The Good:

• Ultra-responsive
• Decent multimedia features
• Built-in HSDPA
• Versatile Mobile browser

The Bad:

• Interface needs some streamlining
• Below-average music quality
• Reception issues
• Arrrggghhh! Smudge and fingerprint-friendly finish!

Thanks to a contact's generosity, I once again got to try out Globe Visibility, the local service provider's HSDPA service. This time however, I was going to experience mobile broadband access with the Samsung SGH-Z560 (see the complete specs).

From first impressions, the phone's compactness, responsiveness, and extensive feature set stood out. This clamshell mobile when closed easily fits into a pocket or small handbag because of its dimensions: 97.3 long x 51.3 wide and 16.3 millimeters thick. Even with the many interface animations, such as a virtual quilt that writes the numbers as you dial them, the smartphone instantly reacts to key presses.

Despite its small size and responsive interface, the Z560 has a lot of multimedia features. The two-way 2.0 megapixel camera allows users to take decent pictures of themselves or a friend without having to turn the phone. A loud speaker is hidden behind the main display, because you can play MP3s or polyphonic tones, while touch-sensitive keys below the small display control playback.

Now for the pièce de résistance. The screenshot of TinyTube.net was courtesy of the built-in HSDPA receiver. A versatile mobile browser makes it easy to see websites as they are on desktops, or shrunk down to fit the small screen. Since HSDPA isn't fully implemented here in the Philippines yet (or anywhere for that matter), the Z560 automatically reverts to GPRS when out of HSDPA coverage. My contact told me that the smartphone also doubles as a HSDPA data card when you plug it into a laptop's USB port, but unfortunately I had no time to try it out.

Nothing is revolutionary about the contact and PIM functions, but they are useful. Like many other smartphones, you can save multiple info for each contact (mobile and landline numbers,email, address, etc.), and a basic calendar can schedule appointments and to-do's. For such a full-featured smartphone, a battery that survives two days of normal usage (including mobile surfing) is a delightful surprise.

Too bad Samsung's menus are still not entirely user-friendly. Thank God the interface is quick, because I get the feeling that the mobile forces me to press several keys unnecessarily, when only one or two would do. At least the needless presses are momentary distractions.



Like on many other smartphones, the built-in camera takes poor pictures in dark places. It is understandable that music would sound distorted when played through the external speaker, but not when the earphones provide weak bass and slightly tinny treble. Since the earphones plug into the same proprietary port for the USB cable/charger, it was impossible to determine if the below average sound was the Z560's or the earphone's fault.

There were also some minor annoyances I forgot to mention. The Z560 only becomes ultra-responsive when you turn off keypress sounds. The back of the numeric keypad heated up after just a few minutes of talking, and sometimes, reception would be cut for a second or so. The mobile browser takes about 10 seconds to start up, a rare exception in a phone where everything can be accessed quickly. The music playback controls sometimes fail to respond even with significant pressing. And for some reason, you have to open and close the phone to see the date and time on the small screen. Maybe Samsung should have configured one of the side buttons to turn on its backlight?

The Samsung SGH-Z560's responsiveness will cause little frustration, and the numerous features fulfill the needs of many basic and mid-level users. But the smartphone is no kitchen sink; power uses should look elsewhere. There are also some issues which keep me from calling it a best buy. Yet if you need HSDPA capability right now, here's a gadget for you.