Month: January 2015

There aren’t many smartphones that are worthy of the marketing hype that surrounds them. The Samsung Galaxy 3 is one of the few exceptions to this rule. Not only does it have a strong battery that gives the phone a lot of life, the processing speeds are fast thanks to quad-core technology. The touchscreen is responsive and the overall design allows uses to manage their media and social connections very easily.

With an entire suite of premium features, this top-end from 2012 still offers a tremendous amount of value today. Maybe the best part about the Samsung Galaxy 3, however, is the fact that it is a premium smartphone that doesn’t come with a premium price.

What Makes the Samsung Galaxy 3 Stand Out

The Samsung Galaxy 3 is one of the super AMOLED HD phones that Samsung released over the years and this gives it a crystal clear display. It’s just 8.6 mm thick, about 5.4 inches in length, and just under 2.8 inches in width. It weighs in at 133g, about average for a smartphone of this size, and the 4.8 inch touchscreen offers a 720p resolution. The 306 PPI pixel density is still highly competitive with more modern smartphones and the Gorilla Glass gives it an added level of protection.

The sunlight legibility is fantastic on the Samsung Galaxy 3. At 3.419 for a contrast ratio, it’s one of the best in the business still today. Even when compared to other Samsung Galaxy products, the Galaxy 3 stands alone. The contrast ration is 1.4 better than the Apple iPhone 4 in direct sunlight.

As for the technical specs, the Samsung Galaxy 3 stands up reasonably well still too. It’s a 1.4 GHz Cortex A9 quad core processor that powers this smartphone and the Mali GPU offers the support that it needs. An external mSD storage slot offers up to 64 GB of extra space, while internal storage ranges from 16 GB to 64 GB depending on the model that is purchased.

The one place where the Galaxy 3 feels a little dated is the fact that it comes with Android’s Ice Cream Sandwich operating system out-of-the-box. Users have the option to upgrade it to Jelly Bean, but it is still a little behind here. That doesn’t change the fact, however, that this smartphone still comes packed with plenty of features that users are going to love.

What Are the Features of the Samsung Galaxy 3?

The primary feature that stands out with the Samsung Galaxy 3 is the 8 MP primary camera. It offers access to an LED flash and autofocuses quickly so that a great shot can be captured in an instant. Users can also record HD video while doing image recording, while touch focus and smile detection are also part of the package. Video is in true HD 1080p. The front facing camera isn’t anything special at just 1.9 MP, but it does record in 720p at 30 frames per second, so it’s good enough for a video chat.

Users will also find that the active noise cancellation is a useful feature. Conversations come through crystal clear on both ends and there is barely any white noise during moments of silence. Bluetooth connections tend to have a bit more background noise when hands-free equipment is being used. Wi-Fi and USB services, including a MHL TV-out, will give users the ability to connect in virtually any circumstance.

The Samsung Galaxy 3 also comes with a proximity sensor, a compass, a barometer, and a gyro. The equipped accelerometer is responsive, while the phone can be setup to receive email, MMS, and instant messaging for greater flexibility. As for multimedia options, this smartphone is able to play most music and video files. It is even equipped to play DivX files that are downloaded or streamed from an online source.

What About the Battery on the Samsung Galaxy 3?

Unlike other premium smartphones, the battery cover is removable with this smartphone so batteries can be switched in an out. It comes equipped with a lithium-ion 2100 mAh battery out-of-the-box and this is good enough for about 11.5 hours of talk time if you’re on a 3G network. If 2G connectivity is only available, then talk time can actually be doubled. It has a standby rating of 790 hours.

The only one real drawback of this phone is that the battery life tends to get sucked away when data is being used. Many people will look at the possibility of 128 GB of storage as a great thing when mSD and internal storage is combined, but accessing HD apps or videos will dramatically reduce the life of the battery by up to 70%. Heavy data users will likely want to invest in a battery backup if the Samsung Galaxy 3 will be their primary internet access point.

What’s the Verdict on the Samsung Galaxy 3?

Although it is an all plastic body that comes with the Samsung Galaxy 3 and having a dedicated camera key would be a nice addition, the overall functionality of this smartphone will give users a premium experience. The S Voice can be problematic at times, especially if your expectations of it were what you saw in advertisements, but those are really the only negative points.

The Samsung Galaxy 3 offers users a rich video experience and there is audio codec support. File management comes pre-installed on the phone and a document editor will help business users stay productive while they’re out and about. An FM radio is also included, there’s a 3.5 mm audio jack for headphones, and the audio quality for music or conversations is remarkably authentic.

If you are looking for a premium phone, then the Samsung Galaxy 3 has a lot to offer, even though it was first offered to the general public in 2012. For those who want a rich experience from their phone while on a budget, then this phone should still be considered today.

Are you thinking about stepping up to a smartphone? Do you have a tight budget that demands a new smartphone at a great price? If so, then the Samsung Exhibit 4G could be the perfect phone to meet your needs. This phone works with the Gingerbread v2.3 operating system from Android, offers users two cameras, and has a reasonably fast 1 GHz processor that will allow for user multitasking. Although the virtual keyboard is a bit compact and the camera software tends to lag just a bit, the budget-friendly price of this smartphone gives it a compelling case during the shopping process.

This Smartphone Gives You Affordable 4G Access

As a candy bar phone, the size of the Samsung Exhibit 4G is surprisingly large. It has corners that have been rounded at the top, but instead of rounded corners on the bottom, Samsung has given the phone a cut angle for an interesting visual appeal. At 4.7 inches in height and 2.3 inches in width, this phone weighs just a little more than 4 ounces. It’s not a phone that looks like you’ll have spent lots of money on it, but the soft touch finish makes the phone feel soft and comfortable. The finish also helps to eliminate fingerprint smudging issues that can creep up with phones like these.

The touchscreen offers 16 million color support, but is only 3.5 inches in size. The screen itself is responsive and has a nice brightness to it, but the glare from direct sunlight makes the phone almost impossible to use under those conditions. Users will want to put the phone into landscape mode with the accelerometer to do texting on the virtual keyboard. Browsing the internet is fine enough with the Exhibit as long as you get a mobile optimized website.

512 MB of RAM comes standard on this phone.

On top of the Android operating system is Samsung’s proprietary TouchWiz user interface that isn’t always user friendly. If you like to pack in a lot of app icon shortcuts onto your homescreens, then you’ll love this phone. The initial setup has 5 different screens that can be accessed and users can setup two more screens as well. Gesture commands can help users access all of their screens at once, which is a nice feature, but the scrolling can sometimes be problematic since users have to use a swipe command to switch between the screens.

Accessing the phone’s features is simple enough with the exterior commands. 4 GB of storage comes standard with the mSD card, but it can recognize up to 32 GB of storage in total. The mUSB is curiously on the top of the phone instead of the bottom, situated right next to the 3.5 mm audio port. Watch out for the plastic covering on the mUSB – it tends to want to break off after some use.

What About the Features of the Samsung Exhibit 4G?

At a budget-friendly price, the 4G connectivity of this phone is going to be its primary feature. The Exhibit isn’t the most feature-rich smartphone on the market today, but it does carry a certain usefulness with it. Users will find the dual camera design to be useful enough, although the forward facing camera above the touchscreen is just VGA quality. The primary camera offers a 3 MP resolution instead, but there isn’t a shutter button, so the software for the camera has to be loaded in order to uswe it. It comes with GPS, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi support, however, so connecting to a preferred network is easy enough to do.

The Samsung Exhibit 4G also allows you to set up a complete accounts system so that you can share to virtually any network. It’s possible to merge all of your online email accounts into this one notification system. Sync all of your contacts and your calendars together from these accounts as well so that you have an all-in-one contact system. Users will be able to even access their Twitter and Facebook accounts directly and even upload to services to Flickr.

These features are nice, but the syncing or importing of contacts into the Exhibit can sometimes be a frustrating process. Information errors happen frequently during the process, which requires a manual correct to the contact listing. In some ways, it may be easier to just input each contact directly since each contact needs to be manually checked to see if it is accurate.

Beyond that, users have the opportunity to access the full suite of Google apps and services that a smartphone should have. Google Maps with voice navigational directions is the highlight of these features, but Talk, Places, and YouTube also come pre-installed. The Exhibit puts users into the Android marketplace and the included music player is pretty standard, but does it’s job fairly well.

Could the Exhibit Come With Too Many Apps?

With the available storage, users are only going to get about 1 GB of workable space on their phone for downloads, apps, and images they wish to share. Many of the apps that come with the Samsung Exhibit 4G can’t be uninstalled either, which could be problematic for some users. Some of the apps, like Skype, are nice and useful. There are some TV and movie streaming options available as well, while AllShare allows users to share multimedia onto DLNA devices. The camera is a little problematic during video calls, but it works fine enough.

The cameras and camcorder features are standard. Timers, white balancing, and exposure tools are all included to help tinker with the perfect shot. Indoor pictures are taken fairly easily with this smartphone, but action images are very difficult to capture. Images that are in the indoors tend to look a little dull and muted, but it’s still better than not having a camera at all.

The replay of video on the Exhibit is nice and smooth. Although there isn’t image stabilization on the recording tools, users will find that they can walk and take videos without having the bouncy, jerking motions that typically come with a mobile camera. The volume is rather authentic without all of the background white noise and the colors are pretty good. This smartphone also allows uses to export their videos through email or to their preferred social network.

How Good Is the Call Quality?

Equipped with a quad-band design, the call quality on the Exhibit is above average. Voices tend to sound just a bit hollow over the phone and sounds from the background can be heard around the voice connection. Volume levels are good and can be adjusted. The loudspeaker conversations are equally as good, although it tends to mute the voice inputs that are sent from the Exhibit. Most connections are strong, don’t have interference, and the virtual keypad is easy enough to access and use.

The 4G speeds are definitely evident when using the exhibit. Although the Exhibit is capable of downloads speeds of up to 21 Mbps, much of the actual user experience depends on the local connections that are offered. The average user will typically see speeds that are about 30% of the stated capabilities of the phone. The primary benefit for the 4G connection comes from internet browsing, however, as it allows users the capability of downloading full websites instead of just the mobile friendly options.

The Samsung Exhibit 4G comes equipped with a lithium-ion 1500 mAh battery that’s rated for around 6 hous of talk time, but using data shrinks this time dramatically. Most users will find that they’ll need to charge this phone once per day.

It is a little difficult to use this phone with just one hand. Part of that is because of how smooth the phone is along the back. There’s really no straight edges to the design of the phone, so the natural tendency of it is to slip out of the hand.

What Is the Verdict on the Samsung Exhibit 4G?

For those who want a 4G phone and like the Android platform, the Samsung Exhibit 4G offers a tempting proposition. Although it is far from a premium smartphone, it does have enough strength in its hardware to provide a reasonably good user experience. The reduced screen size compared to other smartphones could be problematic to some users and the camera lag times could be an issue for those who love mobile photography, but overall this phone as the goods to meet most needs.

Any complaints for this phone are relatively minor. It’s an inexpensive smartphone that connects to virtually all business or social networks, offers video chat functionality, and has a good responsiveness outside of the shutter functioning on the camera. Heavy data consumers will want to bring along a backup battery pack or their charger so their phone won’t die on them, but otherwise the Samsung Exhibit 4G is a solid, budget-friendly phone that is definitely worth a consideration.

There are a lot of mobile phones that are rich with features. There are even some mobile phones that come pretty close to being a smartphone. The Samsung E3210 fits into that second category thanks to it’s sleek bar design, tactile keyboard with nicely sized command and call buttons, and the suite of features that are included out-of-the-box. It is priced slightly above the budget category because of all its features, but rest assured that there is plenty of user value to be found for the increased investment. This might just be the best compromise between a smartphone and a feature phone that can be found today.

The Samsung E3210 Is a Sophisticated Mobile Phone

The first impressions of the Samsung E3210 are good ones. It all begins with the black case that has some silver accent lining that gives it a nice visual appeal. The silver highlights are brought into the keypad/command area of the phone as well, giving users a mobile phone that offers ergonomic comforts while providing several upgraded features that will allow everyone to stay connected in virtually any way they prefer.

Unlike other feature phones, the Samsung E3210 is supported by HSDPA so that there are faster download speeds for files and better overall conversation connections. Users will be able to setup a native SNS as well so they can stay in touch with all of their social networks as well. Business users will love the fact that they can link their business email to their phone so they can be productive while traveling should they want to be.

All users will love the integration of the instant messaging as well. There are multiple IM services that are compatible with this feature phone, so as long as users already have an account in place, it’s a simple process to get the phone linked in and messaging started.

The one negative here: the Samsung E3120 doesn’t always install .jar files properly. The files that it will install are not always executed properly either.

What About the Additional Features of the Samsung E3210?

Users can access all of their installed features through the 2 inch TFT display that has 256k colors to it. With a 102 PPI density, however, the images on this phone are far from crisp. It’s enough to get the job done and view some photographs that have been taken through the VGA camera that comes standard. Users will also be able to record videos at VGA resolution if there are specific moments that need to be relived.

The highlight of the additional features has to be the stereo FM radio. The antenna is included within the base of the phone and the signal plays through the phone’s equipped loudspeaker. FM recording is also available and these recordings can be assigned as a ringtone. If you’ve downloaded MP3 files, these can also be assigned as ringtones if desired.

With 36 MB of internal storage, so there isn’t a lot of spare room for extra files, but the phone can recognize up to 8 GB of external storage through the mSD slot. The WAP HTML browser makes it easy to access the mobile internet and games are available for some moments of down time when they come around. There are also downloadable games available for this phone through your preferred data provider.

The Samsung E3210 also supports Opera Mini if users want to get away from the pre-installed browser and this allows for music downloads that can happen directly through the phone instead of through file transfers. If your data plan gives you access to online streaming television, then this phone is capable of showing that broadcast, albeit at the VGA resolution. A 1 year warranty protects your investment.

What About the Battery Life on the Samsung E3210?

The battery on the Samsung E3210 is a lithium-ion 800 mAh battery that offers users about 8 hours of talk time – if they stay on a 2G connection. For those who prefer to use 3G networks, talk time is rated at just 3.5 hours. Standby times reach 550 hours, but are cut by 40% when connected to a 3G network. Accessing data through this phone will increase the battery drainage as well.

It comes equipped with Bluetooth and with a mUSB connection, so file transfers are a pretty simple process. It isn’t GPS equipped, however, so there are some limitations to what this feature phone is able to do. To round out the features, there is the typical organizer, calculator, and other standard features that will keep life structured. Accessing the features is easy enough to do with the keypad commands and the phone responds quickly to each command it is given.

Interestingly enough, even though it connects to a 3G network, the internal clock doesn’t always get updated when connected to a cellular or data signal. This is definitely something to watch if you decide to make this phone your own.

What Is the Verdict on the Samsung E3210?

The one knock on the Samsung E3210 is that it can be very sensitive to moisture and this may cause the phone to malfunction. Moisture tends to enter through the mUSB port and even just the sweat from a person’s hands can be enough to begin the oxidizing process of the internal components. The end result is a phone that requests to be plugged into its charger around the clock and will beep at users until this gets done.

For those that are on a budget and need a feature phone that does more than talk and text, then the Samsung E3210 brings a comprehensive package that needs to be considered. It isn’t going to replace a smartphone and there may be a couple of issues that come up while using the phone for some users, but the overall result is a nice looking feature phone at an even nicer price. If that’s you’re need, then this is definitely a phone to consider today.

If you’re looking for a second phone that is reliable, not bulky, and has a good battery life, then you might just be looking for the Samsung E1195. This compact phone offers a light folio design that flips up nicely and offers a CSTN display that gets the job done. Some users might be disappointed by the fact that this mobile phone doesn’t offer access to a 3G network, but for those who are looking to have pay as you go options and the flexibility to insert your own SIM card to work with your existing plan, then this is the phone for you.

The Samsung E1195 Is the Epitome of a Value Phone

Although the features on the Samsung E1195 are pretty light, there are some useful items that are included that you won’t find on every value phone. The highlight for most users is going to be the FM radio, which offers a reasonably good reception and decent audio. Sometimes the audio sounds like some of the old AM radios from the 1950’s, but any multimedia options on a budget-level phone are better than no options at all.

Samsung has also equipped this phone with a surprisingly useful fake call feature. If you’re tired of being in a meeting or you just want to extract yourself from an unwanted conversation, then the fake call feature can be activated and this will give you an excuse to “take” the call that is coming in. There is also the standard suite of pre-installed features that you’ll be able to find on the average feature phone, such as a calendar and a calculator.

There is also a lot that is missing on this phone. There is no data connection associated with the Samsung E1195. What you see is what you’re going to get. It’s a basic phone that makes calls and can send texts and it works just fine for that. You won’t be able to connect any Bluetooth devices to the phone either, so there isn’t any file sharing that is going to happen. For users who were hoping to setup an email connection, this isn’t the phone for you. There isn’t even a camera, nor is there the ability to send multimedia messages.

The Navigation Menus Are a Bit Tricky

Although users can get through the menu options to be able to change ringtones and customize their phone in a few other ways, getting through the menus can be a bit of a tricky process. The phone can sometimes be a little oversensitive when pressing button commands and this may take users to different menu options than anticipated. Pressing the keypad too firmly can also result in multiple numbers being dialed instead of one.

The location of some of the customization features is also a bit unusual on the Samsung E1195. To change the ringtones, for example, users will need to go into their settings menu to access their profile From there, where they’d change the type of ringtone that is heard, such as vibration or silent, the actual tones must be selected in order for them to be changed. The selections of different ringtones are a little limited and users can’t assign MP3 files in any way, but it doesn’t give this budget phone some extra personality when others can’t make that happen.

The buttons themselves are nicely designed, although they are relatively flat in nature. The round confirmation button in the upper center of the keypad works nicely with most fingers and the call acceptance or conversation ending buttons are nicely placed, but some users may find it easy enough to have a finger accidentally slide onto the wrong button while attempting to navigate, text, or dial.

Why Is the Screen So Difficult to Access?

This flip phone has a 128×128 screen that is used for text reading and some basic graphics that can be displayed, but the 127 PPI makes any motion a blur. It’s also a little difficult to read texts under certain lighting conditions and the brightness of the white background can become quickly bothersome if the brightness settings are turned up all the way.

Although the Samsung E1195 comes equipped with just a 800 mAh lithium-ion battery, the talk time exceeds 8 hours under most circumstances, which means the average user will get about 2 days of life out of their phone before it needs to be charged again. Standby battery life exceeds 600 hours in case you happen to misplace your phone.

The call records are a little hampered by the lower levels of internal storage that are included on this mobile phone. You can keep track of 20 missed calls, 20 received calls, and 20 dialed calls at most. This is due to the 8 MB of internal storage. Your phonebook can receive up to 1,000 entries, however, and at just 71g in weight, there isn’t any user fatigue that will creep up one someone who needs to have an extended conversation.

Is the Samsung E1195 the Right Phone For You?

If you have the need to call and text with a phone and don’t need any other features, then the Samsung E1195 is a good phone to consider. It’s perfect for kids because it allows for texting and phone calls without access to data that some parents might be hesitant to offer. Because it accepts mini-SIM cards, the transfer of data is easy with this phone. Just copy all of your contacts onto the SIM card of a previous Android phone and then install the SIM card into the E1195.

For those who want to have the classic smartphone experience, the Samsung E1195 is about as far away from that as a phone can get. It provides basic functions, but does so reliably. Featuring a strong battery life and a couple of useful features to supplement the experience, this is the perfect first phone, backup phone, or no frills basic phone that users may need to fulfill their communication needs.

If you’re looking for a solid mobile phone that is rich in features, but doesn’t have the costs of a smartphone associated with it, then you might just want to take a look at the Samsung E1170. This phone offers users a lot of interesting extras and an amazing battery life, but there are some weaknesses as well. The screen on this phone is comparatively small to other feature phones, there isn’t any 3G or GPRS access, and there isn’t a camera on the phone.

Why Choose the Samsung E1170?

This is the perfect mobile phone for someone who is looking for a device that isn’t necessarily big on features, but is big on value. Although this phone isn’t going to dominate the market and will only be popular with a niche audience, there is no denying that it does have some attractive features to it – as long as you don’t want to send photos to anyone or access the mobile internet for some reason.

1. A fake incoming call feature allows users to be able to extract themselves from a long, ongoing conversation… or perhaps one that is not wanted in the first place.

2. The mobile tracker feature will let you be able to program your phone to send new SIM data to users of your choice so that a handset can be traced, although stealing a phone at this price point seems a little silly.

3. The black casing on the Samsung E1170 offers users a solid grip and the keypad is about as responsive as you’d expect and will stand up to regular use.

The battery on the E1170 is a 1000 mAh battery, so although it seems like the phone would be underpowered, it really isn’t because there isn’t any access to data. You can play the included game for hours on end and still be able to have a sustainable charge for the next day of use with this phone. It recharges in just a couple of hours as well, so even when the battery gets critically low, it won’t take you long to become mobile once again.
The buttons are also nicely placed and in the standard feature phone configuration that Samsung has created. Your call acceptance buttons are placed just about the keypad and the central navigation selection button is large enough to provide a good tactile experience. The keypad buttons are a little small, but the phone itself is a little small, so that is expected. Fingers might slide off the start or end buttons to the navigation buttons with the sloped design, but that’s a small complaint for a rather well designed little phone.

There Are No Entertainment Features on the Samsung E1170

The one place where people might be turned away from this value phone is in the fact that there is very little entertainment value installed on it. There’s one game, called Super Jewel Quest, that comes standard with the phone. You can potentially download other games from your mobile provider if they have made them available, but is not a guarantee. There is no ability for the Samsung E1170 to play any sort of media files.

Users will also find the suite of regular features that come with most cell phones today. A stopwatch, a flashlight, a currency converter, and a calculator are all pre-installed. The flashlight, however, just turns on the screen of the phone to provide some illumination. You’d get the same effect by accessing the menu screen and setting the phone up so it doesn’t turn off after a certain amount of time.

The Samsung E1170 Is a Humble Phone

If anything, the Samsung E1170 is a reminder of what cell phones used to be before smartphone technology was introduced to the world. If you’re on a budget, this phone will make the phone calls that you need or allow you to send some texts, but that’s about it. The 128×128 screen is fine enough for reading and sending texts, but the wall graphics are a little outdated and don’t look very good. It’s probably a good thing that this phone doesn’t include the ability to display photographs.

Budget phones need to have options stripped to make them budget friendly, so the obvious omission from this particular cell phone is a camera. There’s no Bluetooth connectivity included either, so users are unable to transfer any files to or from this phone. There’s just 16 MB of onboard memory included, so there isn’t a lot of space for any additional downloads or ringtones even if it were possible to receive them.

The one issue that users are going to find with the screen is that the Hz of the screen on this phone is painfully low. As users brows through the various menu options, there is definite blur in the movement of the screen transitions. It’s bothersome enough that multiple menu navigation makes users want to look away from the phone. The colors are a bit faded as well, but this really is the only one real setback that comes with owning this particular phone.

Is This the Right Mobile Phone For You?

From a value standpoint, the Samsung E1170 hits the mark pretty effectively. It’s priced in a very tempting range and offers a pretty sturdy operating experience that will serve most needs. Although there aren’t a lot of features included with this phone, the ones that are included are remarkably useful. The different ringtones are a little annoying, but those who need a mobile phone and are strapped for cash will find that the price is nice with this phone.

It isn’t going to provide a lot, but it will help you make calls and send texts to stay connected. The Samsung E1170 is a good work phone, perfect for the novice user, or someone that just wants an affordable emergency phone that can be tucked into a pocket when you’re in a hurry.

The Samsung E1120 isn’t what you’d call a smartphone. Some might even struggle to call a feature phone. It works on the Edge network and give users some access to limited data, but overall, this phone is more for calling and texting above anything else. If you’re looking for a simple phone for basic connectivity, then you’ll want to give this phone a look since it’ll have a few additional features that will take the texting experience to slightly higher levels.

The price point of the Samsung E1120 is often its most attractive feature. Some phones that have budget-friendly prices wind up being made from cheap, fragile materials. Does the E1120 stand up to user tests? Or does it fail to make the grade?

What Do the Specs of the Samsung E1120 Look Like?

Overall the E1120 provides a small, compact user experience that many people are going to like. It’s only 4.7 inches in length, 1.7 inches wide, and just under 0.6 inches in thickness. It feels nice in the hand and provides a lightweight carrying experience that users are really going to love. The average battery life for the phone is 11 hours of standard talk time, but a minimum of 8 hours can usually be achieved, even when heavy texting use. The 800 mAh battery provides up to 3 weeks of standby time as well.

The phone is as lightweight as it is small. Weighing just 66g, it’s one of the lightest phones that you’re going to find on the market anywhere. The screen size is equally small, which isn’t surprising considering the small size of the phone, and measures just 1.5 inches in size. It offers a 128×128 experience for users with a pixel density of 119 PPI for some limited gaming solutions for those moments of free time that you may end up having.

The screen makes up just 16% of the overall phone size, which means the buttons of the phone are nice and large. It utilizes the T9 method of texting, which may or may not be an advantage depending on your personal perspective, but the finger placement on each number is nice and solid. The call acceptance and call ending buttons are in a good spot above the numbers and the navigation buttons are centrally located for user convenience.

Who Benefits From Owning the Samsung E1120?

The mobile phone is the epitome of a no frills phone. It is perfect for those who want to have a basic phone that can help them contact someone when there is a need. It works great as an emergency phone that you can throw into a vehicle, a first cell phone for the kids, or for someone who just wants a phone that is simple to use.

Users who are on a Pay As You Go type of plan are really going to love this phone. It provides a great value because the calls are crisp and clear, while the number buttons provide a nice tactile response when pressed. It’s simple and effective, but in return, it can be a little difficult to read the messages that are received because of the smaller screen size.

When you get into the menu features of the Samsung E1120, there are a few additional benefits that can be found as well. It offers a simple calendar for scheduling, an alarm clock, and has basic memo that will help you access the information you need.

There Are Some Disadvantages to the Samsung E1120

For users who want an experience that is similar to a smartphone, the E1120 is going to fall far short. First of all, there isn’t a rear camera that can be used on the phone. It’s just a standard phone that you’re going to take along with you. You can access a limited browser, access your voicemail, but you cannot assign specific ring tones to certain numbers like most other phones. From the average user’s perspective, the advanced features of a modern phone just aren’t there with this Samsung model.

There isn’t a way for users to expand the memory of the phone either. It lacks a mSD slot for storage options, but in Samsung’s view, it probably isn’t really needed considering the limitations of the phone. It doesn’t have an email client or even a 3.5mm headphone jack either. An ambient light sensor being included would have helped with the automatic screen brightness as well.

The most awkward component of the Samsung E1120 is the fact that the number assignments are inconsistent across the different menu functions within the phone. As you’re navigating about, sometimes the command to delete an item comes from the “3” key, while others require it to be the “4” key.

The bottom line is this: it has slow data, which means you will have slow mobile browsing and download speeds. It isn’t going to give you much data access. It will, however, give you smooth connections for talk and text that some users are going to want in a small, compact package that is highly affordable.

What Is the User Feedback On This Phone?

In examining authentic customer reviews online for the Samsung E1120, this phone has higher than average scores. There are some positive and negative reviews that can be found on a number of independent websites. Here is just a sampling of some of the customer reviews that sum up the experience of using this particular mobile phone.

What are the positive customer reviews of the E1120?

• A good basic phone for making and receiving calls and texts.
• Phone is nice and small and very simple.
• I love the phone as its cheap and just what I need to receive and make phone calls – as well as texting. Easy to use.
• Nothing to drain the battery. It’s just a phone.
• The E1120 is cheap, small, and compact.
• I have found nothing negative with the phone.

What are the negative customer reviews of the E1120?

• I found the instructions weren’t very clear and there are not many sounds for calls.
• It’s very easy to clear whole text when, in fact, you want to just correct something.
• Quality is not great. Doesn’t feel or look very well made and seems flimsy.
• Very few features and information booklet that was supplied is just a sheet of A4 and doesn’t really explain all the features.

The Samsung E1120 ranks the highest in value for the money. On a scale of 10, many consumer review websites give this phone an average score of 9. On the other end of the spectrum, the features scoring is about 50% less than the top scores for value. Ease of use, battery life, and the design of the phone are all comparatively scored.

The only reason why the features category scores as high as it does is because people who are satisfied with the basic talk and text functions of the phone rank it in the 9/10 or 10/10 range on their review. If those rankings are eliminated from the equation, the review average drops from a 5/10 to below 2.8/10, which provides evidence of just how basic this phone really happens to be.

The one thing that all users have stated about this phone is that it would score much higher if a camera had been included with it. For the price, however, that’s a sacrifice that some consumers are willing to make because they don’t take many mobile photographs anyway. It’s simple, does the job it needs to do, and does it without complaint.

What the Verdict on the Samsung E1120?

This is a solid, basic mobile phone if you just wish to make calls and texts. Because it doesn’t have a camera or other energy wasters, the battery life on the Samsung E1120 is pretty outstanding and texting is easy to do, but those are the two primary benefits. Users who want more than just a basic phone are not going to enjoy owning this one. It provides a lot of value for those with basic needs because it is highly affordable and has a long life span.

The proprietary operating system that Samsung has provided does its job. Navigating through the menus is a pretty basic experience and for the most part familiar, but there are a few inconsistencies that make actually using the menu functions a little difficult at times.

With three choices of wallpaper, but just one ring tone from which to choose, users have to weigh the Samsung E1120’s ease of use with its overall limitations. Providing basic functions for an incredibly affordable price, this mobile phone makes a good secondary phone as a backup if your primary phone has stopped functioning for some reason. That’s why someone with a need for no frills communication will love this lightweight little phone, but most other people will not.

The Samsung E1107, nicknamed the “Solar Guru,” is one of the more unique phones that is on the market today. Even though it was introduced in 2009, the solar technology that helps to keep this phone charged is still innovative enough to help users be able to reduce their carbon footprint on the environment in little ways. There are some definite advantages and disadvantages to using a phone like this, so let’s see what the user experience happens to be with the Samsung E1107.

This Is a Phone That Is Relatively Bulky

If you took the Apple iPhone 6 and put it up next to the Samsung E1107, you’d be able to stack two iPhones on top of each other and the Solar Guru would still be thicker than that. The problem here is that the solar panel requires a certain amount of size in order to work. Don’t let the bulkiness of the unit in size fool you into thinking that it is heavy, however, because the Solar Guru weighs in at just 77 grams. It’s very easy to take this mobile phone with you just about anywhere.

The display on the Samsung E1107 is about what you’ll find on all of this class of phones that Samsung produced in this era. It has a CSTN display that offers users a 1.5 inch area for reading texts, composing them, and accessing menu options. The 128×128 pixel resolution is supplemented with 65k colors for a reasonable overall experience. It isn’t a smartphone, so comparing it to a smartphone screen would be impractical.

The nice feature of the Solar Guru is that the keypad is nice and large. It’s well spaced out and the keypads is soft and responsive, which is something that can’t always be said with phones that have an entry-level price point. It also has a 5 way navigation pad that helps to get users through the various menu screens quickly and easily. On the negative side of the experience is the proprietary charger that feeds through an all-in-one port.

How Is the Overall User Experience?

This is where weighing the pros and cons of the Samsung E1107 really come into play. The overall user experience really depends on what specific needs must be met by a mobile device. Here are some of the specific pros and cons to consider when thinking about the purchase of the Solar Guru.

The Pros of the Solar Guru

• It comes equipped with an FM radio so that media can be heard. The reception is pretty average and it will allow users to get most stations within their area. A favorites section allows for station programming.
• There are a couple of games included with the phone’s operating system, including a time consuming Sudoku game.
• The interface is familiar, with icons clearly depicted, and there are reasonably large fonts on the screen that make it easy enough to see what is going on, even though there’s just 1.5 inches of space with which to work.
• There are security features included with the phone which allow for the setting of Fixed Dialed Numbers with coding so that only certain numbers can be dialed from the handset.

In addition to these specifics, the E1107 also has some regional advantages. Some phones have been equipped with regional prayer applications. There is also a stopwatch, an alarm clock, and a calculator included in the menus.

The Cons of the Solar Guru

• The volume of the incoming conversation is remarkably inconsistent. Users are going to find the need to keep a finger on the volume controls with this phone so they don’t wind up blowing out an ear drum while talking with a loved one.
• The solar panel doesn’t charge under lights like the information claims that it can. It may indicate that it has received sunlight, but it the charging is minimal at best. There’s also no way to really determine how much charging in the sunlight is going on at any given moment.
• On a full charge, users are going to get about 5 hours of talk time at maximum, which means there’s a good possibility that the phone will need to be charged at some point throughout the day.

Samsung has also included Mobile Tracker 2.0 technology on the E1107 in case someone happens to steal the phone or users happen to lose it somewhere. Although the cost is low enough that the average person would probably just purchase a new phone, having the chance to recover a lost phone may sometimes be nice to have.

What the Verdict on the Samsung E1107?

For a mobile phone that comes at an entry level price, there is a lot of value that can be seen with the Samsung E1107. It has a few basic features that make it a tempting target for users who are looking to reduce their consumption of fossil fuels while having a phone that can realistically get charged up anywhere there is some sunlight on its solar panels

What would improve this phone dramatically would be a camera. It does have a hands-free proprietary connector, but that’s the extend of the features it contains. There is no Bluetooth connectivity, no USB connections, no GPS functionality, and no chance of connecting the phone to Wi-Fi. The one media feature it does have, the FM radio, is a nice enough addition to a basic, no frills type of phone.

For those who are looking at the entry level segment and want a basic mobile phone that can help them connect through talk or text, then the Samsung E1107 is a nice phone to have. It’s especially useful in communities or places around the world where access to electricity may be sporadic at best. In return, users will be able to receive a phone that can meet their basic needs for a very fair price.