Raising the bar for cameraphone quality is one thing, but Samsung's 8-megapixel camera-packing i8510 also combines high-grade imaging work with a top-table set of features that put it firmly among the best in class.

The Samsung i8510 is the most ably equipped Samsung phone we've yet seen. It doesn't do touchscreen control, but it has a rollcall of high-end functionality that ticks off many of the latest must-have features.

Multimedia phone

Like Nokia's Nseries lineup, this is a powerfully-built Symbian S60 smartphone. It's an HSDPA-enabled 3G handset, offering mobile data rates of up to 7.2Mbps, and complements this high-speed mobile connectivity with Wi-Fi support.

Satellite navigation is facilitated by A-GPS (Assisted Global Positioning System) technology inside. Its extensive multimedia facilities – including music and video player – are backed up by large onboard storage capacity too; the phone comes in both 8GB and 16GB versions, while high capacity MicroSDHC cards up to 16GB can be used in the handset.

Samsung also makes use of the S60's smartphone flexibility by stuffing in a decent selection of additional web-based applications, including a package of Google features including Google Maps, a Fring VoIP and IM client, plus content sharing and social networking apps like Shozu and GyPSii.

Chunky design

On top of its S60 smartphone functionality, the Samsung i8510 gives a design nod to the N95 8GB, with similarly chunky bodywork and a larger than average screen.

The phone's 2.8inch QVGA (240x320 pixels) 16 million-colour display provides good screen real estate for inspecting images, viewing video and browsing the web. It has a motion sensor built in, automatically tilting the display between portrait and landscape as the phone's orientation is switched.

The casing measures a stocky 106.5(h) x 53.9(w) x 17.2(d)mm, and it weighs a substantial 136g – it's no slimline phone, but does have a great build quality about it.

Intuitive interface

Samsung's implementation of the S60 user interface differs slightly from the Nokia set-up on the home screen, but it soon falls into line as you enter the menu structure; Nokia Nseries phone users will soon feel familiar playing with this device.

The i8510's home screen has a column of function icons (shortcuts, calendar, music player, FM radio and personalisation option) ranged down the left side, and as you scroll down further sub-menu options appear in the main part of the screen.

The shortcuts menu provides fast-tracking into a list of key useful functions. Although the i8510 has a powerful set of features, its handy to have these so easy to access.

Tap into any of these, or press the main menu buttons, and you're taken into a conventional Symbian phone environment of extensive menus with multiple options.

Touch sensitive trackpad

The control panel under the display is based around a navigation D-pad, with twin softkeys, call and end buttons, plus chrome main menu and gallery keys.

Although this is mostly standard S60 stuff, the central navigation select button also doubles up as touch sensitive trackpad. This enables you to swiftly scroll through menu lists and across web pages using fingertip control. It's a neat idea, and works well in places.

It takes a bit of getting used to, but can be useful for some apps like the browser. Whether you'll want to use it much or switch it off will depend on individual preference.

Some users might find it too sensitive (although this is adjustable), and it's possible to accidentally flip the cursor and select something you didn't mean too. But we'd recommend giving it a good try before deciding whether it works for you.