Samsung breaking own record with Ultra Edition 5.9

In the cellphone game, just how thin is too thin? If you're Samsung, the answer apparently lies somewhere south of the 5.9 millimeters put up by its latest fashion accessory, the appropriately named "Ultra Edition 5.9." For the record, that's a solid millimeter less than the previous world's thinnest, Samsung's own X820 -- the phone allegedly shown snapping helplessly in two on video under fairly minimal pressure. Of course, the authenticity of said video has been repeatedly called into question, but either way, we're hoping this new one has been fabbed with some pretty crazy space-age resins and polymers that'll keep it from multiplying in our pockets. Specs include a tri-band GSM radio (though recent announcements have us encouraged that an American version could be down the pike), a 3.2 megapixel cam, Bluetooth, and 80MB of onboard storage. Look for the record-smashing Ultra Edition 5.9 to start gracing European pockets bulge-free some time in March.

[Thanks, Tony]

[Grant H @ Jan 21st 2007 3:34PM]

It's a shame, sure, it's thin in size, but it's also thin on looks and features.

[scott @ Jan 21st 2007 3:41PM]

Thin on features? 3.2 mp camera is pretty nice for a painted piece of balsa stock made to look like a phone.

[socks4humans @ Sep 26th 2007 5:44PM]

i'm selling my unlocked one on ebay
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180163470243

[Grant H @ Jan 21st 2007 3:57PM]

I never said it had ZERO features. Sure 3.2mp camera on something that's made for the Borrowers is all fine and dandy but...is that it?

[tc @ Jan 21st 2007 3:53PM]

eh, I still like my D900 better.

[Brandon @ Jan 29th 2007 4:00AM]

3.2 megapixel cam, Bluetooth, and 80MB of onboard storage..
What more do you need in a phone? iPod? Which phone do you have in mind to compare w/ this thinnest phone? All the phones with features comparable to this phone has it's thickness of about triple of this phone.

[Alex @ Jan 21st 2007 4:04PM]

Wow, nice...

I just got my D900 yesterday and love it to death. Even if I had the option, I probably still would have gone with the D900. It just has a certain charm. But still, for how thin this is and its features, this is damn nice.

[Ignacio @ Jan 21st 2007 4:12PM]

Nice, but is it really 5.9mm? The side view shows a bulge at the top (the camera?), are they taking that into account or is it only 5.9mm at the thinnest point?

[Bruno @ Jan 21st 2007 4:17PM]

It's a Samsung. End of story. And it's not a happy ending. If you've never used a Samsung phone before, just imagine the worst UI possible.

There are only 3 companies making usable phones. Motorola isn't one of them, so I'll leave it up to you to guess. Here's a hint, one of them rhymes with Cokia and another with Derricsson.

[RijilV @ Jan 21st 2007 4:39PM]

Being an owner of the X820 I beg to differ. The phone is quite usable, from remembering what menu item was on last in each menu to the the really handy delete button (pictured a "C"), the UI is not difficult or obnoxious to own. Coming from two years of using a Nokia, I could write a lengthy essay of gripes in regards to their UI.

Oh, and what's with all this feature expectation nonsense? Its just over half a centimeter thick, and OMG, its a PHONE. Does it make and receive calls? okay.. maybe what you are looking for is a computer that happens to have an intergrated telephone. This isn't meant to compete with those 200+ gram bricks everyone is carrying around, sure those things do all sorts of things - but so what. If you don't mind shoving something the size of a pack of 3x5 cards down your pants all the time, good for you. The point of this phone is to be light and small. The x820 I have you can barely feel in your pocket.

Oh and about that video of a x820 snapping in two...uh whatever. I trashed on mine when I first got it and its still in one piece.

[undersaur @ Jan 21st 2007 10:33PM]

I have a Samsung X820 and I agree that the UI is awful. The most obvious example is the contact list, where only 2 names at a time are visible. The rest of the UI is inconsistent and confusing at best.

I hate how when I want to lock the phone and I press a button to get the screen to come on (so I can verify it's not locked already), it won't respond to the lock buttons (soft key 1 and *) until the lock instruction message goes away after several seconds. I found out only a couple weeks ago (after having the phone for 4.5 months) that I can press the shutter button to dismiss the lock message. OMGWTFBBQ?

My old Sony Ericsson T616 had a slow UI and overly deep menus, but at least it made sense.

[boe @ Jan 21st 2007 4:41PM]

Glad to see they are continuing to make phones slimmer - now how about putting that towards making a FULL PPC Phone (not that gimped smartphone crap) but something with a touch screen - that is as thin as the iPhone, has at least the resolution of the iPhone, the battery life of the iPhone and did I mention as THIN as the iPhone? Can't stress the THIN feature too much. The I730 and other PPC phones by Samsung are fine but not exactly trend setters, or technology leaders.

[s i d @ Jan 21st 2007 5:04PM]

frantic antics before the impending doom called iphone

[Alex C @ Jan 21st 2007 5:08PM]

Nope, sticking with the D900 like all you others :) Had it since October and i still absolutely love it. I can see myself hanging on to it for years, having a 1GB memory card helps a lot, and the interface is great.

[one1082 @ Jan 21st 2007 5:11PM]

the size is pretty cool, but i bet the keypad is terrible... i hate the keys on the razor & such

[blahblah @ Jan 21st 2007 5:31PM]

Any word as to whether or not it has a removable storage slot like Micro SD et al? I have the x820 and love it, but it has inadequate storage for use as an MP3 player battery life is an issue too, especially if you want to use a Bluetooth headset with it).

I may get an unlocked iPhone when it's released. On the other hand, the Samsung i320 is also a good option. This one is pretty nice as far as a pure DAP/phone combo goes.

IMO the Samsung UI is awesome, and looks a lot better than any other I've used.

[ConceptVBS @ Jan 21st 2007 6:13PM]

Hey at least Samsung makes their own products in their own factories, unlike Apple.

[derek_ph @ Jan 21st 2007 7:32PM]

At first glance your like ok.....ugly colour but its thin! AND it has a 3.2 megapixel camera!?!??! HELLO. This is not only the slimmest phone ever made but it has a 3.2 megapixel camera in how many milimeters!? Impressive no matter how you spin it.

[oooh @ Jan 21st 2007 8:03PM]

It'd be nice if it were quad-band including the 850 frequency. Or be like the VK 2020 which allowed you an option for 850/1800/1900 or 900/1800/1900...something like that...not sure if the numbers are correct, but basically allowing you to use the phone with Cingular in the states. Most of these thin phones don't have the 850 Cingular band and when this phone says triband...it usually means 900. :(

[blahblah @ Jan 21st 2007 8:51PM]

The red is an option. If you look around the 'net you'll see the standard is all black.

Judging by the images I've found of this phone's left-side edge (relative to the phone's face), it has a slot similar to that found on the T519 Trace's MicroSD slot. So it seems you *will* be able to add storage to it.

[Chris @ Jan 21st 2007 11:15PM]

Actually, if you click the Read link, it shows that the right side has a shutter button and a CHARGER/HEADSET port (you can clearly see the headset icon and that it does NOT say "microSD"). The left side looks to simply have a volume rocker. Sorry, but like the x820, I'm fairly certain this won't have expandable memory.

[BigD @ Jan 22nd 2007 1:46AM]

I currently use the Samsung SPH-W2100 ( http://www.slashphone.com/102/4664.html ) and it has the Micro SD slot on the top of the handset, so your conclusion after seeing the sides is premature.

[codywatson @ Jan 22nd 2007 1:46AM]

ha. this cant compete with the iphone. iphone is the best. i owe my soul to apple for bringing such a sexy phone to market. i want to have the iphone's babies. touch screen is the future. i like grubby screens. i love iphone. did i mention that this isn't an iphone? cuz iphone rocks!

[Geir Hegre Romundset @ Jun 17th 2007 4:03PM]

Sorry, but it will not support microSD memory as confirmed by Samsung. A shame really because this is the only issue I have with the phone besides its battery life. If those challenges were overcome it would be possible for me to have only one gadget in my pocket (leave the iPod at home) and that would be most welcome. Maybe someday I will find a phone that is less than 100x50x10 with MP3 ability, >2GB storage and >3 days of battery life but I am not highly optimistic...

Geir Hegre Romundset
http://www.romundset.com/geir/

[Wayne @ Jan 22nd 2007 9:29PM]

I own the X820 and the UI is brilliant. Battery life sucks though (a day usually, 2 if I don't use it much). But at 6.9mm thin, a 2MP camera, Bluetooth, MP3 player, EDGE support and 80MB of built-in memory you can't go wrong. Just like the X820, this new 5.9mm one DOESN'T have a memory card slot. A poster remarked on the 'slot' on the left-hand side of the phone - this is actually the volume keys (it's on the X820 too). If you want to listen to music wouldn't you take your MP3 player with you?? Sure it's handy to have one on your phone but battery life drains so fast.