Sprint Ambassador Program, Phase III
After a successful round of testing with the Samsung A920 device from Sprint during the first Sprint Ambassador Program, I was asked to re-enlist for Phase II of the Sprint Ambassador Program. This time, the Samsung Upstage (M620) was delivered. My initial reaction about the design was amazing. Slim, compact and a familiar iPod-like touchpad.
Pros:
The small form-factor and slick package of the Upstage is really great. Fits in any shirt or pants pocket and doesn’t bulge out.
The shiny black color is very attractive looking.
The weight and size of the phone definitely appeals to females with their tiny purses.
The large display on the small device is very easy to read.
The touchpad is a bit awkward, however once you adjust the sensitivity, it works pretty well for navigation.
Streaming video is quite good, but sometimes blocky when low signal strength, unsure if the player has a large enough buffer?
MicroSD slot is handy, but sideloading on Sprint is somewhat limited.
Bluetooth headset available is a nice feature
Sound quality is good for voice calls.
Using it as a data modem with my laptop when I travel has been a nice feature.
Cons:
The battery life is horrible. On standby, receiving a few calls, sending a few texts and it all goes dead in less than two days. Listening to music or playing games does not even last a day.
The double screen is sometimes a bit awkward, for example, WAP surfing on the big screen requires me to flip the phone and use the other side with the keypad for inputs.
Game playing using the touchpad is rather cumbersome, and lacks the tactile feel like pushing normal keys.
Recharging the phone requires removing the headphones or wired headset.
All in all, this device is more of a fashion accessory rather than a serious music player or data device. If I had the GSM-based version F300, perhaps I could bring this with me when I go out at night or even on the weekends, since the battery life will last long enough for an evening.