I’ve had this phone for just over a week now. So my review may not be complete, more like a general look and feel of the phone.
The Samsung Ch@t 322
Unlike Kachwanya, who thought it looks like a candybar (in what world does that phone look like a sweet?!), I think it looks like just another QWERTY phone.
So here is what makes it different from the phones within its price range (7500-8500):
Dual-SIM
It’s really hectic walking around with two phones: one cool one with a Safaricom line, and one shady one for the other line (Yu/Airtel/Orange).
Finally, Samsung have caught up with the Chinese who have been making those low quality dual-sim phones.
Raised QWERTY keypad
Maybe because I’m so used to touch (well, the Ideos), I find it hard to use keypad phones. But this Samsung has raised keys that are soft and easy to type with, which means faster typing, of course.
Optical TrackPad
At first I didn’t know what that meant! Anyway, the scrolling/navigation/menu button in the middle uses a light sensor (like some Blackberrys) to track the movement of your finger. Scrolling around is smooth and seamless.. I loved it.
Standard Audio Jack/USB Cable/Bluetooth 2.0
With the USB cable you can transfer data to/from the memory card. The phone comes with a 2GB memory card.
The audio jack (3.5mm) is standard and you can connect your phone to standard speakers and listen to your music/radio.
Which reminds me, the music player sounds really good, better than the Ideos’. The radio reception is also quite good, I could receive the X FM signal anywhere. X FM’s signals are the weakest among the channels I bother to listen to.
The Social Media/ Contacts Shortcuts
Now that everyone is into twitter/facebook, there are native apps already installed on the phone and there are shortcuts on the home-screen. However, I never got to tweet/facebook with them because the phone refused to accept internet settings. The SMS from 445 said I should go to the nearest customer care center. I pictured the lines there and gave up.
There are also IMing apps: Yahoo Messenger and MSN Messenger, among other apps/games.
However, for others who’ve used this phone, they say it should automatically figure out the internet settings for you.
You can also add your frequently accessed contacts on the home screen.
The Downsides
It uses an EDGE connection for internet, but so does the Nokia X2-01, and for most people the only difference between Edge and 3G is the name!
It has a 1.3MP camera, but it produces better quality images than the Ideos with its (supposed) 2MP camera! At least this is a better camera than the X2‘s VGA camera (I’m just being honest here)
Unlike Nokia with a strong OVi Store presence for apps, the Samsung market is er.. it is there but who’s ever shopped for apps there? Now that Samsung high end phones are using the Android market it seems the lower end phones have been forgotten?
Verdict
This phone looks stylish, is semi-smart and dual-SIM enabled. The music quality is awesome. Texting is fast. If you’re tired of carrying two ‘stupid’ phones, upgrade now!
