The Samsung E600: A Feature Phone Ahead of Its Time
Released in 2003, the Samsung E600 was a feature phone that stood out from its contemporaries. This phone may seem simple by today's standards, but during its time, it was a highly advanced device. Let's take a closer look at what made the Samsung E600 a standout in the mobile phone market.
Design and Dimensions
The Samsung E600 was a lightweight and compact device, weighing only 85g with a thickness of 24mm. It had a small body with dimensions of 82 x 42 x 24 mm. The phone's SIM card could be easily inserted as it was a Mini-SIM card type.
Display and Navigation
The E600 featured a TFT display with 65K colors, which was impressive for its time. The main display had a resolution of 128 x 128 pixels, which may seem low compared to current smartphone resolutions, but it was impressive back then. The phone also had a second external display with 65K colors and a resolution of 96 x 64 pixels. Navigating through the phone was easy with its four-way navigation keys.
Memory and Camera
The E600 had a decent memory for its time with a phonebook that could store up to 1000 entries, contact groups, and photo call features. It also had a limited space for multimedia, with 512 KB for images, 300 KB for videos, 1.4 MB for MMS, 600 KB for ringtones, 512 KB for Java, and 100 KB for voice memos.
In terms of its camera, the E600 had a single VGA camera and was capable of recording video. While the camera quality may not have been on par with today's smartphones, it was still a significant feature for a feature phone back in 2003.
Connectivity and Features
The E600 may not have had all the modern connectivity options such as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, but it did have an infrared port for file sharing. It also supported texting features like SMS, EMS, and MMS. Additionally, it had a WAP browser and came with four pre-installed games that could be downloaded to keep users entertained.
This phone also featured Java, allowing users to download and use apps and games on their device. Other notable features included predictive text input, a voice memo function, and Nokia Smart Messaging.
Battery Life and Colors
The E600 came with a removable Li-Ion 900 mAh battery, which could last up to 4 hours of talk time or up to 150 hours on standby. There was also the option to use a slim battery of Li-Ion 700 mAh, which could extend the talk time to 7 hours and standby time to 120 hours. The phone was available in a sleek silver color.
Conclusion
The Samsung E600 may seem outdated now, but it was definitely a phone ahead of its time when it was released in 2003. Its advanced features and compact design made it a popular choice for mobile phone users. The E600 proved that a feature phone could offer impressive capabilities and functionality, anticipating the demands and preferences of future smartphone users.
While this device may no longer be in use, it still remains a significant part of Samsung's journey in the mobile phone industry and has paved the way for the development of more advanced devices we use today.
Samsung E600 Full Specifications
Network
Technology
GSM
2G bands
GSM 900 / 1800 / 1900
GPRS
Class 8
EDGE
No
Launch
Announced
2003, Q4
Status
Discontinued
Body
Dimensions
82 x 42 x 24 mm (3.23 x 1.65 x 0.94 in)
Weight
85 g (3.00 oz)
SIM
Mini-SIM
Display
Type
TFT, 65K colors
Size
Resolution
128 x 128 pixels, 1:1 ratio
Other
Second external display, TFT, 65K colors (96 x 64 pixels)
Four way navigation keys
Memory
Card slot
No
Phonebook
1000 entries, contact groups, Photo call
Call records
20 dialed, 20 received, 20 missed calls
Other
512 KB for images
300 KB for videos
1.4 MB for MMS
600 KB for ringtones
512 KB for Java
100 KB voice memo (5 x 30 sec.)
Main Camera
Single
VGA
Video
Yes
Selfie camera
Other
No
Sound
Loudspeaker
No
Alert types
Vibration; Downloadable polyphonic ringtones
3.5mm jack
No
Comms
WLAN
No
Bluetooth
No
Positioning
No
Infrared port
Yes
Radio
No
USB
Features
Sensors
Messaging
SMS, EMS, MMS
Browser
WAP
Games
4 - BubbleSmile, Fun2Link, Ultimate Golf, Mobile Chess + downloadable
Java
Yes, MIDP 2.0
Other
Predictive text input
Organizer
Voice memo
Nokia Smart Messaging