Can a free Android phone kick out the jams? We'll tell you in our full review of the Samsung Gravity Smart.
Samsung Gravity Smart Report
It's been a while since we've reviewed a phone like the Gravity Smart for T-Mobile. The entry-level Android Froyo machine is classified today as an entry-level device. The thing is even free with a two-year T-Mobile contract. But remember when the free phones used to be the carrier's runt of the litter? At the rate Android is traveling, it's not really possible to get a terrible, underpowered phone these days, even if it's free. The Gravity Smart is an example of that, offering plenty of features found on higher-end phones like Wi-Fi connectivity and 3D gaming capabilities. It's first and foremost a texting phone though, flaunting a full QWERTY keyboard and Swype technology for the onscreen virtual keyboard. It's obvious that the phone is targeted at the first-time Android teen user who is addicted to internet slang like "LOL," "TTYL," and "GTFO." We'll tell you if the Samsung Gravity Smart (specs) is worth dropping an "OMG" over.
Design
The design of the Gravity Smart is very similar to last year's Gravity T, so basically, we've seen it all before. The phone is light and has an oval shape, fitting comfortably in a pocket. The screen is a 3.2-inch HVGA capacitive display, and the full QWERTY keyboard is unchanged. The keyboard is good and lends itself to quick texting input due to the spacious key layout and convenient function buttons.
We also liked the tangible Home button amidst the three haptic feedback controls, mimicking the budget-friendly Samsung Exhibit 4G. The Gravity Smart offered a 3-megapixel camera with LED flash, but there was no front-facing camera. Memory was limited to a 2GB MicroSD card with minimal internal storage, and the phone was powered by a 1500mAh battery. Overall, this is a very basic springboard into Android Land.
Software and Interface
The Gravity Smart runs Android 2.2 and TouchWIZ. The phone has the same 600MHz Qualcomm chipset with Adreno 200 GPU that we found in the Pantech Crossover for AT&T, but we didn't find the Gravity Smart to be the snappiest performer due to lag and overall lack of speed. The phone was equipped with Bluetooth 3.0, GPS, Wi-Fi, and an accelerometer, so 3D gaming was not a problem.
The classic Android feel was still retained with the Gravity Smart, as we had our dropdown notification menu, 5 customizable Home screens, and Android Widgets. We also got a nice Google spread from Gmail to Maps, and the Android Market provided us with thousands of teen-friendly applications for download. There were a few unique applications like Glympse and Cloud Texting. Glympse enabled us to send an email or text where we were via a map to another Glympse user in real time. So, this is an optimal way for wives to track a cheating husband. Cloud texting also extended our ability to send text messages, enabling us to text from a computer or any other device that connected to the cloud. These are enhanced features that specialize in staying connected, which is optimal for tracking a teen's every move.
For gaming and fun, the Gravity Smart shipped with a UNO and Bejeweled 2 demo versions, but we didn't get full games like on the Exhibit 4G. Fortunately, the phone played 3D games nicely, though graphics and fine pixel movement were not the phone's best qualities. When it came down to social networking, the Samsung Gravity Smart offered Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Flickr, Photobucket, Snapfish, and more. Overall, the phone's Group Texting and Cloud Texting options were the highlights, as the Gravity Smart's key weapon is its texting abilities. Even internet was basic as could be, lacking Flash support.
Call Quality/Battery Life
Making calls on the Gravity Smart was not a groundbreaking experience. Calls sounded cheap, tinny, and compressed, like a shoddy MP3 download from Limewire. It wasn't the worst performance we've ever experienced, but it certainly wasn't the best.
Battery life was not bad for standby time, giving us about three days before the Gravity Smart chased in its chips. Regular use will drain the battery, but a single charge should last the day on the 1500mAh pack.
Camera
The Samsung Gravity Smart's 3-megapixel camera with LED flash produced decent results in bright light, but its 320x480 HVGA resolution videos left much to be desired. Fortunately, the camera interface was stocked with the typical Samsung controls, including Scene modes and effects, but nothing could cover up the lackluster imaging performance. Overall, the camera was best suited for texting, which is what this phone primarily exists for (check out photo and video samples).
Samsung Gravity Smart – infoSync Diagnosis
For a free phone with a 2-year contract, the Gravity Smart is not bad, but it's certainly not the best out there. Battery life is good, call quality is mediocre, the camera is only useful for texting, and the phone is laggy and crashed a few programs throughout our testing. Unfortunately, the phone also ships with next to nothing for memory.
Yes, the limited life of the free with 2-year contract smartphone. But you'll have to ask yourself if you can live with an entry-level Android phone for two years, or whether a QWERTY phone like the T-Mobile Sidekick 4G by Samsung would be a better option. If you're a parent looking for something cheap for your teen with the ability to track them via Glympse, then the Gravity Smart might be a good fit.
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