To continue the dual SIM phone topic, we’ve decided to carry on with Samsung D880 DuoS. The phone rose up many commentaries especially due to the high price and because Samsung is the first from the main manufacturers which made a dual SIM phone. Does it worth to pay for Duos like for two not bad smartphones? Let’s clarify this together.
Design
The dimensions of D880 cannot be called small. The manufacturer needed a lot of space to install two processors and transmitters. Even so, the device works only on GSM networks, but the weight and the dimensions reminds the Samsung G800 camera phone. The phone is two times thicker than the U600.
The front panel and the rear face top halves are made from high quality metal. Rather, it is lacquered steel.
The bottom half consists of the main part and segments of dark grey plastic. The last is closer to the upper half. This is a normal, quite thin plastic. In contrast, the main part is made of a durable and solid black plastic. The sides and the battery cover have a special pattern that resembles skin to touch.
The slide mechanism is perfect, as is often the case with Samsung. Unnecessary movements are not registered at all – in opened position or closed. The two halves are not slapping, neither shooting each other. The slide mechanism has a specific metalized sound that gives you the pleasant impression of an expensive gadget.
In the center of the front panel, under the thick organic glass, it is located the 2.3 inches display. It is a pity that the producer did not use the rest of the space and did not set a 2.6’’ screen, this would have increased the interest for the phone substantially. The available matrix is good enough, the angle view is close to the maximum and there is a lot of brightness in reserve.
Under the display, there is a special upped place used for opening and closing the handset. However, it is part of the metal shell and the finger is slipping away, making it useless. Instead of it, it is more comfortable to use the edge under display.
The keyboard was made perfectly: the keys are big, well spread, pleasant at touch, the backlight is good and equally under each key. A slight problem can only be with the central button within the control circle key. Its movement is short and fuzzy, more of that, it’s insufficient high compared to the circle key. That’s why, sometimes you can press the key by mistake and you need a period of accommodation and to be more accurate and precise with that key.
On the right side we can see the camera button and the interface connector, on the left – the volume key and the SIM swap button. On the right upper corner you can attach the hand strap.
Unfortunately, the phone has installed the new type of connection port, making it incompatible with the older accessories. The package content includes a USB cable, headset and charger. We don’t think that in the short future the content will be richer. The manufacturer claims that the phone can be connected with the TV, but the necessary cable was not found in the package.
The memory card must be installed under the battery, also there are the SIM slots.
The ringtone and the interlocutor’s voice are played by the same speaker. The quality and the volume are at a good level. No problems with the voice, it is played naturally, without any distortions. Simple melodies are played very good, but not very loud. The MP3 songs are a little worse, sometimes the speaker is making strange noises.
In general, the phone is good. There are no important lacks in its construction, if we do not count the impressive dimensions and the small display. Most likely, this is due to the technical limits.
Functionality
The phone was developed in the R&D Suwon center, that’s why many of the functions and features are similar with the ones of Samsung G600. The manufacturer added the dual SIM work function, but deleted the theme editor, the integrated Google application, the Living World feature. The cause of such a decision is not known or understood. There is the possibility to view office documents, with the format txt, doc, xls, ppt.
Samsung claims that the phone has Google Search, but we could not find it. The phone does not have even a real browser, there is only a WAP browser, made by Openwave. At this point, DuoS did not go further than Veon A280.
For the hardware was used processors based on ARM9 and ARM7. The first has a 144 Mhz frequency and operates applications and Java. The second plays the role only as the network chip.
Samsung has promised that the phone is capable of receiving up to 4 calls in the same time, but for real, this doesn’t happen. In the same time, you can see only one call. The second caller gets a “busy tone” and the Duos register only one missed call – the one that started the call first. After some “waiting call” settings, the second missed one also started to appear. However, at the same time you can see only one call for only one SIM. This can be due to this specific firmware – we will investigate and come back on this topic, but the D800 prototype that was in our office, behaved itself exactly the same.
We will continue with interesting experiments: what will be if to call from one SIM card to the other? Nothing spectacular – busy tone. Also SMS can be sent from one card to the other, expected fact.
Above we’ve mentioned the SIM swap key, it determines the active SIM. It is needed for making calls, sending SMS-es or establishing separate settings for each SIM. The activation of the second card is made instantaneously, without any delays; also the WAP/MMS/E-mail is changed accordingly with the current SIM. Data transfer and MMS is always available only for the active SIM.
When you insert a new SIM card, the phone requires you to label the cards with different unique names. Unfortunately, it is allowed only 5 symbols to insert. For each SIM you can set a different ringtone, what is very useful. For SMS-es is no such option.
From the menu you can set the action that will be made when pushing the volume key when the phone rings. You can choose from muting the ringtone or rejecting the call and automatic sending of a SMS template.
In the Call log it is mentioned from what or on what SIM the call was made and on what SIM’s memory the contact is saved.
The Bluetooth feature was designed very well. It is supported a great range of profiles, also you can install a Java applications received by Bluetooth if both files Jar and Jad are present.
- Dial Up Networking Profile
- File Transfer Profile
- Generic Access Profile
- Service Discovery Application Profile
- Headset Profile
- Handsfree (Car Kit) Profile
- Generic Object Exchange Profile (OBEX)
- Object Push Profile
- File Transfer Profile
- Basic Printing Profile
- Audio Video Remote Control Profile
- Advanced Audio Distribution Profile
- Enhanced Data Rate
- Dual Profile Bluetooth (Voice & Data)
- vNote
The Data Transfer was realized at a speed of 130 Kb/s, which is a good indicator.
The user has at its disposal about 27Mb phone memory. There is no memory card in the standard package.
The MP3 player and sound quality can be compared as equal with Samsung G600 and Samsung U600, that why we will not repeat the same. There is no voice dial.
The SAR level of this model is as low as 0,219 W/kg. In Europe, the maximum allowed level is 2 W/kg, in the USA – 1,6 W/kg.
The phone has installed a battery with the capacity of 1200 mAh. In bad signal conditions and a moderate number of calls and SMS-es, the phone is active for at least 2 days if the battery was full. The average indicator in moderate usage – 2-3 days.
Digital Camera
The manufacturer installed as much as possible functions and features for the digital camera. The picture quality is very good. The images have natural colors, are not blurred and other distortions. However, the usual lacks for a camera-phone are present: at a 100% zoom in, there are seen the compression artifacts, blurred object edges, digital noise in dark places.
A dedicated Macro mode is not available, that’s why it could take some time “to catch” a good focus for a near object. The usual shooting mode was already analyzed on other Samsung models and there are no exceptions for D880.
The video quality can be named as “supportable”. It will suit YouTube, but nothing more.
The digital camera works fast, the pictures are saved without delays. Some time is needed for the autofocus: it can take 5-6 sec until the focus is acquired.
Conclusion
Comparing the firmware of Samsung D880 DuoS with the ones on G600 and U600 we can say that the first is worse. There are no integrated applications like Google, Living World, theme editor and other interesting features present on G600 and U600. More of that, the device is big, heavy and the price is high.
At the same time, the DuoS advantages are undeniable and in some kind unique. Nowadays, you cannot find a similar handset, capable of Dual SIM, with such a qualitative body and with such a good firmware and functionality allowing you to manage the two SIM cards. Also, the phone has a good camera, good MP3 player, possibility to connect the TV.
If we get back to the heavy advertised Veon A280, the Chinese colleague of our hero, we can say the following: as a pro for the Korean gadget – quality and functionality, for the Veon – the price. The choice, is like always up to you.
