Samsung Spex SCH-R210 (MetroPCS)
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CNET Editors' Review
The good: The Samsung Spex has a simple, easy-to-use design and a functional feature set.
The bad: The Samsung Spex's call quality sounded a bit hollow. Also, it takes too many clicks to activate the speakerphone.
The bottom line: The Samsung Spex is a decent cell phone for making calls, but there are better options from MetroPCS.
While the major wireless carriers pack their lineups with the latest high-end cell phones, smaller operators such as MetroPCS take a more practical approach. Rather than offering complicated smartphones with pricey features, MetroPCS sticks with low-end camera phones and basic handsets that just make calls. The Samsung Spex, aka the SCH-R210, is of the latter group. Exceedingly simple in form and function, the Spex does exactly what a cell phone should do. You get a Web browser and Bluetooth, but in the end, the Spex is all about communication. You can get it for just $99, but we'd prefer ... Expand full review
While the major wireless carriers pack their lineups with the latest high-end cell phones, smaller operators such as MetroPCS take a more practical approach. Rather than offering complicated smartphones with pricey features, MetroPCS sticks with low-end camera phones and basic handsets that just make calls. The Samsung Spex, aka the SCH-R210, is of the latter group. Exceedingly simple in form and function, the Spex does exactly what a cell phone should do. You get a Web browser and Bluetooth, but in the end, the Spex is all about communication. You can get it for just $99, but we'd prefer the Kyocera K312P. MetroPCS does not require service contracts.
Design
The Spex's design takes us back a few years. It's not a flip phone or a new-fangled slider model; instead, it's a minimalist candy bar handset with clean lines and a standard silver color. It's also compact (4.07 inches by 1.77 inches by 0.58 inch) and lightweight (3.4 ounces) so you shouldn't have any problems carting it around. The 65,000-color display is rather small and low-resolution (1.5 inches; 128x128 pixels). On any other phone we'd complain but on a handset this simple and this cheap we really don't mind. The menus are accessible and you can alter the contrast, the backlighting time, and the dialing font size.
Below the display is the easy-to-use navigation array. There's a four-way toggle with a central OK button, two soft keys, Talk and End/power buttons and a clear control. The soft keys are a tad small but the other controls are spacious and tactile. A raised silver ring surrounds the toggle, which gives it nice definition. They keypad buttons are flush but they're relatively large and a bright backlight lights them. Dialing by feel was difficult but that was the extent of our problems.
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As a senior managing editor for CNET, Kent German heads up the CNET Reviews team in San Francisco. Formerly a cell phone reviewer, he still blogs about wireless news and offers his take on the wireless industry. When not at work, he's planning his next trip to Australia, going for a run, or watching planes land at the airport (yes, really).
User Reviews
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Showing 3 of 4 reviews
"Very Good Basic Phone For My Age (4th Grade)" By Eric_Miguel03
Pros: Very nice color! Easy to call for emergencies! Music Player!! Unlimited Talk, Text, Web!!! Easy to use buttons! Nice Price!
Cons: No camera. Felt a little cheap!
Summary: For people who just want a basic phone to call then the Spex is right for you but If you want a more advanced phone then look for more options.
"Good basic phone. Falls apart" By mgk5xv
Pros: Simple, easy, economical, small phone.
Cons: No camera, started falling apart immediately. Right now mine has black tape holding the battery cover on, the numbers are all worn off, and the ear piece works only when I squeeze the phone firmly. All this in less than a year.
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