Samsung SGH-1700

Posted by T3 Online on Wed 31 Oct 2007

A case of déjà vu, but with a fab screen

With Samsung putting out so many new mobile phones, you'd be forgiven for missing this impressive-looking Windows Mobile smart phone aiming to take on the O2 Xda II (T3 93, 4/5).

It's been around for a while in the States and - save for it being tri-band for Euro-compatibility - this new version is unchanged. It features the same 64MB of memory, 300MHz XScale processor and trademark swivel lens that rotates through 270 degrees for self-portraits. There's no Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, but you can add either with a compatible SD card.

In Windows PDA terms, its performance is in the mid-range - it starts to flag a little when playing back video. O2's Xda II trumps it for sheer speed stakes, although Samsung scores a notch in return with a gorgeous 3.5-inch display. Unfortunately, the company's trademark external antenna is also present, giving excellent reception but also an unwelcome couple of centimetres to this already sizeable phone, which comes in slightly larger than O2's device.

To help keep you going, two batteries are supplied: one slim, one high-capacity, with the latter carrying the handset through a full day of heavy use. Conveniently, both can be charged at the same time via the bundled cradle. The swivel lens is another bonus over O2's fixed VGA-quality camera, although snaps proved a little fuzzy in the corners.

It makes for a difficult choice for Windows phone/PDA fans, but the Samsung's protruding aerial and lack of Bluetooth mean the Xda II just has the edge here.

PROS: Excellent display. Extra battery. Swivel lens. CONS: No Bluetooth. External antenna.