It’s not surprising that mobile phone wars have expanded into SIM competition: Screens, processors, apps and other features are already manning battle lines. The Philips W626 is a dual-SIM smartphone that adds speed, functionality and connectivity that compels this mobile phone into the same arena as many of the top contenders.

Let’s take a closer look at what this mobile phone has to offer smartphone fans.

Overview

As a GSM device, this handset can be and is offered unlocked, making portability from network to network a snap.

It has a rather snazzy, sleek appearance with little to detract from the display screen. With only the Philips logo and the microphone marring the minimal front casing, the display screen takes centre stage.

The headphone and USB connections rest on the bottom of the device, and the graphics are pretty sharp and well-honed.

It’s a rather compact and light model, which makes using it for longer times quite comfortable.

Specifications

Dimensions: 116 x 62 x 14.3 mm /102 g
Display: 3.5 inches / TFT capacitive touchscreen / 320 x 480 pixels at 165 ppi
Operating System: Android 2.3 Gingerbread.
Speed: 600 MHz, single-core.
Memory: 180 MB storage, 256 MB ROM / Internal memory expandable to 32 GB by microSD card.
Battery: 1530 mAh / 2G: Talk: up to 10.2 hours; standby: up to 437 hours. / 3G: up to 8.5 hours; standby: up to 437 hours.
Camera: rear: 3.15 MP / 2048 x1536 pixels / autofocus / LED flash / Video: VGA at 15 fps. / Front: 0.3 MP.
Connectivity: Dual SIM; Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, Wi-Fi hotspot / SIMs 1 and 2, 2G: GSM 850, 900, 1800, 1900 / SIM 1 only: 3G: HSDPA 850 and 2100 / GRPS / EDGE / HSDPA / HSUPA.

Additional comments: We’ve not heard if this device is upgradeable to 4.0 ICS. Disappointing camera specs, but at least it has two and video capture capabilities. IM capability is probably through Google Talk, although no specific information was found: It’s a Google OS device. MP3 / WAV / WMA / AAC+ audio player; MP4 / H.263 video player: Disappointing video capabilities.

Overall opinion: It lacks a few features and capabilities that could nudge a few market share points away from Samsung and Apple, but the Android device still presents a good capability field to interest most users.