Armed with shiny, sturdy, metalled exteriors and large colour screens, the new range of slide phones from LG and Samsung have been fighting for consumer attention. Even though both the companies have stuck to their claims of fetching features and lightning fast responses, we decided to test their mettle.

When it comes to looks, the LG Shine (KE 970) easily surpasses its rivals. The slide phone looks like it has been welded open from a metal block and is soldered for connectivity. Compared to the Samsung E840 and D900i (metal series), the Shine is heavier and bulkier, with a keypad that demands muscular, ahem, fingertips. Samsung phones have gone the other way, keeping up the appearances of titanium hardness while sticking to the featherweight plastic.

All three have screens that are the normal 2.2-inch format and display 262,000 colours. But a flick of the power switch brings alive the differences. While the E840 and D900i have gone in for the standard Samsung menu and static wallpapers, the LG has opted for a minimalist animated wallpaper with flowers that bloom as you rush through the central scroll key. Yet, it’s this key that gives the Shine a whole new user experience.

The scroll key gives access to a menu system which lets you move vertically with a gentle slide, and horizontally by pressing the side buttons. Selections are still through the two main buttons placed right under the screen. Samsung, on the other hand, has stuck to the older, reliable and comfortable configuration of four buttons to pick and cancel calls and menu selections, and a navigational central key. While the D900i has done this with buttons, the E840 has four touch-sensitive spots, which make navigation very easy.

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