Samsung i8910 Omnia HD Complete Specs Pricing Pros & Cons

Overview of Samsung i8910 Omnia HD

The Samsung i8910 Omnia HD, also known as the Samsung GT-i8910, was a remarkable smartphone released in 2009. As one of Samsung's flagship devices during that period, it was designed to cater to multimedia enthusiasts, offering high-definition video and numerous other features. Despite being discontinued, it remains an iconic piece in the evolution of smartphones.

Network and Connectivity

The Samsung i8910 Omnia HD supported GSM and HSPA network technologies, providing users with reliable connectivity across various bands. It operated on 2G bands GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 and 3G bands HSDPA 900 / 1900 / 2100, ensuring wide compatibility and robust network performance. With HSPA speeds of 7.2/5.76 Mbps, users could enjoy relatively fast data transfer rates for that time.

Design and Build

Sporting dimensions of 123 x 58 x 12.9 mm and weighing 148 grams, the Omnia HD was considered sleek and lightweight. Its design incorporated a mini-SIM slot, and despite its relatively chunky design by today's standards, it was quite ergonomic for its time. The phone was available in a variety of colors including Black, Champagne Gold, and Luxury Brown.

Display Technology

The Omnia HD featured a 3.7-inch AMOLED display, which was impressive for its day. With a resolution of 360 x 640 pixels and a 16:9 aspect ratio, the screen offered vibrant colors and good clarity at approximately 198 ppi pixel density. Additionally, the display was protected by Corning Gorilla Glass, enhancing its durability against scratches and impacts.

Platform and Performance

Running on the Symbian 9.4 Series 60 release 5 operating system, the i8910 Omnia HD was powered by a 600 MHz Cortex-A8 processor. It also included a PowerVR SGX GPU, which supported graphic tasks and multimedia processing, offering a respectable performance for the era. Although its 256MB RAM might seem limited today, it was standard at the time and facilitated smooth operation of the preloaded apps and functionalities.

Memory and Storage

The phone was equipped with internal storage options of either 8GB or 16GB, which could further be expanded using a microSDHC card. This expansion capability was particularly beneficial for users desiring additional space for applications, photos, and especially videos, which were a highlight feature of the device.

Camera Capabilities

With an 8 MP autofocus main camera featuring LED flash, the Omnia HD catered well to photography needs, enabling detailed image capture. Additionally, it was capable of recording 720p HD videos at 24fps, making it one of the first phones to offer HD video recording capabilities. Unfortunately, it lacked a front-facing camera, which was a common limitation in smartphones of that era.

Audio and Sound

Sound quality was well-regarded, with the device including stereo speakers and a 3.5mm audio jack for headphone connectivity. It could deliver sound through a loudspeaker with decent clarity, hitting voice and noise levels at about 74dB and a ringing level at 78dB.

Connectivity Options

The Samsung i8910 Omnia HD was well-equipped with connectivity features such as Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g with DLNA support, Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP, GPS and A-GPS for location-based services, stereo FM radio with RDS, and a microUSB 2.0 port. These allowed extensive inter-device connectivity and functionality expansion.

Battery Life

Fitted with a removable Li-Ion 1500 mAh battery, the Omnia HD could stand by for up to 600 hours on 2G networks and 450 hours on 3G networks. In terms of talk time, it could support 13 hours and 30 minutes on 2G and up to 6 hours and 30 minutes on 3G networks. These were competitive figures for smartphones during that period.

Sensors and Software

With a suite of sensors including an accelerometer, proximity sensor, and compass, the Omnia HD was capable of delivering a range of automated and user-friendly functionalities. Its web browsing capabilities were supported by WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML, Opera 9.5, and an RSS reader, making it versatile for web access and media consumption.

Pricing and Availability

Upon release, the Samsung i8910 Omnia HD was priced at approximately 150 EUR, which was typical for high-end smartphones of its time. However, as the device has been discontinued, it is primarily available through secondary markets and may be considered a collector's item for enthusiasts of classic technology.

Conclusion

The Samsung i8910 Omnia HD was a trailblazing device, praised for its high-definition video recording, sizeable AMOLED display, and solid multimedia capabilities. Despite the market moving past its operating system and hardware constraints, it remains a significant example of innovation and technological advancement in the smartphone history.