Sanyo Katana Review - Introduction / Design

Introduction

Ultra-thin devices are still selling strong. In a market where Motorola RAZRs pack store shelves, Sprint has offered customers relatively few choices for slim handhelds.

Fortunately this month, Sprint added a new device to its thin portfolio. Named after the legendary sword used by the Samurai, the new Sanyo Katana offers a similarly slender profile, as an affordable alternative to the Samsung A900.

The Katana offers a rich multimedia feature set, including a built-in VGA camera, dual color screens, Bluetooth wireless technology, and the ability to send and receive instant messages, email, and chat, right from the phone. Combined with the Sprint PCS Vision, users can download images, ringers, games, and other applications, while PCS Picture Mail allows customers shoot, share, and print digital pictures through participating retailers across the country.
Design

The Sanyo Katana resembles the Motorola RAZR in shape and design, offering a similarly slim profile and angular shape. Measuring just 99 x 51 x 15 mm, the thin plastic exterior is lightweight, weighing just 96 g.
The front panel provides convenient function through a 65K-color screen, displaying time, battery level, and signal strength. Above, the lens to the built-in VGA camera captures images up to 640 x 480 px in resolution, activated with the press of the dedicated Camera Key on the right side. Volume Keys on the left edge adjust earpiece and ringer levels during calls and standby mode.

Strangely the Camera and Volume Keys are built into the top half of the clamshell flip, so when the Katana is opened, the keys are on either side of the internal LCD rather than level with the numeric keypad. Uncomfortably high up when opened, the Camera and Volume Keys are inconvenient to press and hinder usability. Instead, the Charger and Headset Jacks are located on the left and right sides of the bottom flip respectively.

Opening the Katana revels the large and vivid 240 x 320 px 65K-color LCD. Offering brilliant imaging for multimedia, the internal display is used as the Camera Viewfinder, as well. The 5-way directional keypad provides comfortable navigation through the menu, also doubling as shortcut keys to access Send Quick Text (Up), My Content (Down), Web (Left), and Voice Memo (Right), surrounded by Camera, Back, Talk, Speaker, End / Power, and Left and Right Keys.

The boxy directional and numeric keypads are flush to the phone, making tactile feel during text messaging virtually nonexistent. The internal antenna is built into the lower lip of the Katana, so consumers should be careful not to block the antenna during conversations.

Designed to appeal to the fashion-centric consumer, the Katana makes its debut in Blue Sapphire, Cherry Blossom Pink, Mystic Black, and Polar White (sold exclusively at RadioShack).