The Samsung SGH-i620 Windows Mobile Smartphone Review, Part One

[Jerry Raia]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.geardiary.com/2008/03/12/the-samsung-sgh-i620-windows-mobile-smartphone-review-part-one/' target='_blank'>http://www.geardiary.com/2008/03/12...eview-part-one/</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>&quot;The first time I saw the Samsung i620 in the flesh was in the lobby of the Amsterdam Hilton last November. Derek Snyder had brought a white one to Mobius, and Vincent and I couldn&rsquo;t wait to play with it! Vincent is one of those guys who always has a video camera glued to his hands, and before I knew it, we were shooting.&quot;<br /></em><br /><img border="0" alt="" src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/500/spt/auto/1205443911.usr6.jpg" /></p><p>Judie over at GearDiary has posted the first part of a review of the i620. This first part is mostly the unboxing but she has a lot of good pictures of the device for you to see.</p>

[tal]

I'm using the SGH-i640v that seems to differ slightly from the i620 (of course Vodafone branding, keyboard and connectors layout, maybe a different screen?, ...). For me the i640v is by far the best smartphone I've used so far:

brilliant screen (and that saying while I use a iPAQ hx4700, too :))
very responsive
fast UMTS connection (esp. satellite view in google maps is together with the gorgeous screen a good show-off)
sturdy slider (and when closed the keyboard seems to be sealed - I was a little worried about tiny pieces of fabric getting into it because I carry it mostly in my trousers' pocket)
very good keyboard (I never believed I could write on such a small keyboard - but it's really great to use)
and what really makes it stand out is the scroll pad in the center. I've never seen it on any other device and for me it work fantasticThe only problem for me are the heat-sensitive buttons on the front (great from a visual design perspective). One problem is obviously (as probably with the iPhone in general ;)) that you can' t use them with a glove. The bigger problem is that I must be careful not to hit one of them accidentally. I really wish I could configure their sensitivity. That's probably something that can cause some frustration: all of a sudden you find yourself in a different screen (esp. since the phone works quite fast). But after some getting used to it, I now there is always the back button.


Thorsten