In the past Samsung presented to the public new design flip phone aimed at the mass market segment. The experiment turned out to be successful, and SGH-X460 - a pilot product in a new case - became very popular. Most of the fans of the new design belong to the female audience.
Acting in its own style, Samsung further began to present models in the same design, but differing in details of functionality and aimed at different market segments. The first was the SGH-E330 with a built-in camera and two color screens, positioned in middle segment, and in the new generation of phones, Samsung decided to introduce models in the X460 case and in the lowest price range for its clamshell phones. To save money, these models were made single-screen, of which the X480 does not have additional equipment, and the X640, which we are getting acquainted with today, is equipped with a built-in VGA camera.
Equipping a single-screen "clamshell" with a camera, which increases its cost, while this increase could be spent on installing an external display, seems illogical - from the point of view of a pragmatic user, the ability to find out who is calling without opening the case is much more useful than the ability to take pictures with a cheap phone. However, when releasing the X640, Samsung was guided not by pragmatism, but by a simple desire to diversify its line (there is already a two-screen clamshell without a camera, a single-screen without a camera, too, a two-screen with a camera, only a single-screen with a camera is missing). The company made a bet on the fashion for camera phones: it is assumed that the presence of a camera in itself should attract "image", that is, focused on fashion, and not on functionality or optimal equipment, users.
In fact, the X640 is actually an exact copy of the E800 model (almost the entire set of functions, menu structure and design are the same), placed in the case from the X460 (the dimensions, design, shape are the same, only the design and equipment are different). front panel).
Design and construction
Samsung SGH-X640 - flip phone compact dimensions. The device is slightly larger than the smallest Samsung clamshells (A800, S300, E600), but not by much. disproportionately long antenna pin, which greatly spoils the appearance of the S300 and E600. 
The appearance of the X640 is noble, Samsung uses classic design for mass phones and time after time it turns out to be right - consumers like it. It's nice that the quality of plastic and finish is just as high as in top models, the assembly is very thorough, with almost imperceptible grooves, there is no need to even talk about backlash or squeaks in the hinge. An additional design benefit is provided by a rubber pad where the lid and base unit come into contact when open. It softens the opening and increases the durability of the hinge, as it eliminates hard impacts.
Unlike the X460, the new model has a traditionally shaped keyboard with trapezoidal buttons that are large enough and widely spaced to provide maximum comfort. The control group of keys is organized in the traditional way for samsung way. As with all phones previous version Suwon platform button i, built into the joystick, does not perform a confirmation operation, unlike newer Samsung products (D500, E720, etc.).
The rocker key on the left side, which controls the volume, is traditionally made convex and very comfortable. In addition to it, there is only a traditional type hands-free headset jack on the case, closed with a plastic plug on a nylon axis - this system replaced the traditional rubber plug and seems to be much more durable. At the bottom of the base unit there is a socket for the charger and a data cable with a "narrow" type of plug.
There is no usual external screen on the front panel, there is only a glossy patch panel - in our sample it is black. Closer to the hinge is the lens of the built-in camera - it's a usual "bird's eye", however, with the help of decorative rings, the visible size of the lens is increased, it has a solid appearance and gives the impression of the importance of the camera in the phone. Under the lens is a mirror for self-portrait shooting, even lower - LED indicator. 
The main screen of the X640 is a UFB-matrix with a resolution of 128×160 pixels, displaying 65,536 colors, the same as that of the X460. The picture on the screen is quite bright and contrasting, it has an average graininess, the level of readability under direct sunlight is below average.
The battery design and SIM card slot are typical Samsung. Li-ion battery, the capacity of which is not indicated, is made in the form of a single piece with a battery compartment cover, fastened with hooks at the bottom and snap buttons at the top. There are no backlashes or creaks in the design, the battery sits absolutely motionless. The SIM card is fixed in the slot with a pair of fixed metal clamping bars on the sides.
Menus and functions
Samsung SGH-X640 in terms of software "stuffing" almost completely repeats the E800 model, the similarity is perhaps even greater than that of many others Samsung models based on the same platform. Only one icon in the main menu, which depicts a phone, has been redrawn - now it has a model that resembles the X640. 
The main menu has the form of a two-dimensional array of icons (three columns, three rows), this type of menu is considered to be the unspoken industry standard today. Nested menus - one-dimensional, text. All menu items are numbered, quick navigation works with the number keys. Organizing the main menu in a matrix has the added benefit of having the icon layout follow the key layout, so it's intuitive which button to press when navigating quickly to open the desired item. In nested menus, all items are numbered, and orientation also does not cause any problems.
Samsung SGH-X640 is equipped with extended address book, designed for 1000 entries, each of which can store 4 phone numbers, fax number, e-mail address and text note. In addition, for each contact in phone book you can set belonging to a group, a picture, an individual ringtone. Access to the address book is carried out only with the help of the right soft key, there is no way to access entries from the main menu. The address book has own menu, made in the traditional Suwon platform style. It is two-dimensional, with top-level items scrolling horizontally and bottom-level items scrolling vertically. Entries from the cells of the SIM card and the built-in memory of the phone are displayed in a single list, the only difference between them is that the advanced functions are naturally not available for entries on the SIM card. address book and even grouping.
Let's go to the main menu of the phone. The first paragraph is for SIM menu, if such is recorded by the operator on the SIM card. If the card does not support this function, the item remains unavailable.
On the menu Call Log available standard set call memory functions and their cost, if supported by the operator.
Using the menu Network services you can manage GSM network functions such as call forwarding, call restriction and waiting, etc.
Paragraph Network services Allows you to customize the sounds. This applies not only to ringtones, but also to the sound accompaniment of almost all events that take place in the phone. Also in the Sound settings menu, the vibrating alert is controlled. The phone does not implement such type of notification as vibration simultaneously with sound signal. This is typical for Samsung products, instead of this mode it is proposed to use melodies in which the vibration signal works in time with the music, it is controlled by one of the SMAF polyphony tracks. However, the choice of such melodies is limited.
Next in the main menu is Messages- work with messages. The phone supports MMS, including multi-page ones. By default, one page is provided, but the command from context menu you can add more; the transition between pages is performed by horizontal arrows. You can insert a picture or photo on each page and sound file, for which the menu provides commands for direct transition to the corresponding folders; in addition, there are subject fields and text message. The phone provides input of Cyrillic letters for MMS, SMS and text data in the phone's memory. From the menu Messages it also provides access to voicemail.
Menu WAP and games contains a set of "entertainment" functions - traditionally for Samsung, it combines the WAP-browser Openwave, which supports WAP 2.0, programs for viewing photos, pictures and sounds stored in the phone's memory. Next item - Games- allows you to run Java midlets and manage them. Of the games, SnowBallFight (an arcade snowball game with a tournament system and the purchase of additional equipment) and a Bubble Smile puzzle are preinstalled. In total, 3072 KB of memory is allocated for Java midlets. 
On the menu Organizer collected business utilities. Paragraph New reminder- the first one in the list - is designed so that the user can start working with the organizer by adding a new event, this is not a text notebook, as it might seem, judging by the name. This option allows you to first make a note, determine the essence of the event, and only then specify its type (event, task, challenge, anniversary) and assign it to the corresponding date in the calendar. This is convenient for operational work, there is no need to try to remember the information until the corresponding menu is called and all service data is entered, or to delay the interlocutor.
The calendar has only a monthly display mode, it has a convenient indicator of the total number of active events - they are displayed right below the array of dates as numbers next to four icons corresponding to the four main types of events. Unfortunately, the memory of the organizer is limited to 25 events of each type, which may not be enough both in terms of total number and ratio. So it may be necessary to remember not 25, but 30 anniversaries, without using, say, a task list. If there is a general limit on the number of objects, this can be easily done, but here the limit will not allow you to enter 5 additional annual reminders.
Further in the organizer there are: a list of tasks, a world time clock and an alarm clock. The latter is worth a special mention, as it allows you to program three different recurring reminders, for each of which you set the time and select the days on which the reminder is triggered. If desired, for any signal, you can set a single operation. For most people, this set should be enough. Completing the list of business utilities is a calculator, a powerful unit converter (currency, length, weight, volume, area, temperature), a countdown timer and a stopwatch. 
Unlike the E800, the X640 has a voice recorder - this feature is gradually appearing even in models on older platforms, as it becomes possible to support it in hardware. In X640, the recorder allows you to make recordings of arbitrary duration, limited only by the amount of free memory. During a call, the voice recorder does not work.
Built-in camera called through the menu Camera, or by tilting the joystick up, or using a special key on the right side of the case. It allows you to take photos with a resolution of 128x120, 128x160, 320x240 and 640x480 pixels. In this case, you can choose one of four levels of JPEG compression, from "economical" to the highest quality.
The camera has a rich set of settings. A number of shooting programs are available - normal shot, series of shots, night mode. If necessary, an artistic frame is automatically added to the picture. A number of filters can be applied to the frame - black and white, negative, sepia, embossed or hand-drawn. Also available are image rotation, mirror reflection and shooting with a timer.
For quick adjustment of the most commonly used options, "hot keys" are used - the side scroller controls the image flip, the joystick's horizontal deflection adjusts the picture brightness, and the vertical one - digital zoom.
However, with such a wealth of choice, it cannot be said that the camera shoots with a quality sufficient to view pictures on a PC screen. As before, the look of the photos is good enough only when viewed on the screen. mobile phone. Common Problems shooting - noise and insufficient color saturation in indoor and lower lighting.
Finally, the menu Setting contains the standard options for setting up the phone.
Impressions and conclusions
The performance of the Samsung SGH-X640 is no different from that of the prototype models - E800 and X460. This means normal communication quality, up to four days battery life, high quality and the volume of polyphony, the average perceptibility of the vibrating alert.
The model is purely assortment, it is quite obvious. We treat the idea of a clamshell with one screen and a camera rather reservedly, however, the mass buyer may have a different opinion on this matter: a rather successful design of the model and general interest in camera phones can play their role, and the X640 will be sold, albeit not in large volumes, but quite acceptable for Samsung. Note that similar models appear in some other companies, for example, this is the Panasonic X400.
Nevertheless, the X640 is technically quite well executed, it looks attractive, which means it deserves a good rating.
Mobile samsung phone SGH-X640 is equipped with a color (65536 colors) LCD UFB display with a resolution of 128 x 160 pixels. Wide communication capabilities: SMS, EMS, modem, WAP 2.0, GPRS Class 10, USB, RS232. Li-Ion battery with a capacity of 720 mAh ensures the phone's standby time up to 230 hours and talk time up to 3.5 hours. Built-in voice recorder with the ability to record conversations up to 2 hours.
MAIN SPECIFICATIONS
Food
Battery capacity: 720 mAh Battery type: Li-Ion Talk time: 3.5 h Standby time: 230 hAdditional Information
Features: photoAON Announcement date: 2005-02-14 Sales start date: 2005-03-01 Equipment: phone, standard battery, Charger, instructionGeneral characteristics
Type: phone Weight: 85 g Control: navigation key Case type: clamshell Number of SIM cards: 1 Dimensions (WxHxD): 47x87x23 mm SIM card type: regularScreen
Screen type: color UFB, 65.54 thousand colors Image size: number of lines - 6, 160x128Calls
Melody type: 40-voice polyphony Vibrating alert: yes Number of melodies: 30Multimedia features
Camera: 0.30 million pixels, 640x480 Camera functions: digital Zoom 4x Voice recorder: 120 min Games: yes Java applications: yesConnection
Interfaces: COM-port, USB Internet access: WAP 2.0, GPRS Standard: GSM 900/1800/1900 Synchronization with a computer: yes Modem: yes Protocol support: HTMLMemory and processor
Number of processor cores: 1 Built-in memory: 10 MBMessages
Additional functions SMS: text input with dictionary MMS: yes EMS: yesOther features
Speakerphone(built-in speaker): yes Auto redial: yes Audio encoding modes HR, FR, EFR: yesNotebook and organizer
Organizer: alarm clock, calculator, task planner Book search: yes Notebook in the phone: 1000 numbers report an errorSamsung X640: trying to be original
Samsung never ceases to delight fans of its products with new models of folding camera phones. The memorable design of these devices, traditional functionality, reasonable price, as well as their abundance on store shelves put Samsung products out of the competition. In this review, we will talk about one of Samsung clamshells- SGH-X640 .A year ago
VERY durable: I must have dropped it 10 times already and it still works.
2 years ago
Very strong, fell very often and is alive and well :) Not a bad camera for 0.3, but only if the phone is well charged. A wonderful model for those who need a phone to communicate :)
2 years ago
good camera, loud speaker.
2 years ago
Pinkish)))
2 years ago
The main advantage of this phone is its strong and scratch-resistant body, I can also note quite good quality shots (with VERY good lighting), voice recorder for 1.5 hours of recording, excellent menu, wonderful "Samsung" melodies, very comfortable in the hand, the indicator light blinks every 8 seconds, great quality sound when talking and calling, confident signal reception (it catches even in the forest).
2 years ago
Very comfortable body, just fits in the hand, round - well, in general, very comfortable. STRONG!!! - many times I fell at full speed from a bicycle, onto asphalt, swam in a puddle))) - and nothing! a couple of scratches, but all functions work, the cover does not fall off, etc. Convenient navigation
2 years ago
the melodies are not bad, the size is compact, it does not take up much space, the view is also not bad.
2 years ago
Very easy to use. Used for about 3 years and it's in perfect condition. Stylish.
2 years ago
Everything is awesome! I used it for more than three years, and if it hadn’t been stolen, I probably wouldn’t have changed it until I died. Great design, convenient, great interface, nothing more. Model for those who need a phone, not a toy.
2 years ago
a phone as a phone is not very functional, although everything suits me very much: the camera, the battery, and the phone book, and ringtones, and discreet, but attractive design - I have it pink! I bought it in July 2007 - I have no regrets so far! =)))
A year ago
The memory is small, there is no possibility to shoot video.
2 years ago
there are brakes, somehow the keyboard didn’t work for me, I didn’t see the SIM card, but it passed very quickly and was quite rare. Personally, I would like bluetooth to be present, and so everything is class)))
2 years ago
The camera key is located on the side and when you put it in your pocket, it takes pictures all the time, then you have to delete black photos. No bluetooth and IR port.
2 years ago
there they wrote that it was strong, I didn’t notice = I couldn’t stand one flight into the wall and the thing that holds the battery broke, and there was still little memory
2 years ago
Well ... the manufacturer could make it possible to change the color of the indicator light, there is no radio, many wrote here about pressing the camera button in a bag or pocket, personally I pressed the button ONE, just once !!! That's all if you're too picky...
2 years ago
Little memory. for me, an active amateur photographer, it is generally terribly lacking. The division of memory is also very strange - 5 MB for photos, 5 for games, and only in this way, so the memory intended for games for photo / audio cannot be used ... Oh, here's another thing - you can't turn off shooting the camera with the camera closed lid, i.e. there is a button on the side of the phone that turns on the camera even when the phone's lid is closed - and you can't disable this function...
2 years ago
stupid side photo key (you have to delete empty pictures endlessly!) The camera is no good at all! The quality of the photo is a nightmare! Instead of clear, bright pictures, you get disgusting photos! writing a photo in abbreviation is a complete horror (it doesn’t fit anymore!) The recorder records ugly (the sound is of poor quality!)
2 years ago
Perhaps there are none
2 years ago
It was terribly infuriating that you couldn’t turn off the ability to shoot with the device closed - there was a remote photo button on the side, and as a result, in the jeans pocket it was constantly pressed and a lot of unnecessary pocket photos were obtained, which then had to be deleted without fail, since the phone’s memory ran out and it started screeching nastily.
2 years ago
The side keys are a little annoying, but everything is just super! =)))