Samsung Glyde Review
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The Glyde U940 is Samsung’s first touchscreen phone for Verizon and is in direct competition with the LG Voyager that was released almost 6 month earlier. It is based on the GSM Samsung F700, with similarities in style and form, yet the feature-set has changed. The Glyde is targeted to consumers that are looking for a touchscreen device, with a smaller footprint than the Voyager, while maintaining a mechanical QWERTY keyboard.
The Retail Package includes the Glyde phone, 1000 mAh battery, wall charger, USB data cable, Music Essentials CD, and user manual. Just like with the Voyager, we are glad to see an inclusion of the data cable and music manager CD, which eliminate the need to purchase them separately.
Design:
The Glyde features a unique design, being that it looks like a standard candy-bar style phone, but in fact has a side-sliding form factor, which reveals a hidden QWERTY keyboard for text input. The whole device is constructed out of plastic, which feels durable and should hold up to normal everyday use. It is black around the display and keyboard, a dark pearl-blue for the battery cover and QWERTY buttons, and with silver accents around the perimeter. When holding onto the Glyde, you can easily tell that it’s not as a big or as heavy as the Voyager, and is less noticeable when placed in your pants pocket.
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You can compare the Samsung Glyde to many other phones, using PhoneArena's Visual Size Compare tool.
The front features a 2.8” diagonal 240x440 pixel capacitive touch-sensitive TFT display with 262K color support, which is used for all device functions and menu navigation, but it is a far cry from the larger 3.22” display that is used on the F700. When placing the same wallpaper on both the Glyde and Voyager, we noticed that the image on the Glyde was not as sharp and almost looked out-of-focus, but this was not true when viewing the phone’s main menu or using any of the applications. Unfortunately, both devices suffer from poor visibility while in direct sunlight, rendering the displays nearly dark and unable to view.
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There is only one physical button located on the front and is used to return you back to the home screen, while on the right side is the camera button, volume rocker, and power/lock button. Along the top are the stereo speakers and 2.5mm headset jack, with the charger/data port on the left. The memory card slot, which accepts up to 8GB microSDHC cards, is inconveniently located under the battery door, but the device does not have to be powered off to access it. The 2MP autofocus camera and flash are integrated into the back of the device and are almost flush with the rest of the phone when the battery door is installed.
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Home button | microSD slot | 2-megapixel camera |
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Samsung Glyde
- Specifications
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- Review 6/10
- User Reviews (152) 5.8/10
32 Comments
1. (unregistered) posted on 20 Oct 2010, 01:55 0 0
I disagree, i've had this phone for about 2 weeks and i haven't had any problems with this phone. It works great, the camera is nice (auto focus), and i have no problem w/signal strenght. I have not had any problems w/ the touch screen and it has been working great, its just like the Voyager's touch screen. The only problem is that the vibrate and Tone volume could be a little bit louder, but thats not even a huge problem. It is the perfect size and overall a very great phone, i would suggest this to anybody looking to get a nice phone w/touch and qwerty key board.
14. apb1994 posted on 01 Jun 2008, 16:47 0 0
It could just be where you live that you don't have any problems. The phone I have from Verizon right now only gets one or two bars in my area, when I call somebody my calls almost always get lost if they're not quick conversations. And I went to the VZW store a couple of days ago looking for a new phone, I called my house and I talked to my dad and the reception was horrible, it took about one minute before the call was lost.
30. scarlett2603 posted on 13 Apr 2009, 16:23 0 0
I had the glyde for six months and ihated it the whole time. the touch screen is TERRIBLE. it takes me ten minutes just to call someone! i HATE touch screens. NEVER get this phone! it doesnt hold a very good charge either. its terrible. i could charge it all day and it would only hold it for about four hours.i dropped it once on carpet and the camera broke. NEVER GET THIS PHONE
2. XxTNTxX posted on 23 May 2008, 06:17 0 0
even mobile youtube can't work? now THAT is lame.. stereo speakers both on one side? LOL! WTH was Samsung thinking!! I own a Voyager and have played with a Glyde @ a VZW store recently. I think the Glyde feels cheap as if I could break it with one hand. It's also not as eye catching as the LG Voyager but rather looks more like a kids toy. IF ANYONE reading this is debating on whether to get a Glyde or a Voyager, go w/ LG. Hands down.. The Voyager has all the functionality of the Glyde but better implementation and even more features if you consider Mobile TV.
3. (unregistered) posted on 23 May 2008, 09:39 0 0
DON"T GET EITHER...GET THE LG DARE(VX9700) comes out July 4th (at least thats what the rumors say)
15. apb1994 posted on 01 Jun 2008, 16:48 0 0
I agree, I'm looking forward to the LG Dare, but it'll probably come out a week later then when it's supposed to. Almost every phone does except the env2
4. Western_Son (unregistered) posted on 23 May 2008, 17:53 0 0
I've seen many reviews criticizing the touch screen performance and I cannot agree with those who say it's buggy to a fault. Can someone please post a detailed description of a known, reproducible bug that is a product of the touch screen malfunctioning. My expectation of the touch screen is based on using my girlfriend's iphone. The accuracy of the glyde touch screen is on par with her iphone experience. Sometimes the targets are small and that is difficult on both phones. I turned down the sensitivity of the touch screen when I first got the phone and that is how it has remained. From my experience with the glyde I would say that touch screen problems are ultimately a user problem and not a design issue. Look at it like this: A $2500 Les Paul guitar in the hands of a qualified operator sounds great. A $2500 Les Paul guitar in the hands of a beginner will sound like a beginner. Where does the fault reside? Ultimately a phone is a communication instrument.
5. sinfulta (unregistered) posted on 23 May 2008, 21:38 0 0
I usually agree with phonearena.com, but this happens to be the worst review I've ever seen for any phone. I have been demo'ing this phone all week and went with my car club to Carmel California to the beach cause I figured it would be a good test through mountains and long driving time. We were in Aptos, California right next to a resort on the beach and the Glyde was the only phone that got reception. My LG Chocolate 8550 (My personal) was searching for service and I was able to complete a call on the Glyde. I think personally the Glyde is just not as "optamistic" about it's reception, and shows signal of what it's really getting. It definetly does hang around the middle range of 2-3 "bars". But defintely has never dipped as low as the chocolate so far. Sound quality is excellent. I totally agree with review. Touch screen is excellent. I dissagree big time with phonearena.com. I've had no trouble even using HTML or just browsing around the phone. It's definitely an huge step up in screen from the Voyager. I have no Idea what this reviewer is talking about. Outside phone conditions for screen brightness is similar to any other phone. And can be turned up out of the box. Voyager can not and in a side by side test outside in sunlight. It is defintely better with the samsung with it's brightness turned up from medium to high. Talk time is very very good, Standby and music/web browsing battery life is short. If i'm on the phone all day and do 2-3hrs of web browsing and light use of text and calling my battery will be dead after about a 16-18hr day. When I just used the phone for just phone calls, i was able to get approx 3.5hrs, and my phone had just went down to 1 bar of battery after I made it home from a local bar having cocktails with friends at 2am in the morning and I had the phone on since 7am that morning. (Sorry trying to give real world scenarios. lol) I hope this helps those who were concerned with the terrible review this was given. This is one of the best phones I've used in year. I think I might get one once I have to give this back.
25. repo33 (unregistered) posted on 25 Oct 2008, 21:00 0 0
I agree, I've had the Glyde now for almost two months and I love it. I had a LG Chocolate and that was the biggest piece 'o crap LG ever squeezed out! I've been with VZW for about 7 years now and have had nothing but rage with LG phones. The Chocolate was so bad that they offered me an early upgrade with another $80 promo for the Glyde. So basically I got my Glyde for FREE! I don't care who ya are...that's a great deal and I couldn't pass it up. When I first got the Glyde I was a little skeptical if I liked it. But after playing with it for about a day and learning tips and shortcuts and such, I decided I loved it and STILL DO! So do the chics...lol. Cell phones are such an intregal part of us...like our car. If you are a basic person you most likely have a basic car. If you are sophisticated and refined so is your car...our cell phones are the same. I saw a commercial for some prepaid junk called 'jitterbug'...as basic as it gets. Obviously that is for the Ford Taurus people!!!!
27. (unregistered) posted on 06 Dec 2008, 19:14 0 0
LOL!!! I drive a Ford Taurus , bUT My phone is always the best of the best on market. I change phones evey few months. As a sales agent i find it better to of used the phone! Look I've been doing this job along time and from the sales side the phone is crappy! Ive sold over 200 hundred of them an had almost eveyone exchanged. aLL Went to Dare or Voyager! Now the Choc. thats a whole other story i have no clue what Lg was thinking there. All i know is the Glyde in my book is another phone i hate selling just like choc.
6. (unregistered) posted on 24 May 2008, 18:09 0 0
PHONE ARENA get ur facts right this phone doesnt have a full HML browser the only verizon none pda phone thats has this is the voyager! u need to read ur facts and not just post what ever u think the phone has!
7. (unregistered) posted on 24 May 2008, 21:08 0 0
Ah, yes it does! The Glyde and Voyager both have an HTML browser. It sounds like you are too much in love with your Voyager to admit that another phone has this as well.
8. (unregistered) posted on 24 May 2008, 21:09 0 0
http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/store/controller?item=phoneFirst&action=viewPhoneDetail&selected PhoneId=3727&changingCompletedOrder= "Services HTML Browser with touch navigation"
9. (unregistered) posted on 25 May 2008, 01:13 0 0
Unfortunately I don't think many of you truly understand the problems with this phone. The phone has many issues concerning the touchscreen and that is the main reason that I am returning it. The bug I consistently experience isbthat the send button on text messages never works. Every time I use it I need to press it multiple times. On the Internet I experience issues getting links to work. And for the person who said that is it on par with an iPhone, I very much disagree. I have an iPod Touch and the touch works so much more better on the iPod. This review is very correct except that I have had good experience regarding reception. The battery dies for me after only maybe an hour of browsing, twenty texts, and ten minutes talking after about 12 hours. I have also experienced issues regarding testing when switching from front touch to qwerty.
13. (unregistered) posted on 31 May 2008, 20:08 0 0
I had a problem a that when I touched the calculator icon the phone would do a reset. I also had a problem with the space bar when texting. I exchanged the phone and so far none of those issues had shown. I think that you have a defective phone. The issues with the touchscreen, I think has to do where you do the tapping. I have learned this after playing with the phone. I still have to tap a couple of times, but to me that is the problem with the touchscreen. When tapping and it doesn't work just tap it slightly to the side. It will work just fine.
26. repo33 (unregistered) posted on 25 Oct 2008, 21:06 0 0
I have this phone and wondered what everybody was talkin' about with software and firmware issues. I've never had any. Then the guy at Verizon told me that I have the newer release Glyde that got the software updates. Take your Glyde to Verizon and ask them if it has the software updates. If not, they will do it for you for free.
10. (unregistered) posted on 26 May 2008, 18:51 0 0
I have benn using this phone since it was first launched. So far, I had no problem with Glyde at all. The touch screen is very responsive which works better than Voyager. And qwerty keypad is easy to tap and comfortable. Even though Voyager has more features like Mobile TV, I doubt that not many people actually use Mobile TV. Overall, this is a great touchscreen & messaging phone with attractive price.
11. (unregistered) posted on 27 May 2008, 23:09 0 0
Well, now that I have had it for a few weeks its little problems are easily managable... My only real issue is the call quality.. I'm not sure if it is the phone or the network. I came from ATT and havn't used other phones on the verizon network... There is a significant difference, I just hope its the coverage in my area and that it improves...
12. (unregistered) posted on 30 May 2008, 22:02 0 0
Well, I just picked up this phone and really compared the voyager to it. I wen with the glyde because the phones are almost exactly the same. I Don't reallneed a phone that has a mp3 player for it but something that is more sleek and comfortable in my hand, the glyde was just that even when texting I thought the keyboard was better on the glyde. Dont get me wrong the voyager is a great phone too, but for 100 dollars more, not that great.
