Review: Panasonic's Rugged SA7

Panasonic SA7

Panasonic SA7

Panasonic SA7

The Panasonic SA7 is the company's latest offering, which combines the features of the svelte VS7 and the excellent battery life of the MX series. Encased in a metallic blue housing with rubber inserts on the sides of the flip, the SA series is aimed at outdoor enthusiasts. Sporty and Active is what SA stands for, and with a 1660mAH Li-Ion battery, Panasonic states that the SA7 will outlast the competition.

The Panasonic SA7 is a tri-band (900/1800/1900MHz) phone, sporting the same 2.0 megapixel camera and glorious 2.5" QVGA screen found in the VS7.

So is the chunky SA7 a capable performer in our tests?

Physical Aspects

At first look, I did not like the SA7's design at all. It was just wrong. The rubber inserts on both sides of the flip made it look tacky. The metallic blue of the housing is awful, and the weird design of a narrower lower flip than the top flip just added to the ugliness of the SA7. However, the SA7 feels less plastic than the MX6, which we reviewed recently, and is a really solid phone. There were no creaks or squeaks found anywhere on our review unit.

On the front of the SA7, you will find the 2.0 megapixel camera perched at the top with an indicator light below it. The camera is slightly recessed, and the silver ring around it helps to protect the lens. The indicator light will flash accordingly when you have unread messages or missed calls, and also acts as a photo light when taking pictures. A 1.1" CSTN external display can be found on the front as well, giving you details like the time, date, signal bars, and battery life.

On the right side of the phone, you will find a multi-function key, which activates the camera and works as the shutter button. Next to it, you have the Infrared port. The volume keys are located on this side of the phone as opposed to the usual left side.

On the left side of the phone, you will find only the universal connector, which is protected by a rubber flap, and is used for your charger, hands free, and USB cable. The 'One Push Auto Open' button is located on the left side of the hinge. This is the flip release button, and enables you to flip open the phone by just pushing on it. However, due to the SA7 being slightly top-heavy, the opening action is much slower and smoother than the extremely powerful flip of the VS2 and MX6.

On the back of the phone, you will find the loudspeaker and an eyelet for you to attach your favorite wrist strap or lanyard. The battery cover is the slide-on kind with no release button - however, it is secure and will not come off easily. At the bottom of the SA7 lies the charging indicator. There is nothing on the top of the phone.

 

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