Samsung Armani review: Mobile haute couture

If there's one thing the Samsung Armani phone has in abundance, it most definitely is style. Slim, compact and high-tech, the fully touch-operated Armani phone is not just the final touch to your look - it's the finish with a flourish. Anyway, with us the tech junky tends to get the upper hand over the fashion savvy, and we are eager to find out if there's more to it than what meets the eye. The really promising Samsung Armani phone seems the right mix between technology and looks, but we're more interested in how it fares as a gadget, not an accessory.

Samsung Armani official photos

Key features:
Stylish looks and high-quality build 
Small dimensions and compact "card" form factor 
2.6" touchscreen TFT display with QVGA resolution 
Vibrating haptic response 
microSD memory card slot 
Stereo Bluetooth 
3 megapixel camera 
Office documents viewer 
Rich retail accessories 
Main disadvantages:
Slow interface response 
Slow memory card reading 
Awkward web browser controls 
No 3G support 
No camera auto focus 

The model designation that hides behind the Samsung Armani name is actually Samsung P520. That alone may be enough of a hint that the Armani phone is an offshoot of the Samsung P-series. The Samsung Armani has inherited the same form factor and has the same size and weight as the Samsung P310 for example.

The Samsung Armani phone comes in two retail packages - standard and extended . The difference between the two is the Bluetooth headset in the bigger one.

The standard contents of the retail box are a hard leather case, charger, data cable, memory card, a wired stereo headset, soft pouch as an alternative to the leather case and, finally, a cleaning cloth.

All the contents of the box look really classy and are all Giorgio Armani branded. The user guide has the most exquisite covers we've seen, for example.