Samsung Memoir Cell Phone Review - Intro
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Marianne Schultz Published on April 10, 2009 Comment on this |
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The Samsung Memoir is the first cell phone sold by a U.S. carrier with an 8-megapixel camera, combined with an auto-focus lens and Xenon flash, and we were dying to get our hands on one to test as soon as we first man-handled it at Mobile World Congress in February. T-Mobile granted our wish with a review unit and here's our review of this highly-anticipated camera phone. The Memoir's camera isn't the only thing to get excited about, however - it's got 3G connectivity on T-Mobile's network, GPS, and a large touchscreen with haptic feedback. It's now available from T-Mobile for $249 with a 2-year contract. The big question is whether the Memoir is good enough to make you ditch your digital camera, and our imaging tests revealed some outstanding results in some areas and just average results in others.
| Section | The Good | The Bad |
| Tour & Design | Smooth, retro combination of phone and camera | Port covers get annoying after a while |
| Audio Quality | Sound received artificially amplified across a wide range of frequencies |
Sound sent is much better |
| Imaging | Fantastic resolution | Video organization software is very basic |
| Making/Receiving Calls | Excellent vibrate mode customizability | No data timer to keep track of data use |
| Messaging | Creating an SMS/MMS is a piece of cake | No native email application |
| Organizer | All the basics are here | No syncing data with your computer |
| Multimedia | Music player widget gives easy access to playback controls | Video organization software is very basic |
| Software | More or less suited for a touchscreen interface | Less responsive than ideal |
| Battery Life | Talk time battery life better than manufacturer claims | Just average web browsing battery life |
| Connectivity | T-Mobile 3G goodness on board | No Wi-Fi. We are very disappointed. |
| Hardware | Excellent buttons all around | Proprietary connectors are the worst |
| Other Features | GPS that doesn't require a monthly fee! | GPS is slow to function |
| Value & Comparisons | Could do a decent job replacing your point-and-shoot camera | A bit pricey at $249 |
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