Any handset that arrives with a fashion label prominently displayed is bound to be scrutinized for any potential style versus substance line crossing. Moreover, each time a fashion brand enters the cell phone market, controversy is inevitable.

The Samsung Emporio Armani Night Effect is the latest handset to join the fashionista cell phone A-list, renewing the handset maker’s working relationship with the Armani group, following on from last year’s touchscreen Giorgio Armani-branded mobile phone. This latest Samsung handset does not boast such a fancy camera, but it is still somewhat different from the norm, being Samsung’s second stab at an Emporio Armani branded handset. The Samsung Emporio Armani is the second cell phone with Armani. It has the Night Effect name because of the LED lights on the sides.

It is not often DoubleDT.Com spend precious words describing packaging. However, in this case DoubleDT.Com wants to make an exception. Sitting inside the cardboard box is a zipped case, which in Russian doll style, contains a smaller soft pouch whose two pockets have room for the handset, mains charger and all provided accessories.

It is a completely new dress code this time, as the Samsung M7500 Emporio Armani leaves the tuxedo in the closed and goes clubbing. In addition, if a name that opens doors is not enough, the Emporio Armani mobile phone by Samsung claims to have an ear for music. DoubleDT.Com guess there is no doubt though; its number 1 job is to get all of you noticed. Aptly dubbed Night Effect, the Samsung M7500 Emporio Armani just loves it when it is dark. Therefore, someone please hit the lights.

The Samsung M7500 Emporio Armani is a stylish and attractive cell phone, which comes with the Emporio Armani light effect logo. This logo glows in the dark making an impact with its impressive and fashionable look. With measurements of 115mm x 47.4mm x 12 mm, the cell phone is a great sized handset to provide a soft-to-the touch, rubber-like feel and a hair-lined keypad and reinforced glass display to offer a simple, yet sturdy elegance. There is no doubt that the sleek body of the Night Effect is designed for a comfortable fit in the palm of the hand and for easy operation, especially with a weight of only 90.2g. When it comes to features and fast technologies, the Samsung M7500 Emporio Armani will not fail to deliver. A large 2.2-inch QVGA OLED screen is featured on the cell phone with screen resolutions of 240 x 320 pixels for vibrant and clear viewing.

The Samsung M7500 Emporio Armani Night Effect supports high-speed HSDPA 3G data connectivity, including audio and video streaming and downloading and video calling. Moreover, it has a 3.2MP built-in camera with autofocus. A 1 GB MicroSD card is boxed with the cell phone, along with other logoed-up accessories in a swanky Emporio branded carrying case.

The Night Effect is a music-centric cell phone with generally middle of the road specifications. The flashing light effects, the dedicated music keys plus the 3.5mm jack and the slightly redone music player software are a reason enough for music fans to check it out before purchasing their next mobile phone. The distinct music slant is also quite in line with the handset’s obvious refusal to complete for a top slot in the fashion handset segment.

Last but not least, if all that sounds like this is a nicely designed cell phone, the product is mainly youth-oriented, especially with the flashy stripes and logos on the sides. However, there is one thing that lets the side down terribly. The Samsung Emporio Armani Night Effect branding is far too “in your face”. The back plate of the handset has the logo emblazoned at a huge size in silver against a black background. The logo is also on the front between the display screen and keyboard, and on the left edge of the cell phone. Overkill, you might think, but it does not stop there.

Samsung M7500 Emporio Armani Night Effect’s Key Features:

• Quad-band GSM and 3G with HSDPA support
• 2.2-inch 256K colors OLED display of QVGA resolution
• 3.2MP autofocus camera with smile shot, 4x digital zoom
• Emporio Armani branding
• Light effects
• 120MB of internal memory and MicroSD memory card slot (verified to work with 16GB cards)
• 3.5mm standard audio jack
• Dedicated music keys
• FM radio with RDS
• Bluetooth (with A2DP) and USB v2.0
• Multi-tasking support and a convenient shortcut bar on the homescreen
• Office document viewer
• ShoZu integration
• Smart dial
• Candybar form factor

Samsung M7500 Emporio Armani Night Effect’s Main Disadvantages:

• Strip lighting effects and brash branding will not appeal to everyone
• No flash on camera means poor low-light shooting
• Display could be larger
• Poor quality video capture
• No acceleromeer, so no fancy music controls or screen rotation
• Task Manager is assigned to the camera key