Samsung Galaxy Portal

Editor's Review of the Galaxy Portal

Beautifully created and designed by Samsung, the Galaxy Portal (i5700), also known as the i7500 Galaxy, is clad in a brushed black casing. Slim yet features-filled, this handset tips the scale at 119 grams and has the full measurements of 115 x 56 x 11.9 millimetres. This mobile phone flaunts an 81.28-millimetre touch screen that displays photos, images and graphics in 16 million colours on 320 x 480 pixels. This handset's set of ringtones in polyphonic and MP3 formats allows users to

Running on Android 1.5 operating system, this mobile phone is quad band. It works on GSM 850, GSM 900, GSM 1800, GSM 1900, HSDPA 900, HSDPA 2100 and HSDPA 1700 networks. As such, this handset makes the perfect companion for frequent travellers. Its network reach, however, depends on its user's service provider.

This handset is powered by 3G HSDPA technology, which makes it an efficient device for multi-tasking. It enables users to surf the World Wide Web with its pre-installed HTML Internet browser. The Samsung Galaxy Portal (i5700) has WLAN Wi-Fi technology that allows users to go online in designated hotspots. This mobile phone also supports file transfer with other handsets, personal computers, laptops, scanners and printers through the microUSB facility. Bluetooth with A2DP technology is a key feature of this handset, which supports data sharing with compatible devices that are up to 10 metres away. Thanks to the built-in EDGE and GPRS technologies, this communication device supports speedy data sharing and Internet download rates.

Through SMS or text and MMS or multimedia messaging, users may communicate with their contacts all day using this mobile phone. They may also check out their e-mail accounts online, as well as compose, send and receive e-mail messages on this handset. It also allows users to enjoy chatting with their friends and family through the instant messaging support.

As a virtual assistant to its owner, the Samsung Galaxy Portal (i7500) is rich in organiser features that include a phone book, alarm clock, calculator, calendar and vibration control option. Traveling users will find their way through the GPS navigation system with Google Maps support that Samsung built in this handset to offer direction guide in certain areas. For utmost ease in making and taking calls, this handset has a pre-installed speaker phone.

To the delight of photo buffs, the Samsung Galaxy Portal (i5700) houses a 5-Megapixel camera complete with auto focus, LED flash and image stabiliser features. It enables users to tweak their photos by through making adjustments to its camera settings. Besides being a photo snapping device, this camera also works as a video recorder. Users may view their footages on WMV, MPEG4, H263 and H264 video formats right on this handset's touch screen. For users who enjoy music listening, this mobile phone comes handy with a versatile mmusic player that supports MP3, WMA, RA and eAAC+ audio formats. Users may also enjoy their favourite tunes from this handset's FM radio facility. The fun goes on and on with a set of pre-installed Java games that gaming enthusiasts may enjoy. This handset also supports games downloaded from the Internet.

The Samsung Galaxy Portal (i5700) offers 8 Gigabytes of internal memory, which users may expand to up to 16 Gigabytes using a microSD memory card. Offering 3.8 hours in talk time, this mobile phone also stays on standby for 290 hours when its battery is fully charged.

This handset has been criticised for its buttons that are unnecessarily large and clunky. Others are also disappointed of its reportedly constant lag when in use. Satisfied users, on the other hand, commend the Samsung Galaxy Portal (i5700) for its solid feels. Others also like the rubberised back cover of this handset which makes it easy to grip, and minimizes possibilities of it being dropped.