With the spec sheets of mobile phones increasing at an exponential rate, it is sometimes easy to forget that there is a market out there for cheap, basic handsets that offer no frills communication on a budget.
The sliding J600 from Samsung is clearly aimed in this direction, with multiple colour options available, there will surely be a niche for this handset.
First impressions will be that this is a backward step from the popular E900, which is not far from the truth. The J600 is a small slider with touch sensitive keys under the screen. The only cosmetic difference between the 2 is the width, as the J600 is taller but slimmer, making it a little more compact than the E900. The glossy finish does ensure that the J600 is capable of turning heads and fingerprint marks aren't too much of an issue for a change, which was a pleasant surprise.
A point to make is the quality of the sliding mechanism, which requires very little pressure and slides open perfectly with no noticeable creaks or flaws in design. What does deserve mentioning (though not for the right reasons) is the front D-pad, which is nowhere near as comfortable as it could have been. The edges feel a little too sharp and aren't anywhere near responsive enough to be considered anything less than basic.
Around the D-pad are a set of touch sensitive keys; one set acting as the soft keys and another for the call/end call buttons. In our test model, the keys occasionally functioned of their own accord or on occasion proved hyper-sensitive. To make matters worse still, during a call if you move your face too near the phone, it can trigger the end-call button which terminates the conversation. This was something that proved to be a major irritation, as is usually the case with keys of this type.
For a budget-phone, the screen is a generous 1.9 inches and the image quality in the menus etc proved to be respectable and just about enough to make it a redeeming feature.
For a camera with a maximum 1.3 Mega Pixel resolution, you can't go expecting too much, and this does indeed prove to be the case. Although the image quality is respectable for one this size, it doesn't make sense why Samsung would go this low when it leaves the J600 in danger of looking outdated straight-away upon release.
Though the J600 does have a music player coupled with an FM radio, the sound quality is again very basic, even when compared to mobiles of a similar price range.
All in all the Samsung J600 is a budget handset that looks nice and performs adequately as a phone, but be warned that any extra-curricular features are there more for show rather than functionality. Also beware of the touch-keys, which consistently proved to be very annoying, but you pays your money and you takes your chance.
The Samsung J600 is currently available in 3 colours: ; and .
