Samsung Instinct Review

Samsung Instinct Review

Reviews icon

Published on: 21 June, 2008 by PhoneArena Team

Samsung Instinct Review

Touchscreen devices are nothing new, in fact they've been in the mobile world for nearly a decade, but there's no denying that the iPhone jumpstarted their popularity. In the last year there have been several attempts to replicate the iPhone experience, names like Voyager and Vu come to mind, but in reality no one has come close. Part of Apple’s success lies in their ground-up approach, a fact that went largely overlooked by competitors. Samsung and Sprint took note. Nearly a year to the day after the iPhone’s release the Instinct is here, and it is the first touchscreen device that can truly go toe-to-toe with the iPhone ...

Comments icon User comments

User comments

Show only comments with rating Display mode
+1
2.
thank you for rating the PHONE, not like those who just hate sprint and say the phone sucks. Great job.
Reply to this comment
0
3.
Thanks for your review.

I already order one........ let's see how it looks.......n will definitely write comments ...
0
30.
Believe me I have one, this is a beatiful phone and it does more than the iphone plus it comes with an extra battery
as everyone knows iphones dont have that
Reply to this comment
Reply to anonymous Hide 1 replies to this comment
0
4.
Went to play with the device at a Sprint Store, I must say it's not what I thought it would be, it honestly feels quite cheap in the hand and it lacks the simplicity that the iphone has with its OS. but, if that's your thing I am sure it will work for you. The speeds with the data varied based on reception, although when it had full bars I didn't notice much lag on it, the phone did freeze a few times on me. The GPS was quite a nice touch, the music player which got low marks already wasn't that great. All and all it wasn't enough to make me go back to Sprint, sorry to say I am going to wait for the iphone 3G when it comes out and if that's not as a WOW factor as the original was for me I am going to bank on the Samsung Omnia with it's FM Radio, 5 MPXL camera, Wi-Fi, WinMo 6.1 and HSDPA. Plus it's a phone I can take with me overseas. All and all I can see why the price was knocked down to 129.99 for it. Just not that stellar.
0
48.
WoW its actually cheap and not tough/durable.
Reply to this comment
Reply to mock5 Hide 1 replies to this comment
0
5.
I purchased his phone on the 19th and must say this review is the closest to the experience I have had so far. The QWERTY is extremely accurate and easy to use right out of the box. I did want to point out that you do not need to use the virtual back space button as the permanent back button next to home icon will work as well. I also had trouble with the virtual back space button which will make the keyboard disappear if you missed it. Also I was able to load Google Maps by sending the text link to myself via google.com. The UI is very easy and user friendly but seems to be pretty dumbed down. I was surprised with the lack of options under the Settings icon. My favorite feature is the Sprint Navigation which like the review stated works hand in hand with Live Search. The Navigation was quite to re-route when I would purposely not follow where it told me to go. I can search everything from gas by price to just about anything else under the sun with easy which is all categorized and once you find what you are looking for you are given the phone number, a map, driving directions, and the ability to send the info to anyone! All in all t is a great phone for what I need. If you are looking for email access you are better off to stick with your BB, WM, or Palm because the Instinct will not cut. It is far from a smart phone but has to be one of the best multi-media/GPS phones.
Reply to this comment
0
6.
No... I ... M.... nice....
0
7.
its just a java app, so i wouldnt be surprised to see it in the near future. not shipping with it, however...
Reply to this comment
Reply to NoIMQQ Hide 1 replies to this comment
0
8.
I was able to download google maps and use it just fine on my Instinct.
I agree with all the cons. The camera sucks and not having T9 is pretty dumb. I hate not having the ability to personalize the phone with a wallpaper that I can see longer than 2 seconds.
Other than that it is great!
0
44.
no need for T9 when you have a keyboard!
Reply to this comment
Reply to anonymous Hide 1 replies to this comment
0
9.
I was going to switch from Sprint to AT&T with iPhone 3G but then I took an hour and tried out Sprint Instinct at the store. It is an awesome phone and a serious competitor (except browser which will be resolved with Opera Mini soon).

Other than that, it is very customizable, single handed operation for most stuff, fast Touch-screen response, real GPS (unlike iPhone which just tacks on Google Maps) with turn-by-turn directions.

You can even download Google maps (both street view and satellite view) on Sprint Instinct (should be integrated with GPS in a little while as well). The voice command search is awesome (you say Chinese Food and it will find nearby using GPS and even give you a one-touch number to call or one-touch to turn-by-turn GPS directions), and 30+ TV channels and a lot of Radio channels are included. It also has a camcorder that iPhone doesn't. It is perfect size (iphone is too wide).

And best of all, for $69.99 single line or $129.99 for 2 lines, you get everything that iPhone 3G will provide plus UNLIMITED Text messaging (iPhone will cost $20 extra per month!) and UNLIMITED TV and RADIO time (no TV or Radio on iPhone)!

The TeleNav GPS on Instinct is like high-end GPS unit for a car and it has voice command with real names of streets. It also checks for real-time traffic alerts and re-routes you!

You can even set Instinct up to announce (text to voice) the names of phone callers on incoming calls or text messages!

And it cost me $129.99 at BestBuy (no mail-in rebates needed) with renewal of 2-year contract (I was 23 months into the contract). This is the best deal for my money and I got 2 of them for me and my wife and she loves it!
-1
21.
Too bad this sweet phone is on one of the worst "nationwide" networks available. Poor Sprint.
Reply to this comment
0
45.
here we go, we know Sprint isnt your cup of tea but it works great for me and my family for the last 5 yrs.
Reply to this comment This comment is posted in response to #21 ( Show )
Reply to JohnJohn Hide 2 replies to this comment
0
10.
now what's left? Sprint needs to improve they network. I still believe vzw and att has the best network in the business. Without a good ASS network all of this ain't possible. Because u will be frustrated with the phone but really is not ur phone is the cell towers that SUCKS!!!!
0
11.
its all about what works in your area, but as one who uses both vzw and sprint and travels a lot i have to admit that sprint has surpassed vzw in the past two years or so. they keep getting better, while my vzw service deteriorates.
Reply to this comment
Reply to anonymous Hide 1 replies to this comment
0
12.
The real deal killer for me on the Instinct is that it currently lacks the ability to open PDF's and Office doc's, no push email, and no calendar sync. I know this is not intended as a "business" phone, but these are serious drawbacks for anyone considering the phone for anything but play. Does anyone know if these shortfalls will be addressed?
0
14.
Hopefully the SDK release will solve some if not all of the probelms you listed. The other option is wait util they release the Andriod version which I've read is expected Q4 08 or Q1 09.
Reply to this comment
0
46.
well working in retail and selling Sprint this phone is mainly for play, no calender sync and no plans of correcting that as of yet. also this device is not ment to compete with your current line of PDA phones it is not even classifyed as such by samsung and sprint.
Reply to this comment
0
51.
do you mean that there is no way to sync your phone with your computer??
Reply to this comment This comment is posted in response to #46 ( Show )
Reply to anonymous Hide 3 replies to this comment
0
13.
I WOULD GET THIS PHONE IF I HAD A FULL QWERTY KEYBOARD LIKE THE GLYDE :(
0
15.
Have you tried to typing on the Instincts virtual keyboard yet? I wasn't sure I would like it myself but after the first day I was amazed with how responsive it was. The only problem I have is the "?" is right next to the space bar so I somethings have a "?" instead of a space.
Reply to this comment
Reply to 1DESIRE Hide 1 replies to this comment
  Total: 38 post(s)
Post comment

Post comment

  • *Please register/login, to be able to edit your comment and to get your name and e-mail fields
    automatically populated. HTML is not allowed.
    Any content submitted to PhoneArena, becomes the sole property of PhoneArena and cannot be used in parts or in whole without PhoneArena’s consent. All such content expresses the views and opinions of their authors and PhoneArena will not be held responsible for any offensive or racist materials posted.
Generated for: 0.0405