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A solid budget smartphone
- Very good call quality
- Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity
- Can be used as tethered modem
- Proprietary headphone jack
- Mediocre web browsing
- Casing can be slippery
Samsung Jack is the latest member of the BlackJack series
The Samsung Jack for AT&T, the successor to the Samsung BlackJack and BlackJack II (*Est. free with contract), is a slab-style smartphone with a rounded, appealing look. It's quite light and small, but the phone's slick finish makes it a bit hard to grasp, reviewers say. The QWERTY keyboard is described as cramped, and it generally gets indifferent reviews.
The Jack boasts a number of major improvements, however. Reviewers are pleased with the 3.2-megapixel camera and note that its new 512 MHz processor gives the Jack speedy all-round performance on its Windows Mobile 6.1 operating system. Call quality is very good, though opinion diverges over signal strength. Philip Berne at InfoSyncWorld.com (not one known for hyperbole) calls the Jack's battery performance "unbeatable" and "superlative." The Jack also has very good connectivity options, such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and 3G compatibility; it can be used as a tethered modem for a laptop with very fast download speeds. Web browsing on the phone is speedy, but reviewers aren't crazy about Internet Explorer Mobile.
Great, but not quite AT&T's best
There are some quibbles about the Samsung Jack that keep it from coming out on top. Reviewers are annoyed by the Jack's proprietary headphone and power port; a special Samsung cable must be used for charging the phone, listening to music, or connecting with a computer -- a major hassle if it gets lost. Critics wish the 2.4-inch screen were bigger and brighter and say it contributes to the Jack's mediocre web-browsing experience. Most top reviewers prefer AT&T's Apple iPhone 3GS, Nokia E71x and BlackBerry Curve 8900 over the Samsung Jack.
We found ample reviews of the Samsung Jack, and there is much consensus between individual reviewers. The best reviews are at CNET, InfoSyncWorld.com and PC World, which cover all aspects of performance and design, and compare the Jack with numerous competing phones. MobileBurn.com also has a fairly in-depth review. BrightHand.com, Laptop Magazine, MobileTechReview.com and Ubergizmo.com also take a look at the Samsung Jack, but are generally more superficial.
Our Sources
1. CNET
Bonnie Cha's CNET review of the Samsung Jack is mostly positive. She praises the phone's performance, thanks to the Jack's improved camera and processor over those of the earlier Blackjack II. However, the proprietary headphone and power port is a strike against the Jack, and Cha finds the phone "slippery."
Review: Samsung Jack (AT&T), Bonnie Cha, May 27, 2009
Philip Berne is quite enthusiastic in his review of the Samsung Jack for InfoSyncWorld.com. The physical design, call quality, battery life and messaging are all praised. Berne isn't thrilled with the proprietary headphone/power port, and finds web browsing and media disappointing.
Review: Samsung Jack Review, Philip Berne, May 21, 2009
3. PC World
PC World's Patrick Miller says that the Samsung Jack is solid in core functions, like messaging and calling, but falls short with its keyboard and web browsing. The proprietary charging port is seen as another drawback, and Miller concludes the review by predicting that the Jack will have a hard time enticing smartphone buyers away from other offerings from AT&T.
Review: Samsung Jack, Patrick Miller, June 29, 2009
Michael Oryl likes -- but doesn't love -- the Samsung Jack's revamped design. Nevertheless, he gives the well-performing phone a Highly Recommended rating, thanks to its upgraded RAM, better keyboard and excellent battery life. But he's not pleased with the Jack's D-pad, and feels that, despite the updated casing, the Jack's display still looks dated.
Review: Review of Samsung Jack, Michael Oryl, May 28, 2009
Jen Edwards' review of the Samsung Jack is mostly ambivalent. She finds that most of its features -- call quality, keyboard, speed -- are good, but not great, and certainly not good enough to set it apart from many other phones. Build quality and Wi-Fi are singled out as the highlights, while the screen performs poorly outdoors.
Review: Samsung Jack Review, Jen Edwards, June 11, 2009
Laptop Magazine's Todd Haselton provides a favorable review, covering all aspects of performance and design (though it's short on details). He calls the Jack a good value for a smartphone, but finds it lags behind the Nokia E71x. Significantly, Haselton points out that the Jack will support the not-yet-released (at the time) Windows Mobile 6.5 operating system, making it "somewhat futureproof."
Review: Samsung Jack (AT&T), Todd Haselton, June 9, 2009
Lisa Gade provides a brief write-up of the Samsung Jack, supplemented by a video review. Gade likes the Jack's call quality and battery life, and recommends it for those looking for a budget, non-BlackBerry smartphone.
Review: Samsung Jack, Lisa Gade, June 18, 2009
This blog-style review describes the Samsung Jack as a good, but not excellent smartphone. The BlackBerry Curve and Nokia E71x are compared to it, and Nguyen finds it falls a bit short, especially with web browsing. Nguyen provides a detailed account of usage to give his praise of the Jack's battery life, which he calls the phone's best feature.
Review: Samsung Jack Review, Hubert Nguyen, June 18, 2009
