This is one of “those” phones. I’ve heard about it from a lot of my friends. This is a phon
e that costs more money. And that is true. This is a multimedia phone from Verizon Wireless requiring a $9.99 monthly fee for data usage. While it is more money per month, the phone is going to do more than the standard phone.
Staying power
I received this phone two weeks ago, it was a Wednesday. I turned it on that very day. I didn’t get around to using it for a few days, but when I did, I was surprised it was nearly fully charged. Cool. Then, 12 days later, I heard this small chirping noise in my phone. I tracked it down for a few minutes before realizing that it was the Samsung Reality, finally crying out to be plugged in.
Granted I didn’t use this phone all day, every day for calls and texts, but 12 days of standby time is certainly impressive. Sometimes my smartphone strugglines to make it through the day.
Reach out and touch it
The Samsung Reality has a touch screen front that can be navigated with the slide of a finger, yet offers a slide out QWERTY keyboard that makes texting and messaging easy.
The phone is compact and sleek. It packs a lot into a little body. Because it’s a touchscreen, the main screen takes up most of the length of the phone. The display is the perfect size for making phone calls, sending texts and playing games.
More than meets the eye
While this phone probably isn’t going to be your primary source for web browsing, it can do more than I originally thought.
There are applications to allow it to sync to e-mail like Gmail, Yahoo and Hotmail as well as corporate e-mail. The Bing search engine provides access to the mobile web. VZ Navigator can help get you from place to place. And using the Verizon Media Store, the user can download a variety of applications, ringtones, ringback tones, games and music.
The phone also has HTML web browsing. While out in about, I was able to look up phone numbers and addresses of business, browse my favorite news site and look up traffic information.
A camera, calendar and one-touch access to Facebook, MySpace and YouTube round out some of the very useful features on this little phone.
Purse Test
All the mommies want to know, how does it hold up in my purse. This phone, while a touch screen, held up well in my purse. The screen automatically locks so there is no worry about purse-dialing. The screen is tough and didn’t get scratched or scuffed up in my purse.
This phone spans the generations. It’s a great phone for teens who want to stay connected to their social media circle, as well as working adults or college students who want to use it to organize their schedules and check e-mail on the go.
The tech specs for those who want them:
- 3.2 Megapixel Camera and Camcorder
- Dedicated Camera/Camcorder Key
- Digital Zoom: up to 9 step, depending on resolution adjustment
- Music Player for: MP3, WMA, Unprotected AAC and AAC+ formats
- Up to 16GB of optional removable memory
- V CAST Music with Rhapsody® (Subscription, Wireless and PC Downloads)
- Skype Mobile™Capable
- HTML Web Browsing Capable
- Bing search
- V CAST Video Capable
- Mobile Email, Corporate Email, Mobile Web Mail, Mobile IM, and Chat Capable
- Media Center: Download Games, Ringtones & More
- Text, Picture, Video and Voice Messaging with Threaded Messaging feature
- VZ Navigatorsm Capable
- Personal Organizer: Calendar with Scheduler, Note Pad, Sketch Pad
- Tools: Alarm Clock, World Clock, Calculator (Normal, Tip, Converter), Stop Watch, Timer, USB Mass Storage, File Viewer
- Phonebook with up to 1000 Entries with multiple contacts
- In Case of Emergency Contacts
- Embedded Ringtones, Vibrating alerts & Silent
- Speed Dialing
- Advanced Speech Recognition
- Speakerphone
- 3.5mm Headset Jack
- Usage Time: Up to 300 minutes with standard battery OR
- Standby Time: Up to 300 hours with standard battery
Disclaimer-Verizon Wireless provided me with the Samsung Reality to review, but the opinions herein are my own.
