Hands-on with the Samsung i320

The Excalibur wasn't the only Windows Mobile 5.0 Smartphone, um, smartphone we smeared our greasy mitts on last night. We got a chance to play around with the Samsung i320 not long thereafter, and we have to say, it was a mighty underwhelming experience dovetailing off the HTC. The screen feels much more cramped and offset a little high, and the keyboard was a big disappointment; each key is angled up in the center, making for a very strange, uncomfortable tactile feedback situation going on there. And that space bar is, in fact, a mite small. Ok, we'll stop with this one, but be forewarned, don't bet on this BlackJack.

[phi Posted Sep 13th 2006 3:46PM]

any sign of the i600?

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 13th 2006 5:16PM]

wasn't the i320 officially replaced by the iminent i607 for American markets (per the cingular developr page)?? does the i607 have the same issues with the cramped/lofted screen and shitty keyboard?

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 13th 2006 7:29PM]

This is comming to Sprint Nextel in the fall. it's going to be sold next to the Moto Q and the Sam i830. Let's get it on!

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 13th 2006 8:12PM]

How does this compare to the HTC Excalibur (S620) sizewise?

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 15th 2006 6:18AM]

I have the i320 and I find it eminently useable. It is SO much smaller than any of the PPC/Symbian devices I've used recently (kJam, Jam, P990, N70) and the key board is just as useable for me, I took to it straight away. The screen is small, but so is the device. I guess you get one with the other.

The build quality is also light years ahead of anything HTC have produced. The only gripe I would have with it would be the battery life, but it lasts a day no problem and Samsung give you and extra battery and means to charge it so I have not had a problem with it yet.

I would like to see it compared to the i600 and the excaliber though.

All in all it is an excellent phone. I'm surprised you're so dismissive of it. Have you a new sponser in HTC?