In the past year, Samsung has built a strong reputation for featuring some of its slimmest handsets in its Ultra Edition series. The new Ultra Edition 8.4 (a.k.a. SGH-Z370) is no exception. Touted as the thinnest 3G phone in the world during its initial European launch in August 2006, the 8.4 improves upon the Ultra Edition 6.9 with several key enhancements, including 3G connectivity, dual cameras and an expansion card slot. The extra features do add slightly to the bulk of the handset, but frankly you'd be hard-pressed to find another phone that's as slim and feature-rich as the 8.4.

Design

Like previous Ultra Edition phones, the number in the model name denotes the thickness of the handset. Thus, in the case of the Ultra Edition 8.4, the mobile measures just 8.4mm. While it may not be as thin as its Ultra Edition 6.9 predecessor, we like that it feels a lot less flimsy. Combined with the solid build quality of the handset, we certainly had no qualms when putting the 8.4 in the back pocket, unlike the 6.9 which somehow felt like it would break under stress.

To better differentiate the new trio of 3G Ultra Editions from the first-generation lineup (unveiled during CommunicAsia 2006), the 8.4 will be offered in silver. This is a conservative yet refreshing change from the black in the original series and should appeal to the mass market audience. That said, there are just too many silver handsets in the market today. Given a choice, we hope to see the 8.4 being introduced in more vibrant colors.

Aesthetics-wise, Samsung adopts a plain-looking yet functional approach for the 8.4, with its design modeled closely after the 6.9. The phone follows a flat, wide footprint, with buttons and connectors on both sides. The microSD card expansion slot can be accessed from the right side and comes with a plastic cover to keep out the dust and dirt. The 1.9-inch landscape display makes it easier to read messages.

Buttons on the keypad are generally well-spaced and large enough for comfortable typing. Compared with the 6.9, Samsung has added two extra keys on the 8.4 for video calls and quick function switch just above the call and end call buttons, respectively. The center navigation button to access the Internet will take some getting used to as it is instinctively a menu button for many other phones.

To enable 3G video calls, the 8.4 comes with a VGA camera right above the TFT screen and a 2-megapixel sensor on the rear. The back camera is aligned with a self-portrait mirror plate on a flat surface that juts out slightly from the rest of the back cover. It's great for taking pictures as it is designed so your finger doesn't block the lens. This design, though, puts the glass at greater risk of being scratched.

For such a thin phone with limited real estate, we're surprised that Samsung still manages to squeeze in a small hook for hanging phone straps and other dangly accessories.

Our main design gripe lies with the phone's 3-in-1 connector. The single port is used to hook up to a wired headset, USB cable and charger, a setback as it means you can perform only one of the three tasks at any one time.

Features

It's amazing what mobile manufacturers pack into handsets these days, particular for ultra-thin models like the 8.4. Besides a 2-megapixel camera, the Samsung packs a video recorder/player as well as a music player. Its onboard document viewer application also lets you read your document files on the phone, a nifty tool for those who want to remain productive while on the daily commute.

The biggest enhancement the 8.4 has over the 6.9 is really the addition of an onboard memory card slot. This not only provides a convenient option to transfer data in and out of the mobile, it also doesn't cap the storage space available since more microSD media can always be purchased.

The 8.4 comes with the standard array of connectivity options including 3G, Bluetooth and USB. It also supports Java games and has a basic set of PIM applications for simple organizer tools. There's an onboard browser for surfing the Web, too.

This is not a music-phone, so naturally you won't find features such as dedicated music playback controls and 3.5mm audio jack, although those will be nice to have in future editions. What the phone offers, though, are stereo Bluetooth (A2DP) support, playlist creation and a built-in digital power amp that does improve the sound from the onboard speakers.

It's a pity the phone doesn't come with an FM radio. Nor is there a flashlight on the camera, which would have doubled as a handy torch.

Performance And Battery Life

We tested the Ultra Edition 8.4 extensively throughout a two-week period and didn't encounter any problems with reception or voice call quality. We liked that the volume on the earpiece could be adjusted louder such that we were able to hear the other party even on the noisy underground and bus stops. In 3G speakerphone mode, both parties could also be seen and heard clearly.

We were neither impressed nor disappointed with the sound reproduction from the speakers, although the relatively loud volume range came through on the phone. In terms of image quality, most of the pictures displayed relatively good color accuracy and sharpness compared with other camera-phones tested. However, night shots, as expected, turned out blurry and pixilated.

As with all small phones, there's always a tradeoff. For the Ultra Edition 8.4, the shortcoming is with the small battery. On average, the cell lasted us for about two days based on moderate usage. This should suffice for most folks, but if you are a heavy user and plan to employ more of the 3G applications such as data transfer and video calls, one can reasonably expect the battery to run even shorter. Unfortunately, unlike the 6.9, the 8.4 will not come with an additional battery. So you may have to factor in the cost of an extra battery when purchasing this phone.