-
"A phone with almost everything, good move, Metro" on by mjordan552
Pros: big bright screen. better than expected GPS, music player, good camera. A phone that puts Metro in the major league
Cons: Expensive, Metro's browser is weak. Contact manager lacks address field
Summary: First off this a good move for Metro PCS which has been known as a down market provider with a long lineup of cheap phones
P.S. Buy some kind or protective cover for this phone immediately. You'll just hate yourself for not spending a few bucks to protect a phone that cost as much as a low-end PC.
The Finesse show that Metro PCS aspires to reach out to customers who could just as easily get a Verizon or AT&T but don't like the budget busting phone bills.. The Finesse give you the best of both worlds. A flat-rate no-contract service coupled with a phone you don't have to be embarrased to use in front of perople.
There is plenty to love about this phone. The phone is fashionably thin with a big easy to read screen. The menus are simple and bold which is a good thing for a totally touch screen interface. You can pack it with 16 gig of storage and carry all your music. The media player is good and you can use 3mm earphones.
Call quality is average. A few of may calls got dropped. I was get two bars and sometimes just one in areas I knew for a fact I could get three on a cheaper Metro phone. (I've had three)
The downside is the browser. No streaming video. You can forget You Tube. In fact just forget any graphics-intense website. I can't my Metro would have such a great phone put can't provide it a decent browser.
It's not a good business user's phone. The contact manager only keeps phone numbers and e-mail addresses. I'd like to see it store some addresses and be able to pull those addresses into the Metro Navigator GPS.
By the way it has excellent voice command with almost flawless recognition. It would have been a perfect 10 if you could say "Take me to..." mention a name in your contact, and have sent to the Navigator.
Overall it's very nice phone. It's no IPhone and it's not a Smartphone. It's pricey to say the least but upside is you can use the phone day and night, text all you want, check your e-mail and never worry about what your bill is going to be. You gotta love that at the end of the month.
I took the GPS out for a test drive and was delighted with the turn by turn directions with spoken street names. Just put a bluetooth in your ear and it's the perfect co-pilot. Plus you can break awy to make a phone call without stopping navigation.
Updated on Jul 17, 2009 -
"My first post-iPhone phone - and it surprised me!" on by fbomb
Pros: Easy to use - touch screen is responsive - call quality is very solid - excellent audio quality on MP3 player - has the proper audio jack - easy switch to landscape keyboard
Cons: No wi-fi - no accelerometer
Summary: I put a lot of thought into this only to conclude, ahem, that the cnet review is spot on. Moving from an iPhone to this is a difficult transition and at first, I hated it. But then it did one thing after another well and I am happier each day. And yes, the $50/month for unlimited text/phone/email makes that transition easier. And I was EASILY able to set up a gmail account on it.
-
"Good for a touchscreen, but definitely not a contender." on by log3an
Pros: The music to bluetooth headphones sounds Great, and actually peaks at a decent level. The screen, camera and camcorder look phenomenal. The vibra function after key presses is cool, even if it sometimes lies(the touchscreen fails).
Cons: First and Foremost - Every screen took samsung 20 seconds to create. White backgrounds and ugly icons are all you get; only the wallpaper (not screensaver) is changeable. Second, only music from the generic music player streams to your bluetooth
Summary: headphones, that's it. Video, any games you purchase (the phone comes with no demos) or apps will only come from the speakerphone - and the volume cannot be changed for games (either on or off). Poorly designed computer system: 1.The widget slider gets old fast, youve got to move icons before you can open apps, its time consuming 2.The touchscreen doesnt recognize finger presses well, the stylus is fine 3.THE MUSIC STOPS DURING INTERNET USE 4. Battery depletes quickly with bluetooth use. Bottom Line - The Finesse is better than any other phone Metro PCS offers, but its not a well designed device.
-
"Very nice looking phone for 3 bills and no contract" on by coleygross
Pros: Great quality for a CDMA phone. Ive had 3 other CDMA cells that were not as nice. Display great at NIGHT. Sound fair (Superb with earphones via 3.5mm jack that's been common for years. Each entry has programmable touch-vibration feedback with sound.
Cons: All these type phones eat batteries by evening. Even standby eats away. A constant short vibrations reminds you that you have new email has arrived. No option to turn on a "You have mail" message verbal or text. vibe drives u crazy b4 u read manual
Summary: `A great phone for talking. Best CDMA phone Ive ever herd (on either end). Samsun needs to come out with a firmware update. Awkward redundant moves needed to do simple task. QWERTY keyboard is great (After you figure out how to turn the option on) otherwise it never presents itself. No folders allowed. They dont show up and neither does any song or video you place within them. File renaming is difficult. Easier to hook to PC with PROPIETORY cable or SLOW bluetooth (very slow for some reason on my 2.o high speed ports) Very attractive phone. Buy insurance or at least the custom fitting glove style rubber that covered the entire back and sides with cutouts and buttons in all the right place only avaiable from a Samsung dealer ( only paid $10) Now I have a good grip and if it falls I think it will be ok (in most cases). The display is nearly useless in daylight, forget the sun being in front or back of you. You simply cant see well due to glare of the nearly mirorow like display. For over 3 bills (less a $70 limited time rebate this phone is still overpriced in my opinion. Its got a nice nearly fulll length HTML display and does HTTPS secure BOA and Wachovia online banking well but S L O W. Charging is very fast even when 3/4 depleted. There is an annoying vibration every minute that turns out to be an "email has arrived equivalent" but no verbal or text tells you so. You simply wonder why does my phone keep vibrating every minute until you find the reason in the manual or it dawns on you. This phone would be perfect had they only included WiFi but they didnt. You can't get WiFI via PCS's version of the Blackberry curve either. I guess this is PCS's way of keeping cost down. O yes, forget downloading ANY content. No option to do so and you can not upload to utube in the traditional sense although I think there is a way to atach a short video to a message for youtube. My guess is this phones HTML browser operates at 2400 to 14,400 MAX speed. You don't seeLOOPT or airG CHAT as an option but you can attain it free by simply typing either.com into HTML browser (save as a favorite) The favorite places are limited. These are uncalled for oversights. NO PLACE TO ENTER AN PHYSICAL contact ADDRESS! and only 10 or 15 favorite places max WHAT WAS SAMSUN THINKING. This phone has a lot to offer but its so limited that it makes no sense. Its got about 140 megs of internal ram and upgrades to 8 gigs with an easily attainable Micro SD slot. Organizing your photos or videos is a nightmare since its a pain to change names via phone. Its much easier to organize via the pc cord. Samsung has a PC SUITE of tools BUT I couldnt get them to work on 2 computers with XP, 1 with WIN7. I suppose the model number is not programmed into their software so don't think something is wrong if your computer refuses to communicate via their own software. Like I say they must have rushed this to production. Without thought of how it was to be used, no regard for a good file system. This phone lets you down in those departments but makes up for it in the nice qwerty keypad if you do a good amount of texting. It overpriced given the bugs or lack of programming Ive mentioned however should Samsung address these problems (Im sure I did not cover all of the quirks) This phone would be fantastic for the money. Com on fellow Samsung Finesse owners, please notify Samsung that we need a firmware update (That they can program into Metro PCS system an upgrade for our firmware but its safer when done directly from computer to cell via a direct connection after a download of the firmware from Samsungs web site. As of this date 12-25-09 there was no such firmware that I am aware of.
Keyboard became unreliable despite adjusment. NO CONTACT ADDRESS OPTION! Idiotic oversight Samsung, was that lost in translation? How else could Yaps simply miss such feature. I fight 2 insert charge jack nightly (Helped me to use "white out" dot topside). Maybe related to my 8 Gig of memory 1/2 full. Various delays w/same character in word. i.e. "HIS BIRTHDAY" might display a delayed B, "DAY" might not appear so you enter DAY again result might be BIRTHDAY DAY, a pain. Eats batteries? To troublesome now to consider buying new set of batteries. Wev've never pushed Ion Batts this hard doubt they will stand test of time. Many steps ahead in technology but to many obvious oversights. My old reliable $30 Nokia 1600 backup which cost $30 at Big Lots sits a week with a single charge. Now I must carry two phones. BUMMER! Am I missing something here????
A Wonderful phone once properly addressed and the manual rewritten. PS This is the first time Ive taken the time to write a review. I hope I touched on most of the pitfalls and pros and cons.
Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and or Seasons Greetings.
Updated on Jun 19, 2010
Updated on Jun 19, 2010Over one year has passed and no futher reviews. What does that tell us. They must have pulled these phones off the market as fast as they placed them on the market. I was so tired when I wrote up a followup last night that I failed to give it a thought. No wonder Samsung jumpped into production way to fast and doing so must of cost them tons of money in advertising and Gosh knows how any Finese r810's Samsung got stuck with. I dont understant why there isnt any firmware update that could bring this phone into an aceptible quality but obviously Samsung felt the idea futile. A shame given (As you can tell from my prior post) I truly liked this cellular phone except as wear and tear took its tool. But goodness sakes was I the last person on earth to have bought one, or at least the last person that bought one and was also aware of Cnet? Its like buying a Lincoln Towncar or MKZ and finding out no one has made a post for over a year since yours. In most cases thaat would be unherd of.
Updated on Jun 19, 2010I lost mine but Metro PCS offers insurance via a company called Asssurance insurance. FOr $4 monthly that cover the cell no matter if I run over it with my car. Beat it to death with a hammer (Although I dont recommend being that honest) or simply dropping or tossing it in the water over the BP oil leak outlet. All they would need is a magnet and 1 mile of line to find it and retrieve my phone. Chances r it wouldnt be able to hadle such fathoms. The agent misquoted me I must pay a $84 deductible for a replacement-new one (or I assume reconditioned since I think production stopped) and or they have one heck of a stockpile. I went on Metro PCS site and noted many other higher end models are aat the $55 replacement price but the Blackberry 8330, Finesse r810 and a Motorola z something 9 are all $85 replacement. Doesn't look like PCS is pushing smart phones. Heck the Blackberry 8330 had no WIFI and missing a tons of other features compared to other Blackberry curves. Mst confusing 4 pubix -
"Impressive phone. Love it." on by Finessest
Pros: Nice screen display
Fantastic voice recognition system
Easy to add contacts
Nice camera
Can callibrate touchscreen
Touchscreen is very responsive
Good reception
Great speakerphone
Announces caller's name before it ringsCons: Must change screens to access speaker phone
Messaging involves switching screens too often
Does not alphabetize downloaded ringtones, wallpapers, or pictures
Cannot rename downloaded ringtone
Call alert starts out low and increases in volume.Summary: Touchsreen is easy to use and very responsive. Screen is bright and colors nice. Is easy to download ringtones and wallpapers. Speakerphone is one of the best I have used, and the voice recognition system IS the best I have used. That would have been the selling point for me right there. The reception is great. The camera is easy to use and takes good pictues. However, texting gets a little tedious. So much switching from one screen to the next. But it offers lots of choices for texting--that is a plus. The virtual keypad allows enough room even for larger fingertips. I prefer an actual keypad, but I find little fault with this phone. For the most part, it is enjoyable and easy to use. Functions well as a phone and has many added fun, and helpful features. I am glad I made the purchase.
Write a Review
Compare to other cell phones
Compare Selected
Check coverage in your area 
%20-%20Cell%20Phones%20-%20CNET%20Reviews&srcUrl=http://reviews.cnet.com/cell-phones/samsung-finesse-sch-r810/4852-6454_7-33573782.html&x_breadcrumb=8900:3488:3504:6454&x_arw_bkts=MAD:high_wireless_switcher){kind=small}