Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)Just a forewarning (this is a long, unedited review):
I am not a huge follower of phones, but I have been with the new 'at&t' [formerly 'Cingular'/'Pacific Bell Wireless' before the name change] almost since the beginning of the wireless service for the average consumer. I feel I have a good understanding of the provider's network, including its reception limitations and highlights.
I have been using many 'freebie' phones -- the Nokia 6190, 3360, and 6010... and various other free phones in between, which just so happen to mainly be Nokias -- so my observation of the Samsung A727 will be based on that incredible leap from those phones to this little slim-line device.Design:
The design is very attractive; though normally, I do not pay much attention to those details as much as I focus on what I require in a phone. However, you can tell the phone was built well (seems more streamlined and mesh rather than the older phones that allow you to switch covers to `customize') compared to what you could get for the same amount of money a few years back. It is obviously based on the trend of `razor' thin phones which could/could not be a good thing... so it means less external customization [which is fine by me].
The major thing to get used to is how thin this phone is - and I personally do not understand why anyone would want thinner (or why some reviewers envision this for the cell phone future). It feels like (if given the casing material didn't feel reinforced) it is thin enough to break if you put it in your back pocket... which I still think is possible, so I put it in my front ones. The A727's cousins (the `distant cousin' A707 and the `almost family' A717) defeat this problem by offering the same [or similar] technology as a flip phone.
I mentioned a little earlier than the phone's casing/shell feels like reinforced rubberized-grip plastic... or some sort of polymer that everyone (incl. the manufacturer) fails to mention. Whatever it is, the material seems more durable (by density and weight) than what you usually get on a phone if it's not aluminum-based -- but I won't know for sure until I drop it someday. I am almost certain the casing is mostly some form of plastic, since the battery lid is definitely plastic, and feels like the rest of the case; however I will update as soon as Samsung gets back to me about what it's made of [paragraph cut short until I get an update].
The TFT screen -- visible in daylight, which I can say some Motorola phones don't do -- is large, bright and crisp. However, you pay for it with smaller, streamlined buttons below it. Yes, as many other reviewers pointed out, these buttons have no grip to begin with - coupled with being very close together makes it hard to text or to dial a number correctly without having a mistake (and having to erase). It may take some getting used to, but there are more buttons on the front of this phone than I have ever seen on my `freebies'. Also, due to the phone's thinness and center of gravity, it may be hard to text with one hand until you learn to balance it in your fingers (hard to explain, but you'll understand if you try it out in stores). The buttons are definitely not friendly if you have fingernails at all... or even blind (no features to tell the buttons apart)... but maybe that's just my opinion.
Overall, the design of the phone is nice and pleasing, but it does require some getting used to. I can imagine that some people have already gotten over these hurdles if they have had other `razor' thin phones -- it is definitely a new thing to use a small `candy bar' design this thin though, so be prepared.Reception:
Well, the reception of this phone is mixed. However, I think this is due to how the phone works and how the new at&t wireless service works. I have not noticed it before, but this phone makes bad reception calls more evident (by artificially boosting the voice), but keeps the good reception calls clear. You will notice that there will be times that this phone switches from E (meaning a digital signal) to 3G (which I am sure is the high-speed, possibly satellite-based signal) and vice versa. Think of 3G to be a roaming feature (without the extra charges... I think) when it comes to calls... I found that talking in `E' mode meant I had usually good call quality and little to no time saying `huh?' or `what?' However, when the phone switched to `3G mode' signal, the voices became distorted and artificial... or even blurry.
The caveat to the above experience is that on `3G mode', I would have 2-3 bars of signal... and on `E mode', it usually meant I had full signal. If you go into the basement of some building or parking lot, you will most likely be in `3G mode.'
I am happen when my phone is in `E mode,' but somewhat displeased with `3G mode' -- I do not know what the cause of this is... but I feel it happens with other at&t phones, just that the older phones don't tell you what kind of signal you're using... so it could be more service than the phone itself. Please comment if you have witnessed this. However, the phone is very crisp when the reception is high, but artificial and blurry when the reception is low (if you live in an area that has good reception all around, then it will probably be excellent).
Side note: I find that I can text in places that normally would be considered `no signal' zones. Very handy for situations -- should try driving up to some remote places and seeing how well the signal holds.
I am pleased with the phone's reception as I live in the heart of the Bay Area. However, I do notice my calls to Sprint-based cell phones are less clear compared to my calls to Cingular/at&t, Verizon, and local lines.Features:
The phone comes with a 1.3 megapixel camera, which I suppose is cool, but unnecessary - good for emergency shots at high quality though (like a car accident or something you want to catch). Very easy and intuitive to use (the button on the right side of the phone is the camera button - just press and hold, then click for each shot). The quality of the pictures taken is quite high, so make sure you don't jitter too much if you want a good shot (the resolution of photos seem to be 1280 x 1024).
The MP3 player is unnecessary in my opinion -- and it seems to require special / separate headphones to make the sound quality higher (no full range... missing bass, some low tones, no mids, but retains the high notes). I guess it is nice to have an all-in-one phone, but I will continue to keep my MP3 player separate in case I run the cell phone battery out when I need it.
What I do like is the ability for microSD file transfer -- no need for a data cable when these little memory cards are so cheap and versatile unless you're looking to unlock or something. If you want a new ringtone, picture background, video, or game, you can download it and put it on the microSD and transfer to the phone - very handy feature... especially when these little memory cards are getting a) cheaper and b) larger.
The battery life is poor with the standard battery it comes with. I found 3.5 hours tops of talking time and probably 3 to 5 days of standby - less of each if you do massive amounts of texting. This probably can be alleviated by turning down the TFT screen lighting, but it turns down pretty instantly (2-3 seconds) if idle.
There aren't enough customization options in the phone's operating system. While you can change the format to mimic, say, a Nokia's menu... you only get to assign 4 buttons to certain pre-determined tasks (like opening up a blank text message). Though this is handy, I'd like to be able to customize all the buttons that are unnecessary to the phone (like the music button) to, say, profile selection... just in case I want to change ring profiles quickly during a meeting (which doesn't seem possible at the moment).
3G speed Internet... well... I haven't used it yet, but I'm sure it's nice (I've seen it with other phones). Probably difficult to use until you get the text-typing down.
Final note: there is no large amount lag in the operating system when switching menus or using memory intensive features (as with older phones of its kind). I like this because I remember older phones having such a lag that made it useless to make calls with.Conclusion:
In the end, the phone is nice looking, decent in features, and performs better than other phones in terms of reception and call quality-- but of course, you can always find a few faults in each category. However, the major things I look for in a phone is good reception and a phone design that fits in my hand comfortably as I do whatever tasks I need to do. All the other features are `nifty,' but unnecessary to me, so my star rating is based on those qualities.
I believe the quality of calls is very good compared with it's relatively lower SAR rating (radiation) of 1.05W/kg [head] compared to older generation phones and the first generation of slim phones which had close to the legal max (1.6W/kg in the U.S. and 2.0W/kg in the EU).
Here's a recap:
Pros:
-call quality is great for times of good signal
-screen is large, and still visible in daylight
-plastic casing feels reinforced / sturdy
-slim line fits easily in tight pockets
-operating system is intuitive
-`E mode' versus `3G mode' signal indicator is a plus
-little or no lag in the operating system
Cons:
-buttons are too close together / no grip / no strong physical features for `blind dialing'
-features are nice, but most are...Read more›
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Sporting a candybar design, the Samsung A727 offers a rich multimedia experience in an ultra-slim form factor. Its 3G high speed data capability makes it easy to stream, download and enjoy endless hours of music, videos, TV, radio and more. You'll be able to access such AT&T services, such as Mobile Music, Cellular Video, access to MobiTV and MobiRadio. It will also support AT&T's forthcoming Video Share service, which offers a one-way video stream during a mobile-to-mobile phone call. Currently the one of the slimmest 3G phones available from AT&T, the A727 measures just 0.35 inches thin (8.9mm) and weighs 2.82 ounces. It communicates over GSM/GPRS networks and offers global voice and data roaming in over 125 countries.
The A727's dual-band 3G connectivity (850 MHz, 1900 MHz) provides average download data speeds between 400 and 700 kilobits per second with bursts of more than 1 megabit through AT&T's HSDPA (High Speed Download Packet Access) network. With AT&T's MobiTV service, you can watch live television right on your cell phone, with content from such channels as MSNBC, CNBC, ABC News, FOX Sports, The Discovery Channel, and The Learning Channel.
And with the forthcoming Video Share service (to be fully available in the summer of 2007), you can send a live, one-way video stream to another compatible phone during a standard voice call. The service also allows you to switch the direction of the video stream during the same phone call. (Customers must be in an area served by the companyÕs 3G network and have a Video Share-enabled phone.)
AT&T's Mobile Music service features connectivity that allows you to use Napster or Yahoo! Music to purchase and load music onto your phone. You can also sign up to subscribe to XM Radio or MobiRadio digital radio for streaming music and news radio wherever you roam. And with an AT&T 3G phone, you can watch your favorite music videos anytime, anywhere.
The A727 has a bright color TFT display that offers a 220 x 176-pixel resolution (with 65K colors). It has a 30 MB internal flash memory, and is expandable via MicroSD memory cards. The 1.3-megapixel camera can capture images up to 1280 x 1024 pixels, and it also offers a 4x digital zoom, multi-shot capability, self-timer, and video capability. Other features include:
Mobile email capabilities and wireless internet access
SMS and MMS messaging, as well as connectivity to AOL, Windows Life, and Yahoo! instant messaging services
Headset jack and Bluetooth 2.0 connectivity for using a wireless communication headset
Holds 1000 alphanumeric entries with support for up to 40 digits, 16 characters
Last 20 incoming, outgoing and missed call logs
64-note polyphonic music tones/MP3 music tones
Personal organizer (Calendar, Calculator, Currency Converter, Tasks, Note)
Conference calling (1 + 5)
Vital Statistics The A727 weighs 2.82 ounces and measures 4.5 x 1.98 x 0.35 inches. Its rechargeable battery is rated at up to 4 hours of talk time, and up to 250 hours of standby time. It runs on the 850/900/1800/1900 GSM/GPRS/UMTS frequencies. The phone comes with a one year limited warranty.
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