Samsung E230 Comprehensive Review Specs & Pricing Unveiled

Introduction to Samsung E230

The Samsung E230 is a classic mobile phone that was introduced in August 2007, and it was part of the flip phone era where compact and stylish designs were popular. This phone offered basic functionalities that catered to a generation looking for a simple device for communication and basic multimedia functions.

Design and Build

The Samsung E230 flaunts a sleek and compact design with dimensions of 89.8 x 45.8 x 15.7 mm and a lightweight 70 grams, making it extremely portable and easy to carry around. Its minimalist form factor houses a mini-SIM card slot, typical for phones in this era. It sports a black color scheme that appeals to fans of classic aesthetics.

Display

The display of the Samsung E230 is a modest 1.9 inches TFT screen capable of showing 65K colors. With a resolution of 128 x 160 pixels and a ~108 ppi density, it provides adequate visual clarity for simple games and navigating the phone's menu. Despite its small size, the screen occupies a ~27.6% screen-to-body ratio, which was acceptable given the compact design.

Camera Capabilities

Equipped with a VGA camera, the Samsung E230’s photographic capabilities are basic. The main camera can capture still images and record videos. While the 0.3MP resolution is not meant for high-quality photography, it allows for capturing spontaneous moments, aligning with the needs of its time.

Memory and Storage

The internal storage of the Samsung E230 is limited to 10MB, but it supports a microSD card, enabling users to expand the memory for storing more pictures, music files, and other data. Its phonebook can store up to 1000 entries with a photocall feature, ensuring that users could personalize and manage their contacts efficiently. Moreover, it keeps track of call records, displaying 30 dialed, 30 received, and 30 missed calls.

Battery Life

The device is powered by a removable Li-Ion 750 mAh battery, delivering a talk time of up to 5 hours and a stand-by time of up to 250 hours. For a feature phone, this battery capacity provides adequate longevity, keeping the phone operational throughout the day for basic usage.

Network and Connectivity

The Samsung E230 supports GSM technology, operating on 2G bands such as GSM 900 / 1800 / 1900, with GPRS and EDGE Class 10 support for basic internet connectivity. It includes Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP for wireless connection to other devices, although it lacks modern connectivity features like WLAN, GPS, and a 3.5mm jack for audio outputs.

Features and Functionalities

This phone offers straightforward messaging options including SMS, EMS, and MMS. The built-in browser supports WAP 2.0/xHTML for basic internet browsing. Additionally, the phone comes with games and Java support (MIDP 2.0), catering to the entertainment needs of its users. These features, while limited, still provided valuable engagement to users who were transitioning into a more connected world.

Sound System

The Samsung E230 includes a loudspeaker for hands-free calls and media playback, and supports various alert types including vibration, and downloadable polyphonic or MP3 ringtones, which were a popular feature for personalization at the time. However, it doesn’t come with a standard 3.5mm audio jack, which marked a limitation for users wanting to use traditional wired headphones.

Market Position and Price

The Samsung E230 was launched as an entry-level feature phone and was available at a price of approximately 80 EUR. Its affordable pricing made it accessible to a broad audience, particularly appealing to those desiring a functional yet simple mobile communication device.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Samsung E230 is a quintessential representation of mid-2000s mobile technology. It delivered essential communication tools wrapped in a compact, user-friendly design. Although obsolete by modern standards, the E230 remains a nostalgic piece of technology reflecting a time when mobile phones were just beginning to integrate multimedia features.