Product: Sharp GX32 camera phone Price: $4,680, or $3,980 with SmarTone contract Pros: Totally updated, high-end handset with good multimedia features Cons: Some may hesitate at the price
On the face of it, the Sharp GX32 is very similar to its predecessors: there is the same high-resolution 262K colour, 2.2' QVGA display, and a similar clamshell design. The keys are modified, the external display is larger, and there is a speaker on the outside.
In fact, the GX32 is a major upgrade over the GX22, and one worth considering. The biggest difference, as anybody with a television knows, is that the GX32 is 'the only camera phone that takes pictures good enough to keep'.
While not entirely true (Sony Ericsson, Siemens and others have unveiled 1.3 megapixel models), the one-megapixel camera on the GX32 is a big improvement on the 350K version on the GX22 and, in the right conditions, can produce print-quality pictures.
The camera can also capture up to 45 seconds of video.
The speaker is used for making hands-free calls or playing stereo MP3 files - another upgrade over previous Sharps. Audio quality has been significantly enhanced as well. All these multimedia capabilities would have overtaxed the handset's eight megabytes of on-board memory, so Sharp has added a Secure Digital card slot.