Samsung B2100 Solid Extreme

Editor's Review of the B2100 Solid Extreme

Encased in equally stunning colours of either red or black, the Samsung B2100 Solid Extreme weighs 102.8 grams and measures 113 x 48.9 x 17.4 millimetres. It has a TFT screen that measures 44.96 millimetres and displays wallpapers in 256,000 colours over a 120 x 160-pixel resolution. Users can jazz up the handset by selecting from a set of ring tones in MP3 and polyphonic formats.

This mobile phone is quad band and works over GSM 850, GSM 900, GSM 1800 and GSM 1900 networks. It allows users to access and browse through their favourite Web sites right on the handset using the built-in WAP2.0/xHTML Internet browser. Moreover, this handy communication gadget comes with a built-in support for USB and wireless Bluetooth, which makes it easy to transfer or share files with compatible devices like a laptop, a printer or a personal computer. As this mobile phone works on EDGE Class 10 and GPRS Class 10 technologies, it assures users of faster downloading and transfer rates.

The Samsung B2100 Solid Extreme offers the standard services of text messaging or SMS and multimedia messaging or MMS. It is an efficient assistant to busy users, offering a set of organiser tools. It comes with a phone book that stores 1,000 entries, a vibration alert option for urgent messages and calls, a voice memo, a stopwatch and a built-in flashlight that comes with a dedicated button.

For ease when making or taking calls, the handset comes with the innovative noise cancellation feature and a dedicated microphone for clearer mobile phone conversations. It also supports hands-free calls through a speakerphone, and comes with a call log that records calls that were made, missed or received.

This handset can pass for a portable photo snapping device with its integrated 1.3-Megapixel camera that captures images in 1280 x 1024-pixel resolution. It also comes with standard flash to brighten up those dark environments. The built-in camera also shoots footages in a speed of 15 frames per second and plays back videos in MPEG4, 3GP, and M4V video formats.

This mobile phone also instantly turns itself into a music player that supports MP3, eAAC+, WMA and WAV formats. It also comes with radio support complete with the RDS feature, which allows users not only to listen to their favourite tracks from their preferred radio stations, but also to catch up on the latest news, information regarding entertainment or weather reports.

True to its name, the Samsung B2100 Solid Extreme is a tough handset. It is IP57 and MIL-STD-810F certified, ensuring that it is virtually shock-proof, water resistant and dust defiant. It is specifically clad with the anti-shock material urethane, and is able to withstand being immersed in water that is one meter deep for 30 minutes. It stays strong even in fluctuating temperatures from -20 to +60 degrees Celsius.

This handset allows users to store up to 7 Megabytes of data in its internal memory. This storage capacity can be expanded up to 8 Gigabytes using a microSD transflash memory card. Working on standard Li-Ion 1000 mAh battery, this mobile phone offers users up to 9 hours of talk time. With its battery fully charged, it is able to last up to 600 hours in standby mode.

Despite the host of features it offers, dissatisfied users have criticised the handset for a relatively small screen. They also contend that the features that are no more than basic, including its interface. Others have also found the integrated to be too simple for a modern handset.

Happy owners, however, applaud the handset for its rubberised finish, which ensures that it will not fall from clutches during wet weathers and makes it easy to carry. Its integrated torch is a handy feature that users find very useful. The mobile phone's interface is also reportedly quick and smooth, with graphics that are easy to read and interpret. Above all, satisfied owners are impressed with the mobile phone's toughness. As it is able to hold up to active lifestyles, pleased owners find the Samsung B2100 Solid Extreme to be a practical handset that effectively blended uncompromised appearance and quality.