Samsung i640 InDepth Specs Prices & ProsCons Unveiled

Overview of Samsung i640

The Samsung i640 was announced and released in February 2008. Despite being discontinued now, it was a device that catered to professional users who needed mobile communications on the go. Running on Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.0 Standard, it bridged the gap between a traditional mobile phone and a smartphone by offering features like email and internet browsing.

Design and Build

The device measures 94.4 x 61 x 16.9 mm and weighs in at 148g, making it relatively compact compared to modern smartphones. It features a QWERTY keyboard which was quite popular for business phones, providing ease of typing for emails and texts. The Samsung i640 adopts a sleek design with a silver color finish, appealing to its professional target market.

Display

The display is a 2.4-inch TFT screen supporting 65K colors, which delivers a resolution of 320 x 240 pixels. While the screen-to-body ratio sits at roughly 31%, it was ample for the device’s intended use at that time. The pixel density of approximately 167 ppi was standard for the phones in the same category, sufficient for viewing texts and basic graphics.

Camera

The Samsung i640 features a 2 MP main camera capable of video recording, which was decent for capturing simple photos on the go. Additionally, it includes a VGA front camera intended for video calls, a feature that was emerging in popularity during the period, catering to business professionals who needed virtual face-to-face meetings.

Performance

Under the hood, the i640 is equipped with a 32-bit Intel XScale PXA270 processor clocked at 416 MHz. This CPU, although seems rudimentary now, was powerful enough for handling basic tasks, navigation, and maintaining device efficiency. The device includes 64MB of RAM, alongside 128MB of ROM for internal storage, coupled with a dedicated microSD slot for additional storage solutions.

Connectivity

While it lacks modern connectivity standards such as WLAN and GPS, the device supports Bluetooth 2.0 for wireless connections and file transfers. USB 1.1 is available for wired data sync and charging. Designed primarily for GSM networks, it supports GSM 900/1800/1900 bands, and HSDPA 2100 band for 3G networks, offering basic mobile internet access.

Battery

The Samsung i640 is powered by a removable Li-Ion 1000 mAh battery, which delivers a standby time up to 250 hours and talk time up to 6 hours. Given the specifications of the device, the battery capacity and life were considered adequate ensuring a day’s worth of basic use without requiring a mid-day recharge.

Sound

Sound specifications include a loudspeaker and support for vibration alerts, downloadable polyphonic, and MP3 ringtones. However, it does not feature a 3.5mm audio jack which might be inconvenient for users who preferred using wired headphones.

Operating System and Applications

Running on Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.0 Standard, the Samsung i640 provides a selection of applications geared toward business and productivity. The OS allowed users to synchronize with Microsoft Exchange servers, manage emails, contacts, and calendar events which were essential features enhancing corporate communications and productivity.

Conclusion

The Samsung i640 served as a robust solution for its target audience back in 2008. Despite being limited by today’s standards with missing features like WiFi, high-resolution cameras, and large vivid displays, the device provided reliability and functionality needed during its time. Priced around 150 EUR at launch, it was a competitive offering for customers seeking mobile connectivity and business functionalities.