Samsung Gravity 3 Review

Introduction:

The Samsung Gravity 3 is- wait for it- the third Gravity phone to be released by T-Mobile in just the last year and a half, although this time around it’s got some relatives.  The Gravity 3 isn’t a big departure from the Gravity 2, offering little more than a design refresh.  Key features of this 3G messaging device remain the side-sliding QWERTY keyboard, 2 megapixel camera and microSD expansion.  Social networking is along for the ride this time, with quick access to Facebook, MySpace and Twitter.



Design:

The Samsung Gravity 3 employs a side-sliding design that has become passe these days.  The front consists of the QVGA display, a navigational cluster that includes an assignable messaging key and the standard 12-key dialpad.  The display is good for its class; the 262K colors provide some depth and in general it’s plenty readable.  Along the right side of the phone you’ll find the microUSB port and a dedicated camera key and to the left is the volume rocker.  The microSD slot is only accessible by removing the battery door, which is a bit of a pain.  The 2MP camera and single speaker sit atop the back portion of the Gravity 3.



You can compare the Samsung Gravity 3 with many other phones using our Size Visualization Tool.

The Samsung Gravity 3 is pretty similar in size to the Gravity 2 it replaces, actually increasing in length and girth (for the ladies!).  It still manages to shed a fraction of an ounce, though we’d bet the difference is not noticeable.  The phone feels good in the hands and the textured back provides a bit of grip.  While the build quality is good and the slide mechanism smooth, the materials used could be better.  A soft touch back, for example, would go a long way to giving the Gravity 3 a higher end feel.  That said, keys have a bit of rubberyness to them and good tactile feedback.  The Gravity 3 uses essentially the same keyboard as the Gravity T which we had mixed feelings about, but a few of the key functions are located elsewhere.  The Gravity 3 has a funky soft key placement when opened: instead of along the edge of the screen or flanking the keyboard they have been brought in to bracket the spacebar.