Samsung UpStage M620 Review

Performance:

Even though the UpStage is relatively small and has an Internal Antenna, the overall Reception and Call Quality was remarkably good. The phone able to maintain good reception while used in the South Florida area, yet fringe areas can be troublesome, as with any phone. Voice Quality in the earpiece was also clear and lacked any static; however turning the volume up too loud would cause some distortion. We found the voice quality to be significantly better than the LG Fusic, which we reviewed last year. Ringtones and Message Alerts are also played loud and can be heard from up to 40 feet away.

The UpStage features a built in LiIon battery that is not removable, and is rated to provide up to 2.5Hr of Talk Time. On a full charge, we were able to achieve 2.5Hr Talk Time or 4 Days of StandBy Time. There is also an included Extended Battery Wallet, which also doubles as a protective carrying case. With the extended battery wallet connected to the phone, the UpStage will use both batteries and get up to 6Hr of Talk Time. Even though the wallet is useful for the extra battery power, we would have rather seen a removable battery designed into the bottom of the phone.


Conclusion:

The UpStage is a fashionable device that features a dual-sided candy bar design. One side is used as a phone, while the other side is for music, videos, and all other menu options. The phone is remarkably thin and light, which makes it easy to take wherever you go. The plastic construction feels durable and it should hold up to normal use. The Main Display is larger than anything you’d see on an iPod Nano, with images and text that is easily viewable in a wide variety of lighting conditions. Unfortunately, the 2nd Display (on the phone side) is small and is only large enough to see dialed numbers, contacts, and text messages. The 1.3MP Camera quality is also lacking and should only be used to take quick pictures. We believe that a 2MP sensor was not used to help keep the cost down. The phone’s Menu System is very graphical and is laid out well, but lacks any themes. Music Playback is truly one of the strong points of the UpStage. Even though music is played through the earpiece speaker, there was no distortion even at higher volume settings. Just remember to turn the phone over so that the speaker is on top. For true music enjoyment, we recommend using a Stereo Bluetooth headset, which will provide better you with better sound quality. The phone’s Reception and Call Quality was above average, with no static or interference. When we first got the UpStage, we were skeptical about the call quality, but we are glad to say that this is not a problem. If you are looking for a quality device that combines a phone and MP3 Player in a fashionably thin body, the UpStage is for you.

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