 The Samsung SGH-i780 updates the popular BlackJack II with improvements all around, and some interesting interface options. First of all, the phone gets the touchscreen that many (though not us) have been asking for. We'd rather leave the stylus at home than have to unholster it for a slim, QWERTY slab like the BlackJack. More interesting, however, is the phone's optical mouse, an input device that is popping up on more and more upcoming phone models, including Sony Ericsson's newly announced Xperia X1 phone. In our hands-on time, we weren't too fond of the optical button. It controlled a pointer on screen, and though the movement seemed precise and intuitive, it was never easier to use the optical mouse instead of simply poking at our selection. We miss the thumbwheel, though Samsung seems to be fleeing that input option like it was plagued. Release: March 2008. Price: $700.
Pros: Touch screen, varied input methods, better-than-QVGA screen resolution.
Cons: Is a mouse on a phone really an improvement? We need to be convinced.
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