Buzz! GOGO!

All those who like the Soul can now do it body and soul: the lineup has it all already in terms of form factor. And it's definitely not like throwing in a clamshell just for the sake of having one. Samsung G400 Soul brings a notable "first-to" record. Not only is it the first 5 megapixel clamshell, but is well decked out with niceties like face detection, image stabilization, and wide dynamic range and excellent image quality.

G400 Soul also stands out with that dual screen setup: two equal in size and resolution TFT displays. Touchscreen and haptics on top are just as sweet. Add the good set of features and you get yourself a deal.

Designwise, we could wish the phone was a little more compact, especially with the flip up. The poor sunlight legibility of the external display also ruins some of the experience. QVGA video recording at 15fps is the other thing we're not happy to see in a hi-end cameraphone.

Even so, the Samsung G400 appeal is likely to extend beyond the clamshell devotees. The Soul pedigree (enhanced by distinct exterior), the great imaging and the balanced feature set will possibly convince those who like to weigh benefits against costs. The style conscious will make up their mind a lot easier.

features:

    * 5 megapixel autofocus camera (face detection, wide dynamic range and image stabilization)
    * Identical external and internal screens: 2.2" 256K-color TFT LCD of QVGA resolution
    * Touch-sensitive external display with ,multimedia interface and haptics
    * 3G with HSDPA (7.2Mbps) support, video call
    * FM radio with RDS
    * 120MB of shared memory and microSD slot
    * Bluetooth (with A2DP) and USB v2.0
    * User-friendly keypad
    * Relatively fast user interface
    * Fully customizable themes
    * Dedicated settings for each of the displays
    * The main display doesn't get key prints in closed position

Main disadvantages:

    * Tri-band only
    * Only LED flash
    * Display legibility suffers under direct sunlight, external screen is hardly usable
    * Limited browser capabilities
    * QVGA video recording at most