Samsung Haven user reviews (dark gray, Verizon Wireless)

Pros Cheap phone, large keypad, simple design without the bells and whistles, comes with an ICE button and has a large display.

Cons No camera, lacks the ability to send picture messages, seen some battery issues.

Summary The phone is a very basic phone. For customers who only use a phone for making calls, this device is a decent buy, however, if you desire to do anything more, then this phone is not for you. Samsung chose to not place a camera on the device, and also removed any features to send pictures. The device does have the ability to receive pictures. If pricepoint if the main concern, another device in Samsung's Verizon line-up is a much better solution: the Samsung Gusto. The Gusto has all the features of the Haven, with a camera and a better software layout. Not recommended.

Pros She can feel buttons(was almost blind) & see them. Now that has good eyes, can see buttons 7 happy she can see battery bars. I can hear her just fine. Has a stand that's easy for her to put into to charge. 3 ICE & 911 easy & good.

Cons Where VOLUME TOGGLES are located is where anyone-her-would hold the phone! She accidentally turns the volume off & then NO RING!! Then, goes to full voice mail-she doesn't know how to do that. Think there is a dyfunction b/c my siblings clear it &

Summary I hate this phone!!! My mom is very old, but far from dying--but 94. I don't get to go see her for many (7-9 ) yrs from CA to PA (no $$ for plane). So, talking on phone w/ her is my only way to connect w/ her. Her hands have too much arthritis to write snail mail. She is alone constantly. I call her most days. Most of the time we want to talk for an hour or more, but we are always starting to say we love each other about 20 mins into the call for fear her battery will go dead & something will happen before we reconnect! Now that she can see the battery bars (has to pull phone from her ear to see) she gets paniced when they show battery is getting low! So, her anxiety (already bad) escalates & the rest of the time we spend feeling very pressured to cover emotionally charged (already) things. So, I tell her to just hook the phone up to the charger & talk to me. Just the other day I figured out why she can't do that! It has to rest in the charger to charge!!! Also, it is very hard for her to move charger & plug in somewhere else. We spend a lot of time with me coaching her on making sure the volume is up--she is now beginning to see/understand volume numbers to make sure set hi enough before gets off phone. but, then, spending time double checking if it rings..it doesn't & helplessly i wait hoping she'll get that I'm calling & it's not ringing--to call back & talk about it. Sometimes she just thinks she is bothering me w/ fixing it & doesn't call back!! Finally got a home EMERGENCY phone. We have to call that phone all the time--at $$ every minute--to let her know we are trying to call her. She answers the home right away cheerfully, hears well, & is disappointed her phone didn't ring! Then, we proceed to spend $$ on home emergency phone to trouble shoot cell & make sure it will ring when we call back or she calls us back. REAL MESS!! My poor mom is more anxious when I call her than before!! And i just want to avoid the whole ORDEAL every day, but I miss my mom & we need each other badly right now. Worst of all, if mom is outside her apt checking the mail, etc & carrying her phone in her dress pocket as we DEMAND she does, if the ringer is silent & I get to full voicemail. i can't call her home phone. I can't get her at all & begin to freak out if she's fallen or something! My nearby sib might not be nearby to run over a lot to check if she's OK & management doesn't want this to be a regular thing. SO, until my family can get her another phone (new contract)--a DIFFERENT ONE!!--I will be living in worry that my mom is really OK & we'll be tense b/c of the phone prob every day we are trying to calm each other down. Advice: If you want your beloved sr or disabled person to be peaceful,happy, connected w/ family, not lonely, anxious -and most of all--feeling independent & self-reliant--then, DO NOT GET THIS PHONE!!!!

Updated on Jul 7, 2011

Update--forgot to put in Con's: phone has to be in stand to recharge--can't plug into charger & talk when terrible battery charge has run out.I also put this as a Pro. My mom has a clear mind, is spry, hi functioning. Has dealt w/ things nearly totally blind for decades & now is able to see well. Both ways she has done well. She is an independent and self reliant person. Srs start feeling a lose of these things as they age 7 can't drive & other things. The last thing a loved one would want to do is to take away any of that feeling of self reliance. Unfortunately, Samsung has designed a horrible phone specifically for srs that takes that very feeling of independence away that I think they meant to give. Wiush my mom could use the bells & whistles--exercises, meds, soft sounds, etc that sounds cool. By the way--all the places you see a" 7 "means &--didn't press "shift" long enough!!