Samsung E250
Samsung is the kind of brand that you neither love nor hate. Be it with their home stereo components, television sets, media players, and mobile phones, there is just something about it that eludes the market. Is it lack of innovation? Cetainly not. But people's faces do not light up at the mere mention of their name. Maybe it's because they just have always been on the safe side of things. Their designs do not reach out ang grab you by your heart and throat the way a Sony Bravia or a Pioneer micro component might do. But with the release of their mobile phone model – the Samsung E250, they may soon turn the tables around.
First off: the E250 is developed by Samsung to take a big bite out of the mid-range cell phone industry. And it may do just so. The quality and built is top-notch, with a high-quality finish. It's design speaks softly but carries a big punch. The E250 will inspire you to hold it the moment you set your eyes on it's large color TFT screen surrounded by it's misty silver casing with bevelled edges. And once you hold it, you'll notice it is thin at just 14 mm and light at only eighty grams but still feels tough and
sturdy.
Samsung E250 Camera and Display
As is almost standard even with entry level mobile phones these days, the Samsung E250 comes integrated with a VGA camera capable of capturing both still pictures and video. Both these functions are capable of zooming in your subject for up to 4 x digitally. Not much you may think compared to other camera phones that offer up to 8 x digital zoom. But rarely, if at all does anyone need to zoom in that much with their handsets. And zooming in at that rate would only render your shots noisy and pixilated anyway so why bother trying.
The E250 has a CMOS sensor though that promises excellent imaging and clear, crisp photographs. Video however, can only capture at fifteen frames per second of QCIF resolution in either the H263 or MPEG4 format. But the lack in quality makes up by being able to capture a whole hour of video footage, complete with sound. Be sure to carry your charger with you when capturing lengthy videos though as the E250 is not known for its long battery life. Speaking of video, the E250's caller identification has the ability to display video clips instead of just the standard still photo or text.
Samsung E250 Design and Accessories
Maybe it is unfair to judge the Samsung E250 by its photo and video capabilities though as it is a mobile phone first and foremost, and the added features are provided just as extra fun. Something you can tinker with when not taking or making calls. All those functions are great additions because it's hard to take your hands off the unit and as a result your fingers will want to find something to do with it. And of things to do there are a 
lot considering its size. The E250 is capable of MP3, AAC and AAC+ playback. And you can load your songs either with the use of Bluetooth or USB cable. Not much you can load though as the phones memory of just 10 mega bytes is enough for about three to four standard length tunes. The memory is upgradeable though. But in case you do not want to purchase an additional micro SD card, the phone comes with its own FM tuner.
But just sliding the top (spring operated) to reveal its full keypad is a wonder as it slides effortlessly and does not feel cheap unlike other sliders that seem like it's going to break in half. But even when the full keypad is concealed, moving your way through the menus is easy because of the 4 way navigation pad. Other frequently used buttons such as the call accept and reject are situated at the façade so you won't have to slide the handset open every time you take a call. The E250 looks sleek at a dimension of just 99.5 mm x 49.5 mm x 14.1 mm. And the finishing makes it look expensive and stylish. There are color variations to better suit your personality but the silver one just do wonders to the eyes and will appeal to all sides of the demography.
Summary of Samsung E250 Features
- Weight: 80 g
- Width: 50 mm
- Height: 99 mm
- Thickness: 13.9 mm
- Network: GSM 900 / 1800 / 1900 (2G)
- Screen Resolution: TFT, 65K colors, 128 x 160 pixels, 32 x 40 mm
- Data: GPRS Class 10 (4+1/3+2 slots), 32 - 48 kbps, EDGE
- Connectivity: Bluetooth v2.0 with A2DP, USB
- Web Browser: WAP 2.0/xHTML
- Music: FM Radio, MP3 Player
- Camera: VGA, 640x480 pixels, video(QCIF)
- Messaging: SMS, EMS, MMS, Email
- Expansion Slot: microSD (TransFlash)
- Tones: Polyphonic (64 channels), MP3, Vibration
- Software Features: Java MIDP 2.0, Organizer
- Other Features: Built-in handsfree, Voice memo
- Battery: Standard battery, Li-Ion 750 mAh, 5 hours talk time, 250 hours stand-by time
PROS: For all its intent and purposes as a mobile phone the E250 does a good job. USB and Bluetooth connectivity is great. Design is sleek and stylish and looks more expensive than it really is. The spring operated slider works like a charm and feels sturdy.
CONS: Picture quality taken with its VGA camera could be better. Video quality does not do wonders either. Battery life is short so you have to make sure your charger is with you at all times. And the supplied memory leaves a lot to be desired.
Overall: In conclusion, picture and video quality aside, the Samsung E250 performs well and more than serves its purpose. And it does the job while looking stylish and beautiful. Plus you don't have to shelf out a lot of money for it.