Samsung SGH-U100: A Look at the Ultra-Thin Feature Phone

Samsung SGH-U100

Basic Overview

The Samsung SGH-U100 (often called Samsung U100) is an ultra-thin candybar (straight – bar) feature phone released by Samsung Electronics in June 2007. As a flagship model of Samsung’s “Ultra” series, it was once the world’s thinnest straight – bar phone with a thickness of just 5.9mm, which made it a highlight in the mobile phone industry at that time. Targeted at fashion – forward users and professionals who valued portability and style, it combined a sleek ultra – thin design with balanced multimedia and communication functions, and became a symbol of Samsung’s leading design capability in the feature phone era, competing with similar ultra – thin models like the Motorola SLVR series.

Key Specifications

Category	Details
Display	1.93 – inch horizontal TFT LCDResolution: 220 × 176 pixels, 262,144 (260k) color supportFeatures: 5 – level brightness adjustment, screen backlight time control, Living World theme wallpapers, 12 – grid menu interface, black – and – white appearance options
Processor & Memory	Proprietary Samsung feature – phone processorInternal storage: 60 MB (expandable via microSD card slot, supporting up to 2 GB cards)No official dedicated RAM data (consistent with feature phones of the era)
Cameras	Rear Camera: 2.0 – megapixel CMOS sensor, 4× digital zoom, fixed focusVideo recording: 3GP/MP4 (H.263/MPEG4) at 15 fps, QCIF (176 × 144 pixels) resolutionNo front camera (standard for feature phones in 2007)
Multimedia	Audio: MP3/AAC/AAC+/WMA/eAAC+ player with equalizer (classical, jazz, rock, 3D sound enhancement), background playback, ID3 tag supportVideo: Plays 3GP/MP4/H.263 filesRingtones: MP3, AAC, WMA, MIDI, eAAC+; custom ringtones for calls, messages, and alarms
Battery & Charging	Removable lithium – ion battery (800 mAh)Battery life: Up to 3 hours of talk time, up to 250 hours of standby timeCharging: Proprietary Samsung charging port; USB 2.0 for data sync only
Design & Build	Ultra – thin candybar form factor, metallic casingDimensions: 111 × 46 × 5.9 mmWeight: 72 gramsKeypad: Tactile numeric keys, dedicated music control keysColors: Black, Silver
Connectivity	Bluetooth 2.0 (A2DP for wireless audio streaming), USB 2.0 (data transfer), GSM/GPRS/EDGE (900/1800/1900 MHz), no 3G/Wi – Fi
Software & Features	Proprietary Samsung feature – phone OSCore functions: SMS/MMS, contacts (up to 1000 entries), calendar, alarm, calculator, converterMultimedia extras: FM radio (wired headset as antenna), Java ME for app/games, Picsel Viewer for document browsingSecurity: PIN lock, no biometrics
Sensors	Proximity sensor, ambient light sensor (for power saving and call handling)

Core Features & Market Impact

5.9mm Ultra – Thin DesignThe 5.9mm thickness set a world record for straight – bar phones at that time, redefining the design boundary of feature phones. The metallic casing and lightweight (72g) body made it highly portable, which was favored by users who pursued fashion and easy portability. The horizontal screen design also brought a unique visual experience for text display and menu operation.
Balanced Multimedia CapabilitiesIt had a capable MP3 player with multiple equalizer presets and 3D sound enhancement, supporting background playback so users could listen to music while texting. The 2.0 – megapixel camera met the basic photography needs of that era, and the video player could smoothly play mainstream 3GP/MP4 files. The support for multiple ringtone formats and custom notification sounds also enhanced the personalized experience.
Advanced Connectivity for Its EraEquipped with Bluetooth 2.0 + A2DP, it enabled wireless audio streaming to Bluetooth headsets/speakers, which was an advanced feature for feature phones in 2007. The USB 2.0 port facilitated fast data sync between the phone and PC, and the expandable microSD storage (up to 2 GB) solved the problem of limited internal storage for media files.
Fashion – Driven Brand PositioningAs a representative of Samsung’s Ultra series, the U100 consolidated Samsung’s position in the high – end feature phone market, showing that the company could integrate cutting – edge design with practical functions, and laid a foundation for Samsung’s subsequent focus on design and user experience in the smartphone era.

Limitations & Era – Specific Constraints

Limited Display & Camera PerformanceThe 1.93 – inch 220×176 – pixel screen had relatively low resolution by today’s standards, and the 2.0 – megapixel fixed – focus camera could only take basic photos without autofocus or flash, which couldn’t meet the needs of high – quality photography.
2G – Only & No Wi – FiIt only supported GSM/GPRS/EDGE 2G networks and had no 3G or Wi – Fi capabilities, resulting in slow data speeds that made it difficult to access complex mobile web content, which was a common limitation of feature phones at that time.
Proprietary Charging & Limited App EcosystemIt used a Samsung – specific charging port, which made it hard to find replacement chargers later. And it only supported Java ME apps, which were far less functional than modern smartphone apps.
Battery Life Trade – Off for ThinnessThe 800 mAh battery could only provide up to 3 hours of talk time and 250 hours of standby time, which required frequent charging with heavy use, a necessary compromise for the ultra – thin design.

Legacy & Historical Significance

The Samsung U100 was a landmark ultra – thin feature phone that demonstrated Samsung’s outstanding industrial design strength in the mid – to – late 2000s. Its 5.9mm thickness record became a classic case of design innovation in the mobile phone industry, and its combination of style and multimedia functions influenced the design direction of many subsequent feature phones. Today, it is a sought – after collector’s item among vintage mobile phone lovers, representing the peak of non – smartphone mobile device design.