SGH-D520 : Samsung thin

Thin is in, even in cellphones. Yes, the slim culture has invaded the domain of gadgets. For this, Samsung Corp.’s foray into the thin phone market has paid off well, giving the market an array of slim, stylish phones to choose from.

Last month, the company has beefed up its family of slim slider phones with the introduction of the SGH-D520, a tri-band phone measuring only 101 x 46 x 15.9mm and weighs a mere 93g.

The D520 follows its elder slim siblings – the SGH-D820 and the SGH-P300. Although the D520 is thicker than the credit card-thin P300, which is only 8.9mm, the D520, at 15.9mm, is slim enough compared with standard phones in the market today.

In its effort to continue trimming the fat and the bulk in handsets, Samsung did not compromise quality though. In fact, like most cellphone makers, it is valiantly trying to pack as many advanced features in the slim line as technology evolves and develops.

The D520 itself comes complete with standard multimedia features found in high-end models such as a 1.3-megapixel camera, video recorder, music player, Bluetooth 1.2/USB 1.1, e-mail capability, Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS), and WAP 2.0. It also boasts an 80 MB memory.

"The D520 is a slender mobile solution with all of the latest applications. Samsung is excited to present new slim models to our customers around the world, and we will continue to reveal new models to fit our customers’ needs," said Kitae Lee, president of the Samsung Electronics Telecommunication Network Business, in a statement during the launch in Seoul, South Korea.

In the Samsung family of thin phones itself, the D520 compares pretty well. Though it is by far not the thinnest Samsung gadget to date – there are slimmer models such as the T509 and the T809, which are only 9.8 mm and 14.7 mm, respectively. It compares pretty well as it is a stylish mixture of the best of the earlier models.

Specifically, the D520 is a cross between the D500 or its upgraded version, the D600 and the X700. It is almost as technically superior as the D500 and as elegantly designed as the black beauty X700.

Perhaps, the most desired phone features of high-end handset users are the camera, Bluetooth and wireless connectivity and the music player. With these three features complementing standard voice calls and SMS, the D520 is a top choice both for form and function.

One thing about thin phones is that you don’t have to worry about the bulk if you put it in your pocket, in a handbag, or even in a small envelope along with paper documents. It can also be inserted in a clear book or a folder and doesn’t create much trouble in tightly packed spaces as a car compartment or a side pocket of a traveling bag.

Thin is not only in, it is here to stay. With the stiff competition in the handset market, consumer expectation is pushing design and technology to its farthest limit.

Even now, Samsung is already bracing for its ultra slim line-up, to include the X820 at only 6.9mm. A press statement from the Seoul-based handset maker said that it was displayed for the first time at the Sviaz ExpoComm 2006 in Moscow last month. The X820, which Samsung claims to be the "the world’s thinnest profile," is something to watch out for in the thin handset arena.

In the meantime, take time to experience Samsung’s brand of thin with the D520 and feel the difference.