Price and specifications of Samsung M7600 Beat DJ advantages, disadvantages, and a comprehensive explanation

Samsung M7600 Beat DJ Overview

Released in May 2009, the Samsung M7600 Beat DJ was an innovative mobile device that stood out with its unique music-focused features, notably the Beat DJ function which allowed users to remix tracks and add effects to their music. This device was a part of Samsung's effort to cater to music enthusiasts who desired more than just a typical mobile phone experience.

Design and Build

The Samsung M7600 Beat DJ was designed with portability and ergonomics in mind. Measuring just 112 x 51 x 13.9 mm and weighing 99.7 grams, it was compact and lightweight, making it easy to carry around. Despite its modest size, the phone featured a stylish black color scheme, complemented by a curved design that was both modern and aesthetic. It was equipped with a Mini-SIM slot, in line with the standard of the time.

Display Features

One of the standout features of the M7600 was its 2.8-inch AMOLED display. The screen boasted a resolution of 240 x 400 pixels, resulting in a pixel density of approximately 167 ppi. Although it wasn't the sharpest display available, the AMOLED technology offered vibrant colors and good contrast, which was especially useful for viewing media content and using the Beat DJ app.

Camera Specifications

The device came equipped with a 3.15 MP main camera, which included autofocus and an LED flash to enhance photo quality in low-light conditions. It was capable of recording video at 480p@15fps, which was standard for feature phones at the time but certainly not a highlight for the device. While there wasn't a dedicated selfie camera, the rear camera could be used for basic video calling tasks.

Audio and Music

True to its name, the Beat DJ offered robust audio features. It included a loudspeaker and a 3.5mm headphone jack, ensuring compatibility with most headphones and external speakers. The Beat DJ function was undoubtedly the main attraction, facilitating users to mix tracks directly on the phone with various sound effects, thanks to the intuitive touch interface.

Connectivity Options

The Samsung M7600 Beat DJ provided several connectivity options. The phone supported 2G and 3G networks (GSM/UMTS) with an HSPA data speed, ensuring reliable connectivity for calls and data usage on supported networks. It also featured Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP for wireless audio streaming and a microUSB 2.0 port for data transfer and charging. Unfortunately, it did not include WLAN capabilities.

Hardware and Performance

This device was classified as a feature phone, meaning it was not suitable for heavy multitasking or modern smartphone applications, but it efficiently handled basic tasks and functions like messaging (SMS, MMS, Email), browsing (WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML), and gaming (Java, MIDP 2.0). It came with an accelerometer sensor, which aided in some of the interactive Beat DJ features and gaming applications.

Memory and Storage

Internally, the M7600 offered 50MB of storage, which was quite limited. However, to accommodate personal music libraries and more, it included a microSDHC slot for memory expansion. This external card slot allowed users to expand the storage significantly, thereby supporting the device's multimedia capabilities.

Battery Life

The Samsung M7600 was powered by a removable Li-Ion 960 mAh battery. Despite its small size, it offered reasonable battery life, with standby time reaching up to 400 hours on 2G and up to 300 hours on 3G networks. Talk time was also adequate, providing up to 7 hours on 2G and 4.5 hours on 3G. This made it reliable enough for day-to-day use without frequent recharging.

Additional Features

Additional features of the Samsung M7600 Beat DJ included FM Radio with RDS and GPS with A-GPS for location services. These features, while common now, were considered quite beneficial at the time of the phone's release. The device also supported downloadable games, which could be enjoyed courtesy of its decent hardware capabilities for a feature phone.

Market Impact and Legacy

The Samsung M7600 Beat DJ offered a niche product for music lovers, providing unique features that set it apart from other cellphones of its time. Although it has since been discontinued and replaced by more advanced smartphones, it remains a memorable piece in Samsung's evolution of enhancing mobile audio experiences. At launch, it was priced around 150 EUR, which was seen as reasonable considering the unique music-mixing features that it offered.

Conclusion

In summary, the Samsung M7600 Beat DJ was a device dedicated to providing an entertaining and dynamic music experience on-the-go. While it does not compete with modern smartphones in terms of specifications, the spirit of innovation it embodied continues to influence the development of audio-centric devices in the mobile industry. The Beat DJ stands as a vintage reminder of early attempts to combine mobile telephony with creative entertainment experiences.