The new Omnia M handset is the latest fruit to fall from the Samsung tree, following in the steps of the hugely successful Galaxy S III. Now, the Sammy flagship was always going to be a tough act to follow, especially as the Omnia M is more of a mid-range mobile rather than high-end handset. But comparisons aside, how does the Windows 7.5-toting Omnia M fare as a smartphone in its own right?

Omnia M

For a handset of medium stature the Omnia M doesn’t sport an overly eye-catching design, but is solid and sturdy nonetheless with its gunmetal grey chassis feeling lightweight the hand. The 4-inch Super AMOLED display kicks out crisp, clear and colourful visuals, and whilst the screen doesn’t quite match up to those seen on top of the range smartphones, the Omnia M’s display is A-ok for a mobile in its price bracket.

The Omnia M also holds its own when it comes to slick navigation, and considering it only has a 1GHz single-core processor, the speed and fluidity of Microsoft’s snazzy Metro UI isn’t compromised, even when multitasking.

Snaps and storage

Although the Omnia M is certainly no multimedia megastar, you’ll find all the tools needed are on board, albeit in basic form. The 5 megapixel camera housed on the back of the phone can be controlled via a physical shutter button, and takes adequate pictures and 720p videos for sharing on social networks.

Just don’t expect to produce any high quality snaps worthy of Mario Testino’s portfolio though, and you won’t be disappointed. Samsung thought it would provide a basic VGA front-facing snapper too, which means video calling is possible using a VoiP app such as Skype.

It is a bit disappointing that the storage options of 4GB or 8GB can’t be expanded via SD card, because it does limit the user to how many pictures, songs, games and apps can be stored on the phone’s memory.

Functional yet fun

Perhaps two of the most stand out features of the Omnia M’s Windows Phone 7.5 operating system are the People Hub and Xbox Live integration. The People Hub does a fantastic job of collecting all contact information together in one handy location, saving valuable time when keeping up to date with social networking comings and goings. Clicking on a contact will present the latest updates from that person and even offer the chance to create groups that pull together updates from multiple feeds.

Gamers will love the Xbox Live integration, as it allows score sharing with friends and even the creation or pulling through of Xbox Live avatars. The Omnia M copes with game play efficiently considering it only has a single core processor, and is responsive and zippy.

Overall, the handset is pleasantly surprising, and although it may not have all the bells and whistles that high-end devices have, the Omnia M is a good all rounder. It would make a good choice for those making their first foray into the world of smartphones as it ticks all the boxes when it comes to basic features and sports the clean and simple Windows Phone 7.5 operating system too.

Samsung Omnia M Video Review

Although it may not be a flagship mobile, the Omnia M will definitely appeal to people looking for a modest and reliable mobile. And even though it may be a bit ‘middle of the road’ when it comes to looks, it still serves up the goods when it comes to functionality.


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