No longer branded with the “Omnia” name given at the initial launch, the Samsung i8910 HD is still as imposing and as impressive as the first time we saw it. Equipped with cutting edge features and functions, an operating system ready for (almost) anything thrown at it and a screen to die for, the i8910 HD is a multimedia monster!

Design:

The device screams high-end from the moment you see it with classy metallic accenting, an 8 megapixel lens jutting slightly from the back and an absolutely massive 3.7” AMOLED touch screen, the i8910 immediately means business.

It’s an angular faced touchscreen phone and therefore a smudge magnet, the glossy finish on the rest of the device doing Scotland Yard’s work for them by picking up a great set of fingerprints. A quick rub returns the reflective sheen with little effort.

Buttons are kept to a minimum with ‘call’, ‘end’ and ‘menu’ keys on the front, volume controls on the left and a lock and camera button on the right. A MicroSD slot and USB port are also housed on the sides, both covered to maintain the i8910’s sleek, formal look.

The pock-marked top and bottom of the phone contain the (covered) 3.5mm audio port and speaker, as well as providing welcome tactile elements in a world full of phones that want to look and feel like shiny eggs.

That is not to say the i8910 is a brick by any means, the slender form factor belies the wealth of tech beneath, and the handset feels exactly the right size to house a touch screen of that size.

Looking at the i8910 HD immediately evokes the idea of it being both a swanky smartphone and a robust media device, which is exactly what it is, and in turn a good thing. Yes, a large part of that is the mesmerizing display, but it is definitely a lot more comfortable in the hand than the 123mm x 58mm x 13mm might suggest.

Features:

Where the i8910 HD shines (apart from its glossy coat) is the multimedia functionality. An 8 megapixel camera might have been a strong opening gambit last year, it has already become an industry standard in a matter of months. The handset bolsters this with autofocus, blink shot and face/smile detection, as well as an LED flash, making for a strong camera phone.

Scene settings for various conditions, macro mode for close up shots, and image stabilization options give the i8910’s camera a wealth of features.

Video? Well, this is why it earns the ‘HD’ monicker, offering high-definition 720p video capture at 24 frames per second, 30 frames at a slightly lower resolution and even time-lapse and slo-mo for budding Spielbergs.

One small problem is that the audio does vary in quality when recording high-def video, sometimes coming out choppy or a tad out of sync. We have been informed that the issue may be solved in a future update. By no means a showstopper, and it is an infrequent issue, but it is something to note if buying an i8910 HD solely for video recording…

Video playback is simply mind blowing, the size and clarity of the 3.7” screen coming into its own when watching hi-def content. This handset is one of the few we wholeheartedly endorse for watching movies on the go, with the wide range of media formats including DivX and Xvid ably supported.

Audio settings allow for virtual 5.1 surround sound through a pair of headphones, truly turning the i8910 into your own mini cinema screen for one on those long journeys!

A kickstand to prop up the device like the Nokia N96 would have truly cemented its movie mogul credentials, mind.

The music side of things is slightly lacking by only working well with MP3s, but a small concession given the exemplary performance from the display.

Show an innocent bystander one of the demo videos pre-installed on the handset, be sure to look on smugly as their jaws drop.

Running on Symbian S60, the i8910 HD is equally a smartphone with plenty of support of installations, programs and mail functionality. The downside is that the menus look identical to most Nokia handsets running on the same software, down to the text font. It’s a shame that Samsung didn’t make enough of an effort to tailor Symbian to the device beyond the home screen.

The upside is that a lot of applications and themes for the Nokia 5800 are compatible with the i8910 HD, due to them running on the same firmware. A bit of messing on the Ovi Store can bring up fun applications to customize your handset.

As an overall interface, it suffers from a slight sluggishness switching menus or selecting apps but is more than robust enough for every day use. By the way, did I mention the screen? It’s massive!

Calls and connectivity:

Wi-Fi and 3G connectivity are a must for the smartphone, and the i8910 HD supports them both. Both are slightly temperamental, and the Symbian way of having to select a connection method for every application becomes slightly irritating to say the least… GPS works more often than not, but being able to get a lock from a satellite seems to be a bit of a lottery. Sometimes it’ll pinpoint your location within inches, other times it seems to be taking a long time to take a wild guess…and getting it wrong.

Calls quality is good, but not great. Voices are very clear, with little static and hiss, and callers found no problem hearing me whilst chatting on busy streets.

A strange problem of caller volume fluctuating randomly is an infrequent occurrence, but very noticeable when it does happen.

Clarity may not be bad, but the proximity sensor is far from perfect. Accidentally deleting a voicemail with my ear did indeed happen on more than one occasion!

Verdict:

A flagship handset for multimedia, the i8910 HD is a handset crafted for entertainment, perfect for photos with the 8MP camera, as well as making and watching movies. The 3.7” display is a market leader, no-one matching the clarity and resolution.

As a smartphone however, it stumbles slightly. Symbian is a brave choice to beef up the i8910’s credentials  as a business phone, but the slightly slow responsiveness and lack of customization prove troublesome. Calls are fair, and Office tools, push mail and messaging are possible but far from the slick and streamlined experiences to make them essential.

A great choice for those looking for the best multimedia experience, but those looking for an easy-to-use phone functionality may want to set their sights a little lower than the flashing lights of the i8910 HD.