Samsung SPH-A900 is the Top Cell Phone Product Under $100.00

Samsung has done it again. As an "answer to" (I would rather say "improvement on") the Motorola RAZR, they have produced a mobile phone with all the styling and features I've come to expect from them, and have sacrificed nothing on quality and practicality.

Available to Sprint customers, the new Samsung SPH-A900, or just A900 as it is commonly called, is to date, the best phone I have owned. I have tried many other brands - including LG, Motorola, Nokia, Qualcomm, Sanyo and others - and still must profess that I come back to Samsung every time due the brand's quality, simplicity, and style.

Although it has all of the fun features most popular phones have these days (high-resolution digital camera with video, voicememo, music player, etc.), I think I can sum the phone up by highlighting some of the phone's more down-to-earth features.

1. Reception Quality - 4.5 out of 5 stars.
The reason I don't give the phone 5 stars, is because I have yet to find a phone that matches my old Samsung 3500 in reception strength. It was by far the best, and its antenna strength has not been duplicated since. The A900's antenna is however, in my opinion, one the strongest available today. The only time I've found a lack of reception is in basements, or in buildings with heavy steel roofs.

2. Battery Life - 4 out of 5 stars (in the slim phone category)
The slim phone distinction is important for the general reason that, bigger phones have bigger batteries, hence, longer charge life - and there is truly no substitute for size, when it comes to batteries with the same chemical composition.

For slim-line phones, this battery is not at the top of the list, but is very sufficient for most people's everyday needs. As long as you are not roaming, the battery should last several days on a charge (depending, of course, if you have the phone glued to your face or not). I use my phone fairly frequently and I end up charging it every two to three.

I do, of course, strongly recommend buying a car charger, regardless of which type of phone you decide to purchase. It's a huge convenience and besides, you just never know when you might really need it.

PS - When looking at a phone's advertised "Talk" and "Standby" times, take those numbers with a grain of salt. Those numbers are based on a very average usage. They are not a guarantee of exact reliability.

3. Easy Menu and Navigation - 5 out of 5 stars
Here is why I really love Samsung phones. Over the last decade, I have gotten to know many different types of phones and their respective user menus - through selling them at Best Buy and, of course, personal use.

Many brands have made it a slight task to become familiar with their menus and operating styles, while others have seriously frustrated me to the point where I refused to even recommend them to my customers. Even with the advent of more graphical/visual interfaces, a few brands have yet to seriously improve their accessibility to match that of Samsung.

Samsung is just easy to use. The keypad and the screen menus are, as always, extremely easy to navigate. Everything is clearly labeled, and there is never a question as to what does what.

Like most people, I hate to read manuals. Samsung more or less makes that an option, not a requirement. Samsung is truly a phone for everyone.

4. Durability - 5 out of 5 stars
Now please bear in mind that this assessment is no iron-clad guarantee that you won't be able to break this phone. I am just speaking from my own, personal experience. If you are looking for an abuse-friendly phone, you may want to look into one of those big, nearly bulletproof, harder-than-brick-phones they sell. Otherwise, I can safely say that the A900 is at the top of my list in terms of durability. I've dropped mine on pavement, in the dirt, and elsewhere, and it still works like new. I've even gotten mine slightly wet, and have had no problems (Keep in mind, slightly wet does not mean dropped in the toilet, or the pool. 95% of phones will say goodnight for good if they are submersed in any liquid for even a split second.).

As with most electronics, you need to use your best judgment and treat your phone with care. However, an occasional slip-up or accident will not have you heading back to the store to get a new phone.

In summary, the simplest way to say it is: The Samsung A900 truly is the best of all worlds. Quality, simplicity, style. This phone truly has it all.