The Microsoft Kin Two and the Samsung U380 Brightside represent divergent paths in the early smartphone and feature phone landscape of 2010. The Kin Two, with its Nvidia Tegra chipset, aimed for a multimedia-rich experience, while the U380 Brightside focused on accessible communication and simplicity. This comparison revisits these devices, analyzing their strengths and weaknesses in the context of their era.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the user seeking a more capable, albeit short-lived, multimedia experience, the Microsoft Kin Two emerges as the stronger choice. Its Nvidia Tegra chipset, while dated, offered a performance advantage over the likely basic hardware of the U380 Brightside. However, the Kin Two’s limited app ecosystem and eventual discontinuation are significant drawbacks.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | CDMA 800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 900 / 2100 | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO |
| Speed | HSPA 7.2/2 Mbps | EV-DO Rev.0, 153.2 Kbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA | CDMA / EVDO |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2010, April | 2012, February. Released 2012, March |
| Status | Cancelled | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Dimensions | 115.1 x 65.3 x TBC mm | 111 x 60 x 14 mm (4.37 x 2.36 x 0.55 in) |
| Keyboard | QWERTY | QWERTY |
| SIM | Mini-SIM | Mini-SIM |
| Weight | - | 122 g (4.30 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 320 x 480 pixels, 3:2 ratio (~170 ppi density) | 240 x 320 pixels, 4:3 ratio (~129 ppi density) |
| Size | 3.4 inches, 34.4 cm2 (~45.8% screen-to-body ratio) | 3.1 inches, 29.8 cm2 (~44.7% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | TFT | TFT, 256K colors |
| |
| - |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | 600MHz ARM 11 | - |
| Chipset | Nvidia Tegra | - |
| Memory |
|---|
| Call records | Practically unlimited | Yes |
| Card slot | No | microSDHC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 8GB 256MB RAM | 256MB 128MB RAM |
| Phonebook | Practically unlimited entries and fields, Photocal | Yes, Photocall |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash | - |
| Single | 8 MP, AF | 3.15 MP |
| Video | 720p | Yes |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 2.1, A2DP | 2.1, A2DP, EDR |
| Positioning | GPS, A-GPS | GPS, A-GPS |
| Radio | Stereo FM radio, RDS | - |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 | microUSB 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g | No |
| Features |
|---|
| Browser | WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML | - |
| Games | Yes + downloadable | Yes |
| Java | Yes, MIDP 2.1 | No |
| Messaging | SMS(threaded view), MMS, Email, Push Email | SMS(threaded view), MMS, Email, Push Email, IM |
| Sensors | Accelerometer, proximity | Accelerometer, compass |
| | MP3/WAV/WMA/eAAC+ player
MP4/WMV/H.264 player
Facebook and Twitter integration
YouTube client
MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, PDF viewer)
Voice memo
Predictive text input | SNS integration
MP4/H.264 player
MP3/WMA/eAAC+ player
Organizer
Document viewer
Photo/video editor
Voice memo/dial/commands
Predictive text input |
| Battery |
|---|
| Stand-by | Up to 232 h | Up to 350 h |
| Talk time | - | Up to 6 h 30 min |
| Type | Removable Li-Ion 1390 mAh battery | Removable Li-Po 1000 mAh battery |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black | Black |
| Price | About 330 EUR | About 100 EUR |
| SAR | - | 0.75 W/kg (head) 0.75 W/kg (body) |
Microsoft Kin Two
- More powerful Nvidia Tegra chipset
- Larger, more immersive display
- Better multimedia capabilities
- Limited app ecosystem
- Discontinued support
- Shorter battery life
Samsung U380 Brightside
- Longer battery life
- Simple and easy to use
- Reliable communication device
- Limited functionality
- Basic hardware
- Poor multimedia experience
Display Comparison
Specific display details for the Samsung U380 Brightside are unavailable. However, given its positioning as a feature phone, it likely featured a smaller, lower-resolution LCD screen. The Kin Two, while not boasting a high-resolution display by modern standards, benefited from the Tegra chipset’s ability to drive a smoother visual experience. The Kin Two’s screen size (3.7 inches) suggests a more immersive viewing experience than the U380 Brightside’s likely 2.4-inch display, making it better suited for video playback.
Camera Comparison
Details regarding the Samsung U380 Brightside’s camera are scarce. It likely featured a basic camera suitable for capturing simple snapshots. The Microsoft Kin Two, while not a photography powerhouse, offered a more capable camera system, leveraging the Tegra chipset for image processing. The Kin Two’s camera was geared towards social sharing, reflecting its target audience. Without specific details on the U380 Brightside’s camera, it’s safe to assume the Kin Two offered superior image quality and features.
Performance
The Microsoft Kin Two’s 600MHz ARM 11 processor, coupled with the Nvidia Tegra chipset, represented a significant step up in mobile processing power compared to the typical feature phone hardware of the time. The Tegra chipset, known for its graphics capabilities, would have provided a smoother user interface and better performance in multimedia applications. The Samsung U380 Brightside, lacking specific chipset information, likely utilized a basic ARM processor designed for call functionality and simple applications. This difference translates to a vastly superior user experience on the Kin Two for tasks like web browsing and video playback.
Battery Life
The Samsung U380 Brightside, as a feature phone, likely prioritized battery life over all else. Its simpler hardware and smaller screen would have resulted in significantly longer standby and talk times compared to the Microsoft Kin Two. The Kin Two’s Tegra chipset and larger display would have consumed more power, resulting in a shorter battery life. However, the Kin Two’s more advanced features and multimedia capabilities required this trade-off.
Buying Guide
Buy the Microsoft Kin Two if you're a collector interested in early smartphone experimentation and appreciate the novelty of the Nvidia Tegra platform. Its focus on social networking and multimedia consumption, though limited by today’s standards, was ambitious for its time. Buy the Samsung U380 Brightside if you prioritize a simple, reliable communication device with a long battery life and ease of use – a classic feature phone experience for those uninterested in app ecosystems or complex features.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Was the Microsoft Kin Two’s reliance on social networking a limiting factor?
Yes, the Kin Two’s heavy focus on social networking, particularly its integration with Windows Live services, proved to be a significant limitation. The limited app ecosystem and eventual discontinuation of the Kin platform meant users were locked into a specific set of features and services, hindering its long-term appeal.
❓ Given the Samsung U380 Brightside’s age, is it still functional today?
While functionality depends on the specific condition of the device, the Samsung U380 Brightside, being a basic feature phone, is more likely to remain functional today than the Microsoft Kin Two. Its simpler hardware and lack of reliance on complex software updates contribute to its potential longevity.
❓ How did the Nvidia Tegra chipset impact the Kin Two’s user experience?
The Nvidia Tegra chipset provided a noticeable performance boost compared to contemporary feature phones. It enabled smoother animations, faster web browsing, and a more responsive user interface. The Tegra’s graphics capabilities also enhanced the multimedia experience, making the Kin Two more enjoyable for video playback and gaming.
