Reader's question:
What's the difference between the Samsung Propel and the Verizon Wireless Blitz? Jeff
Editor's answer:
The differences between the two models in question are minimal at first sight. However, when digging a little deeper and testing them in real world scenarios, there's quite a few differences to be found.
When it comes to calling and talk time, the main difference between them is that the Samsung Propel operates on AT&T's network while the Verizon Wireless Blitz operates on, yeah, Verizon Wireless. However, we found the Samsung Propel to be better at messaging, as well as multimedia functionality such as web browsing, music and video playback.
You can get a complete comparison of every aspect of these cell phones by checking out this page. Additionally, here are our conclusions for the Verizon Wireless Blitz and the Samsung Propel, showing that, if you don't care about these cell phones' form factor, there may be other options to consider:
| Samsung Propel |
| Full review » Scoreboard » Features » Gallery » |
 Following the most recent trend toward stout, square-shaped, QWERTY messaging phones, the Samsung Propel comes out somewhere in the middle. It's not as basic and clunky as the Verizon Wireless Blitz, and it's not as classy and refined as the LG Lotus on Sprint. The interface is woefully outdated, and actually looks more pinched and drab on the Samsung Propel than it does on, well, every other AT&T multimedia phone. And that's the real problem. The phone just isn't very special. It's a below-average AT&T multimedia phone, when it should be a unique messaging device. We would have liked to see a unique UI built around messaging alerts, full support for as many messaging and social network services as would fit on the phone, and less worry about Cellular Video and location-based services. If AT&T and Samsung had just focused on the messaging, this phones would really take off. Release: October 2008. Price: $50.
Pros: Large keyboard. Good price. GPS navigation and capable, mobile Web browser.
Cons: Interface looks very yesterday. Messaging options are limited, a real shame on an inexpensive QWERTY phone.
| Poor |
Mediocre |
56%
GOOD |
Very good |
Excellent |
|
|
| Verizon Wireless Blitz |
| Full review » Scoreboard » Features » Gallery » |
 The Verizon Wireless Blitz is designed around one feature: messaging. Unfortunately, the phone gets this feature wrong in almost every way. The dedicated messaging key is hidden among a jumble of small keys. The messaging apps themselves are wildly inconsistent, very basic and lack the advanced features that the intended audience will really use, like Facebook or MySpace integration. Typing is not only difficult, the keyboard actually works differently depending on which messaging app you're using. Instead of redeeming this phone with a good music player, a competent Web browser or a fun, effective camera, the phone is strangely a great navigator, which is probably the only feature the tweenage audience won't be craving. The price is right, but the phone is large and difficult to use, so we'd recommend looking elsewhere, like the LG enV2. Release: August 2008. Price: $50.
Pros: Good GPS navigation services. Inexpensive.
Cons: Messaging apps are sloppy and inconsistent. Keyboard keys are too small, while the device is too large. Slow networking, lousy browser, sub-par camera, basic music experience.
| Poor |
Mediocre |
51%
GOOD |
Very good |
Excellent |
|
|
|
|
Archive