OK fellow Androiders...here's my take on the charge and how I feel about it since getting it yesterday. Keep in mind I don't roll with a flag that supports any one manufacturer, I'm a phone and tech whore that shows everyone some love!
So here's my quick review of the newest fire breathing 4G monster to hit vzw...
First off, yes the screen is beautiful. Its been stated over and over how nice Samsung screens are, this screen is right up there with the best of them. However I wouldn't say its light years better then the Thunderbolts super LCD. But yes blacks are super black, and all the colors pop very vividly.
Build quality is pure Samsung, nice, but has a very plastic feel. Think Samsung Fascinate, very similar. Its extremely lite for such a big phone, some will like it, some will not. Put it this way, don't drop it, it will not take to well to drops.
Moving into the UI, and software, let me make this quick. Simply put, touchwiz 4.0 should be on this phone, not 3.0! Its slow, clunky, and should not be on a flagship 4G phone in 2011. Also just a side note...Brown and Orange, coupled together with a blue and yellow color scheme for SMS? Seriously, who thought up this color scheme....its downright ugly IMO.
The phone performs OK, it's not lighting quick while moving through the phone, but its not as bad as some have been saying. Throw Launcher pro on it and your good. 4G makes up for alot on this phone. The web and YouTube are very quick, I haven't really felt the web lag as bad as some have stated, its slightly there, but not earth shattering. IMO this phone should have had the same 1.2ghz as the Samsung infuse...last years processor should not be on board...plain and simple.
Phone calls have been very good, loud and clear, and the Speaker phone has been very good as well. Blue tooth through my truck is very loud and clear also...not experiencing the poor volume levels that I've had with the Thunderbolt when connected through my truck.
The camera takes really clear photos, however has an annoying lag after the picture is taken. Also the flash while set to Auto still goes off in very well lit areas? I don't remember either of those issues with my Fascinate. The Video camera is just as good as my Fascinates was, very clear, and voices are nice and loud.
Battery is ehh...its only been about 48 hours so far with this phone, and a full week of charging should be used before making a decision if this phone is way better on battery life then the Thunderbolt. As for right now, I will say they are about even. Left my house at 2pm with a full 100% battery, by 7pm I needed a charge.Those are Thunderbolt numbers if you ask me. I'll have a real pulse after a week of charges to determine if this phone will be able to get me through a full day without a charge, too early to make that decision.
So is this phone worth $299 right now? Sorry Samsung faithful, but I have to say no. Its a good phone, makes great phone calls, is fairly fast if you tweek it a little bit, and overall is a pretty cool looking phone. Yes the stealth look has grown on me. However, between the fact that it doesn't have a dual core, let alone a 1.2 like the infuse, touchwiz 4.0, a more premium feel like some newer Samsungs, and is priced $50 more then the Thunderbolt, is reason enough for me to say no, its not worth the pricetag. $199 yes, then its definitely worth a hard look. But $299 is basically a rape for last years technology.
So here's my quick review of the newest fire breathing 4G monster to hit vzw...
First off, yes the screen is beautiful. Its been stated over and over how nice Samsung screens are, this screen is right up there with the best of them. However I wouldn't say its light years better then the Thunderbolts super LCD. But yes blacks are super black, and all the colors pop very vividly.
Build quality is pure Samsung, nice, but has a very plastic feel. Think Samsung Fascinate, very similar. Its extremely lite for such a big phone, some will like it, some will not. Put it this way, don't drop it, it will not take to well to drops.
Moving into the UI, and software, let me make this quick. Simply put, touchwiz 4.0 should be on this phone, not 3.0! Its slow, clunky, and should not be on a flagship 4G phone in 2011. Also just a side note...Brown and Orange, coupled together with a blue and yellow color scheme for SMS? Seriously, who thought up this color scheme....its downright ugly IMO.
The phone performs OK, it's not lighting quick while moving through the phone, but its not as bad as some have been saying. Throw Launcher pro on it and your good. 4G makes up for alot on this phone. The web and YouTube are very quick, I haven't really felt the web lag as bad as some have stated, its slightly there, but not earth shattering. IMO this phone should have had the same 1.2ghz as the Samsung infuse...last years processor should not be on board...plain and simple.
Phone calls have been very good, loud and clear, and the Speaker phone has been very good as well. Blue tooth through my truck is very loud and clear also...not experiencing the poor volume levels that I've had with the Thunderbolt when connected through my truck.
The camera takes really clear photos, however has an annoying lag after the picture is taken. Also the flash while set to Auto still goes off in very well lit areas? I don't remember either of those issues with my Fascinate. The Video camera is just as good as my Fascinates was, very clear, and voices are nice and loud.
Battery is ehh...its only been about 48 hours so far with this phone, and a full week of charging should be used before making a decision if this phone is way better on battery life then the Thunderbolt. As for right now, I will say they are about even. Left my house at 2pm with a full 100% battery, by 7pm I needed a charge.Those are Thunderbolt numbers if you ask me. I'll have a real pulse after a week of charges to determine if this phone will be able to get me through a full day without a charge, too early to make that decision.
So is this phone worth $299 right now? Sorry Samsung faithful, but I have to say no. Its a good phone, makes great phone calls, is fairly fast if you tweek it a little bit, and overall is a pretty cool looking phone. Yes the stealth look has grown on me. However, between the fact that it doesn't have a dual core, let alone a 1.2 like the infuse, touchwiz 4.0, a more premium feel like some newer Samsungs, and is priced $50 more then the Thunderbolt, is reason enough for me to say no, its not worth the pricetag. $199 yes, then its definitely worth a hard look. But $299 is basically a rape for last years technology.