Average User Rating

Design: 7.4; 74.28571%
Features: 7.2; 71.78571%
Performance: 5.4; 54.28571%

Good

7.4

out of 10

Based on 56 opinions

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6 Apr 2007
Samsung SCH-U740 Review

After reviewing the LG enV, we had high hopes for the competing Samsung U740, since both devices offer a QWERTY keypad. Unfortunately, we came away from the U740 with a feeling that Samsung dropped the ball when designing this phone. The U740 shares none of the “high end” features found on the enV, and even the QWERTY keypad is difficult to use. The camera is only 1.3MP, the internal display is not QVGA, the stereo speakers are distorted at high volumes, and the keypad buttons are tiny and crammed together. The call reception ...

Average

6.4

out of 10

Keywords:

Samsung
,
Verizon
,
QWERTY

31. great!!!

12 Jan 2008 by Gordon

94%9.4out of 10

I got this phone being very wary because i thought it might fall apart because it looked fragile. now that i have it, it feels much more sturdy. The hinge does develop some play over time of use but it still does not feel unstable. Another design flaw i saw was that if u had big fingers than it is much harder to type but thats not to bad.

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32. A great little phone

15 Dec 2007 by voxluna

84%8.4out of 10

I don't know what some of these reviewers are smoking ("There is no vibrate mode [yes there is] and you can't picture message [yes you can]" or "When I got it home and opened it there are like 50 buttons! [so you didn't look at it in the store?]" but they're all over the map.

So please take this serious review into consideration. My previous experiences have been with an LG VX8000, a Razr V3m, an XV6600 PPC, and many other Verizon and AT&T phones, FWIW.

The first thing I tried was BitPim, to see if it worked, and how the filesystem was laid out. Success, when I set it to be an A950. Yet I haven't needed it after discovering the microSD card can be removed and, using your PC, you can place files directly into my_pix, my_sounds, my_music and my_flix without syncing with WMA. Just load them up and there they are! Wondrous, considering how Verizon crippled e.g. the V3m.

The outer screen allows you to see incoming calls with picture ID, and read incoming text messages, like my LG did. It also has an attractive analog clock (see photo) with roman numerals if you like. There are touch-sensitive keys for playback, and a hold key on the side to prevent inadvertent activation.

The internal memory is a decent amount for Get It Now apps, and you can move files (pix, music, and so on) back and forth from the removable card to the phone.

The web browser is still a WAP type (Openwave 6.2) but has been improved upon, including the ability to go directly to a URL from the browser itself (as opposed to using the Search page in Verizon's walled garden, using more time).

The keys are a very pleasing bright white color, and the screen and keyboard backlight duration are adjustable, as well as able to stay on continuously.

The camera and camcorder menus are much expanded from my previous phones, with a full display showing every option. There are new features like multi-shot (a sequence of photos in thumbnails), and interesting sounds (shutter click, ready sound ["say cheese!"], zoom and brightness sounds, etc) which can be disabled if you prefer.

A very unique item is the VoiceSignal software, which allows you to speak commands into the phone. For example, I can say "Call Marc at home" and the phone will do so. There is a whole menu full of choices, such as "Check status" which will read off your battery level, signal strength, number of messages, etc. All of this is most useful when using a Bluetooth headset. It's all the more impressive when you dictate a text message just by speaking. The software is pretty accurate once you train it to your own voice, a 3-minute process.

Speaking of Bluetooth, it has so far been a success, using a Samsung WEP200 earpiece. There is some interference from WiFi at home, but that's to be expected, and it doesn't keep me from using it.

The speakerphone is adequately loud and can operate when the phone is closed (as can the music player). There is a separate button on the side to activate it, unlike some phones where another key does double-duty.

This is a nice phone, for the right price. At the time of writing, Verizon offered it for $79.99, and for me, it's worth it. But had I been an early adopter, some issues would have been more bothersome:

The biggest blunder is the camera. At 1.3MP it's basic, yes, but my LG took much better photos (though it also had a macro lens). It also seems to take longer to save. Not a dealbreaker, but a real disappointment. What saves the phone in this department is the ability to record unlimited videos, or to set for MMS mode which limits to 30 seconds.

Next, most of the applications like browser, games, and music player only work in landscape mode. And the player would have more room for song titles and artists if it had less of the pointless, flashy graphics. The phone also came preloaded with some very boring ringtones, but you can always add more.

Games are difficult to play because, since they are restricted to landscape mode, the thumb rocker key is on the left and therefore obscured by the hinge.

The outer screen is relatively low resolution, and has no "Verizon" logo during a call... in fact AFAIK there is never any logo shown. This is partly due to both the inside and outside screens using the same backlight, I think.

Overall, I really do like the SCH-u740, and others have been suitably impressed upon seeing it. If you're considering it, go to a dealer and find a working model (not a dummy!) and play around for a while. You may just fall in love with it. And the low price means money left over for a BT headset, memory card, leather case, and other toys.

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33. I love the U740

30 Oct 2007 by kristina

88%8.8out of 10

I have had atleast five phone since this one, and I have to admit its one of the best phones I have ever had. I do give it 10 out of 10. Its great for text messanging, its light, its small, its just perfect. And For durability, Its pretty good, i dropped my phone a few times and nothing has happend. i had this phone for about 5 months and so far no problems, i love this phone. The only down fall on this phone is the picture quality on this phone. its a bit dark but other then that it alright. Like I said I have no problems with it and I give it two thumbs up.

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34. Amazing

28 Oct 2007 by Chason

92%9.2out of 10

Ok, So I love this phone Iv'e had it since aroundthe end of July and It makes texting so much easier. As to the comment about a man not being able to use it... that's stupid.. im a man ... I hardly hit the wrong keys....ever. I Pretty much love peoples reactions when you open it ... then you have to show them ... how it opens both ways because they always ask when they see all the letters sideways. But really it amazes me and its the best phone I've ever had

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35.

13 Oct 2007 by Debra

40%4out of 10

I got this phone cause I txt a lot, I had the en-v when I traded up to this junk. The Keypad is just too small!!!! I don't have big hands and I keep hitting the key next to the one I intended to push. I can't imagine a man using this phone! Everyday I wish I hadn't given my En-v to my spouse, going to get the LG Voyager when it comes out and put this junk to bed.

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36. maybe

23 Sep 2007 by fenrisx

66%6.6out of 10

Yeah the enV has more features, but it's also ugly and bulky. I wanted a small phone, not a case for my eye glasses. The only thing I don't like about the u740 is lack of A2DP support.

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37. Best Phone i ever had

20 Sep 2007 by phenom

86%8.6out of 10

Theres nothing like seeing a persons reaction when you flip the phone both ways!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! wish i could set ringtones for everybody but its cool.

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38. SCH-U740 Great!

2 Sep 2007 by A. Jeffries

98%9.8out of 10

Great phone! I had the enV took it back and got this one. The enV's sound quality was bad. The letters were too small for me to see at a quick glance. The U740 corrected those things. The keyboard is fine. The only thing I miss is the txt to speech feature. I love this phone! This is the first review I have ever written for a phone. Hat's off to SAMSUNG! Thank you sooo much.

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39. Yeah it's slimmer, but that's it

7 Aug 2007 by Ends

64%6.4out of 10

The ONLY thing this has over the enV is it's slimmer. No matter how you slice it the keys are smaller and closer together than the enV. This does not have A2DP support like the enV, and even for a 1.3 mp cam the pictures on this thing simply aren't that great. enV also has a higher resolution screen and unlike the u-740 can be used when closed. And now that the enV and this phone are about the same price, it would be stupid NOT to go with the enV.

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40. COOL COOL COOL!!

7 Aug 2007 by Rep #1

74%7.4out of 10

u740 is cool. I like it a lot. It's not a huge remote control like the enV but it still does all the same stuff as the big @$$ phone does! One complaint, the camera has a slight dark tint to it. Other than that the phone works great. The buttons are hard to get used to but they're not that bad!! It's not like you cant see the size of the buttons before you buy it so if you dont like the size of them then dont get it!! The flip open isn't that hard! you can open it with either hand and it takes like 2 seconds! Could some of us that complain about the time it takes to open it just be too lazy!!! Come on!! Pretty soon we're going to be wanting the phone to hold itself up to our ear!! Great phone, great dollar value, and not a huge phone but has a lot of great features! GO SAMSUNG WHOOT WHOOT!!

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