The Rise of Samsung

Since a major brand realignment in 2001, financial columnists have been singing the praises of South Korean electronics powerhouse, Samsung. BusinessWeek's 2005 compilation of the top 100 global brands saw Samsung shoot up to 20th, above the out of favour Sony (28th) and comfortably above blue-chip innovators such as Canon (35th) and Apple (41st). But for me, it's only in the last year or so that Samsung's products have started to stand out from the pack. Here are some that caught my eye...

Mobile Phones

Probably not everyone's cup of tea, the p300's (left) 80s calculator vibe works for me. Unfortunately they're not yet widely available (I'm trying to source one of these on the cheap from Hong Kong). The x820 (right) is Samsung's upcoming claim to world's slimmest mobile.

• Read more on the Samsung SGH-P300 [MobileBurn]
• Read more on the Samsung SGH-x820 [MobileBurn]

Digital Cameras

From left to right, the NV7, NV3 and NV10 are the result of 2 years of consumer research and make up Samsung's "New Vision" range of premium digial cameras. Black? Check. Metal? Check. German name on the lens? Check!

• Read more on the Samsung NV7 [DPReview]
• Read more on the Samsung NV3 [DPReview]
• Read more on the Samsung NV10 [DPReview]

High Definition TVs

Samsung are the world's leading producer of LCD panels. You may not know that the panels in Sony's Bravia TVs are actually made by Samsung. While those same panels were used in Samsung's last range of LCDs, their new R Series LCD TVs (pictured) use an even better panel (and they're not letting Sony, who've annouced plans to build their own LCD plant, get their hands on them). Stunning in high-gloss black or white the screens come in 32" and 40" sizes. Best of all, you can pick one up for many hundreds of dollars less than a Bravia.

• Watch the Sony Bravia ad at iFilm
• More info on the Samsung R Series [Samsung Australia]