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Samsung Phone
Reviews
Each section is ordered by review date.
Samsung Android Phones- Google OS
Samsung Galaxy Note 7 (discontinued) The Samsung Galaxy Note 7 is one heck of a great phone, and it's also an extremely expensive one. Inside, it's the culmination of Samsung's triumphs and past mistakes learned from--TouchWiz is actually useful rather than a Disney adventure, features are well thought out and the phone looks stunning clad in Gorilla Glass 5 and aluminum. The Note 7 has a 5.7" Super AMOLED 2560 x 1440 display with HDR video support, the same excellent cameras as the Galaxy S7 family, a Snapdragon 820 processor, 4 gigs of RAM and a 64 gigs of storage plus a microSD card slot. It has the S Pen, both fingerprint and iris scanner and much more. |
All major carriers |
Aug. 2016 |
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Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge The Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge make up for the proverbial sins of the father-- they bring back dear hardware features that Samsung axed when it released the radically redesigned Galaxy S6, s6 edge and s6 edge+. That means the microSD card slot and water resistant features are back--combine those with stunning looks, the fast new Snapdragon 820 CPU, a revised camera that handles low light (and good lighting) well, bigger batteries and striking QHD AMOLED displays and you've got two flagship Android 6.0 Marshmallow smartphones that earn their high price tags. |
All major carriers |
March 2016 |
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Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+ The super-sized version of the Galaxy S6 edge sports a stunning 5.7" QHD Super AMOLED display with side curves. The phone is available in gold and black, and it's a stunning looking piece. Inside, it's mostly the same internals as the Note 5 (minus the pen) and Samsung Galaxy S6. It runs Android 5.1 and TouchWiz on the 2.1 GHz octa-core Exynos 7420 CPU with 4 gigs of RAM and fast UFS 2.0 storage. The edge+ has a 5.7" QHD Super AMOLED display, fingerprint scanner, heart rate monitor and a front 5MP camera and rear 16MP camera. |
All major US carriers |
Aug. 2015 |
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Samsung Galaxy Note 5 The fifth generation Samsung Galaxy Note goes high style with a glass and metal design that matches the Samsung Galaxy S6. Undeniably the best looking Samsung phablet to date, the Galaxy Note 5 is also faster, has an even better display and some of the best cameras you'll find on a phone. Like the Samsung Galaxy S6 and the new S6 Edge +, the Note 5 runs Android 5.1 and TouchWiz on the 2.1 GHz octa-core Exynos 7420 CPU with 4 gigs of RAM and fast UFS 2.0 storage. It has a 5.7" QHD Super AMOLED display, fingerprint scanner, heart rate monitor and the venerable S Pen, but it loses the removable battery and microSD card slot that were staples of previous Note models. |
All major US carriers |
Aug. 2015 |
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Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime (video review) An affordable Android smartphone offered by Sprint, T-Mobile and Cricket in the US. The phone runs Android 5.1.1 Lollipop with Samsung TouchWiz software on the quad core 1.2 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 CPU with Adreno 306 graphics. It has 1.5 gigs of RAM and 8 gigs of internal storage. The 5” 960 x 540 TFT display won’t win resolution awards, but it has decent colors and brightness. The smartphone has a removable 2600 mAh battery, a microSD card slot, single band WiFi 802.11n, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS and NFC. It has a sharp 5MP front camera with a wide angle lens and a rear 8MP camera with LED flash that can shoot 1080p video. |
Sprint, T-Mobile and Cricket |
Aug. 2015 |
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Samsung Galaxy S6 Active The rugged sibling to the standard Galaxy S6 is exclusive to AT&T in the US. It has the same goodies inside, including the extremely fast 2.1GHz Exynos octa-core CPU, 3 gigs of RAM, a heart rate monitor and Samsung's best in class rear 16MP camera. The Active is water and dust resistant, and you can submerge it up to 3 feet deep for 30 minutes. It's also designed to withstand drops, something the glass and metal Galaxy S6 and S6 edge cringe at. Even better, battery capacity is significantly higher at 3500 mAh, though alas it's not removable. |
AT&T |
June 2015 |
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Samsung Galaxy S6 & Galaxy S6 Edge What a difference a year makes. Samsung's new mainstream sized flagship phones for 2015 are every bit as attractive and elegant looking as the iPhone 6 and HTC One M9. Clad in glass and aluminum, both the GS6 and S6 Edge are classy and attractive phones whose looks match the excellent features inside. From the scrumptious 2560 x 1440 Super AMOLED displays to the fast 2.1 GHz Exynos octa-core CPU these phones are winners. There's a much more reliable fingerprint scanner, a sharp 5MP front camera and an excellent 16MP rear camera with OIS and 4K video capture. Editor's Choice 2015. |
All major carriers |
March 2015 |
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Samsung Galaxy Note Edge We've seen phones that have curved glass simply to have curved glass. The Samsung Galaxy Note Edge, the curvy twin to the Samsung Galaxy Note 4, has a curved display with a purpose. Sure it takes the Note 4 design and makes it look cool and different, but that waterfall curve on the right side gives us a secondary 160 pixel display to interact with. The Samsung Galaxy Note Edge is otherwise the same as the excellent Note 4. It has a QHD 5.6" Super AMOLED main display (enhanced with curved Gorilla Glass 3 and a curved AMOLED panel underneath that adds the 160 x 2560 edge display), a removable faux leather back cover, metal sides and it runs on the Snapdragon 805 quad core 2.7GHz CPU with 3 gigs of RAM and 32 gigs of storage plus microSD card slot. The excellent 16MP rear camera with 4K video recording is here too. |
AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon |
Nov. 2014 |
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Samsung Galaxy Note 4 That fabulous phablet is back and better than ever. The Note 4 is the most stylish looking big phone from Samsung yet, thanks to metal sides and a refined design. The S Pen is here for precise writing and drawing, and the striking 5.7" Super AMOLED display runs at an impressive 2560 x 1440 resolution. The Note 4 runs on the new 2.7GHz Snapdragon 805 quad core CPU with Adreno 420 graphics and it has 3 gigs of RAM and 32 gigs of storage. Other goodies include a fingerprint scanner, health monitor, 4K video recording and a removable battery. Editor's Choice 2014. |
all major carriers |
Oct. 2014 |
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Samsung Galaxy Alpha This is the first Samsung Galaxy to have a metal frame around the edges (the Galaxy Note 4 will soon join it) and it's meant to be the classy model. It's also downsized and designed to compete with the 4.7" iPhone 6. The Alpha shrinks the standard sized flagship Galaxy S5 without dumbing down the specs too much. Thus the Alpha has a 4.7" Super AMOLED display, the same 2.5GHz quad core Snapdragon 801, 2 gigs of RAM and 32 gigs of storage. It has a 12MP camera that takes photos and videos that are nearly indistinguishable from the 16MP GS5 and it has a fingerprint scanner embedded in the home button. Sounds lovely if you prefer a more manageable size phone and better looks than the Galaxy S5. The drawbacks? No microSD card slot and the display resolution drops to 720p. |
AT&T |
Oct. 2014 |
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Samsung Galaxy S5 Sport Yes, it's another Samsung Galaxy S5 variant. This time we look at the Samsung Galaxy S5 Sport, currently exclusive to Sprint in the US. It's a more sporty version of the GS5 that's available in zingy red or electric blue, and it has a grippy outer casing. Inside you'll find the exact same internals, battery and camera as the Galaxy S5 original flavor. The GS5 Sport has an excellent Super AMOLED 1920 x 1080 display, 2.5GHz quad core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 CPU with Adreno 330 graphics, 2 gigs of RAM and 16 gigs of storage. It has a microSD card slot, an IR blaster and 4G LTE with world GSM roaming. |
Sprint |
Aug. 2014 |
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Samsung Galaxy S5 Active The more rugged sibling to the Samsung Galaxy S5 can withstand a drop of 4 feet onto a flat surface, and it has the GS5's water and dust resistance. The Active has the same flagship specs and features as the standard S5 except it has no fingerprint scanner. It has a vibrant Super AMOLED HD full HD display and it runs on the new 2.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 quad core CPU with 2 gigs of DDR3 RAM. Other features include an excellent 16MP rear camera, 4G LTE and a removable back and battery. |
AT&T |
July 2014 |
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Samsung Galaxy S5 The Samsung Galaxy S5 is the manufacturer's flagship mainstream size Android phone for 2014, and it sports a new fingerprint scanner and heart rate monitor. It has a best of breed 5.1" Super AMOLED HD display running at 1920 x 1080 and it runs on the new 2.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 quad core CPU with 2 gigs of DDR3 RAM. As you'd expect from Samsung, it's very slim yet it has a removable battery and a microSD card slot. The rear 16 megapixel camera is one of the better models on the market and it can even shoot decent 4K video. The GS5 runs Android 4.4 KitKat with Samsung's TouchWiz UI and software. It's available on all major and some regional carriers. Editor's Choice 2014. |
All major carriers |
April 2014 |
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Samsung Galaxy Note 3 There's no denying that the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 continues to top the charts as best phablet. Since the original Note shipped a few years back, we've seen occasional competition for the bigger than a phone but smaller than a tablet crown, but Samsung's combination of a relatively compact and light body, S Pen digital pen and custom software still make the Galaxy Note 3 the best phablet at the high end. The third generation Note has a 5.7" full HD Super AMOLED display, a very fast 2.3GHz quad core Snapdragon 800 CPU with 3 gigs of RAM, our beloved S Pen with note taking and art apps, a capable 13MP rear camera and the usual LTE 4G, GPS, NFC, Bluetooth and WiFi 802.11ac. |
AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon |
Oct. 2013 |
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Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 Here in the US, we don't get tablets that do cellular voice as do lucky consumers in Europe. The Mega-sized Galaxy with a 6.3" display is large enough that it could do double duty as a small tablet. Yet it's still a phone and it has the usual calling features, speaker and built-in mic. This is a mid-range device with a fairly low price tag, but for those who use data and apps more than calling, the Mega 6.3 still has what it takes to be productive. It has a 1.7GHz dual core Snapdragon 400 CPU, 1.5 gigs of RAM, 8 gigs of storage and a 1280 x 720 PLS display. |
AT&T |
Aug. 2013 |
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Samsung Galaxy S4 Active If you love the Samsung Galaxy S4 but need a water and dust resistant smartphone that can survive poolside splashes and an accident with cocoa powder when baking, the Galaxy S4 Active is your phone. It has the same internals, software and apps as the non-Active model, and that means you get a very fast 1.9GHz quad core processor, 2 gigs of RAM, 16 gigs of storage and Android 4.2.2 with Samsung TouchWiz software. The phone has an 8MP camera (a downgrade from the GS4) but as a consolation it has an underwater photo mode. |
AT&T |
July 2013 |
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Samsung Galaxy S4 This is Samsung's 2013 flagship Android smartphone. Yes, you could call it an evolutionary device, but the new features (love 'em or hate 'em) are more than evolutionary. When a phone watches you and responds to your movements, that's something new and exciting (and sometimes crazy making). Perhaps it's a revolutionary smartphone trapped in an evolutionary casing? The Samsung Galaxy S4 has a 5" full HD Super AMOLED display, a 1.9GHz Snapdragon 600 quad core CPU with 2 gigs of RAM and an excellent 13 megapixel camera. |
AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon |
May 2013 |
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Samsung Galaxy Note II You know the Samsung Galaxy Note was one of our top picks last year, right? Well, the Samsung Galaxy Note II, a 5.5" smartphone or phablet is even better. Bigger display, much faster CPU than our US first gen Note, a better camera and more S Pen features. The Note II is available on all major US carriers, with a $299 price tag with contract. The Note II has a 1280 x 720 Super AMOLED HD display that works with both touch and the included S Pen. It runs on Samsung's quad core Exynos CPU with MALI 400 graphics and it has 2 gigs of RAM. Other amenities include a micro SD card slot, LTE (except on T-Mobile) and a removable 3,100 mAh battery. |
AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon |
Dec. 2012 |
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Samsung Galaxy Stellar If you're on a tight budget or are a first time smartphone buyer not looking to break the bank while you test the waters, the Stellar is worth a look. No, it doesn't have stellar high end features, but you get a lot for free on contract. The smartphone runs Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich with both TouchWiz and newbie-friendly starter UI options. It has a 1.2GHz Qualcomm S4 CPU with a gig of RAM and front and rear cameras. This is an LTE phone with dual band WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0 and a GPS. |
Verizon |
Sept. 2012 |
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Samsung Galaxy Note (T-Mobile) T-Mobile in the US is the latest to offer this impressive Android 4.0 smartphone with a 5.3" Super AMOLED HD display running at 1280 x 800 resolution. Like the AT&T version it has a 1.5GHz dual core Qualcomm S3 CPU with Adreno 220 graphics, a gig of RAM and 16 gigs of storage. The Note has a Wacom dual digitizer with both capacitive touch and an active digital pen that's precise and pressure sensitive. The phone has 4G HSPA+ 42Mbps, a front 2MP camera and a rear 8MP camera with LED flash. Other goodies include dual band WiFi with WiFi calling and mobile hotspot, Bluetooth, a GPS and NFC. |
T-Mobile |
July 2012 |
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Samsung Galaxy S III (T-Mobile and Sprint versions) The 2012 edition of Samsung's top of the line Android smartphone features a 4.8" Super AMOLED 720p display, a very fast 1.5GHz dual core Snapdragon S4 CPU, 2 gigs of RAM and 16 gigs of storage. It has an excellent rear 8MP camera, clear voice and LTE on the Sprint, Verizon and AT&T versions. |
All major carriers |
June 2012 |
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Samsung Galaxy Nexus (Sprint) The Samsung Galaxy Nexus on Sprint is one of the carrier's first LTE phones. It's the first Android phone to run Android OS 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich too. The Galaxy Nexus has a 4.65" Super AMOLED display running at 1280 x 720, and it has a dual core 1.2GHz TI CPU with hardware graphics acceleration. This is a video review. |
Sprint |
May 2012 |
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Samsung Galaxy Note There's nothing quite like the Galaxy Note. This Android smartphone is a pocket tablet with a 5.3" display running at an impressive 1280 x 800 resolution, just like 10" Android tablets. That means the Super AMOLED HD display is extremely sharp and it boasts the usual super-saturated colors and deep blacks. The phone has a Wacom dual digitizer and comes with a pen that tucks neatly into a silo. Throw in a sharp 8MP camera, a fast dual core CPU, a strong GPS and 4G and you've got an amazing Android smartphone. This review covers the AT&T Samsung Galaxy Note and the international version. |
AT&T, Unlocked GSM |
Jan. & Feb. 2012 |
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Samsung Galaxy Nexus (Verizon) The Samsung Galaxy Nexus on Verizon Wireless is no doubt one of the hottest phones of 2011. This is the first time you can get a Google's reference Android smartphone from one of America's largest carriers with a contract in store easily. It's the first Android phone to run Android OS 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich too. The Galaxy Nexus has a 4.65" Super AMOLED display running at 1280 x 720, and it has a dual core 1.2GHz TI CPU with hardware graphics acceleration. And there's lucsiously fast LTE 4G too. Is it worth all the hype? We'd say so. Read our full review to find out. |
Verizon |
Dec. 2011 |
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Samsung Galaxy Nexus (unlocked GSM) The Samsung Galaxy Nexus is undeniably one of the hottest phones of 2011. After all, like the once-a-year iPhone, there's only one official Google pure Android experience phone each year. The phone runs on a 1.2GHz TI dual core CPU with a gig of RAM, and it's the first phone to run Android OS 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. It has a gorgeous 720p Super AMOLED display, 16 gigs of internal storage and the fastest camera we've seen on a smartphone. Alas, like the Nexus S, there's no expansion card slot. |
Unlocked GSM |
Dec. 2011 |
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Samsung Captivate Glide Can't get enough Samsung TouchWiz and Super AMOLED goodness? Wish the Captivate or Samsung Galaxy S II had a hardware keyboard? Samsung's latest mid to high end Android smartphone on AT&T gets you some keyboard love. The Samsung Captivate Glide has a slide-out hardware keyboard married to a 4" Super AMOLED display, Android OS 2.3 Gingerbread and a 1GHz Nvidia dual core Tegra 2 CPU. Not too shappy for $149 with contract. |
AT&T |
Dec. 2011 |
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Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket Got LTE? If you're an AT&T customer in one of their fifteen 2011 launch markets, the Skyrocket is an enticing variant in the sucessful Galaxy S II line. The Skyrocket has true 4G LTE with fallback to pretty zippy HSPA+ 21Mbps. The phone has a 4.5" Super AMOLED Plus display running at 800 x 480 resolution, and a dual core 1.5GHz CPU that's impressively fast. Throw in a large battery, two excellent cameras and Samsung's TouchWiz UI on top of Android OS 2.3.5 Gingerbread, and you've got an exhilarating smartphone. The Skyrocket and HTC Vivid are AT&T's first LTE phones. Editor's Choice 2011. |
AT&T |
Nov. 2011 |
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Samsung Stratosphere A mid-range QWERTY slider Android smartphone with a single core 1GHz Hummingbird CPU. The Samsung Stratosphere is the Verizon cousin to Sprint's Samsung Epic 4G. This time it has LTE and Android OS 2.3.5 Gingerbread. The phone has a front video chat camera, a rear 5 megapixel camera and a 4", 800 x 480 Super AMOLED display. The usual WiFi, Bluetooth and GPS are on board, as is Samsung's TouchWiz software and Media Hub. This is a video review. |
Verizon |
Oct. 2011 |
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Samsung Galaxy S II (T-Mobile) In this video review we take a look at T-Mobile's version of the very popular Samsung Galaxy S II. Like the Sprint version, it has a 4.5" Super AMOLED Plus display and it's super-thin. The smartphone runs Android OS 2.3 Gingerbread and has the standard excellent Galaxy S II 8 megapixel rear camera and a front video chat camera. T-Mobile went with a dual core 1.5GHz Snapdragon CPU instead of Samsung's best in class Exynos CPU for compatibility with the phone's 42 Mbps HSPA+ 4G chipset. How's performance in terms of CPU and 4G speed? Check out our review to find out. |
T-Mobile |
Oct. 2011 |
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Samsung Galaxy S II (AT&T) One of the hottest high end phones of 2011 has made it to AT&T, and it's virtually unchanged from the overseas version. That's not a bad thing since the phone keeps the manageable yet capacious 4.3" Super AMOLED Plus display and super-fast Samsung Exynos dual core 1.2GHz CPU that sets a new limit for speed. This Android super-phone has an 800 x 480 capacitive touch screen, 4G HSPA+, an admirable 8 megapixel main camera plus front video chat camera. Did we mention that it's literally pencil-thin? The Samsung Galaxy S II has earned our Editor's Choice award, and should be on your short list when shopping for a smartphone on AT&T. Editor's Choice 2011. |
AT&T |
Sept. 2011 |
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Samsung Galaxy S II Epic 4G Touch Sprint is first to market with a US version of the Samsung Galaxy S II, and it's a winner. They've increased the display a bit to a pocket stretching 4.5", and it's still that super-rich Super AMOLED Plus technology. The phone has a dual core 1.2 GHz Samsung Exynos CPU with GPU, and it's by far the fastest mobile CPU in a shipping phone. The smartphone runs Android OS 2.3.4 with Samsung TouchWiz software, and it has 16 gigs of internal storage along with WiFi, Bluetooth and a GPS. The phone has 4G WiMAX and 3G on Sprint's network, and a beefy battery to combat the drain. |
Sprint |
Sept. 2011 |
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Samsung Conquer 4G When a new 4G phone comes out on Sprint, it usually sells for $199 or more with contract. The Samsung Conquer 4G sells for just $99 at launch, but it has some features you'd expect from a more expensive phone like 4G WiMAX, a 1GHz Snapdragon CPU, Android OS 2.3.4 Gingerbread (minus TouchWiz) and solid call quality. If you're after a 4G phone on Sprint and don't want the year old HTC EVO 4G or a QWERTY slider in the $99 bracket, the Conquer 4G is worth a look. |
Sprint |
Aug. 2011 |
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Samsung Exhibit 4G The Samsung Exhibit 4G is an embarrassment of riches at a bargain price. For $99 with contract and $299 without contract, you get a lot of high end features like an 800 x 480 display, a 1GHz Hummingbird CPU and 4G HSPA+. The Exhibit has front and rear cameras, WiFi calling and WiFi mobile hotspot, Bluetooth and a GPS. It runs Android OS 2.3 Ginberbread. |
T-Mobile |
June 2011 |
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Samsung Infuse 4G The Infuse 4G is an easy phone to fall in love with: it has a gorgeous and huge 4.5" Super AMOLED Plus display yet it's very slim and potentially pocketable. This Android OS 2.2 Froyo smartphone runs Samsung TouchWiz on a 1.2GHz Hummingbird CPU with graphics acceleration that indeed hums along nicely. The battery capacity verges on extended with 1750 mAh of power and the phone has HSPA+ 21 Mbps 4G with HSUPA uploads (no speed cap here). Throw in 16 gigs of storage and two cameras with a very good 8 megapixel rear main camera and you've got a summer blockbuster on AT&T. |
AT&T |
May 2011 |
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Nexus S 4G The fast, clean and attractive Nexus S has made its way to Sprint and gained 4G in the process. The Nexus S 4G, like the GSM version, remains one of our favorite smartphones, even though it's not a new kid on the block. 4G is a very welcome addition and the Nexus S 4G has a vivid 4" Super AMOLED display, 1 GHz Hummingbird CPU, NFC, both front and rear cameras and 16 gigs of storage. Android OS 2.3.4 Gingerbread steals the show here in its pure form, complete with Gtalk video chat. Since it's a Google branded phone (though made by Samsung), timely OS updates should be yours with this phone. |
Sprint |
May 2011 |
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Droid Charge Verizon's second 4G LTE phone is made by Samsung and it boasts their best-in-class 4.3" Super AMOLED display that puts HD plasma TVs to shame. The Charge has very fast 4G on Verizon's ever-expanding LTE network and it runs on a 1GHz Hummingbird CPU with hardware graphics acceleration. This Droid is s sharpshooter with dual cameras, and the rear camera takes sharp shots and 720p video. The Charge will set you back $299 with contract-- even more than the direct competitor HTC Thunderbolt on Verizon. Is it worth the extra bucks? Read our review to find out. |
Verizon |
April 2011 |
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Sidekick 4G The spirit of the Sidekick lives on thanks to Samsung and T-Mobile. Samsung has taken the sturdy, text-loving Sidekick design and infused it with the power and versatility of Android. The Sidekick 4G runs Android OS 2.2 Froyo on a 1GHz Hummingbird CPU. It has 4G HSPA+, WiFi 802.11n, Bluetooth and a 3 MP camera. Slide up the 3.5", 800 x 480 capacitive display to reveal a roomy full QWERTY keyboard. |
T-Mobile |
April 2011 |
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Samsung Galaxy S 4G Think of the Galaxy S 4G as a souped-up 2011 Samsung Vibrant. The Galaxy S 4G adds the latest amenities including a front video chat camera that works with Qik, 4G HSPA+, a beefier battery and Android OS 2.2 Froyo with Flash 10.1. It has a new back design to prevent accidental drops and it looks cool too. Otherwise it's business as usual with a 1GHz Hummingbird CPU, vivid 4" Super AMOLED display, WiFi including hotspot tethering and WiFi calling, Bluetooth and a solid GPS. |
T-Mobile |
Feb. 2011 |
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Samsung Nexus S The second Google phone is the follow up to the Nexus One, and it's an evolved version of the Samsung Galaxy S, this time running Android OS 2.3 Gingerbread. Masterminded by Google and produced by Samsung, the Nexus S sticks with the successful Samsung Android superphone recipe: 4" Super AMOLED display that's best of breed, 1 GHz Hummingbird CPU with hardware graphics acceleration, 5 megapixel camera, 3G HSDPA 7.2 for T-Mobile US and overseas and 16 gigs of storage. This gloss black phone is sexy and slippery, and it's sold unlocked though it works best with T-Mobile in the US. It's the first Android OS 2.3 phone and it adds a few new hardware features including NFC (Near Field Communications), a curved Contour display. If you want a pure Android experience in an unlocked phone with high end specs, do check out the Nexus S. |
Unlocked GSM (avail. with T-Mobile contract and 3G) |
Dec. 2010 |
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Samsung Continuum Verizon and Samsung make a bet that two displays are better than one with the Continuum, one of the newest members of the Galaxy S Android phone line. The Continuum has a main 3.4" Super AMOLED display that runs at the usual high end Galaxy S 800 x 480 resolution. Below the main display, a 1.8" Super AMOLED Ticker display keeps you up to date on the weather, social network updates and RSS feeds. Beyond that it's business as usual with a 1GHz Hummingbird CPU, 5 megapixel camera that can shoot HD video, 3G, WiFi, Bluetooth and a GPS. The Continuum ships with Android OS 2.1, but will some day get the upgrade to Froyo 2.2. |
Verizon |
Dec. 2010 |
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Samsung Transform In the relentless rank of Samsung mid-range QWERTY Android smartphones on Sprint, the Transform stands out as the first to offer the new Sprint ID software service. With a few hardware improvements over this summer's Samsung Intercept such as a larger display and front-facing camera, the Transform sits at the top of the Sprint ID trio rounded out by the LG Optimus S and the Sanyo Zio. It has a pleasant hardware keyboard, a 3.5" 320 x 480 display, an 800MHz CPU, a 3.2 megapixel camera, GPS, WiFi and Bluetooth. The phone starts with vanilla Android OS 2.1 and adds a helping of Sprint ID on top. Sadly, Sprint's new service bogs down the Transform, and the mid-range hardware doesn't threaten the flagship Samsung Epic 4G. |
Sprint |
Oct. 2010 |
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Samsung Fascinate It says a lot for a phone when we still love it the fourth time around. Verizon is the last of the big four US carriers to pick up the Samsung Galaxy S, this time known as the Fascinate. This Android superphone has a simply wonderful 4", 800 x 480 Super AMOLED capacitive touch screen that's vibrant and sharp. Like other Galaxy S family phones, it has a fast 1GHz Hummingbird CPU, a 5 megapixel camera (this time with LED flash), WiFi, Bluetooth and a GPS. The Fascinate is a 3G phone with 3G Mobile Hotspot sharing that's super-thin. It runs Android OS 2.1 with Samsung TouchWiz 3.0 and Froyo is in the cards. |
Verizon |
Sept. 2010 |
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Samsung Epic 4G Sprint's second 4G superphone is here. The Epic 4G dares to be different with its large QWERTY keyboard that strays from the more common slate design. And it's a great keyboard with a dedicated number row, Android buttons and arrow keys. If you're a Sprint customer who lusted for the HTC EVO 4G but cringed at its on-screen keyboard, Samsung has your number. The Epic 4G is a Galaxy S family phone and it has that series' 4" Super AMOLED 800 x 480 display, 1GHz Hummingbird CPU with GPU acceleration, WiFi, Bluetooth and GPS. Improvements include a 5 megapixel camera with flash and a front-facing VGA camera and a notification LED. The Epic runs Android OS 2.1 with Samsung's TouchWiz 3.0 UI. |
Sprint |
Aug. 2010 |
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Samsung Intercept Though they share a similar design and OS, it's hard to say that the Intercept is Sprint's replacement for the Samsung Moment. The Intercept runs a newer version of Android OS and it drops the heavy dose of Samsung TouchWiz software but it gets a lower resolution, non-AMOLED display in the process. The Intercept targets first time smartphone buyers and those who don't want to spend big bucks on a phone but would like to play with Android. The Intercept has a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, a 3.2 megapixel camera, an 800MHz CPU, a GPS that works with Google Maps, 3G, Sprint TV and stereo Bluetooth. It's available in two colors: pink and gray. |
Sprint |
July 2010 |
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Samsung Vibrant T-Mobile USA's first superphone is here (we don't count the RIP Nexus One since T-Mo didn't sell it in their stores or on their website). This is T-Mobile's version of Samsung's Galaxy S, and the carrier has left it virtually unchanged. It sports the same iPhone 3GS-like design, is virtually bloatware-free and T-Mobile has added a few goodies like the movie Avatar, Kindle, The Sims 3 in 3D glory and more. The Vibrant, like its sibling the Captivate on AT&T, has a 1GHz Hummingbird CPU with PowerVR GPU and it's fast. Other goodies include 16 gigs of internal storage, a strong 5 megapixel camera, 3G HSDPA 7.2Mbps, GPS, Bluetooth and WiFi. The Vibrant runs Android 2.1 with Samsung's TouchWiz 3.0 enhancements. |
T-Mobile |
July 2010 |
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Samsung Captivate AT&T's first high end Android smartphone qualifies as a superphone. The Captivate is AT&T's version of the Samsung Galaxy S, and it features a fantastic 4" capacitive multi-touch Super AMOLED display with mind-boggling colors, a 1GHz Hummingbird CPU, 16 gigs of internal storage and Android OS 2.1 with Samsung TouchWiz 3.0. Other goodies include a good 5 megapixel autofocus camera that can shoot HD video, a GPS that works with Google Maps and AT&T Navigator, Bluetooth 3.0, WiFi and a micro SD card slot. We like. No, it's not perfect, but Samung's first high end Android phone can definitely compete with the big guys. |
AT&T |
July 2010 |
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Samsung Behold II The Samsung Behold II despite the name, isn't a feature phone like the original Behold on T-Mobile. It's an Android smartphone with Samsung's lush AMOLED capacitive touch screen and 3G HSDPA on T-Mobile's US bands. Like the Behold, it does run a version of Samsung's TouchWiz UI which sometimes seems at odds with Android. It has a very good 5 megapixel camera, WiFi, Bluetooth and a GPS that works with TeleNav and Google Maps. If you're looking to upgrade from a Samsung TouchWiz feature phone, the Behold II makes the transition easier. |
T-Mobile |
Dec. 2009 |
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Samsung Moment Lately it seems like a robot invasion with new Android phones popping up a few times per month. The Samsung Moment is Sprint's second Android Google OS phone, following on the heels of the lovely HTC Hero. The Moment is for you QWERTY types: it features a slide out hardware keyboard that's roomy and has good travel. But you might not notice it at first since the vibrant and captivating 3.2" AMOLED capacitive touchscreen steals the show. The Moment has WiFi, a GPS, a 3.2 megapixel camera and the usual Sprint goodies like Sprint TV, NFL Mobile and Sprint Navigation. |
Sprint |
Nov. 2009 |
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Android Tablets
Samsung Galaxy Note Pro 12.2 It's the 10.1 Note on steroids with a reworked Magazine UX, Android 4.4 KitKit and a lovely 12.2", 2560 x 1600 display that works with the included Samsung S Pen. The Note 12.2 bridges the gap between laptop and tablet with its multi-tasking prowess, strong Hancom Office suite and big screen experience. It runs on the 1.9GHz Exynos 5 Octa CPU with 3 gigs of RAM and 32 or 64 gigs of storage. The tablet is just 0.32" think and it weighs a manageable 1.65 lbs. and it has Samsung's faux leather back. Dual band WiFi 802.11ac, 2MP front and 8MP rear cameras, a microSD card slot and a GPS round out the features in this interesting new tablet. |
WiFi and LTE models |
Feb. 2014 |
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Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 Edition Sporting a much higher resolution 2560 x 1600 display, better cameras and a faster CPU, the 2014 Edition is a strong update to the first generation Note 10.1. The tablet is available in 16 and 32 gig capacities and it runs on a 1.9GHz Exynos Octa CPU with two sets of quad core CPUs (high and low power) and it has 3 gigs of RAM. The S Pen Wacom digital pen is here for precise note taking and drawing, and the tablet has a new look with a faux leather back that's more grippy and classy. |
WiFi only & 4G LTE models |
Oct. 2013 |
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Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 If you love the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 but prefer something more portable, the new Galaxy Note 8.8 is for you. This 8" Android tablet has all the features of the larger Note 10.1 tablet, including the S Pen with Wacom digitizer, a very fast 1.6GHz Exynos quad core CPU, 2 gigs of RAM and Samsung's custom software for multi-tasking, playing video in a floating window and more. The only drawback? The price. But if you need the precise digital pen, it's worth the price of admission. The tablet has a 1280 x 800 display, a microSD card slot, dual band WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0 and a GPS. |
N/A |
April 2013 |
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Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 Samsung's flagship tablet features a Wacom digitizer with a digital pen that works much like the Galaxy Note smartphone's pen. This is a very fast 1.4GHz Exynos quad core tablet with 2 gigs of RAM and 16 or 32 gigs of storage. It has a colorful and sharp PLS display, dual band WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0, a GPS and an IR Blaster that can control your home theater gear. Excellent software that enhances multi-tasking and note-taking make this one of our top picks. |
N/A |
Aug. 2012 |
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Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 This is Samsung's most affordable 10" Android tablet. It runs Android OS 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich on a dual core TI OMAP CPU. The tablet has a 1280 x 800 capacitive display and 16 gigs of storage. It has a microSD card slot for storage expansion, a front VGA camera and rear 5.0 megapixel camera. Also on board are WiFi 802.11n, Bluetooth and a GPS. |
N/A |
May 2012 |
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Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 This is Samsung's most affordable Android tablet, but you get some goodies like Android 4 Ice Cream Sandwich out of the box. The tablet goes up against the Kindle Fire and Nook Tablet, and it's a great entry level tablet for those who want full Android, a GPS and dual cameras that eReader tablets lack. The Tab 2 7.0 has a 7 inch, 1024 x 600 PLS display, a dual core 1GHz CPU, 8 gigs of storage and a microSD card slot. |
N/A |
May 2012 |
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Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 This tablet is a dream come true for those looking for a more portable tablet that can fit in a bag or large pocket. It has a wonderful 7.7" Super AMOLED Plus display running at 1280 x 800, and a supremely fast dual core 1.4GHz Exynos processor. The tablet is only 0.31" thick, and it has a classy metallic back and is easy on the eyes. With both WiFi and Verizon 3G and 4G LTE, you've got fast data most anywhere. It runs Android OS 3.2 Honeycomb but will get a free upgrade to Ice Cream Sandwich. The only catch? It's expensive. |
Verizon |
March 2012 |
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Samsung Galaxy Tab 7 Plus Looking for a full featured Android tablet that does more than the Nook Tablet and Kindle Fire? The Samsung Galaxy Tab 7 Plus runs Android OS 3.2 Honeycomb with all the bells and whistles, including a very fast dual core 1.2GHz CPU, dual cameras, GPS, WiFi, Bluetooth and a microSD card slot. It has Samsung's pleasing TouchWiz software and full access to Android staples like the Android Market, YouTube, Gmail and Maps.It's currently the thinnest and lightest 7" Android tablet on the market. This is a video review. |
T-Mobile and Wi-Fi models |
Dec. 2011 |
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Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 The Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 is the slightly more portable version of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 Android Honeycomb tablet. In terms of software and hardware the two tablets are nearly identical, with the Tab 8.9 being 1.2" smaller (diagonally) and a quarter pound lighter. It runs on Android OS 3.1 Honeycomb with Samsung's pleasing TouchWiz UI customizations for tablets. The Galaxy Tab 8.9 runs on the usual NVIDIA Tegra 2 1GHz dual core CPU with a gig of RAM, and it's available in 16 and 32 gig versions. This is a WiFi 802.11b/g/n tablet, and there's currently no 3G or 4G option. |
N/A |
Oct. 2011 |
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Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 is the Android tablet that's most like Apple's hyper-successful iPad 2 tablet from a design perspective. It's incredibly slim at 0.34" and light at 1.25 lbs. The Galaxy Tab has a 10.1" vivid display that we love, the usual dual core 1GHz Tegra 2 CPU, 16 or 32 gigs of storage and dual band WiFi 802.11b/g/n. The Verizon version has 3G and 4G LTE, Bluetooth, a GPS and two cameras that are pretty sharp. The tablet runs Android OS 3.1 Honeycomb. |
Verizon |
Aug. 2011 |
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Samsung Galaxy Tab The first Android tablet that's a viable iPad opponent, the Galaxy Tab is offered by all 4 major US carriers and has a lot to love. The Tab has a 7" capacitive display running at 1024 x 600 and Android OS 2.2 Froyo. Like the Galaxy S phones, the Tab runs on a 1GHz Hummingbird CPU with GPU, has 512 megs of RAM, lots of storage, WiFi 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth and a GPS. All Galaxy Tab models have 3G data but US versions cannot make calls over the cellular network. We review the T-Mobile, AT&T, Sprint and Verizon versions. |
AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon and US Cellular |
Dec, 2010 |
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Windows Phone
Samsung ATIV Odyssey The Samsung ATIV Odyssey is the manufacturer's first US Windows Phone 8 smartphone. Available on Verizon Wireless for $49 with contract, Samsung obviously wasn't shooting for a flagship device, and they've yet to bring the higher end ATIV S to the US. The ATIV Odyssey is akin to the Galaxy S III Mini and it has a colorful 4" Super AMOLED display running at 800 x 480 in a very compact form. The smartphone runs on the standard Windows Phone 8 internals: a 1.5GHz dual core Qualcomm Snapdragon CPU with a gig of RAM. It has 8 gigs of internal storage and a microSD card slot. It has 4G LTE and a 5 megapixel rear camera. |
Verizon |
Feb. 2012 |
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Samsung Focus 2 The Focus 2 is Samsung's first LTE Windows Phone, and it's more portable and affordable than the Nokia Lumia 900 and HTC Titan II LTE Windows Phones on ATT. The Focus 2 has a 4" Super AMOLED display running at the usual 800 x 480 resolution, and it's powered by the same 1.4GHz Snapdragon second generation CPU used in many current Windows Phone 7.5 Mango smartphones. The Focus 2 fights the popular Lumia 900 with its low $49.99 price tag with contract. |
AT&T |
May 2012 |
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Samsung Focus S The Samsung Focus S is one of three new Windows Phone Mango 7.5 smartphones on AT&T. It joins the HTC Titan and the smaller and more affordable Focus Flash, and it features Samsung's Super AMOLED Plus display for super-rich colors and deep blacks. The Focus S shares a lot of DNA with the Samsung Galaxy S II on AT&T, and like the GS II it has a 4.3" display, an 8 megapixel rear camera and a very similar casing. The phone is only 0.33" thick and it weighs just 3.9 ounces. The Focus S has HSPA+ 14.4 for "4G" on AT&T, Zune music and video, XBOX Live gaming, WiFi, Bluetooth and a GPS that works with Bing and AT&T Navigator. |
AT&T |
Dec. 2011 |
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Samsung Focus Flash The Samsung Focus Flash is AT&T's most affordable second gen Windows Phone running OS 7.5 Mango. At $49 with a 2 year contract, it's a bargain. You get the same 1.4GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon CPU found in the $199 Samsung Focus S, and the usual Windows Phone standards like an 800 x 480 resolution touch screen, WiFi 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR, a front camera and a GPS that works with Bing Maps and ATT Navigator. This is a video review. |
AT&T |
Dec. 2011 |
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Samsung Focus The Focus is the hottest Windows 7 Phone on AT&T thanks to its stunning Super AMOLED display, slim design and user accessible microSD card slot. The display has eye-popping colors, is sharp and is quite viewable outdoors. The Focus, like all Windows 7 phones has a 1GHz Snapdragon CPU with graphics acceleration, plenty of internal storage, a 5 megapixel camera that takes very nice shots, a GPS, Bluetooth and WiFi 802.11n. Of the first launch group of US Windows 7 phones, the Focus is our favorite. |
AT&T |
Nov. 2010 |
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Mobile Hotspots and USB Data Sticks
Samsung 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot The SCH-LC11 is an extremely compact and lightweight 4G/3G mobile hotspot on Verizon. It can support up to 5 clients. |
Verizon |
May 2011 |
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Samsung bada OS
Samsung Wave The Wave is Samsung's first smartphone running their new bada OS. If you crossed the Samsung Jet's OS and software with Android, you'd have something like bada. The hardware is top notch with a 3.3", 800 x 480 pixel Super AMOLED display that will toast your retinas with color and light. Other standard superphone amenities include a 1GHz processor, a sharp 5 megapixel camera that can shoot 720p video, WiFi, Bluetooth and GPS. This is an import GSM quad band world phone, and that means no contract subsidies through your US carrier and no US 3G. Still, it's interesting to see how bada has turned out and what Samsung can do with high end hardware design. |
Unlocked GSM |
July 2010 |
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Feature Phones
Samsung Eternity II Do you like electric blue? And really cool bubble patterns on your phone's back? For better or worse, these two features stand out most on the Eternity II. While the first Samsung Eternity back in 2008 was one heck of a cool touch screen phone for its time, the Eternity II doesn't really add anything to that two year old formula. The second Eternity is inexpensive though, and we actually really do love that blue color. The phone is available on AT&T and it has a 3" resistive touch screen, FloTV, 3G HSDPA, a 2 megapixel camera, music player, Bluetooth and a GPS. The phone runs Samsung's TouchWiz UI and it comes with social networking software, streaming video and other goodies. |
AT&T |
August 2010 |
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Samsung Restore Not into the touch screen craze? Just want a solid 3G messaging phone? The eco-friendly Samsung Restore is a full-featured messaging phone with EV-DO, Sprint TV, Sprint Navigation, the Netfront web browser and a solid music player that handles MP3 and AAC iTunes format music. The Restore has a roomy slide-out QWERTY keyboard, but when closed it looks like a normal candy bar phone with a standard number pad. It has a GPS, 2 megapixel camera, Bluetooth with stereo support and an SDHC microSD card slot. A nice mid-tier offering from Sprint and Samsung. |
Sprint |
July 2010 |
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Samsung Seek Looking for a very inexpensive texting phone for yourself or the kids? The Samsung Seek has a roomy slide-out QWERTY keyboard and a 2.6" QVGA display, but no 3G, and that means no expensive data plan. The Seek can handle most any kind of email and it has a robust set of IM clients. Beyond that, it's just the basics: a 1.3 megapixel camera, microSD card slot, MP3 player and Bluetooth with A2DP stereo. |
Sprint |
June 2010 |
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Samsung Reality Verizon's latest touch screen phone by Samsung features a slide-out QWERTY keyboard. The Reality is a mid-priced multimedia 3G phone with Verizon's full suite of V Cast video and music apps as well as GPS Navigation. The phone has a 3", 240 x 400 pixel display and it runs Samsung's latest TouchWiz software with widgets. Other goodies include a 3.2 megapixel camera, microSD card slot, YouTube player, web browser and a 3.5mm stereo headset jack. |
Verizon |
May 2010 |
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Samsung Mythic The Samsung Mythic is the follow up to the very successful Samsung Eternity on AT&T. It's a tweaked and improved version of the Eternity and it gives you the goodness of a pocketable touch screen phone on AT&T without the iPhone's pricey data plan. The Mythic has a 3.3", 360 x 640 pixel touch screen with haptic feedback and an accelerometer. It runs Samsung's TouchWiz UI as do most of their touch screen phones, and that means it has a three screen desktop and widgets. Other goodies include a 3.2 megapixel autofocus camera with flash, Bluetooth with A2DP stereo, a music player, capable video player, GPS and Mobile TV which is broadcast digital TV over the air. |
AT&T |
Jan. 2010 |
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Samsung Flight Want a touch screen phone with a full QWERTY keyboard but don't want a bulky side-slider? The Samsung Flight SGH-A797 is a rare bird: it's a feature phone with a vertical slide-down keyboard and a touch screen. More pocketable and affordable than the Samsung Impression on AT&T, the Flight offers a QVGA touchscreen, 3G HSDPA, a GPS, 2 megapixel camera and Bluetooth. The touch UI is easy to use, though this isn't a TouchWiz phone. |
AT&T |
Nov. 2009 |
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Samsung Rogue Verizon's added the Samsung Rogue to their already large selection of touchscreen phones. The Rogue is one of their best thanks to a gorgeous 3.1" AMOLED display, a good slide-out keyboard and Samsung's TouchWiz UI with widgets. The phone has EV-DO for fast data, a 3 megapixel camera, GPS, plenty of storage and a responsive touch screen. Well worth a look if you're into touchscreens and texting. |
Verizon |
Oct. 2009 |
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Samsung Instinct HD The third generation Instinct brings HD video recording at a remarkable 1280 x 720 pixels and a capacitive 3.2" touch screen to the standard Instinct formula. It has a fun, intuitive and attractive user interface and it works with every service Sprint offers: Sprint TV, Sprint Radio, Sprint Navigation, NFL Mobile and Nascar. The 320 x 480 display now sports the same resolution as the iPhone 3GS and HTC Hero, while the 5 megapixel camera puts it at the high end of US camera phones. But the HD sells for more than several compelling phones in Sprint's own lineup? Is it worth it? |
Sprint |
Oct. 2009 |
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Samsung Jet The first TouchWiz 2.0 phone from Samsung features downloadable widgets to fend off boredom along with an incredible list of features-- if it can be put in a phone, Samsung included it! This is an import unlocked GSM quad band phone (no US 3G, just EDGE) that sells for around $430. It packs an 800MHz CPU, 5 megapixel autofocus camera, a 3.1" 800 x 480 pixel resistive touch screen with haptics, an accelerometer and motion control, GPS, WiFi, Bluetooth and DivX video playback. |
Unlocked GSM |
Aug. 2009 |
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Samsung Reclaim This phone isn't just green, it's "green". Available in Earth Green and Ocean Blue, the Samsung Reclaim M560 is made from bio-plastics (corn) and 80% of the phone is recyclable. Heck, even the box is made from recycled materials and printed with soy inks. Yummy as all that sounds, you can't eat it but you can make phone calls, access the web using the full HTML browser, navigate using the GPS and watch Sprint TV over the Reclaim's EVDO Rev. A data connection. For $49 with contract, you can get a mini-Prius high. |
Sprint |
Aug. 2009 |
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Samsung Solstice AT&T and Samsung's latest TouchWiz touch screen phone looks pretty good unless you compare it with the Samsung Eternity also on AT&T. The Solstice has a 3" touch screen and a fun, intuitive user interface with widgets. This 3G phone supports CV streaming video, Bluetooth with stereo and it has a GPS that works with AT&T Navigator. Other goodies include a 2 megapixel camera, voice dialing and a music player. |
AT&T |
Aug. 2009 |
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Samsung Comeback T-Mobile and Samsung's latest messaging phone features 3G HSDPA for T-Mobile's US network, the capable Netfront full HTML web browser, email and full IM. The reasonably priced phone also has Bluetooth with A2DP stereo, a GPS that works with TeleNav and a 2 megapixel camera that takes surprisingly good shots. The Comeback transforms from a candy bar phone to a full QWERTY with flip of the top lid and it has both inner and outer displays. |
T-Mobile |
Aug. 2009 |
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Samsung Highlight T-Mobile is in love with Samsung's TouchWiz touch screen phones, and they must hope you will be too. The Highlight t749 is T-Mobile's third TouchWiz phone from Samsung, but unlike the Samsung Behold and Memoir, it's not a high end camera phone. Rather it's a relatively rugged, rounded, feels good in the hand kind of phone whose features mirror those of the Samsung Eternity on AT&T. The Highlight has a 240 x 400 pixel touch screen with haptic feedback and an accelerometer, a GPS that works with TeleNav, music player, microSD card slot, Bluetooth and a 3 megapixel camera. |
T-Mobile |
July 2009 |
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Samsung Trance Verizon's latest music phone features fresh audio technology from Bang and Olufsen in the form of their ICEpower amp. The Trance is a slider phone that's available in red and in black and it's affordable at $49 with contract. The phone lacks EVDO, so data-heads will likely take a pass, but for those interested in mobile tunes the phone has very good sound, a 3.5mm stereo headphone jack, A2DP Bluetooth stereo, a gig of storage and a music player that supports most popular formats. The Trance has a 1.3MP camera and a GPS that works with VZ Navigator. |
Verizon |
May 2009 |
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Samsung Impression Covet a touch screen phone like the Samsung Eternity but can't live without a hardware QWERTY keyboard? Samsung's answer is the Impression, which adds a roomy hardware keyboard for your texting pleasure. Though very similar to the Eternity, the Impression adds a few new goodies including more useful widgets and a jaw-dropping AMOLED display that's ultra-vibrant. The phone has a 3.2" touch screen, GPS, 3 megapixel camera, SDHC microSD card slot, music and video players. The Impression is a feature phone that runs Samsung's TouchWiz user interface and the phone is offered by AT&T. |
AT&T |
May 2009 |
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Samsung Instinct S30 Sprint's updated Instinct offers the same set of features and touch screen user interface as the original Instinct but with better looks. The S30 is slightly smaller and its curves make it seem even smaller. The phone features EVDO, Sprint TV, Sprint Radio, a GPS with Sprint Navigation, Bluetooth with A2DP stereo, a 2 megapixel camera and SDHC microSD card slot. There's an HTML web browser plus Opera Mini and email support as well. |
Sprint |
April 2009 |
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Samsung Memoir The 8 megapixel autofocus Samsung Memoir t929 makes mincemeat of every high end camera phone offered by a US carrier, including it's cousin the Samsung Behold. This T-Mobile phone features Samsung's TouchWiz user interface with a 240 x 400 pixel touch screen that has automatic rotation via accelerometer and haptic feedback. It looks like a retro Leica camera; very chic. The Memoir has an HTML browser with 3G HSDPA, Bluetooth with stereo support, an SDHC microSD card slot and both music and video players. Destined to be one of the hot phones of 2009, we're thrilled to see Samsung and T-Mobile take the big step into high-end touch screen imaging phones in the US. Editor's
Choice 2009 |
T-Mobile |
Feb. 2009 |
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Samsung Highnote The Highnote is a music phone with a 2 way slider. Slide the display down to reveal the large speaker system and slide it up to reveal the number pad. The Highnote is packed with features including touch control, EVDO, Sprint TV and GPS with Sprint Navigation. Music-centric features include the large speaker, 3.5mm stereo headset jack, A2DP Bluetooth strereo, a music player and access to Sprint's music store. |
Sprint |
Jan. 2009 |
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Samsung Gravity QWERTY messaging phones are all the rage this holiday season, and T-Mobile has jumped on the bandwagon with the Samsung Gravity t459. This side-slider feature phone looks like a regular candybar phone until you slide out the 3 row QWERTY keyboard and start messaging. The phone has EDGE for data, a good music player, IM support, an SDHC microSD card slot and Bluetooth with A2DP. It's not ripe with fancy features, but it is an affordable messaging phone for those who aren't into the Sidekick or smartphones. |
T-Mobile |
Dec. 2008 |
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Samsung Behold A close relative to the Samsung Eternity on AT&T, the Samsung Behold is one of the coolest, yet reasonably priced T-Mobile phones. The phone features a responsive 3" touch screen with haptic feedback and an accelerometer that handles automatic screen rotation. Even better, there's a 5 megapixel camera with autofocus lens and flash for high quality phones. The Behold has 3G HSDPA on T-Mobile's US bands, a GPS with TeleNav Navigator, Bluetooth, and an HTML web browser. |
T-Mobile |
Nov. 2008 |
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Samsung Propel The Samsung Propel SGH-a767 is one of an army of QWERTY keyboard messaging phones out for the holiday season. The Propel, like the QuickFire, Slate and Matrix have hardware keyboards but aren't smartphones, meaning lower data plan prices and they're easy to use. The Propel is a slider whose keyboard tucks away, and it has a 1.3 megapixel camera, music player with Bluetooth stereo, 3G HSDPA, CV streaming video and a GPS that works with AT&T Navigator. |
AT&T |
Nov. 2008 |
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Samsung Eternity Pretentious name aside, we really like AT&T's latest touch screen phone. The Samsung Eternity SGH-a867 features a large 240 x 400 touch screen with Samsung's cool TouchWiz UI. It has haptic feedback, a great on-screen QWERTY keyboard, Mobile TV, a full web browser, CV, a strong 3 megapixel camera, and a capable music player with 3.5mm stereo headphone jack and Bluetooth stereo. A great follow up to the popular LG Vu and a worthy competitor to the Samsung Behold on T-Mobile. |
AT&T |
Nov. 2008 |
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Samsung Rant Like the LG Rumor on Sprint, but don't want to give up EVDO? The Samsung Rant comes to the rescue with a form factor that's similar to the popular Rumor, but adds EVDO and a 4th row of keyboard keys. The Rant supports Sprint TV for some multimedia broadband goodness, and it has a microSD card slot, music player with Bluetooth stereo support. It also has a GPS that works with Sprint Navigator and a 2 megapixel camera that takes still photos and video. |
Sprint |
Nov. 2008 |
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Samsung Sway Love the LG Shine but want to stay with Verizon? The Samsung Sway has the Shine's silvery good looks and slim build, making it one fashionable phone. The Sway SCH-U650 is a slider phone with a 2 megapixel camera, music player with Rhapsody support, SDHC microSD card slot and stereo Bluetooth. It has 1x for data, but no EVDO or streaming V Cast multimedia. |
Verizon |
Oct. 2008 |
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Samsung Instinct Despite Sprint's marketing claims, the Samsung Instinct is no iPhone-killer, but it's a darned good and fun phone in its own right. The instinct features a large 3.1" color touch screen with haptic vibration feedback that works well. The Instinct has just about every feature you could ask for except WiFi, including: EVDO rev. A fast data, GPS, voice command software,visual voicemail, an SDHC microSD expansion slot with 2 gig card included, a 2MP camera that shoots video and still photos, Sprint TV, Sprint Radio and Bluetooth with A2DP stereo. The Instinct goes on sale June 20th. |
Sprint |
June 2008 |
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Samsung Access A member of AT&T's new Mobile TV duo, along with the LG Vu CU920. For those who prefer a normal phone with a number pad rather than the Vu's too cool for school touch screen gig, the Access A827 beckons. If broadcast TV gets you all hot and bothered, it's here with 10 channels that are digitally broadcast TV-style and not piped over the data network. The Access has 3G HSDPA, Bluetooth with A2DP and DUN, a music player, 1.3 megapixel camera with VideoShare support and a very good HTML web browser. |
AT&T |
May 2008 |
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Samsung Glyde Verizon's latest touch screen phone aims at those who thought the LG Voyager was perfect except for the large size and price tag. The 4 ounce Glyde SCH-u940 is much smaller and wields a slide-down QWERTY keyboard for messaging. It's got a 240 x 440 pixel haptic feedback touch screen, V Cast EVDO service, GPS with VZ Navigator 4 support and a 2 megapixel camera with autofocus lens. If that's not enough, it's got a full HTML web browser. |
Verizon |
May 2008 |
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Samsung M520 Though reasonably priced at $49 with contract from Sprint, the Samsung M520 packs a lot of features and good looks, especially if slim and shiny are your things. The phone has EVDO, Bluetooth with A2DP stereo, one of the best 1.3 megapixel cameras we've seen on a phone and it supports Sprint TV with good playback performance. The M520 has a GPS that works with Sprint's TeleNav-powered navigation services and a music player plus a microSD card slot for storing tunes. Nice for the price... |
Sprint |
March 2008 |
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Samsung FlipShot The follow up to the Samsung a990 sports a 3 megapixel camera with an autofocus lens. The FlipShot (SCH-U900) is available on Verizon's network and it features a QVGA display, clamshell design with a swivel twist, V Cast multimedia with fast data and it has a music player that handles MP3 and AAC formats. This slim and attractive flip has Bluetooth with AVRC stereo, a microSD expansion slot and a GPS that works with Verizon's VZ Navigator. |
Verizon |
Jan. 2008 |
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Samsung Juke From hip-hop to bar-hopping, Verizon hopes the Samsung Juke u470 has got you covered. The Juke is reminiscent of Nokia's lipstick phone with a literal twist: swivel the stick of gum sized phone's display to reveal a number pad. Though a little weak on high-end features, the Juke has it in spades for looks, small size and music. And at 2.82 ounces we're impressed it has location-based services with support for VZ Navigator. The Juke has a VGA camera, 1xRTT for data and a very good music player with nearly 2 gigs of internal memory. |
Verizon |
Nov. 2007 |
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Samsung M510 This mid-priced feature phone from Sprint comes in pink for the bold, and black for the staid. It packs quite a few features into a small and comfy package, including Power Vision EVDO, Sprint TV, a 1.3MP camera, music player, expansion slot, Bluetooth with A2DP stereo, very good call quality and decent personal organizer applications. |
Sprint |
June 2007 |
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Samsung u620Of the two TV phones from Verizon, the Samsung is the smaller and more palm-friendly. Boasting similar specs to its competitor, the LG VX9400, the u620 has a digital TV tuner for broadcast TV over-the-air using Verizon's Mobile TV service, a 2" color display, Bluetooth 1.2 with A2DP stereo headset support, EVDO and a 1.3 megapixel camera. This slider phone feels great in the hand and will fit in most any pocket, though it's by no means terribly thin. |
Verizon |
May 2007 |
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Samsung UpStage We'll resist the Face Off jokes and instead praise Samsung and Sprint who've come up with an innovative new design while most feature phones on the US market seem destined for bit parts in the clone wars. The UpStage literally has two sides: one looks and works like a standard cell phone with number pad and the other looks something like an iPod nano, with a touch sensitive pad and 2.1" color display. This Sprint phone clearly wants to be your MP3 player and phone rolled into one. It's extremely thin and quite small, and comes with a slim wallet case that packs an extended battery. The UpStage has Bluetooth with A2DP stereo support, a 1.3MP camera, EVDO and costs only $149. |
Sprint |
April 2007 |
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Samsung Alias u740 This new Verizon flips in two directions: it opens like a normal clamshell phone and it can also flip to landscape mode, like a tiny laptop. Though the phone is incredibly slim, small and light, it has a sturdy 2-way hinge. Why landscape mode? The u740 has a small QWERTY keyboard that targets texters who don't want a bulkier phone like the LG enV. The Samsung has EVDO, Bluetooth, a 1.3MP camera with flash, microSD card slot and a music player. All in a package slightly smaller than a RAZR. |
Verizon |
April 2008, March 2007 |
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Samsung M610 Samsung is out-slimming Motorola when it comes to flip phones. The M610 on Sprint is one of their latest super-thin clamshell phones, and despite the small size it packs a strong set of features including EVDO (Power Vision), a good 2 megapixel camera, Bluetooth, QVGA display, voice dialing and a MicroSD card slot. |
Sprint |
Feb. 2006 |
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Samsung t629 This attractive and well made slider phone packs a lot of features for a low price. It has a good 1.3 megapixel camera, Bluetooth, a music player, EDGE and MicroSD expansion slot. The quad band GSM t629 is offered by T-Mobile in the US. |
T-Mobile |
Dec. 2006 |
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Samsung Trace t519 This is perpetually in, and the Samsung Trace is even slimmer than the Motorola SLVR L7 and the older Samsung t509s. Not just a pretty face, this quad band phone has EDGE, Bluetooth, a 1.3MP camera and a MicroSD memory expansion slot which comes in handy when using the phone's built-in music player. |
T-Mobile |
Nov. 2006 |
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Samsung A900M Sprint's updated A900 features Bluetooth, an excellent QVGA display and Power Vision to feed that EVDO and streaming video addiction. The A900M competes with the Motorola RAZR which Sprint recently picked up, and it's thin, light and attractive dressed in black. It's got a music player, 1.3MP camera and lots of memory to store photos and music downloads. Well worth a peek if you like the RAZR look but want a phone that can do more. |
Sprint |
Oct. 2006 |
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Samsung a990 The first 3.2 megapixel camera phone with autofocus lens offered by a US carrier, the a990 takes excellent photos. It's offered by Verizon and it has EVDO, Bluetooth, a music player and a QVGA display. The phone is small and quite attractive without being flashy. |
Verizon |
Aug. 2006 |
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Samsung t509 This SLVR wannabe has great looks, fast performance and a VGA camera at a very reasonable price. The t509 is available on T-Mobile's network in the US and it's a triband GSM phone with EDGE, Bluetooth and a sharp color display. |
T-Mobile |
June 2006 |
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Samsung Windows Mobile Professional Touch Screen (Pocket PC Phones)
Samsung Omnia II The sequel to the Omnia i910 on Verizon Wireless is finally here. The Omnia II features Windows Mobile 6.5 Professional with Samsung's TouchWiz 2.0 UI to spiff things up. The phone has a 3.7" AMOLED touch screen that's vivid and eye-catching, though it's not capacitive like the iPhone and Android phones. It has 8 gigs of storage, a 5 megapixel camera with autofocus lens, WiFi, EV-DO Rev. A and Bluetooth with A2DP stereo. This is our first look review with a 12 minute video review. |
Verizon |
Dec. 2009 |
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Samsung Intrepid Sprint's first Windows Mobile 6.5 touch screen phone, the Intrepid has a QVGA 320 x 240 pixel color touch screen and a full QWERTY keyboard. It has a BlackBerry-like form and targets business users and messaging-oriented folks who need a good keyboard, MS Exchange support with Direct Push, texting and IM. It has a GPS, 3 megapixel camera, Bluetooth, WiFi and can roam on GSM networks abroad. This is a video review. |
Sprint |
Oct. 2009 |
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Samsung Omnia (Verizon) One of our favorite Windows Mobile touch screen phones has finally made it to the US! We reviewed the import GSM Omnia i900 back in August 2008, and our two biggest complaints were the high price tag and lack of 3G. Verizon has taken care of both problems, and their version of the Omnia i910 retains just about everything we liked in the original version while adding EVDO Rev. A high speed data and a subsidized price. The Omnia features a 240 x 400 pixel touch screen with haptic feedback and an accelerometer, a fast CPU, 8 gigs of storage and a very good 5 megapixel autofocus camera. Top that off with WiFi, Bluetooth and a GPS and you've got one heck of a smartphone. |
Verizon |
Jan. 2009 |
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Samsung Epix Think of it as the Samsung BlackJack II on steroids. The Epix i907 on AT&T is a 3G QWERTY bar Windows Mobile Professional phone with a 320 x 320 pixel flush touch screen. It has a fast 624MHz CPU, yet it's got very good battery life. There's plenty of memory on board along with WiFi, a strong GPS, Bluetooth with A2DP stereo and a 2 megapixel camera. It plays CV, AT&T's streaming media service, and comes with a nice bundle of Samsung applications. One of our Fall favorites. |
AT&T |
Oct, 2008 |
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Samsung Omnia i900 One of the hottest Windows Mobile Professional phones of 2008, if not one of the hottest smartphones altogether, the Samsung Omnia i900 lives up to its name (Omnia means all in Latin). This quad band unlocked GSM phone has everything except US 3G: GPS, WiFi, Bluetooth with A2DP, FM radio, Opera 9.5, microSD card slot and a 624MHz processor. But the real biggies are the 240 x 400 pixel 3.2" touch screen with Samsung's TouchWiz UI, 8 or 16 gigs of storage and a really fine 5 megapixel autofocus camera. Certainly a phone to consider if you're interested in a GSM import and can live without 3G. |
Unlocked GSM |
August 2008 |
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Samsung
i730 The fastest Windows
Mobile Pocket PC phone on the market, the i730 has a 520
MHz processor, 64 megs of RAM, 128 megs of ROM and runs
on Verizon's EVDO network for fast data. It's small by
Pocket PC standards and is similar in size to the Treo
650. Not only that, it has an excellent slide-out keyboard,
Bluetooth, WiFi and an AV remote. Definitely the Swiss
Army Knife of smartphones! |
Verizon |
July 2005 |
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Samsung
i700 This 2nd generation
Pocket PC phone runs on the Verizon Wireless network in
the US. It's got a lovely transflective display, a 300
MHz XScale processor, 64 megs of RAM, a VGA camera and
an SD slot that supports SDIO. That's a lot of features!
It comes with Pocket PC 2002 Phone Edition OS and supports
Verizon's high speed 1xRTT Express Network for data speeds
averaging 60 - 70 Kbps, with bursts up to 144 kbps. |
Verizon |
March 2004 |
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Samsung Windows Mobile Standard Smartphones
Samsung Jack If you don't know Jack, it's worth getting to know him if you're the card carrying QWERTY-bar messaging type. This affordably priced Windows Mobile 6.1 Standard smartphone brings a new BlackBerry-esque look to the BlackJack line with more curves and an improved keyboard. The Samsung Jack is offered by AT&T and It's got a 528MHz CPU, 3G HSDPA for the US and Europe, a 3 megapixel camera, WiFi, Bluetooth and a QVGA non-touchscreen display. This review includes a video review. |
AT&T |
June 2009 |
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Samsung Ace (SPH-i325) The Samsung BlackJack comes to Sprint as the Ace. This a both a Sprint CDMA phone and a GSM world phone. The GSM works only overseas, not on US bands, so get this phone if you're a Sprint customer with world roaming needs, not because you wish to use GSM in the US. The Ace is a super-slim Windows Mobile 6 Standard Edition smartphone with a front-facing QWERTY thumb keyboard and a landscape QVGA display. It runs on a responsive XScale 312MHz processor and has a microSD card slot for expansion. The Samsung Ace has a 1.3 megapixel camera that takes above average photos, EVDO for data and it supports Sprint TV. Sorry, no WiFi or GPS here. |
Sprint |
March 2008 |
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Samsung BlackJack II The follow-up to the extremely popular Samsung BlackJack for 2008 doesn't mess too much with a good thing. The II keeps the original version's excellent slim form factor and light weight while adding a GPS, more memory, a 2 megapixel camera that takes much better shots, Windows Mobile 6 and a wee bit larger display. The BlackJack II is offered by AT&T in the US and it's a quad band GSM phone with EDGE and triband 3G HSDPA. It has MS Direct Push email support, a microSD card slot that's compatible with high capacity cards and CV streaming video service along with XM Radio. |
AT&T |
Jan. 2008 |
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Samsung BlackJack The 3rd Windows Mobile 5 Smartphone Edition with a QWERTY keyboard to hit the US market, the BlackJack SGH-i607 might just be the best. It's got great ergonomics (with a few caveats), a lovely display and best of all, really fast 3G data on Cingular's HSDPA network. The BlackJack is slim, sexy and weighs only 3.5 ounces yet it has a surprisingly roomy keyboard, a good 1.3MP camera and Bluetooth 2.0. It's a quad band GSM smartphone offered by Cingular in the US. |
Cingular |
Nov. 2006 |
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Samsung i320 This Motorola Q killer is smaller, sleeker and faster than the fabled Q. Alas it's not offered by US carriers but you can buy it from importers unlocked for use with any GSM carrier. This triband phone has EDGE, Bluetooth and a wickedly fast 416MHz Intel XScale processor. And let's not forget a small but very usable QWERTY keyboard and a decent 1.3 megapixel camera with flash. |
Unlocked |
Sept. 2006 |
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Samsung
i600 This and the Motorola
MPx200 offered by AT&T Wireless were the first Microsoft
Smartphone 2002 devices to hit the market. The i600 has
now been updated with the 2003 OS and it runs on CDMA networks.
It's currently offered by Verizon Wireless and Sprint in
the US. It's a compact unit that makes no concessions as
a phone while offering basic PDA functions. Syncing is
a snap, and the phone offers MP3 playback and video playback
too. It has a fantastic color screen, 200 MHz processor
and an SD slot that supports SDIO. |
Verizon and Sprint |
April 2004 |
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