and, when the flip is open, the chrome lines join in one oblong shape. The battery cover removes easily, but could’ve been a lot more solid. A little extra pressure will result in audible creaks. Underneath is the reasonably capable 1020 mAh Li-Ion battery, quoted at 300 hours in stand-by and 390 minutes talk time.

Chrome accents join in open position

Under the battery are the SIM bed and the microSD card slot. The memory card is not hot-swappable; the handset has to power off before inserting or removing the card. Nokia 6555 supports microSD cards of up to 4 GB capacity, but none is shipped with the handset.

The entire rear panel gets removed • in the hinge area the handset looks sliced off