Samsung Epic 4G (Sprint)

The bad: The Samsung Epic 4G is a bulkiest on the Galaxy S handsets and as well your priciest. It likewise requires an expensive facts plan.

The underlying part line: The Samsung Epic 4G is really a media powerhouse by using features one other Galaxy S handsets really don't have. Unfortunately, the idea has a large price tag tag.

Editors' note, August 18, 2010: Upon further more analysis, we certainly have upgraded your rating with the Samsung Epic 4G in order to 8.7.

Portions on the user program segment were obtained from our review of that Samsung Vibrant considering that both mobile phones develop the TouchWiz user interface.

Out of all the handsets within the Samsung Galaxy S series, that Epic 4G affects people as the most desirable with regard to electrical power users. Like many Galaxy S phones, this Epic 4G has a substantial Super AMOLED contact screen, a 1GHz Hummingbird Cortex A8 processor, and also it provides access to Samsung's long term Media Hub store. The Epic 4G layers about a few alluring additional this its line friends do not have--such when a slide-out keyboard, a front-facing camera, a good LED flash, and the majority intriguing regarding all, the idea helps Sprint's nascent 4G WiMax network. The late feature can make it cost-free 4G cell phone from the U.S. after the HTC Evo 4G.

Perhaps your Epic 4G's most important downside is their price. At $249.99, it really is that most high-priced Galaxy S mobile phone of which Samsung makes, understanding that price is actually using a different two-year assistance deal and after a $100 mail-in rebate. As when using the Evo 4G, Sprint premiums a new compulsory $10 a month for their 4G data. According to be able to Sprint, the cost will be justifiable with the more products a person acquire to the price--4G speeds, infinite data, as well as the using them as a cell phone Wi-Fi hot spot, which costs one more $29.99 a month--but all of us imagine your add-on have to possibly be recommended since it has the 4G service just isn't available nationwide.

However, all of us think this Epic 4G really justifies its title as it has the layout and show set ensure it is the actual all-in-one powerhouse within the Galaxy S family.

Design
While it's not this sexiest in the Samsung Galaxy S models--that honor goes toward the actual Samsung Vibrant for T-Mobile--the Epic 4G seriously isn't a bad-looker either. Its spherical edges, curved corners, and also sleek charcoal floor give it a new streamlined as well as elegant glimpse that is definitely minimalist in addition to eye-catching. Yet, at 4.9 inches long by simply 2.54 inches huge by simply 0.56 long thick and 5.46 ounces, the particular Epic 4G is usually probably that SUV in the Galaxy S cell phones in addition to might be a good squeeze in a lot of pockets. Still, many of us treasure its heft seeing that them contributes to some decidedly strong plus resilient feel within the hand.

The Samsung Epic 4G carries a very amazing 4.0-inch Super AMOLED display.

The Epic 4G's 4.0-inch Super AMOLED present unquestionably awestruck us. It can showcase sixteen trillion colorings plus has a WVGA resolution, which usually allows the idea to help show attractive artwork and great searching video. The screen also offers a broader taking a look at angle and a greater contrast relation when compared with a traditional LCD. Thankfully, unlike more mature OLED displays, the particular Super AMOLED tv screen also seems to be great under well lit sunlight.

We discovered the touch-screen showcase to become quite responsive. It did not receive lengthy hard in order to apply for our taps, and flicking through menus as well as lists believed instinctive and second nature. If anyone like, the Epic 4G provides vibration and also appear results seeing that feel feedback, even though we failed to imagine that was necessary. The accelerometer kicked within really quickly, less than a second, to change that monitor orientation once we rotated that phone. We're furthermore glad this that Epic 4G has a proximity sensor, which transforms heli-copter flight screen when you support the cellular phone that will our ear after a call. As intended for input methods, you are able to use Swype as well as the standard Android virtual keyboard. Underneath this display are some touch-sensitive keys for your menu, home, back, in addition to search, which in turn are usually normal to get Android phones.

The Samsung Epic 4G could be the only Galaxy S cell phone using a natural keyboard.

While you may continually utilize digital keyboard, this Epic 4G also has a slide-out actual keyboard. Just slip the display towards the correct along with you may see a good amazingly spacious QWERTY keyboard using all 5 whole rows involving keys. The natural keyboard offers you a fanatical row of quantity suggestions for getting started along with a number of real variants in the touch-sensitive controls we brought up earlier. As we live certainly not big fans involving touch-sensitive controls, we live extremely thrilled with your latter. Not solely could be the keyboard effectively spaced, but as well the actual suggestions for getting started are highly clickable, with the optimal level of tactile result while pressed. It's without doubt one of several greater mobile QWERTY input keys we've tested.

The Epic 4G's additional actual physical controls is also the size rocker around the left spine, in addition to the actual power/screen shut essential in addition to photographic camera button within the right. The phone possesses 3.5mm headset jack plus a Micro-USB port within the top, while its returning buildings your photographic camera lens in addition to an LED flash. We ought to observe that this Samsung Epic 4G is a simply Galaxy S cellphone having a great LED flash for the camera. It is also really the only Galaxy S cell phone to possess some sort of front-facing camera, which can be situated towards the higher right from the display. The microSD cartomancy slot is situated lurking behind that electric battery cover.

Sprint boats the Samsung Epic 4G together with an AC adapter, a USB cable, a wired hifi headset along with interchangeable ear bud covers, and also benchmark material. You can in addition purchase a docking station along with a battery asking station, which often can be purchased separately. For extra add-ons, i highly recommend you examine our mobile phones accessories, ringtones, and also help page.

User interface
Like the others of the Galaxy S series, the particular Epic 4G works on Android 2.1 having Samsung's TouchWiz 3.0 interface. The latter is just improved from former versions, by using quite a few enhanced efficiency as well as a additional refined look.

To start, you can find different widgets, including one particular named Feeds & Updates and a different referred to as Buddies Now. Feeds & Updates channels changes from Facebook, Twitter, in addition to MySpace, therefore you can pick to help display written content from one, two, and also almost all three regarding the particular social-networking Web sites, together with set the rekindle rate, starting from a half-hour to help each day. Buddies Now is similar to your favorites list and permits you to right away call or maybe wording people contacts, and also opinion on just about any of their own updates. There certainly are a amount of various other Samsung widgets, Android widgets, as well as different shortcuts, every one of which is often included in considered one of seven residence screens.

The home screens may also be personalized using dwell wallpaper, nonetheless there are two things that remain with every single screen: the particular pull-down notification whitening tray on top, that today comprises wireless manager as well as profile functions, plus the toolbar across the underlying part using quick-launch buttons towards the phone dialer, contacts, messaging, and applications. Pressing this latter takes one to a good grid perspective of their a person's apps; there're disseminate above several pages, you choose to can easily swipe coming from side to be able to side. The menu symbols can be neatly set up within squares for the more unified look. We a lot favor this kind of array in the standard Android one, where you must scroll up as well as down. It feels a lot more natural, simpler to be able to navigate, as well as being better to utilize compared to ordinary Android interface.

Also, for any worried related to the way the actual TouchWiz program may obstruct long term Android updates, as outlined by Samsung, the entire Galaxy S profile will probably be upgradeable to Android 2.2, also it has produced tweaks for the graphical user interface that may allow it to be a lot easier in order to adjust to it for you to upcoming Android versions. However, the provider also noted in which with out really realizing precisely what Google provides planned decrease that line, there can be a period where by changes won't be able to always be established due to appliance disadvantages or maybe some other factors.

The Samsung Epic 4G is really a CDMA cell phone of which supports 3G and also 4G connectivity--3G is at the form of EV-DO Rev. A, while 4G is definitely while in the way of Sprint's WiMax. While we all weren't able to test the particular 4G connectivity once on this writing, you can learn some of our review of the particular HTC Evo 4G for you to get some thought of our things together with Sprint's 4G WiMax service. Like the Evo 4G, you have available the Epic 4G as being a mobile Wi-Fi hots grass with regard to around personal trainer devices. However, remember that this cellular high speed very hot area program costs a supplementary $29.99 a month.

Unsurprisingly, your Epic 4G has a number of standard smart phone capabilities just like this speakerphone, seminar calling, voice dialing, wording plus hiburan messaging, visual tone of voice mail, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, in addition to GPS. The other is compatible together with Sprint's Navigation service, though we're somewhat partial to be able to Google's Maps along with Navigation app. The phone publication is constrained to be able to available recollection plus there's living room with every obtain for various numbers, e-mail addresses, IM handles, team IDs, photo owner IDs, plus more.

You can easily merge your contacts out of your several email as well as facebook and myspace balances into ones phonebook with Samsung's Social Hub feature. The cellular phone is usually intelligent sufficient to link the actual contacts intended for you, however most people found we was mandated to do quite a few normal linking just the summer of your contacts. As pertaining to e-mail, the particular Epic 4G works along with Gmail in addition to your own personal POP3, IMAP, in addition to Exchange accounts, so you can view a put together in-box for all those your current e-mail if you ever like. As considering the different Galaxy S phones, this works best in case you have relatively handful of e-mail folders-- way too many of which will result in a rather cluttered interface. The diary additionally syncs nicely together with your Google or maybe Outlook calendar.

Since that Epic 4G carries a front-facing VGA camera, it makes sense that Sprint possesses bundled your Qik video tutorial chat software package using the phone. With Qik along with the front camera, you will be competent to make and also reply video telephone calls provided the other person boasts a Qik account. You might as well video tutorial chitchat by using a student Qik jogging on the PC. The Qik video conversation service can be free, however there's some sort of quality assistance that provides higher resolution in addition to movie archiving for $4.99 some sort of month. You can certainly apply Qik together with Wi-Fi, 4G, as well as 3G networks, but its movie is usually plainly choppier while coupled via 3G.

Other blog upon the Epic 4G include the particular security alarm clock, the Android Webkit Web browser, the calculator, Facebook, the memo pad, Google Talk, ThinkFree Office, this thoughts dialer, Google voice search, the Asphalt movie game, in addition to YouTube. Since it is a Sprint phone, moreover , you may obtain few normal Sprint apps including Sprint Zone, Sprint Navigation, Sprint Football, Nascar Sprint Mobile, along with Sprint TV. You will get additional programs by means of this Android Market.

The Epic 4G's wonderful Super AMOLED present makes the product well suited for seeing media. You can enjoy articles from YouTube plus Sprint TV, although the online video media top quality from equally sources doesn't fairly carry out the screen justice. Thankfully, finally you'll be capable of rent and also purchase subject matter about the Epic 4G out of Samsung's Media Hub that will kick off later on this year. According to be able to Samsung, it's service will certainly include things like both tv displays in addition to movies; however, most of us don't yet recognize this bands in the content material partners. If a person like, you are able to load your special videos--the Epic 4G can handle MP4 video tutorial models in addition to DivX- and also DivX HD-encoded mass media files. The cellular phone can be also appropriate for Samsung's AllShare program that allow you to wirelessly share stored marketing (that consists of pictures, HD video, along with more) that will alternative DLNA-certified home electronics.

As with all Android phones, may buy and obtain sounds with the Amazon MP3 store, plus associated with course, you are able to load your individual new music through USB or microSD. The music gamer possesses 5.1-channel encompass good also it incorporates a fairly concept album protect program much like Apple's Cover Flow. The telephone merely provides 1GB connected with bodily memory, and so we would advise your by using microSD playing cards intended for storing media. The Epic 4G can take about 16GB microSD cards.

The Samsung Epic 4G carries a 5.0-megapixel photographic camera as well as a great LED flash.

Last, nonetheless definitely not least, is a 5.0-megapixel camera, which often can record video tutorial with HD. Its image high quality is definitely very impressive. We notion your images considered razor-sharp as well as colours were being nice and also natural. Low-light photos wasn't therefore hot, but, thankfully, that Epic 4G has an LED flash in which made it simpler for considerably. Some with the camcorder settings include ISO, blink in addition to smile detection, and panorama mode.

The Samsung Epic 4G needed very great photos.

Performance
We analyzed the particular Samsung Epic 4G with San Francisco using the particular Sprint Nextel service. Call quality has been superior intended for by far the most part. There ended up being the smallest little bit of words distortion in the caller's tone of voice in addition to the unexpected static, but that couldn't wreck the actual total call. They came by means of high decibel and clear, even though slightly tinny.

Our callers said exactly the same about us; many people diagnosed no foundation sound. However, they will stated the thoughts quality ended up being apparently tinny plus harsh. Still, it has the express clearness gains all the perks out and about within the end, and so they had no major claims by using telephone quality. The identical is true of the speakerphone-- seeing that expected, generally there appeared to be a small hollowness and echo outcomes to the calls, however it ended up being overall obvious as well as clean.

We tested your handset's 4G assistance around Seattle using Sprint's and also Clearwire's WiMax network. On the actual whole, policy seemed to be reliable, though it may become spotty subject to your own exact location. We identified reliable provider from the air-port and their immediate surroundings, this in town area, the Capitol Hill neighborhood, and also the urban center connected with Renton, Wash. We also needed the particular Epic 4G for a experience on Seattle's light railroad involving your air port and also downtown. We bounced back that will 3G a few situations during the trip, specifically inside the Tukwila as well as Rainier Beach areas. We as well didn't acquire 4G support in tunnels, nonetheless that is understandable.

When we all were being connected, that company was strong in addition to graphics-heavy Web sites charged quickly. Airliners.net thoroughly loaded within 15 seconds in addition to Giantbomb.com took 25 seconds. In contrast, mobile sites just like CNN procured seldom every time at all. YouTube movies were fast, because well, in addition to many of us downloaded apps coming from the particular Android Market. It took about 12-15 a few moments in order to acquire a trail with the Amazon MP3 store, that is certainly just like your experience to the Evo 4G. For your own reference, Sprint affirms it's 4G WiMax community can easily give wireless speeds up that will eight periods faster than the current 3G, using typical down load speeds to include 3Mbps in order to 6Mbps in addition to peak down load connections of approximately 10Mbps and also publish speeds connected with 1Mbps. Compare that will by using 3G's average download speeds regarding 600kbps to 1.4Mbps and peak download connections associated with 1.3Mbps.

Connected through Sprint's 3G network, the device conducted well. We full the particular BBC cellular Web article in mere a few seconds, and also being full CNET page in mere twelve month period seconds. We knowledgeable only a few seconds streaming period for YouTube videos, perhaps throughout high quality. We savored this high-quality YouTube video clips for any almost all part, nevertheless we all nonetheless seen many artifacts plus inconsistent color shades while in the background. The default MP4 video clip track that Samsung provided looked far better owing to it is HD quality

Connected through Sprint's 3G network, the product completed well. We full the actual BBC mobile Web web page in barely some seconds, and the whole CNET web page in a mere 12 seconds. We experienced only a few seconds buffering occasion for YouTube videos, even in substantial quality. We liked the high-quality YouTube videos for your nearly all part, but most people however seen quite a few artifacts in addition to inconsistent shade ring tones within the background. The default MP4 online video media file which Samsung presented seen far better because of its HD quality.

The 1GHz Hummingbird Cortex A8 application model did it is position well. Apps introduced quickly, in addition to we couldn't practical experience a great number of hiccups along with menu transitions plus multitasking.

The Samsung Epic 4G has a 1,500mAh lithium ion power with a performing electric battery your life associated with 7.5 time discuss time period in addition to 21 years of age days to weeks standby time. The Epic 4G possessed a new discuss time period regarding some working hours as well as 43 minutes in 3G. According in order to FCC radiation tests, the particular Epic 4G features a electronic digital SAR of 0.68 watt for every kilogram as well as incorporates a Hearing Aid Compatibility Rating associated with M3/T3.

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