Sprint Ambassador Program, Phase III

Sprint
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.
Sprint Upstage

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.