Price and specifications of Samsung E860 advantages, disadvantages, and a comprehensive explanation

Samsung E860 Overview

The Samsung E860 is a feature phone that was launched in the fourth quarter of 2005. Though the phone has been discontinued, it offers a glimpse into the mobile technology that was prevalent during its time. The E860 was notable for its compact design and a rotating camera, which was an exciting feature back then.

Design and Build

This feature phone measured 87 x 44 x 23 mm, making it quite compact and portable, easily fitting into a pocket. It weighed only 90 grams, which added to its portability. The phone used a Mini-SIM card, which was standard for the time period.

Display

The Samsung E860 was equipped with a TFT display capable of showing 256K colors. With a resolution of 176 x 220 pixels, the display was adequate for viewing text and basic graphics, though it fell short of smartphone displays today. This screen quality was typical for phones from the mid-2000s, before the era of touchscreens and HD displays.

Performance and Software

As a feature phone, the Samsung E860 did not have a sophisticated operating system like Android or iOS. It was designed primarily for calls, messaging, and basic internet browsing via WAP 2.0/xHTML. The phone included 88MB of internal storage, which, at the time, was more than sufficient for storing contacts and a few media files.

Camera Capabilities

One of the unique features of the Samsung E860 was its 1.3 MP camera. The camera housed a 180-degree rotating lens, which allowed users to take photos from a variety of angles, quite an innovation at the time. This camera setup enabled both main and selfie photography, even though front-facing cameras were not common. Additionally, it included an LED flash for low-light conditions.

Network and Connectivity

The Samsung E860 supported GSM 900/1800/1900 bands and was capable of GPRS Class 10 internet connectivity. However, it did not support EDGE or 3G, which began to roll out around that time. Connectivity options included Bluetooth 1.2 for wireless connections and an Infrared port, illustrating the transitional nature of connectivity options in mid-2000s phones. The phone's proprietary USB port was used for data transfer and charging.

Audio and Sound

The phone offered downloadable polyphonic and MP3 ringtones and supported vibration alerts. However, it lacked a loudspeaker and standard 3.5mm headphone jack, which limited its audio capabilities compared to modern smartphones. Users seeking to play audio files had to rely on Bluetooth or proprietary connections.

Battery Life

This device was powered by a removable Li-Ion 800mAh battery. It offered a standby time of up to 200 hours and provided up to 5 hours and 30 minutes of talk time. The removable battery design was common during this period, allowing for easy replacement and extended usage through extra batteries.

Miscellaneous Features

Additional features included basic SMS, MMS, and Email messaging capabilities, alongside JAVA MIDP 2.0 support, which facilitated the download and use of simple applications and games. Though it had basic internet browsing capability, the experience was rudimentary compared to today's standards. The E860 came in a classic black finish, with a specific SAR level that adhered to safety regulations of that time.

Conclusion

The Samsung E860 stands as a testament to the evolution of mobile phones during the mid-2000s. Its compact design and innovative rotating camera feature made it an attractive device in its heyday. While it lacks the advanced features and high-speed connectivity of modern smartphones, the E860 provided a solid foundation and display of technological capabilities available in feature phones during its time. It represented a transitional phase between basic cell phones and the more sophisticated smartphones that would soon follow.