Samsung shows how to improve on a winner!
Written: Jan 11 '02 (Updated Jan 12 '02)
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Pros: Stylish; large display; joystick navigation; built-in voice dialing; and MORE!
Cons: A bit expensive; no customizable ringtones; some still find it too bulky.
The Bottom Line: An excellent option if you're looking for a cellphone! The list price is somewhat steep, but it can easily be had for $129.99 or less, making it an excellent value.
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| savoirfaire's Full Review: Samsung SPH-N200 Silver |
I don't know what the "N" in N200 stands for, but it might as well stand for "next generation". Samsung's SPH-N200 is the next step in the evolution of its best-selling SCH-3500. Its appearance is largely similar to that of the original, but it weighs a mere 4.7 oz. compared to the 3500's 5.4 and has been trimmed down from 4.4" x 2.0" x 1.0" to a more manageable 4.3" x 1.9" x 0.9" - all this with the benefit of a bigger screen.
The basics...
I own the blue version, but the N200 can also be purchased in a more conservative silver. Both sport the flip-up earpiece of the 3500, but this has been improved so that the joint is much more sturdy than in its previous incarnation. I was pleased to find that the earpiece doesn't "give" when the phone is pressed firmly to your ear (as is often necessary in crowded places); the old 3500 and Touchpoint 1100/2200 feel as if they will snap in half if too much pressure is applied. The cover also serves to protect the keys from inadvertant dialing.
Sizewise, although it appears almost anorexic compared to its predecessor, some may still find the size of the N200 a bit bulky. Personally, I find that if the phone is made too much smaller (e.g. the Touchpoint 2200) it becomes more difficult to grasp securely. The N200, with its easy-to-use joystick controller and ample buttons, is very easy to dial and navigate with one hand. This N200 further benefits from an expanded LCD (128x96 pixels) which can display 6 lines of exceptionally sharp text against a green backlight which allows for easy readability even in the brightest of conditions!
The phone ships with a cradle-style recharger which includes a second slot to allow for simultaneous charging of the phone AND an additional battery. Speaking of which, the N200 comes with a standard lithium ion battery which is rated at 3.8 hours of digital talk time and 130 hours of standby. I can't say that I've actually timed this, but I've definitely gotten up to over 180 minutes of talk time in a single call (it's ok, we hadn't talked in almost two years!). A more expensive extended life battery can be purchased which boasts 5.3 hours of digital talk time and 192 hours of standby. However, this does increase the total weight to 5.5 oz, and analog times are considerably less in either case.
Finally, the N200 is a dual-band phone. In reality, I have yet to use the phone in analog/roaming mode. It costs more in terms of battery life and airtime! Besides which, digital service is now pretty much available in all major markets and along most major interstates. Still, it's comforting to know that you have that option in case you and your '85 Toyota Camry get stranded in the middle of Montana.
Features galore!
This is where the N200 really shines!
- The address book stores 238 entries and allows up to 6 different numbers for each entry. These can then be "speed-dialed" by entry number (1-3 numbers).
- Built-in voice-dialing! This means that you don't have to worry about whether your carrier offers this service or how much it costs! The entire voice recognition process is performed by the phone! Very handy when using your phone on the road... not that I condone such behavior.
- A wireless web mini-browser that allows you to view text versions of selected popular web sites. Most of these allow you to access information such as e-mail, news, weather, movie showings, stock quotes, and sports scores. Far from full web capability but can be quite handy, especially if you have more minutes than you know what to do with! (Special cables and software can be purchased to allow dial-up access on your laptop's modem using your cellphone. These tend to run around the $50-100 mark. This offers full internet capability, but is limited to about 14.4kbps.)
- A hands-free functionality jack. This accepts any headset with a standard 1/8" jack. Very convenient. It's surprising how many new phones need a special headset for hands-free use. Then again, not so surprising once you see how expensive those headsets are.
- 20 preset ringtones. There are also 3 that are supposedly customizable. However, I haven't been able to figure out how to do so, and one gentleman who emailed Sprint's customer service was told that this option was disabled. It goes without saying, then, that you can't download ringtones like you can with the Nokias - a cool feature. A vibrate mode is also available.
- The N200 also sports standard caller ID, three-way calling, call forwarding, incoming/outgoing/missed call logs, and an airtime tracker. Unfortunately, the airtime tracker is really only useful if you take the time to record the total airtime at the start of each month since it only keeps a running tally for the LIFE of the phone. Would be much more helpful it the counter could be reset.
- Other features include multilingual functionality, a built-in calendar, a calculator, a to-do list, and data-sync capabilities with Microsoft Outlook. Unfortunately, I haven't had occasion to use any of these features to date.
Performance (it's what counts):
Although results seem to be quite variable, I have been quite pleased by the performance of my SPH-N200. Compared to my previous Qualcomm phone, it does a better job of pulling in a signal from the basement of my office building or from inside the parking structure. You have to be realistic, though. There are simply some places where signals just can't reach. Nevertheless, the N200 does an admirable job. The antenna doesn't seem to contribute much, but it does help in some dead areas.
Sound quality is very clear as well, and the volume can be cranked up to the point where it's practically acting as a speakerphone! Hands-free use is easy enough. The standard 1/8" jack lets me use the same headset on my home cordless and my cellphone, and friends tell me that they can't tell whether or not I'm on the hands-free kit.
My only gripe is that my ear sometimes starts to hurt after I use the phone for 30 minutes or more. That's dependent on anatomy, though, so others may not have the problem. Besides, switching ears or using a hands-free kit makes it a moot issue.
Conclusion
Really, the Samsung SPH-N200 gets high marks all around! The only potentially negative thing I can think of (other than size, which is a matter of taste) is that it does not allow for customization of ringtones and downloading of ringtones from the internet. Hardly essential, but it's a fun little feature that my friend's Nokia has. (He likes to rub that in.) The list price of $179.99 is a bit on the pricey side, but you can easily find deals for as low as $129.99 - even lower if you are signing up for a new plan. I can guarantee that you won't be disappointed with this phone. Few others offer the same combination of style, user-friendliness, and features.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 109.99
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Epinions.com ID:
savoirfaire
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Location: Twin Cities, MN
Reviews written: 19
Trusted by: 2 members
About Me:
28yo Minnesota technophile who somehow stumbled into a career in medicine! Go figure.
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