Samsung S3650 Corby Complete Specs Pricing Pros & Cons

Introduction to Samsung S3650 Corby

The Samsung S3650 Corby, released in September 2009, was a standout model among Samsung's feature phones during that era. Known for its vibrant colors and youth-centric design, the Corby was aimed at a young, dynamic audience eager for a touch of style in their tech gear. Offering decent multimedia capabilities alongside essential communication features, the Corby was both fashionable and functional, appealing to a broad range of users looking for a reliable yet stylish device.

Design and Build

The Samsung S3650 Corby featured a compact and ergonomic design, making it comfortable to hold and easy to operate. Its dimensions (103 x 56.5 x 12 mm) and weight (90 g) ensured it was pocket-friendly, ideal for users constantly on the move. One of its most striking features was the interchangeable fashion jackets, allowing users to swap the back covers according to their style preferences, with colors such as Jamaican Yellow, Cupid Pink, Minimal White, and Festival Orange available.

Despite being a feature phone, Samsung equipped the Corby with a 2.8-inch TFT display capable of displaying 256K colors. While the resolution of 240 x 320 pixels at a 143 ppi density wasn't high by today's standards, it was adequate for the time, offering clear and colorful visuals sufficient for basic phone operations like browsing through pictures or scrolling through contacts.

Display Quality

The 2.8-inch TFT display, protected by Corning Gorilla Glass, was a key component of the S3650's appeal. It provided a satisfactory balance between color richness and usable screen real estate, covering approximately 41.7% of the phone's front body. Given the limitations in technology back in 2009, the choice of display was fairly advanced, offering brightness and clarity suitable for general purposes such as messaging and browsing.

Performance and Software

The Samsung S3650 Corby was built to serve as a reliable feature phone with basic processing needs. It came with 50MB of internal storage, which could be expanded via a dedicated microSDHC slot, supporting a few hundred more megabytes. This was practical for users who wanted to carry around their favorite music or a few photos without worrying about space constraints.

The phone operated on a proprietary Samsung feature phone OS, characterized by user-friendly navigation, essential apps like a calendar, and a simplistic yet efficient interface. Though it lacked the advanced capabilities of smartphone operating systems, it was more than capable of performing everyday tasks, demonstrating smooth operation and prompt responsiveness characteristic of feature phones of that period.

Photography and Multimedia

Even as a feature phone, Samsung integrated a 2 MP camera into the S3650 Corby, which could capture decent quality pictures for sharing and storing. While it lagged in comparison to smartphones, the camera was sufficient for casual photography, allowing for spontaneous captures with easy access from the phone interface.

For video, the camera supported recording at 320p@15fps, a specification user-friendly and characteristic of phones during that time. Additionally, users appreciated the inclusion of a stereo FM radio with RDS, ensuring background entertainment was always at hand, alongside the ability to listen to downloaded or transferred music files, a common multimedia task.

Battery Life

The removable Li-Ion 960 mAh battery provided surprisingly good longevity for the Corby's operations. On standby, it could last up to 730 hours, and during talk time, the phone sustained up to 9 continuous hours. This durability made it especially attractive to users who required reliable connectivity without needing constant access to charging facilities, marking it ideal for extended days out.

Connectivity and Comms

The network capabilities of the S3650 Corby included GSM support with technology bands being GSM 850, 900, 1800, and 1900. It offered Class 10 GPRS and EDGE for data connectivity. Despite the absence of WLAN and advanced GPS capabilities, it provided Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP for wireless convenience.

The inclusion of a USB 2.0 connectivity option allowed straightforward data transfer between the phone and other devices, reinforcing its role as a communicative and multimedia-sharing tool. Although lacking an advanced browser, its WAP 2.0/xHTML and HTML support enabled browsing capabilities adequate for simple online activities, a decent addition given its position in the market.

Market Position and Pricing

The Samsung S3650 Corby was priced around 80 EUR at its release, positioning it as an affordable yet stylish option among budget feature phones. This pricing strategy made it accessible to a younger audience, coupled with its design attributes and functional features which adhered well to the demands of its targeted demographic.

Overall, the Corby made a significant impact on the feature phone market by offering a fusion of style and capabilities that appealed to fashion-conscious users seeking more flair in their everyday device, thus contributing to Samsung's reputation for innovative design during that period.

Conclusion

The Samsung S3650 Corby is remembered for its bold design choices and solid feature set. While today's phones have advanced far beyond the technology available in 2009, the Corby remains a significant step in Samsung's journey, symbolizing the importance of user-centric design and value-driven features in building a loyal consumer base.