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Inexpensive slider cell phone has many features but challenging controls
- Inexpensive
- Sleek, light body
- Fast browsing, messaging, emailing
- MicroSD memory card slot
- Quirky touch controls
- Flat keyboard criticized by some
- Choppy video playback
- Some unimpressed with battery life
Reviews describe the Helio Mysto, the Samsung-built successor to the discontinued Helio Drift, as an imperfect 3G slider cell phone that can do a lot of things well, and other things not all that well. Like the Helio Heat, the Mysto (aka Samsung SPH-A523) has quirky touch controls on the front and a flat alphanumeric slide-out keypad, and those are the two most frequent sources of reviewers' criticism and frustration. Even the most positive reviews describe a learning curve with the touch controls. Although there's a 2-megapixel camera, PCMag.com calls it "useless." And while PC World praises video playback on the 2.2-inch screen, others call it choppy -- PCMag clocks it during testing at "an unacceptable" two frames per second. Be aware that reviews were published well before Helio was acquired by Virgin Mobile USA in July 2008, and the price at this writing has dropped by about two-thirds -- $50 with a two-year contract.
Like the other Helio cell phones, the Helio Mysto packs a lot of features into its sleek body, which measures 4.1 inches by 1.9 inches by 0.5 inches and weighs 3.4 ounces. There's built-in GPS, fast web surfing, and reviews say the instant messaging and email software are "robust," and take advantage of the high-speed 3G network. Unlike the Helio Heat (Discontinued), the Mysto has a microSD memory card slot, but it's inconveniently placed behind the battery. Helio rates talk time at about 3.5 hours. Oddly, PC World tested the talk time at nearly 4.5 hours, yet rates that performance as "poor." Likewise, reviewers disagree about the call quality. And though most praise the Helio Mysto as a music player (some like the included Samsung headset), Laptop Magazine calls the music download speed disappointing.
Reviews disagree on some details but arrive at a similar conclusion overall. We found the best reviews at CNET and PCMag.com, where a large number of cell phones are tested and assigned scores. We also found thorough testing at MobileBurn.com, PC World, Laptop Magazine and Digital Trends. Consumer Reports doesn't rate Helio cell phones. We found no owner reviews at Amazon.com and just a handful at CNET.
Helio Heat Cell Phone
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Our Sources
1. CNET
CNET rates lots of cell phones and assigns them an overall score. The Helio Mysto is rated "very good," and a smattering of user reviews agree. The touch-sensitive navigation, flat keypad and call quality are negatives. The 2.2-inch display screen is "gorgeous," but video is "choppy."
Review: Helio Mysto, Nicole Lee, Jan. 24, 2008
2. PCMag.com
PCMag.com tests the Helio Mysto and rates it "good," calling it nice-looking and decent at playing music. But the camera is "useless" and the CPU "chokes on most video files," playing at an unacceptable two frames per second during testing.
Review: Helio Mysto, Jamie Lendino, Feb. 7, 2008
The lone drawback to the detailed reviews here is the lack of comparisons with similar cell phones. The Helio Mysto is named a Recommended model, but without enthusiasm. Reviewer Ricky Cadden writes that "the multimedia features are incredibly tempting," but the interface and keypad are frustrating.
Review: Review: Samsung's Mysto for Helio, Ricky Cadden, Feb. 18, 2008
4. PC World
While not the top source for cell phone reviews, PC World is thorough and provides an overall "good" rating for the Helio Mysto. Their battery test yields a "poor" grade, however. Unlike other reviewers, Cathy Lu apparently had no problem with the video performance, even noting it as a positive.
Review: Helio Mysto, Cathy Lu, April 25, 2008
Laptop Magazine scores the Helio Mysto at three out of five stars, saying it's stylish and feature filled. On the downside, you can't play music while text messaging, and video and audio were out of sync during testing.
Review: Helio Mysto, Todd Haselton, Jan. 30, 2008
The Helio Mysto gets a six out of 10 from Digital Trends because of its "weird key design" and "high learning curve." Reviewer Damon Brown concludes: "It's hard to justify the device on cool multimedia options alone."
Review: Helio Mysto, Damon Brown, April 1, 2008
