The SGH-S400i is one of Samsung's new i-mode handsets, available on the O2 network, the only one offering the i-mode service at the moment. Of all the Korean giant's i-mode phones, it has the lowest specifications, but due to its slide form-factor, small size and unmistakable Samsung styling, it's attracting plenty of admirers.
The S400i is available free on a £19 monthly contract or for £170 on pay as you go.
DesignThe SGH-S400i looks like a smaller version of the Samsung D500 with Samsung D600 styling. The front is black, with a distinctive silver Samsung banner across the middle separating the screen and the soft keys. The soft keys are slightly different to those on other Samsung phones because of its i-mode functionality. On the left and right of the navigation key, the soft keys are marked with a white mail icon and an i-mode icon. Underneath those keys are the accept call, reject call and cancel buttons.
The S400i is a small, light slider phone
The rest of the handset is a dull metallic grey colour and has a smooth and curved design. The S400i only weighs 88g and is small, measuring 91mm by 45mm by 21mm, and it feels comfortable to hold. The slide mechanism is smooth, but if you open it with one hand, as most people do, it's quite easy to mistakenly press the soft keys and activate an application as you open it.
When the slide is opened you're presented with a small but functional keypad. All the keys, including the ones on the front, are black with backlit white numbers and symbols. Each key on the keypad is slightly raised at the bottom and this makes them very tactile. However, the keypad feels out of balance when the handset is fully opened. The top half of the handset feels heavier than the bottom and tends to lean forward unless you hold the handset with your entire hand. Another niggle is the bottom of the keypad, where the keys are narrower than at the top and this makes pressing them slightly awkward.
If you're right-handed, you may find the silver volume button on the left side of the phone badly positioned. Unlike the Nokia 6111, which had a volume button that sat just under your thumb, this button involves you using your forefinger, which can be awkward, depending on how you hold your phone.
As with most Samsung phones, there's a cover over the charging port on the bottom and a headphone port on the right side. The covers are relatively easy to open and give the phone's surface a more flush appearance. The battery doubles up as the back casing of the phone and has a quick release button to pop it out when you need to replace it or change the SIM card.
The on-board camera is a 0.3-megapixel (VGA) photo and video camera and comes with a flash and a portrait mirror. As with the D500, the camera is cleverly hidden behind the front section of the phone and protected by the back section when closed.
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User reviews4
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Charlene Wright 30 July 2006
Good: It's small and thin and quite easy to use
Bad: I hate that it doesn't have MP3 when it's supposed to be an upgrade, and I have no idea how to get music on it through USB connectivity
Comment: It's a nice phone to look at and easy to use. But it's not very mordern in the things it does. For example what's the point in havin a music file when you can't get any music in it!
Bob Wylde 9 June 2006
Good: Sound quality is very good
Bad: Everything else
Comment: The imode capability is only and exclusively for O2 cards. The media is limited to AAC and M4A formats only, which makes pretty useless for anything other than that. The memory is pants as well - and not just pants:(. The Bluetooth headset, while very pretty, will work with literally any other phone except this one!
This is so bad I would gladly swap for a Nokia 3330!
All in all, a pretty poor show from Samsung.
Mike Nelson 11 May 2006
Good: The majority of the things that the phone can do. It does everything I need my phone to do
Bad: The 'Imode' buttons
Comment: A perfectly good handset from Samsung, no there isn't as many mod cons as the other Samsungs, but if it's a functional, reliable phone you're after, this does everything you could need it to.
See all 4 user reviews