Camera Phones Plaza

It is no surprise that manufacturers are continuously trying to improve all the phone ranges, in order for their portfolio to be up to date. Unfortunately, this is not always good for some of the mobile phone manufacturers. To understand the bigger picture, let's take two manufacturers, Nokia and Samsung. As you might have noticed by now, Nokia is more conservative when it comes to entry level models. It never really released a true entry level range. However, Nokia does include in its portfolio several entry level models, which provide (depending on their price tag) different features for all the potential customers.

Most of this Nokia phones carry the logo "classic" end are labeled as being part of "2xxx". Samsung, on the other side, is trying desperately to improve its leadership positioning by adding on the entry level phone range not only middle range features but also a complete line with different form factors phones. One of this new lines, released by Samsung this summer, is the M2x10. It contains three models, M2310 a clamshell mobile phone, M2510 slider phone, and M2710 also a slider. The Samsung M2310 can be considered the entry level in this new line.

Its design respects the line's pattern providing a nice silver finish (plastic) with purple on the outside, while once opened the M2310 sports a matte black plastic with a purple keyboard. The design is either lovable or hate able. Basically, it is up to you if it worth even looking at it. The dimensions and weight makes the M2310 ultraportable and easy to slide into any pocket. This phone has a height of 93 mm, wide of 45 mm, deep of 17.6 mm; the M2310 weights about 84.7 grams. The build quality is good, not exceptional, due to too much plastic used, but good. All the keys offer a nice feedback, but they feel kind of cheap when you touch them.


Samsung enabled only GSM calls within this device, with the 2G network GSM 850 / 900/ 1800 /1900. The external 1.1 inches display is too small with only 96 x 96 pixels resolution. Compared with the lid's height a 1.1 inches display is way too small for a 2009 phone. The internal display sports a 2 inches diagonal screen with TFT technology rendering up to 256000 colors on a 176 x 220 pixels resolution. Nice features are the dedicated music keys, the integrated 3.5 mm audio jack, and not only the MP3 - WMA - eAAC player but also the MP4 and 3GP player. However, the small internal memory (9 MB) won't be enough not even for your pictures. Therefore, Samsung added in the spec list a memory card slot, compatible with micro SD memory card and Trans Flash memory cards up to 8 GB.


The connectivity is ensured by GPRS Class 10 with 4 + 1 / 3 + 2 slots, 32 Kb per second to 48 Kb per second, HSCSD, Class 10 EDGE (up to 236.8 Kb per second), version 2.0 micro USB connection, and Bluetooth version 2.1 with A2DP. Both 3G and WLAN lack from this phone. Samsung included in the M2310 an 800 mAh Lithium Ion battery which should provide about 350 hours of standby time and 7 hours and 30 minutes of talk time. For an average user these values mean about 2 and half days of autonomy. Another feature of the M2310 is the built in VGA camera which can take pictures at a maximum resolution of 640 x 480 pixels (video recording is also available in QCIF with 15 frames per second). Overall if you like the design Samsung M2310 is an entry level music oriented phone.

The second phone model available in this line, M2510 provides a different form factor design, but keeps the same colors and curve lines. Therefore the phone is made out of black plastic (on the front cover and keyboard, this plastic will be a little slippery, but by far glossy) with several purple finishes. Just like the M2310, the M2510's design sports the "love it or hate it" motto. The build quality is the same as the one found in the M2310. The M2510 runs only in 2G network, GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900. With a height of 99.5 mm, wide of 46.5 mm, deep of 15.7 mm, the M2510 weights about 90.5 grams, making it, just like the M2310, very portable and easy to handle.


You basically get the same resolution of the M2310 (176 x 220 pixels) on a 2.2 inches display found on the M2510. The display has the TFT technology sporting about 256000 colors. Also present on this phone, are the 3.5 mm audio jack and the dedicated music keys. The onboard memory is in the M2510 about 15 MB; expandable using the micro SD memory cards (Trans Flash memory cards) up to 8 GB. The connectivity is ensured by the Class 10 GPRS  (4+1 / 3+2 slots) with a various speed from 32 Kb per second to 48 Kb per second, HSCSD, Class 10 EDGE with a speed up to 236.8 Kb per second, micro USB connectivity and 2.0 Bluetooth with A2DP.

The 1.3 megapixel digital camera included in the M2510 provides even with the maximum resolution of 1280 x 1024 pixels mediocre pictures. Samsung included in the M2510 the same battery as in the M2310, the Lithium Ion with 800 mAh, offering about 360 hours of standby time and 8 hours of talk time. Overall, the M2510 doesn't bring many changes that M2310. The main difference is the form factor. The last phone in this line, M2710 sports a clearly better design. You get nice plastic materials, that don't feel cheap. The black really works with the blue, and the keyboard has a nice metallic finish.


The build quality was improved, and the functionality was raised with the improved feedback of all the keys, either navigational or alphanumerical. Unfortunately, M2710 lacks 3G, and runs only in 2G in GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900. With a height of 96 mm, wide of 46 mm, deep of 16 mm, the M2710 weights about 95 grams, keeping a small profile. Samsung included in the M2710 a 2.1 inches TFT display with a resolution of 240 x 320 pixels capable of rendering about 256000 colors, and featuring an accelerometer sensor. This phone also includes the dedicated music keys and the 3.5 mm audio jack. However, the built in memory (of only 20 MB) has to be expanded using micro SC memory cards, Trans Flash memory cards with the highest accepted value of 16 GB.

The connectivity is basically the same, sporting the Class 10 GPRS with 32 Kb per second to 48 Kb per second, Class 6 GPRS with 177.6 Kb per second, HSCSD, Bluetooth version 2.0 with A2DP and micro USB connectivity. The same Lithium Ion battery is included in the M2710. Overall, Samsung created an interesting cheap music orientated phone line. However, it lacks conservationism, trying too hard to look attractive (while in fact for some M2310 and M2510 might look horrible). For now, Nokia still offers better entry level phones with its "2xxx classic" phones.