Saturday, August 27, 2011

Dual Sim Comparison: Nokia x1-01 vs c2-00 vs Samsung e2152

Image from gev(dot)com
Compared to Nokia, Samsung was a late entrant when the mobile phone battle began early 2000. Nokia is known for their user friendly interface and was warmly accepted by Filipinos. Samsung on the other hand just gained popularity lately because of the android phenomenon.

Stats from Jim Ayson's Wordpress Blog
Being known as the text messaging capital of the world (and now, also the social networking capital of the world), Filipinos are known to send a lot of text messages. The mobile phone penetration is also high here although majority uses low end phones.

Can you imagine? Even people receiving below minimum wage here has a mobile phone. It's becoming their priority and surprising as it may sound, some skip meals just to buy load.

I don't know the number of people here using 2 sims but the 2-sim thing is a thing of the past. A lot of people I know now use 3 sims. Usually, a person has a Globe/Smart, a Sun and a wireless landline like PLDT. Personally, I have 4 sims but I only use 3 actively. I for family, 1 for business and the other is a wireless landline.
 

China Dual Sim w/ TV (Source)


The mushrooming of dual sim phones started with the china made mobile phones. Now, famous mobile phone brands like Nokia and Samsung already released their own version of dual sim phones. It might not have a TV like the china made dual sims but it has their own unique features. Let me do a comparison between 3 at par phones that I have tried.

I will compare the Nokia C2-00, Nokia X1-01 and the Samsung e2152.


Let me start with the price point. The cheapest of them all is the Nokia X1-01 at 1,900 pesos. The Nokia C2-00 and the Samsung e2152 is more or less the same at 2,800 pesos.

They are all sporting the candy bar form factor. Check out the size details below.
Nokia X1-01 dimension and weight | 112.2 x 47.3 x 16 mm, 73.2 cc
Nokia C2-00 dimension and weight | 111.6 x 46.3 x 13.5 mm
Samsung e2152 dimension and weight | 108 x 45 x 14.7 mm, 67.9 cc


Samsung e2152 Flashlight
Nokia X1-01 Flashlight



Another important feature that I personally like is the flashlight. The Samsung e2152 and the nokia x1-01 has flashlight. They both use a single LED and is placed at the top of the mobile phone. To switch it on the Nokia, you have to unlock the keypad to activate the flashlight. Samsung has the advantage though because it has a dedicated key located on the left side of the mobile phone. Even if the keypad is locked, you can switch on the flashlight. The disadvantage there is, your pants glow sometimes.

Nokia X1-01 LED Flashlight
Samsung e2152 LED Flashlight




 
The 3 of them has radio but Samsung is the only one who doesn't need a headset connected to listen to the radio. Very convenient if I may say so.

I won't dwell much on the camera because you can't expect much from a low end mobile phone. Only the Nokia x1-01 doesn't sport a camera.

Sending text messages will be easier in the Nokia because of the user friendly interface or maybe because we are used to texting in a Nokia so, this one is subjective.
SOS Message feature - Samsung e2152



The Samsung e2152 has a notable emergency SOS feature. If you go to the message settings, you'll find there a SOS message option (menu > messages > settings > SOS messages). This is a very cool feature. If for some reason that you are in an emergency, press the send key continuously 4 times while the keypad lock is active. This will send an SOS message to your selected recipients. The default message is "Help! Please call me. I am in an emergency."

Once your recipient receives it and they call you back, the phone won't ring but the call will be automatically answered. All other phone features will be deactivated unless you deactivate the SOS mode by pressing the end key.

Samsung e2152's Spambox

Another feature of the Samsung e2152 is a spam filter. If someone keeps on texting you, you can block them off by registering their number as spam. it has also an SMS reminder feature for people who tend to forget reading received messages.

Comparing the 3 of them, the Nokia c2-00 has the best keypad typing comfort. Next would be the Samsung e2152 although the keypad is rubber (which will fade over time) and the least comfortable to use for me is the Nokia x1-01. Also, I don't like how the Nokia x1-01's "select" button is located on the left side button above the "answer" button unlike other phones who has a "select" button right in the middle of the 4 way navigation key. For the Nokia x1-01, I don't like how the "select" button and the "answer" button is stuck with each other. When you press one button, the other button will be accidentally pressed too.
Nokia X1-01 Keypad
Samsung e2152 Keypad
Nokia C2-00
Voice clarity is same across all mobile phones. I don't hear much difference. There's one small downside with the Samsung e2152 though. When you answer the calls, it has a one second delay. It's not a voice delay but it's more of the phone reacting late when pressing the answer button. The nokia c2-00 has a great feature which I think is also important. When someone calls you and that number isn't saved yet, the nokia c2-00 will prompt you if you want to save the number.




For the Nokia x1-01, it has a built in blacklist feature for calls.

The Samsung e2152 has a bonus feature. A fake call feature. What you do is you press the "down" key 4 times while the keypad is locked then after a specified time (30 seconds, 1 minute etc), you will receive a fake call from the number you set. For example, you can the number to 9111111. The phone number calling you will appear as 9111111. You can also pre-record the voice that the phone will play so your fake call will actually look real as you can hear someone on the other end of the line.

Battery life is great for all the phones. This is one of the best reasons on why you should not get those dual or triple sim china made mobile phones. What will you do with all the features that you have when your battery won't last for an hour or two? That's the thing with those dual sim with TVs so better watch out.

Other photos of the Nokia X1-01, Nokia C2-00 and the Samsung e2152:
Nokia X1-01
Nokia X1-01
Samsung e2152
Samsung e2152


Nokia C2-00
Nokia C2-00

For complete specifications and features, please visit the following sites:
Nokia X1-01 Specification and Features
Nokia C2-00 Specification and Features
Samsung e2152 Specification and Features

Conclusion
Although getting a Nokia might be a better option for most since when traveling, you only need to bring one charger with you because you're other phone is probably a Nokia, I conclude the the Samsung e2152 is that the ultimate dual sim phone because it has all the features a phone must have!

Emergency SMS - Check!
Fake call - Check!
Security lock for SMS messages, notes, calendar, phone book and more - Check!
Dedicated flashlight key - Check!
Headset-less radio - Check!
Long battery life - Check!


At around 2,800 pesos, this is the perfect dual sim phone!

Keep coming back for more reviews! Have a great day!

Cheftonio
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6 comments:

Cheftonio said...

Just wanted to add:

The Samsung e2152 has radio recording and program reminder functions!

You can set the phone to alert you when your favorite program is about to start (separate from the calendar alarm and alarm clock feature).

You can also record the radio show you are listening to!

Disclaimer:
I did not receive any form of payment and freebies in this article.

Cheftonio said...

Also, as seen on the flashlight comparison above, the Nokia x1-01 seemed brighter but in reality, the light it throws off is scattered while the flashlight of Samsung e2152 is more focused.

This just means that the Samsung e2152 flashlight is more effective in doing the job.

Anonymous said...

what's the voice call quality on the phones? what about the dual sim functionality? no sim switching necessary?

Isay said...

This is a great review, keep it up! :)

Anonymous said...

are u sure that x1-01 has a built in blacklist feature???
if it is present please take a mobile screenshot to me if u please!!!

Anitha said...

Nice blog. I was wondering if C2-00 has an auto-answer. Most of the phones have. Please let me know if you ain't too busy.