Samsung C7168-C5900: Affordable 3G Feature Phones Explained

Samsung C7168/C5600/C5700/C5900 (2006–2010)

This series covers four entry-level 3G candybar feature phones released by Samsung between 2006 and 2010, targeting budget-conscious users seeking basic communication, multimedia, and early 3G connectivity. Positioned below Samsung’s flagship S-series smartphones, these devices prioritized durability, long battery life, and core feature phone functions (calls, texts, FM radio) over smart capabilities. They were popular in emerging markets and as secondary devices in developed regions.

Device-Specific Technical Specifications

1. Samsung C7168 (2006)

Market Position: Entry-level 3G business feature phone, exclusive to some Asian carriers (e.g., China Mobile)

Attribute	Details
Launch Date	Q4 2006
Form Factor	Compact candybar (non-touchscreen)
Display	1.77-inch TFT LCD, 128×160 pixels, 65k colors, non-touch
Connectivity	3G UMTS 900/2100 MHz, 2G GSM 900/1800 MHz; Bluetooth 1.2 (headset only); USB 1.1 (sync only)
Multimedia	1.3MP rear camera (VGA photos, no video); FM radio (mono); MP3 player (supports MP3/AAC)
Memory	10MB internal storage; no microSD expansion
Battery	800 mAh removable Li-Ion; up to 3 hours talk time, 200 hours standby
Key Features	Dual-band 3G, basic office document viewer (Word/Excel), SMS/MMS, predictive text input
Color Options	Black, Silver
Launch Price	~€80 (~$100 unlocked)

2. Samsung C5600 (2008)

Market Position: Mid-entry 3G multimedia feature phone, global release

Attribute	Details
Launch Date	Q2 2008
Form Factor	Slim candybar (9.9mm thick)
Display	2.0-inch TFT LCD, 176×220 pixels, 262k colors, non-touch
Connectivity	3G UMTS 900/2100 MHz, 2G GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz; Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR (file transfer); USB 2.0
Multimedia	2MP rear camera (1600×1200 photos, 176×144 video at 15fps); FM radio (stereo, RDS); MP3 player (MP3/AAC/WMA); video player (3GP/MP4)
Memory	20MB internal storage; microSD slot (up to 4GB)
Battery	960 mAh removable Li-Ion; up to 4 hours talk time, 250 hours standby
Key Features	Quad-band GSM, 3G video calling (VGA front-facing camera), voice recorder, mobile tracker
Color Options	Black, Blue, Pink
Launch Price	~€100 (~$130 unlocked)

3. Samsung C5700 (2009)

Market Position: Entry-level 3G social feature phone, optimized for messaging

Attribute	Details
Launch Date	Q3 2009
Form Factor	Compact candybar (10.5mm thick)
Display	2.2-inch TFT LCD, 240×320 pixels (QVGA), 262k colors, non-touch
Connectivity	3G UMTS 900/2100 MHz, 2G GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz; Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR; USB 2.0; WAP 2.0 browser (basic web access)
Multimedia	2MP rear camera (2048×1536 photos, 320×240 video at 15fps); FM radio (stereo, RDS); MP3 player (MP3/AAC); video player (3GP/MP4)
Memory	30MB internal storage; microSD slot (up to 8GB)
Battery	1000 mAh removable Li-Ion; up to 5 hours talk time, 300 hours standby
Key Features	Social media apps (pre-installed Facebook/MySpace), quad-band GSM, predictive text, voice commands
Color Options	Black, Silver, Purple
Launch Price	~€90 (~$115 unlocked)

4. Samsung C5900 (2010)

Market Position: Entry-level 3G music feature phone, final model in this budget candybar lineup

Attribute	Details
Launch Date	Q2 2010
Form Factor	Slim candybar (9.8mm thick)
Display	2.4-inch TFT LCD, 240×320 pixels (QVGA), 262k colors, non-touch
Connectivity	3G UMTS 900/2100 MHz, 2G GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz; Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR (A2DP for stereo headsets); USB 2.0
Multimedia	3.2MP rear camera (2048×1536 photos, 640×480 video at 15fps); FM radio (stereo, RDS, recording function); MP3 player (MP3/AAC/WMA, equalizer presets); video player (3GP/MP4)
Memory	50MB internal storage; microSD slot (up to 16GB)
Battery	1200 mAh removable Li-Ion; up to 6 hours talk time, 350 hours standby
Key Features	Music-centric UI, dedicated music keys, quad-band GSM, mobile tracker, basic web browser
Color Options	Black, Red, White
Launch Price	~€110 (~$140 unlocked)

Core Shared Features & User Experience

3G Connectivity for Early Mobile Data: All models support 3G UMTS, enabling basic web browsing, MMS, and (for C5600/C5700/C5900) video calling— a key upgrade over 2G-only feature phones of the era.
Durable Candybar Design: Non-touch physical keyboards with tactile keys, plastic builds optimized for daily use, and compact sizes ideal for pocket carry.
Gradual Multimedia Improvements: Camera resolution increased from 1.3MP (C7168) to 3.2MP (C5900); storage expanded from no microSD (C7168) to 16GB support (C5900); music features added dedicated keys and stereo Bluetooth (C5900).
Long Battery Life: Removable batteries deliver 3–6 hours of talk time and 200–350 hours of standby, far exceeding early smartphones’ battery endurance.
Budget-Friendly Pricing: All models launched under $150 unlocked, targeting users who prioritized communication over smart features.

Advantages & Limitations (Across the Series)

Advantages	Limitations
Affordable entry to 3G connectivity	No touchscreen or smartphone OS (Android/iOS)
Long battery life with removable batteries	Low-resolution displays (max QVGA on later models)
Durable, compact candybar design	Basic cameras with low-quality video recording
Gradual storage expansion (up to 16GB on C5900)	Limited web browsing (WAP-only, no HTML5 support)
Music/FM radio features for daily entertainment	No Wi-Fi on any model
Predictive text for fast messaging	Outdated Bluetooth versions (max 2.1)

Target Markets & Use Cases

Emerging Markets: Popular in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, where 3G was rolling out and budget feature phones dominated sales.
Secondary Device Users: Used as backup phones or for kids/elderly users who only need calls, texts, and music.
Music Enthusiasts on a Budget: C5900’s dedicated music keys and expandable storage appealed to users wanting a portable music player with phone functionality.
Business Users (C7168): Basic document viewer and 3G made it a cheap option for on-the-go communication.

Legacy & Market Impact

This series represents Samsung’s strategy to dominate the entry-level 3G feature phone market during the transition to smartphones (2006–2010). The gradual improvements in camera, storage, and multimedia reflected consumer demand for more features at low prices, while the durable candybar design retained loyal feature phone users. By 2010, the C5900 was one of the last popular non-touch feature phones from Samsung, as the brand shifted focus to its Galaxy smartphone lineup. Today, these models are nostalgic collector’s items for feature phone enthusiasts, with well-preserved units fetching modest prices in secondhand markets.