Samsung SGH-U900 Soul
| Industry | Telecommunications |
|---|---|
| Products | Mobile phones |
Samsung SGH-U900 Overview
The Samsung SGH-U900, commercially known as the Samsung Soul, is a slider-style mobile device developed by Samsung Telecommunications. It was unveiled during the Mobile World Congress event on 11 February 2008. Positioned within Samsung's fashion-oriented "Ultra" series, it served as the company's flagship model at that time.
Initially, the Soul was available in two color variants: Platinum Silver and Soul Gray. Subsequently, additional options such as Pink, Silver, Black, and Gold were introduced. Constructed with a metallic chassis, the slider mechanism incorporates a spring-loaded system. Beneath the primary 2.2-inch display lies a secondary touch-sensitive OLED screen designed to present various navigational controls adapted to the current software context, a feature previously seen on the E950 model. Samsung refers to this technology as "Magical Touch".
The device is equipped with a 5-megapixel camera featuring an LED flash, capable of recording video at 30 frames per second in QVGA (320x240) resolution. It supports HSDPA, and functions as a global 3G handset compatible with multiple frequency bands including GSM 850/900/1800/1900 and UMTS 850/1900/2100. Audio playback benefits from a digital amplifier supplied by Bang & Olufsen, although it lacks a standard 3.5 mm headphone jack, instead utilizing a proprietary Samsung connector.
Despite its flagship designation, the Samsung Soul does not include several significant features such as Wi-Fi connectivity, GPS, or smartphone operating systems. These functionalities were incorporated into the contemporaneously announced Samsung G810 model.
The "Soul" branding symbolizes "The Spirit of Ultra," connecting it to the Samsung Ultra Edition lineup. The U900 Soul's name builds upon the U900 FlipShot, a clamshell/swivel multimedia phone released for Verizon Wireless in November 2007.
Reception
According to publisher S21, the U900 Soul's camera performs admirably, ranking just below the top-tier models such as the Nokia N95 and Sony Ericsson K850. Their evaluation ultimately described the device as an "exceptional" phone. Wired praised the touch-sensitive navigation pad, describing it as one of the most innovative and effective touch controls they have encountered on a mobile device. Meanwhile, TechRadar highlighted the U900 Soul's sleek design and high-quality camera but noted that the battery life left something to be desired.
See also
- Samsung U700
- Samsung U600
- Samsung D900
- Samsung G600
- Samsung E950
- Samsung F480 Tocco
- Samsung S8300 UltraTouch
- LG Venus