Samsung Juke Cell Phone Review - Making/Receiving Calls
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Mark Brezinski Published on November 05, 2007 Comment on this |
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Dialing Speed (7.58)
In our dialing speed test, we begin with the phone in a closed, unlocked position, and end when the send button is hit. We perform a group of trials using different numbers in order to better approximate a user's experience.
The Juke is able to establish an outgoing call in an average of 2.64 seconds. This is quite fast. The spin-open form factor, while a bit gimmicky, is slightly quicker than a traditional flip phone. Also, we like the keypad. The buttons are big enough to ensure accuracy, but not so big that the travel time between them negatively affects dialing time. Also, while the keys didn't have much travel, they provided a good amount of tactile response, so we definitely knew when we were hitting a key. Calling with the Juke should be relatively easy.
| Cell Phone | Time (sec) | Score |
| Samsung Juke | 2.64 | 7.58 |
| LG Chocolate Vx8550 | 2.96 | 6.76 |
| Sony Ericsson W580i | 3.66 | 5.46 |
| Razr2 V9m | 3.48 | 5.75 |
| Samsung Blast | 3.36 | 5.95 |
| Apple iPhone | 3.96 | 5.05 |
Talk and End Buttons (6.0)
The talk and end buttons on the Juke are located in the bottom corners of their small array. The raised lip below them makes them very easy to identify by touch; all you have to do is run your finger along the outcrop until it ends. These keys don't have the best travel, but they do have a nice snap when you've pressed them.
Call Management (5.0)
The Juke keeps a folder for recent calls, which contains subsections for missed, received, and dialed calls, as well as a log of all calls. Additionally, you can choose to view various call and data timers that can be reset. Calls are sorted by time, and each list entry contains the call's number and date, as well as a small icon for incoming/outgoing/missed. Clicking on a list entry essentially states the same information, along with the total length of the call.
When the incoming call dialogue appears, there are two initial soft key options: quiet and ignore. If the phone is closed, the previous two items appear in a list followed by a third, "answer(speaker)," which answers the call and turns on speaker phone. If you want to pick up the call, you'll need to hit the send key; end is a shortcut for ignore. If the phone is closed, you have one additional option: answer with speaker phone.
In a call, the soft keys reset to mute and options. The Options menu gives you access to the Main menu, but also shortcuts for commonly used applications such as messaging, your contact list, recent calls, the notepad, and voice recording. There is also a Whisper mode, which boosts the sensitivity of the microphone so you can whisper and still be heard. The Juke can't perform three-way calling or conferencing. Call waiting is a bit unintuitive, as there are no on-screen reminders for how to switch between calls, or even who you're currently talking to. We would've liked on-screen confirmation of who we were currently speaking to, just to avoid potentially awkward mix-ups.
Startup to Call (8.40)
Our startup to call test is basically the same as our dialing speed test, only we start with the phone closed and turned completely off. We again use multiple numbers and average our results. The Juke is able to complete this test in about 11.9 seconds. Again, a fast time. This is mostly due to the phone's incredibly fast boot up time.
| Cell Phone | Time (sec) | Score |
| Samsung Juke | 11.90 | 8.40 |
| LG Chocolate Vx8550 | 22.37 | 4.47 |
| Sony Ericsson W580i | 19.42 | 5.15 |
| Razr2 V9m | 22.82 | 4.38 |
| Samsung Blast | 21.48 | 4.66 |
| Apple iPhone | 26.12 | 3.83 |
Ring Volume (8.58)
We test ring volume by holding the phone two inches away from a sound pressure meter and cycling through all its ringtones. At its loudest, the Juke measures 85.8 decibels. This is about average. It should be loud enough for you to hear in most circumstances, but you might want to keep an eye on it on a loud train ride.
| Cell Phone | Volume (decibels) | Score |
| Samsung Juke | 85.8 | 8.58 |
| LG Chocolate Vx8550 | 85.4 | 8.54 |
| Sony Ericsson W580i | 85.5 | 8.55 |
| Razr2 V9m | 85.7 | 8.57 |
| Samsung Blast | 85.5 | 8.55 |
| Apple iPhone | 84.9 | 8.49 |
Ringtone Customizability (0.0)
The Juke doesn't allow you to use your own music as ringtones. While this is not uncommon in entry-level phones, as a media-oriented device we would've liked to see this capability included.
Non-Audio Alerts (8.0)
The Juke's vibrate is on the weaker side of decent. We did feel it in our pockets, but it wasn't the most obvious sensation. In most scenarios, however, you should be fine. If it's in your bag or purse, you'll miss it, but that's the case with most phones, especially small ones; there jsut isn't enough weight to vibrate. When you have a call incoming, the entire screen is filled up with the notification, but it isn't particularly eye-catching. Granted, virtually nothing on the Juke's tiny screen could be considered eye-catching.
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