Samsung i300 Comprehensive Review of Features Specs and Pricing

Overview of Samsung i300

The Samsung i300 was an innovation in the mobile phone arena back when it was announced in the first quarter of 2005. This device marked a significant leap forward, given its combination of a microdrive with an impressive storage capacity for its time, a fair amount of RAM, and its use of the Microsoft Windows Mobile 2003 SE Smartphone operating system.

Design and Build

The i300 had dimensions measuring 113 x 48 x 20 mm, which was relatively compact in that era, and weighed 121g. While its design wasn't the slimmest, it was sturdy and functional. It used a Mini-SIM and bore a classic candy bar design that featured rounded edges and a tactile keypad. The body was built for durability but also focused on user accessibility with simple navigation buttons that facilitated quick menu access.

Display

The Samsung i300 featured a 2.0-inch TFT display, supporting 256K colors (65K effective), with a resolution of 240 x 320 pixels. The pixel density was roughly 200 ppi, which presented clear visuals for basic tasks such as reading emails, viewing photos, and navigating menus. Despite its limited size compared to modern screens, it catered well to multimedia functions for its time.

Performance and Software

Powered by the Intel XScale 416 MHz processor, the performance of the i300 was quite notable, providing decent multitasking capabilities, rapid execution of tasks, and a user-friendly experience. The device ran on the Microsoft Windows Mobile 2003 SE Smartphone OS, which brought a level of desktop-like interface with mobile-specific optimizations. Preinstalled software facilitated basic productivity tasks, media playback, and internet browsing, leveraging the device’s connectivity options.

Memory and Storage

One of the standout features of the Samsung i300 was its unique storage setup. It housed a 3GB microdrive offering expansive room for applications, media files, and documents. Additionally, it had 64MB RAM, which boosted its ability to manage running multiple applications. Furthermore, the device came with a dedicated microSD card slot, allowing users to expand the storage for additional capacity, a rare and valuable feature during its time.

Camera

The device was equipped with a 1.3 MP rear camera featuring an LED flash. The camera was capable of capturing images and recording videos, offering basic photography capabilities. While modest by today's standards, it was sufficient for taking casual photos and sharing via MMS or email. The lack of a selfie camera placed some constraints on self-portrait options, reflecting technology standards of that period.

Audio and Connectivity

Audio functionality included a loudspeaker with stereo output. It supported various ringtone formats like polyphonic, WMA, WAV, and AAC, although it did not have a 3.5mm jack, which limited headphone options unless converted. Bluetooth 1.2 with A2DP allowed wireless audio streaming, and an infrared port supported data transfer and control functions. The device absent of WLAN meant users relied on GPRS for mobile internet connections.

Battery Life

Samsung i300 came with a removable Li-Ion 1000 mAh battery. In standard mode, this translated to up to 130 hours of standby time and approximately 4 hours of talk time. An optional extended battery of 1700 mAh was available, stretching the standby time up to 200 hours and prolonging talk time to around 7 hours, which was quite commendable at the time.

Network Capabilities

Supporting GSM technology, the i300 was compatible with GSM 900 / 1800 / 1900 2G bands. GPRS Class 10 was the primary means of data transmission, though the absence of EDGE technology limited connectivity speeds. Nevertheless, these features were sufficient for internet browsing using the WAP 2.0/xHTML and HTML (PocketIE) browser.

Miscellaneous Features

The i300 had no integrated positioning technology, which was expected in a pre-GPS era smartphone, and it did not include a radio function. However, the device’s proprietary USB facilitated data sharing and charging effortlessly. Available in a sober color palette, the phone’s SAR level was 0.74 W/kg (head), aligning with safety standards.

Conclusion

The Samsung i300, upon its discontinuation, left a legacy as a gadget that delivered substantial storage, decent connectivity options, and foundational smartphone features. It paved the way for future enhancements in mobile technology, particularly in marrying storage capabilities with mobile communication devices. Despite its limitations by modern standards, the i300 served as a stepping stone towards the advancement of mobile computing and multimedia support.