Samsung hits 10 megapixels with the SCH-B600

Samsung launched the first 5-megapixel camera phone in 2004, and the first 7- and 8-megapixel camera phones in 2005, so it's no surprise the Korean electronics giant has launched the world's first 10-megapixel camera phone at CeBIT 2006. Like its predecessors, the SCH-B600 looks like a regular handset from the front, but when you activate the camera application, a large lens extends from the back. You won't want to make calls at this point, because you'll feel like an idiot with the lens sticking out of your ear, but if you turn the phone horizontally and frame up a shot, passers-by won't realise you're using a phone -- it looks just like a compact camera.

Samsung hasn't just crammed in lots of pixels. You also get autofocus, a 3x optical zoom and a flash, so you can take candid close-ups and night shots as well as the usual mugshots in front of famous landmarks. You can admire your photos on the bright, 240x320-pixel screen and save them in the phone's internal memory, or on to MMCmicro memory cards. Other features include Bluetooth and MP3 playback.

On the downside, once you get over having more megapixels than anyone else, you're stuck with a big, ugly phone that transforms into a big, ugly camera. There's also the problem of having to move to Korea, because the B600 won't work on UK networks. We don't expect to see a UK version, but some of the technology might trickle down into Samsung's UK phones. It's also a milestone that demonstrates Samsung's commitment to pushing at the limits of technology. -ML

See our CeBIT 2006 Special Report for all the latest news, product announcements, photos and videos from CeBIT.

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Comments (12)

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Comments

Bob ShirunkelThu 9 March, 2006 3:17pm

Holy Guacamole! That's impressive. It's no better than a 5- or 6-megapixel sensor though, really, because the lens probably won't be much cop and the sensor will be very small, so it won't capture much detail. It shows that phone makers are finally taking the camera part of camera phones seriously, though

AnonymousSat 11 March, 2006 11:36am

why on earth would you need a 10 megapixel sensor on ANY consumer camera? unless you want to take pictures that are 40 feet across and sixty feet tall, it's absolutely pointless.

The B600 is just helping to reinforce the belief that megapixels=quality. Real photographers will know this isn't true, but the sort of people who will buy the B600 usually probably won't have a clue.

Andrew LimSat 11 March, 2006 2:21pm

I agree that a 10-megapixels sensor is unnecessary, unless you want to print posters, but it's good to see that mobile phone manufacturers are pushing technological boundaries. Sometimes technological progress doesn’t make sense in the short term but I think it’s important to keep challenging and upgrading products.

Andrew LimSat 11 March, 2006 2:21pm

JimTue 4 April, 2006 9:29pm

yes 10MP, but how afective are those Pixels with that Poor Qaulity Lens.
i bet you that my 4mp Canon Powershot S45 Compact will Produce Better Qaulity Prints.
what you usaly get with camera phones is cheap Plastic elements and cheap optics and not forgeting a cra##y aperture and Poor image Noise.
dont get me wrong its still a handy thing to carry around but a poor substitute for a decent Qaulity compact such as a Canon Powershot s80,Pentax optio 750z or Olympus c-70 zoom.
Jim - edinburgh - scotland.

AnonymousSun 9 April, 2006 6:46am

Camera lense is in other side. Seems like designer never thought of doing video conference?

AnonymousTue 15 August, 2006 5:50pm

please tell the rate (that means the range of the cellphone cost )

dilipThu 17 May, 2007 4:25pm

please tell me what actual cost of this phone & when it is lunch at INDIA.

AnonymousTue 2 October, 2007 8:59am

woooooooooo
dis fone is s*** mine is betta
haha
woooooooooo

AnonymousFri 25 January, 2008 8:39pm

wow! i would like a 10MP phone but for now 3MP is enough for me:D

AnonymousThu 22 May, 2008 8:10am

Can any one give the specifications of this mobile

AlexMckTue 29 July, 2008 5:43pm

the reason Samsung made this phone was to keep its position in the Guinness book of world records. Nothing else. Sure it's impressive, but I have a SE k800i and it takes decent enough pictures. Enough to put on my computer's screen, anyway. It's a nice achievement, obviously, but pretty much completely unnecessary.

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