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Samsung's Instinct s30 is a minor upgrade
- Stylish
- Opera Mini web browser included
- Good call and speakerphone quality
- Great turn-by-turn GPS navigation
- Slower data transfer speeds compared to the Instinct
- No Wi-Fi
- Clumsy interface and low-res screen
- Rudimentary camera
Instinct s30 is a lot more of the same
The Samsung Instinct s30 is a decent upgrade of the Samsung Instinct, the company's highly successful touch-screen phone that squared off with the Apple iPhone in 2008. The s30 features a revamped, curvier casing (4.6 inches by 2.1 inches by 0.5 inches) that is available in cobalt metal and touch of copper color schemes. While the s30 is about the same size as the Instinct, it's about an ounce lighter, at 3.6 ounces. Most reviewers agree that the s30 also boasts improvements in call quality, touch-screen responsiveness, battery life and web browsing.
However, critics are unanimous in their disappointment that many of the Instinct's features have been carried over unchanged in the new model. For example, the s30 has a paltry 2-megapixel camera without flash or autofocus, its interface is outdated and it has a lower screen resolution (240 pixels by 432 pixels) than other phones. Kent German's at CNET says the Samsung Instinct s30 "falls short of being both new and improved," while Steven Grady at SlashGear.com goes as far as to say that "everyone who has a current generation Instinct is going to be upgrading to the Palm Pre."
Features and performance
Many features and accessories that were packaged with the first Instinct are no longer available on the s30. First, the network has been downgraded (from EVDO Revision A to Revision 0), resulting in slower data-transfer speeds, and an extra battery and charger (which were bundled with the original Instinct) are no longer included. Battery life is rated at 4.5 hours of talk time. CNET and InfoSyncWorld.com tests put talk time at about 5.5 hours, while PCMag.com gets just under 4.5 hours, which they say is "about average" for this type of phone. Most experts note problems with choppy video playback, which is also an issue with the original Instinct. Reception and call quality issues are also reported. That said, many reviewers find that the Instinct s30 is still a good feature phone that excels at its core functions, though many complain about its high price ($200 at launch), which has since dropped significantly.
Plenty of review sites weigh in on the merits and flaws of the Samsung Instinct s30. The most substantive reviews, at CNET and PCMag.com, are lukewarm. EngadgetMobile.com and InfoSyncWorld.com reviewers are not impressed, while reviews from MobileTechReview.com, MobileBurn.com, PhoneArena.com and PhoneScoop.com are more positive. Blog-style reviews at SlashGear.com and IntoMobile.com are also upbeat, but not as in-depth as the others.
Our Sources
1. CNET
Kent German's review of the Samsung Instinct s30 compares it with its immediate predecessor. While he likes the slight changes in the Instinct s30's look -- a slimmer size and bigger screen, particularly -- he is quite disappointed that the Instinct s30 uses a slower network.
Review: Samsung Instinct s30 Cobalt metal (Sprint), Kent German, April 17, 2009
2. PCMag.com
Jamie Lendino calls the Samsung Instinct s30 a "decent refresh," but says there isn't quite enough improvement to compel older Instinct owners to upgrade. The touch screen is more responsive than on the original Instinct, but the resolution is blocky and the user interface is confusing and ugly.
Review: Samsung Instinct s30 SPH-M810 (Sprint), Jamie Lendino, June 5, 2009
Darren Murph at EngadgetMobile.com isn't pleased with the Samsung Instinct s30. He feels that, aside from some very minor cosmetic changes, Samsung is presenting an inferior phone to the first Instinct, but for the same price.
Review: Samsung Instinct s30 Review, Darren Murph, Apr. 28, 2009
In his mostly negative review, Philip Berne laments the fact that the s30's interface has not been updated, and that the camera and screen lag behind the competition. He is also dismayed that the Opera Mini browser is hard to get to within the interface.
Review: Samsung Instinct s30 Review, Philip Berne, May 16, 2009
Lisa Gade gives the Samsung Instinct s30 a relatively good review, saying its form factor is much improved over its predecessor. Voice quality, volume and battery life are described as better than the original Instinct, but Gade doesn't go into specifics.
Review: Samsung Instinct s30, Lisa Gade, April 27, 2009
Though Michael Oryl gives the Samsung Instinct s30 a Recommended tag, it is difficult to see why. Like many reviewers, Oryl finds that the s30's looks are much better than the first Instinct, but the slower network speeds and poor camera are big drawbacks.
Review: Review of Samsung's Curvy New Instinct S30 for Sprint, Michael Oryl, May 3, 2009
This review is generally positive about the Samsung Instinct s30, and is well documented with screenshots and views of the phone itself. The external redesign of the s30 is praised, and it is said to have the same excellent call quality of the original Instinct.
Review: Samsung Instinct s30 Review, Editors of PhoneArena.com, Apr. 27, 2009
Eric Zeman recommends the Samsung Instinct s30 for those looking for an inexpensive, easy-to-use touch-screen phone. However, he says, too many of the disappointing features of the first Instinct haven't been fixed in this new version. Zeman is unimpressed with the look of the screen, but says the touch responsiveness is very good.
Review: Review: Samsung Instinct s30, Eric M. Zeman, May 4, 2009
This blog-style look at the Samsung Instinct s30 is positive in tone, as reviewer Steven Grady is a fan of the old Instinct. Like other reviewers, he feels that the s30 would be more competitive at a lower price.
Review: Samsung Instinct s30 Review, Steven Grady, Apr. 22, 2009
10. IntoMobile.com
Will Park's rather breezy review of the Samsung Instinct is generally positive. Park says battery life is "amazing," though he doesn't back this up beyond saying it took a few days to drain the battery with normal use. Call quality and reception are not addressed.
Review: Review: Samsung Instinct s30 for Sprint, Will Park, May 1, 2009
