In our Samsung Saga review, we check out this dual-mode, Wi-Fi browsing rarity among Verizon Wireless' business smartphones.
Review summary of the Samsung Saga:
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 The Samsung Saga may not be the powerhouse update to the Samung BlackJack II that we saw in the Samsung Epix on AT&T, but its still a likeable phone nonetheless, and in a couple surprising ways it actually trumps its GSM brethren. The Saga is actually larger than the Epix, but it's styled better, with a nicer paint job, a wider, circular optical mouse and a great QWERTY keyboard. We were especially fond of the messaging features, though some of these come at a premium. The Samsung Saga is one of the few dual-mode phones on Verizon, so if you must use The Network, with the Saga you can use it abroad. It's also one of the few Verizon Wireless phones with Wi-Fi, which it uses well with the Opera mobile browser. There wasn't much to alleviate the pains of Windows Mobile on this phone, but for WinMo fans, this phone is a-ok. Release: November 2008. Price: $200.
Pros: Nice design, with a larger optical mouse than other Samsung phones. Great keyboard. Opera mobile browser is top-notch.
Cons: Nothing added to make Windows mobile easier to use. Web browser is nice, but why no add-on media player, or Instant Messaging apps?
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Full Samsung Saga Review:
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Design - Good
The Samsung Saga looks like a stylized update to the Samsung BlackJack II, and it's very similar, on the outside at least, to the Samsung Epix on AT&T. Though it's apparently larger than the Epix in almost every way, the Samsung Saga has a more appealing design, thanks to the smooth, dark blue paint job and the larger navigation controls. The optical mouse on this phone dwarfs the one on the Samsung Epix, and it was also much easier to use. We're still not sold on the idea of a pointer or trackpad on a Windows Mobile phone. We think it's a step away from making this Windows Mobile Professional addition more friendly to touch input. But if we had to choose a phone with an optical mouse, the Saga is the best so far.
The screen on this phone felt a little flimsy, and seemed to bend a bit under our touch, especially when we used the stylus. Input would occasionally require a firm tap, as the screen could be unresponsive. The Samsung interface is barely skin deep, basically some tabs on the standard Today screen, and nothing impressive. Once you move beyond this screen, you're stuck in the abyss of Windows Mobile's tiny, untouchable icons. We found ourselves breaking out the stylus more than we wanted, as optical mouse wasn't enough to manage tasks like scrolling, or some of the more sensitive screen work.
Calling - Good
Calls on the Samsung Saga could sound a bit muffled, and in the worst cases our words started to blend together in a digitized hum. When reception was great, quality was better, but we still heard some background hiss. The Saga could have used a much larger battery. We were driving it plenty hard with Wi-Fi and Web browsing, but we felt like it was always on the verge of dying, and it didn't seem to take a charge as quickly as other phones, especially when plugged into our powered USB hub. For talk time, Samsung claims 5 hours, and we were close to that, about 4.5 hours with some Wi-Fi browsing thrown in between calls.
Conference calling on the Samsung Saga was easy enough, just an extra press of the Talk key, but we wonder why this feature didn't also get its own menu item or, better yet, an onscreen key. The speakerphone was adequate, but not too loud. We wish the Samsung Saga's calling screens took after Samsung's all touch phones, like the Samsung Behold, as there didn't seem to be enough information on screen during calls. Especially not during conference calls.
The Samsung Saga is one of the rare, but growing number of Verizon Wireless' dual-mode phones. So, it can make calls domestically on Verizon's CDMA network (or roam on other CDMA carriers), or, when you're abroad, you can still make calls in countries where there is no CDMA, like most of them. It's really only an impressive feature if you're a true Verizon Wireless fan, as AT&T and T-Mobile phones have no trouble making calls abroad without any extra radio modes.
Messaging - Very good
To get to the IM+ instant messaging app, you must first navigate the VZAppZone, a kind of Verizon Wireless App store, though torture chamber would have been just as apt a description. We were shocked to find the instant messenger app was a $35 add-on. This sort of thing should really be free. That said, we were quite impressed by the IM+ app. It has loads of preset clients, including AOL, MSN, Yahoo, Gtalk and even MySpace. All of these are opened at once in one long buddy list window, and its nicely done. Of course, for that price, it better be, but if you're a real IM fan, this will almost satisfy. Throw in Facebook and we'll say completely satisfy.
Otherwise, the Samsung Saga is a solid all around performer for messaging, as it should be. We liked that when we started to type a name in the recipient field of a message, the Saga started digging through our contact lists and offering choices on the same screen. E-mail worked well with our Exchange account. Samsung even offers some extra messaging icons on the Today screen to let you know how many messages await, but these are hidden on the bottom half of a two-part, scrolling screen.
To round out the great messaging features, the Saga also has a very nice keyboard. Keys are large and widely-spaced. The texture is good and the individual keys have a nice amount of travel. Typing was a breeze on the Samsung Saga.
Scheduling and productivity - Very good
Windows Mobile does a fine job with scheduling and productivity apps; this is certainly one of the system's strong suits. The apps aren't much to look at, and Samsung hasn't given the calendar or appointment screens much of an update. Still, there's little that can't be accomplished for serious business users. Because the phone uses the touchscreen Professional version of Windows Mobile 6.1, you get the full Office Mobile treatment, so you can create new Word documents from scratch. Thanks to the great keyboard, you might even want to type something on this phone.
Multimedia - Good
Samsung did not go far beyond the Today screen in customizing the interface on this phone, and one of the apps that suffers the most is the media player. Samsung gives the player a new skin with a cool, beige color scheme. But otherwise, the player and the management software are the standard, unappealing Windows Mobile kit. The phone synchronized nicely with our Windows Media Player on the desktop, but we still wish that Samsung would dump the proprietary cable for USB transfers. There is a 2.5mm port to handle the headphone, so you won't be able to plug in your own cans, unless your favorite headphones were made for cell phones.Standard 3.5mm ports are always our preference here.
Web browsing - Very good
The Samsung Saga comes with the Opera mobile browser that we've been seeing on so many Windows Mobile smartphones, such as the Samsung Omnia. It even gets the accelerated scrolling we liked on the Omnia, and it loads pages that look great; almost, but not quite, desktop quality. The browser reacted slowly to our finger swipes, as if it were trudging through thick mud. But when we broke out the stylus and started flicking the screen with it, things picked up significantly. The browser and the screen reacted much more quickly.
Camera - Mediocre
The 2-megapixel camera on the Samsung Saga ran the gamut of lighting problems throughout our testing. At times, photos would be underexposed and noisy, at other times completely blown out by bright backlighting. The camera had focus trouble in close-up tests. Overall a disappointing performance, but not a complete surprise. We're waiting for the day when Samsung turns things around with their phone's digital imaging.
Glass, concrete and sky
Strangely dark picture on this bright, blue day. Lots of noise and loss of detail in the dark spots, like the lower left corner. In an ideal shot, the sky and the building would nearly match, as their colors were almost identical in real life.
Local church
Again, an underexposed shot. Perhaps a passing cloud was to blame? The perfectly rendered sky is almost fake-looking behind the completely destroyed foreground.
Another church door
St. Marks church fence
Two completely overexposed pics. This time, details are washed away by the bright light.
Times Square Olive Garden
Easily our favorite photo. Colors look good, though details get blurry at 100% crop. The camera manages to catch some of the neon of Times Square without overdoing it.
Fuzzy self portrait
This was our best shot out of five test photos. We could never get a good focus. The camera's auto focus has a nice, audible beep, but it never kept us sharp. Also, that shiny back has a cheap, plastic texture, and can't really reflect like a proper mirror. A missed opportunity, there. Perhaps it's for the best.
eBay shot
Color may be accurate, but the photo goes from light to dark very quickly, though most of the light was coming from Snake Eyes' feet. Unfortunately the most important part, the asst. numbers up top, are completely illegible. At 100%, the lack of detail paints an inaccurate picture of the wear on this card.
Price and availability
The Samsung Saga is available now from Verizon Wireless for $200 with a contract agreement.
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