A Review: Is This the Right Moment for the Samsung Moment?

A modified, non-commercial version of the Samsung Moment will be offered by the OMVC Consumer Showcase in May. Samsung will also offer a new package of Mobile DTV access along with LG, by supplying the necessary tuners and chipsets to allow the mobile DTV access. With all the recent news about the Samsung Moment touchscreen smartphone offered by Sprint/Nextel, it makes you wonder what is so special about it, doe it not?Let us take a look at what it has to offer.

Brilliant, Colorful Display
First off, the Samsung Moment is a touchscreen smartphone. The display is a 3.5-inch AMOLED touchscreen with multitouch capabilities. It has a resolution of 480x320 pixels, which makes its capability of displaying up to 16 million colors an intensive experience, most will say it gives a much more intense experience than others do. After seeing it in person, I can say this is true. The colors seem brighter than others, making the apps-especially the vibrant colored ones-pop out more.

Considering the AMOLED display, this makes for some serious special effects. One of the great things about this phone is its "proximity sensor." This turns the display off if you are in the middle of a call, which helps save on the battery (that I always forget to charge!).

Bulkier than Needed, Acceptable Size Nonetheless
The size of the phone itself is a little larger than you would think than from looking at its pictures. Its actual size is 4.6 inches long by 2.34 inches wide and 0.63 inches deep and it does not fit in a pocket too well, either. It feels a little heavier than its rivals while in your hand, and at over 5 ounces, it is a noticeable difference. Nevertheless, it is still a nice sized phone and easy to get used to holding in a relatively short amount of time.

Hardly Noticeable Sluggishness
Its performance is another subject altogether. Considering I have used an Android based phone before, I noticed the difference in the way the phone was a little slower than would be usual. Sometimes, if the touchscreen is not touched hard enough, it drags in the time it takes to switch over. It does the same thing for the icons, although not as much.

Keyboard & Mouse: Concentration is a Must
The keyboard is a little different than others, with the OK button serving as a mouse for browsing. This "mouse' also acts like a touchpad when wanting to "click" on something. This is a unique Samsung particular action, which actually makes it difficult to use sometimes. Because of the double and triple action of the button, it is extra-sensitive and you could easily perform an action you don't want to if you are not careful. So, BE CAREFUL!

Other things I like about this phone is the way its keyboard slides out easily to display a nice, open physical keyboard. However, the buttons do not work as well as other phone keyboards, despite the "roomy interior." You certainly have to press much harder than you would on other phones. For example, the CLIQ has a keyboard almost as large as this one does, but the buttons work better. This just goes to show that bigger does not always mean better.

Biased? Almost, But Not Quite...
Now, because I am an Android and Google fan overall, in my opinion, anything from these two brands are superior to anything else. However, this is not exactly the case with the Moment. There are just some features I was hoping for that the Samsung does not have, for example the camera's editing features are lacking quite a bit. When I take Photos, I like to play with them, and here I cannot.

I Want a World Clock!
In addition, the things that serve me the best are not offered on this phone. One is the World Clock. Because I work with people from all around the world, I need to know what time it is in Germany, Australia and California, among other countries and states. Trying to figure out what time it is in any given time zone is a pain, and not having the World clock is a bigger pain.

I Want a Notepad!
The missing notepad is another feature that is sorely missed. I am obviously a writer, meaning I need something to write on at all times, just in case the most important thought to ever cross my pretty little brain appears, I can jot it down quickly. I do not always have a pen and paper with me and hardly ever lug around my laptop anymore, since I hurt my shoulder. Big mistake for not including the notepad, I might miss my one opportunity to write down my Nobel Peace Prize statement, and it would be lost forever.

Overall, a Good Moment with the Moment Smartphone
Oh well, I guess I cannot win with them all... Maybe one day I can get these two features, but not anytime soon, I am sure. Overall, I like this smartphone, and it serves me well. The battery lasts just long enough for me to remember to charge it and I can email who I want, when I want-and I do.

That said, I wish it would fit in my pocket a little better because I am not in the habit of walking around with a purse. It is a great phone if you can handle the quirks and it is available only from Sprint, so be prepared for some iffy customer service, otherwise I say go for it if you are considering a Samsung Moment!

Sprint: Samsung Moment Pricing and Plans