As the second U.S. phone with 3.5G HSDPA capabilities, the Samsung SGH-ZX20 promises to make the most of Cingular's robust video content. Does it deliver?
Review summary of the Samsung SGH-ZX20:
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 With its sluggish performance, smallish external LCD, lack of external music controls and subpar 1.3-megapixel cameara, the ZX20 -- Samsung's first step into U.S. HSDPA territory -- already feels out of date. The handset's entire design, in fact, feels like a good, compact, last-generation flip-phone upgraded to work with a next-generation network. The ZX20 is outclassed by Cingular's other HSDPA phone, the LG CU500, which (while not a perfect phone by any means) boasts a bigger screen, better performance, and dedicated music controls on the external flip, all of which are features you'd expect to find on a 3.5G handset. Release: August 2006. Price: $100.
Pros: Call quality is solid. The keys are pleasant and easy to use. The phone is small, but not flimsy.
Cons: The handset itself doesn't appear powerful enough to keep up with Cingular's HSDPA network. Camera image quality is poor. Screen is too small for streaming video.
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68%
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Full Samsung SGH-ZX20 Review:
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Multimedia - Good
Having seen how good mobile television and streaming audio can be on Cingular's first and only other HSDPA phone, the LG CU500, we were disappointed by the Samsung ZX20's middling performance. Once in a while, streaming videos (which averaged about five minutes long) stopped mid-stream to refill the buffer, an annoyance that was never an issue with the CU500. Video content is good, thanks to the extensive selection at Cingular Video (including for-pay content from the likes of HBO, Comedy Central and ABC), but the size of on-screen video -- already a bit small on the CU500 -- is even smaller on the Samsung ZX20's cramped LCD. Streaming audio channels are not offered on the ZX20, and though the phone has a slot for microSD cards, there are no dedicated music controls. The Web browser, while competent at displaying Cingular's MediaNet pages, is unable to pull down complicated sites like the New York Times (which is typical for non-smartphone handsets), and load times for Web pages were disappointingly slow compared to the CU500. (Incidentally, Java apps took a noticeable long time to launch as well.)
Camera - Good
The ZX20's 1.3-megapixel camera suffers from the same basic problem that plagues most other cameraphones we've tested: it's long on features, but short on quality. Though Samsung includes myriad editing and effects, our poor snapshots were barely worth editing. Pictures were often so dark, even with the included LED flash, that they were only viewable on the screen at an extreme angle. Samsung claims the camera has an autofocus, but this didn’t keep shots from looking blurry with colors that were often oversaturated. The camera also suffers from a sluggish interface, similar to the browser, with long wait times between shots or while switching between functions. The swiveling camera lens is on the hinge of the clamshell, and, similar to the LG CU500, when you flip the camera to face inward, the image appears upside down, an issue that needs fixing, or at least an explanation. Transferring photos to your computer is quick via Bluetooth 2.0. Adjustments to color, brightness and contrast are available, as are some special effects and cute picture frames.
Messaging - Good
The ZX20's well-designed keypad is one of its strong points. The keys are gently raised and have a slightly rubberized feel, making typing a pleasant experience. AIM, ICQ, Yahoo, and MSN instant messaging protocols are all supported, and switching between the different protocols is painless. You only get five lines at a time for instant messages, but the interface is pleasant and easy to use. SMS messages will only show 75 characters on screen, which is less than half the capacity of a full text message. The phone has a robust alert system, allowing you to set different rings or vibration combos depending on who is writing, and what type of message you are receiving. Using MMS to send pictures, video, and audio is simple as well, though the phone resizes images taken at the highest resolution.
Calling - Very good
Voice quality on the ZX20 is good, though a little too warm. Our voice sounded deeper to callers on the other end of calls, and listeners also reported more ambient noise than usual. On the receiving end, slight static is audible on quiet calls. Reception is usually good, though not great, averaging about three bars, but the phone rarely lost touch with the 3G network in New York City. Conference calling is easy and intuitive, but no voice dialing function is offered. Contacts can be linked to five phone numbers and an e-mail address -- not bad, but we'd prefer a few more fields. Also, adding more than one number requires drilling into menus and adding each field individually, which makes for a needlessly tedious process.
Odds and ends
The screen on the ZX20 is surprisingly small at 1.75 inches, compared with 2 inches on the LG CU500. Often, menus extend off the screen, without an obvious indication that more options are available. Some games and applications don’t fit the small space, and leave essential soft-key information hanging just off screen. Also, a high-end, 3.5G phone deserves a color external screen, or at least something more pleasant than the low-res monochrome on its face.
Related phone: Cingular entertainment handset
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LG CU500
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Score: 50% When: July 2006 Worth: $50 Carrier: AT&T
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Will the LG CU500, Cingular's first foray into the speedy world of HSDPA handsets, lure customers to all that 3.5G has to offer? Philip Berne puts the new clamshell through its paces.
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Read » Gallery »
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Price and availability
Available now from Cingular, the SGH-ZX20 is priced at $100 with a two-year service agreement.
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