How big are smartphones going to get this year?  Really big, as it turns out, with the new Samsung Galaxy Note taking the lead in the size department.

With a giant 5.3-inch display, it certainly stretches the boundaries if being a "mobile phone."  It looks like a phone and works like a phone, though, so we guess it is one.  Fortunately, they scaled back on the thickness and weight, with the handset rising just 0.38 inches on the side and tipping the scales at 6.3 ounces.

Details of the Galaxy Note include a Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen (1280 x 800 resolution), an 8.0 megapixel camera in the rear, a 2.0 megapixel camera in the front, full wireless connectivity (including 4G, 3G and WiFi), a removable 2,500mAh battery and microSD card expansion.  Muscle is provided by a dual-core 1GHz Samsung-made CPU.

With a screen that large, of course, you should be able to do more and the Galaxy Note obliges with the S Pen, a bundled stylus that lets you draw, scribble and handwrite notes on the phone.  We're guessing it's similar to what the HTC Flyer does, so it's quite the attractive feature.  It runs Android 2.3 Gingerbread with TouchWiz on top and a load of apps to take advantage of the pen, including the S Memo (for taking notes) and Virtual Whiteboard (collaborative note-taking).  They're also opening the pen's SDK to third-party developers, so expect more apps to show up if sales pick up.

Samsung says it's still in discussion with networks interested in carrying the Samsung Galaxy Note, so expect a while before it hits shelves.  No pricing was announced either, although this can't be anything but expensive.

[via Engadget]

The Samsung Conquer 4G sets itself apart by being one of the cheaper 4G-equipped phones out there.  Despite the price, it's quite the capable device, striking a good balance of hardware and features to go with the high-speed broadband connectivity.

Physically, it's a good-looking mid-sized phone that should fit perfectly fine in your pants pocket.  While it’s nowhere near premium in appearance, the textured back does give it a nice feel when cupped in hand.  To bring down the price, the display is one of the areas that the phone has made compromises for.   While the 3.5-inch panel is big enough for most uses, the resolution is a low 320 x 480 pixels.  It's serviceable, especially with otherwise ample brightness and clarity.

As a phone, the Samsung Conquer 4G made for good calls, with clear audio and natural-sounding voices on both ends.  Speakerphone phone isn't very good, though, with voices sounding hollow and even cutting out on occasion.  Battery is rated at 5.25 hours of talk time.

Samsung ditched TouchWiz for this device, choosing to go with a near-stock Android 2.3 experience, instead.  A 1Ghz Snapdragon chip provides capable processing muscle, with apps launching quickly and navigation being particularly responsive.

The Conquer 4G has all the features you expect from an Android smartphone: voice options, basic and advanced messaging, the full suite of wireless connectivity and the usual load of bundled apps.  The big draw, of course, is the compatibility with Sprint's WiMax network, which should have you streaming YouTube videos with little to no buffering.  Of course, with the low-res display, video quality isn't all that great anyway -- at least, the downloads go fast.  Plus, you can share it with other devices over WiFi.

Media playback is decidedly average, so you might want to consider getting a better media player off the Market to spice it up a little bit.  It comes with two cameras: a 1.3 megapixel webcam for video chat and a 3.2 megapixel module in the rear.  The latter makes for decent outdoor photos (indoor shots look very dull, though).

Available for $99.99 on a two year agreement with Sprint, the Samsung Conquer 4G makes for a unique value proposition.  While it does make some compromises (low-res camera and display), it's still a well-equipped smartphone with solid performance.

Samsung debuted a new messaging phone for Cricket's roster.  Called the Samsung Comment, it's a QWERTY candybar feature phone for texting-heavy users.

Sporting a Blackberry-style form factor, the handset measures 4.41 x 2.4 x 0.43 inches and weighs 3.3 ounces.  It appears to be Samsung's replacement for the Freeform II, although the specs aren’t all that much of an upgrade.

Details of the Samsung Comment include a 2.4-inch LCD (320 × 240 resolution), aGPS, Bluetooth, a 1.3 megapixel camera module, a four-row QWERTY keyboard in the front panel, microSD card support (up to 32GB) and a 1,000 mAh battery module rated at 5 hours of talk time.  There's no 3G or WiFi, although you do get GPRS access to  Cricket’s proprietary storefront, where you should be able to download Java apps, wallpapers and various other types of content.  Preloaded apps include MyHomeScreen (access to weather, news and horoscopes), MyBackup, and Cricket Navigator.

While there's really nothing very attractive about this phone's feature set, it should appeal to the text-and-call crowd who aren't really interested in anything much beyond the basics.   Paired with Cricket's cheap monthly plans (which don't require any extended tie-in), those on a budget should find it a decent pick-up, too.

The Samsung Comment retails for $89.99 with no contract.

[Samsung]

Want a rugged smartphone to satisfy all your adventurous outdoor Android cravings?  Look no further than the Samsung Galaxy Xcover, a sleek-looking rugged handset ready to take on your Motorola Defy in a head-to-head battle.

Designed for outdoor use (as the mud-covered product shots make obvious), the phone is fully IP67-certified.  That means, it can survive through dust, dirt and water submersion up to 1 meter.  Plus, it still looks good when covered in dirt, so that can only be a good thing.

Details of the Samsung Galaxy Xcover include a 3.6 inch capacitive touchscreen display (800 x 480 resolution), a 3.2 megapixel camera module with LED flash, aGPS, 3G with HSPA, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and microSD card expansion (up to 32GB).   It runs Android 2.3 Gingerbread, with a host of what looks like bundled apps centered around sports and other outdoor activities.

No word on processor or RAM, but we imagine this isn't falling on the high-end in terms of hardware specs.  For now, the Samsung Galaxy Xcover has only been announced for Germany with an October release date.  No pricing was given, but it sounds like a strictly mid-range device.  The rugged shell could raise prices just a little, though.

[via Press release]

A new Samsung Galaxy S II variant just showed up around the blogosphere and… it looks like another Samsung Galaxy S II variant.  Leaked by a Korean outlet, the upcoming handset is codenamed the Samsung Celox.

Getting tired of the endless variants of the Galaxy S II?  Same here.  This one's packing the gift of an LTE radio (up to 100Mbps down / 50Mbps up), though, so those considering an S II but are hankering for faster broadband speeds should find it of particular interest.

Rumored details of the Samsung Celox include a dual-core 1.2GHz Qualcomm processor, a 4.5-inch SuperAMOLED Plus touchscreen (800 x 480 resolution), an 8.0 megapixel camera module, WiFi, Bluetooth 3.0, aGPS, a 3G radio, 16GB of internal storage, microSD card expansion, a 1,750 mAh battery and the rest of the hardware suite its Galaxy S II cousins are hiding.   For software, expect Android 2.3 Gingerbread with a heaping of TouchWiz 4.0 for the UI.

Granted, the photo they procured is more suspect than anything.  It's the best anyone's got right now, though, and it's so ugly it can’t possible be a serious Photoshop job.   Plus, we all know people don't make up stuff on the internet, right?  Right?

[via SammyHub]

Sprint just announced their latest sub-$100 Android smartphone.  While we've had many handsets fall in the same price range before, the Samsung Conquer 4G is one of the few to actually come with a 4G radio for high-speed broadband access.

Why the cheap price?  Nothing special really -- the phone is really just modestly-equipped, save for the access to the carrier's high-speed data network, which will see it automatically switch between 3G and 4G connections, depending on what is available in your area.

Details of the Samsung Conquer 4G Include a 3.5 inch capacitive touchscreen display *480 x 320 resolution), a 3.2 megapixel camera in the rear, a 1.3 megapixel front-facing webcam, aGPS, Bluetooth, WiFi (with mobile hotspot for up to five devices), microSD card expansion  and a 1,500 mAh battery module.  A 1GHz processor provides the muscle.

Contrary to past rumors, the handset doesn't have a slide-out keyboard, so a nudge in the head to whoever first reported that.  Oh yeah, it runs Android 2.3 Gingerbread, along with the usual Google Mobile Services and Sprint's roster of bloatware applications.

The Samsung Conquer 4G will go for just $99.99 with a new two-year service agreement from Sprint.  You can get one beginning August 21.

[via Sprint]

The Samsung Dart's selling point is simple: it offers the full Android experience at a hard-to-beat price.  Sure, it's small and cheap-looking, but it really does get the job done.

Physically, it's quite the compact number, especially in today's bigger smartphone landscape.  Made from lightweight plastic, it's also not the kind of phone you'll want to drop or smash onto anything, although it does feel nice when gripped with the matte textured back cover.  Screen is a small 3.1 inches at 320 x 240 resolution, so expect plenty of scrolling and some challenges when typing on the virtual keyboard.  Display is ample bright and colorful, though.

As a phone, the Samsung Dart makes for good calls with little background noise on both ends of the line.  Those on the other end did experience some fading out of the audio, although it happened very infrequently.   Speakerphone performed similarly -- just the usual tininess in the overall sound.  Battery is rated at 8 hours of talk time and, given the modest hardware, should last you through one day without breaking a sweat.

All the usual smartphone features are onboard: voice options, basic and advanced messaging, and wireless connectivity (3G, WiFi with wireless hotspot, Bluetooth, GPS).  The 3.1 megapixel camera takes surprisingly good photos, with good sharpness and bright colors.

It runs TouchWiz UI over Android 2.2, with tight Google integration, so you get the full range of Google's services with the handset.   Processor is a paltry 600MHz, though, so expect occasional lags when launching apps (especially some of the newer, resource-intensive ones).  General navigation is smooth, though.

Overall, the Samsung Dart's simplicity makes it a perfectly serviceable entry-level smartphone.  If you're shopping for a new phone on a tight budget, you can't beat the price, as well, as it's free on a new two-year agreement with T-Mobile.

Want to get in on the Android action, but on a budget?  The Samsung Gravity Smart, a compact smartphone with a slide-out keyboard, just might be your thing.

Physically, it's a small good-looking device, with a sturdy build and some decent touches (like a soft-touch finish and brushed metal appearance on the keyboard).  There's no way it can be mistaken for a premium phone, but that's not what this performer is about.   The 3.2-inch display (420 x 380 resolution) is sufficiently bright and sharp, although, a tad too small for today's standards.  Fortunately, you won't have to type on a virtual keyboard in the small display, since it comes with a landscape QWERTY panel that brings a tactile feel and very good response.

As a phone, the Gravity Smart makes for good calls, but it could use just a little more volume for better usability in crowds. Those on the other end reported decent reception, although they complained of some echoes.  Speakerphone, on the other hand, had volume to spare, but sounded tinny.  Battery is rated at 5.5 hours of talk time.

All the usual smartphone goodies are in stock: basic and advanced messaging, a good selection of preloaded tools and full wireless connectivity (3G, WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS and even DLNA).  An 800MHz processor drives the action, which makes for decent performance with little instances of lag (and they usually occur after I loaded the memory with a little too many open apps).

It comes with Samsung's TouchWiz interface on top of Android 2.2 Froyo.  All of Froyo's niceties are onboard, from syncing contacts to Google Mobile Services.  We love the app selection, which includes AllShare (for DLNA syncing), AIM, Lookout and DriveSmart (Sprint's driver safety app).

The music player is stock Android, so best find one better from the Market.  The 3.0 megapixel manages very average photos (forget about using this indoors for anything good, even with the flash at work).

Overall, the Samsung Gravity Smart is solid for a low-cost starter phone.  Priced at $29.99 (with lots of rebates if you buy it online) on a two-year agreement with Sprint, it is quite a value.

The Samsung Galaxy S II is one heck of a phone.  It's also ridiculously expensive.  If you're fine with a slightly less-powerful, less-expensive and slightly smaller dead ringer, you might be interested in the Samsung Galaxy Z.

While Samsung still hasn't officially announced the handset, wireless provider Three over in Sweden just put it up on their website for pre-order.  And they laid the details on, too, which effectively tells the world what this new looker is all about.

Details of the Samsung Galaxy Z include a 4.2-inch Super Clear LCD touchscreen (480 x 800 resolution), a 5.0 megapixel camera module (with 720p video and LED flash), aGPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 3G, 8GB of internal storage and microSD card expansion.  Muscle is provided by a 1GHz dual-core Nvidia Tegra 2, with battery rated at up to 9 hours of talk time (we doubt you can count on that, though).

The shell, which doesn't veer far from its S II brother, measures 125.3 x 66 x 19.5 mm. -- just a tad thicker than the Samsung's top-of-the-line 4.3-incher.   No word yet on what version of Android it will be running.

Three Sweden has the Samsung Galaxy Z listed at SEK 3,995 (around $630) contract-free and SEK 300 (around $50) on a new two-year agreement.

[Three Sweden]

The Samsung Replenish is far from the prettiest or the most full-featured Android device in the market.  Made partly from recycled materials, though, it boasts some eco-friendliness to go with the feature set -- something not entirely common among current smartphone offerings in the market.

Physically, it looks a bit like the Droid Pro with its smallish touchscreen and front-mounted QWERTY keyboard.  While it's far from the sleekest phone on the block, it is attractive enough, especially for an "eco" phone.  Display is 2.4-inch capacitive touchscreen with 320 x 240 resolution, which is ample bright with good colors.   The four-row QWERTY keyboard is sufficiently raised and backlit, although it's not quite as snappy in responsiveness as some of the better keyboards out there.

As a phone, the Samsung Replenish makes for decent calls, although we did notice some semi-regular distortion.  Those on the other end reported a better experience.  Speakerphone had plenty of volume to spare, although it did retain the fuzziness from the regular earpiece.  Battery is rated for up to 5.4 hours of talk time.

It runs Android 2.2 Froyo with support for Sprint ID, which allows you to customize various parts of the UI quickly.   While I, personally, would rather do without it, your taste may vary.   You get the usual load of Google Mobile tools, social networking and IM apps, and a bunch of other preloaded software. Flash isn't supported in the browser, though -- the 600MHz processor just doesn't have the muscle for it.

This is well-stocked for an entry-level smartphone.  You get the usual voice calling options, a gaggle of connectivity options (3G, WiFi, GPS, Bluetooth) and some solid messaging features.  You can also use it as a hotspot for up to five devices (there's an extra monthly fee, though).

Media playback is standard Android -- which is just so-so.  The 2.0 megapixel camera, however, was a surprise, taking above average stills despite the low resolution. There's only 512MB of onboard storage, though, so better crank out that microSD card.

Overall, we like the Samsung Replenish, especially at the $49.99 with a two-year agreement from Sprint.    If you can deal with a sub-standard web browsing experience (cramped display, no Flash), it's a solid, easy-to-use Android phone for the entry-level crowd.