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Unsophisticated messaging phone for AT&T
- Very good messaging features
- Texting-friendly QWERTY keyboard
- Exceptional battery life
- Slim design
- Lacks multimedia functionality
- Slow EDGE network
- Limited web browser
- Wimpy VGA camera
- Available only in bright orange
On the outside, the Samsung Magnet (aside from its bright orange color) looks like a BlackBerry Bold (*Est. $40 with new contract) with its slender, candy-bar design, soft-touch finish and QWERTY keyboard. But inside, it's a different story. "Samsung's Magnet is the latest in a new generation of cheap, dumbed-down QWERTY phones -- equipped with the bare necessities for a low price," says Stewart Wolpin of DitigalTrends.com. Still, reviewers agree that the Magnet excels as a messaging device, supporting multiple email accounts (minus Gmail), multimedia messaging and instant messaging with AIM, Yahoo and Windows Live (for an additional fee).
CNET's Bonnie Cha says the Magnet is good for anyone wanting to skip the bells, whistles and price tag of a smartphone, or a nice alternative to slider phones, such as the Pantech Matrix (free with contract) and Samsung Propel (free with contract). The full QWERTY keyboard packs appeal, but experts and users lament its small, sticky keys. Likewise, the 2.2-inch (220 pixels by 176 pixels) display screen is "bright enough… but not the sharpest," notes Cha. Other amenities include a 500-entry contact book, an easy-to-use interface, Bluetooth and global roaming capabilities.
There are plenty of shortcomings, according to reviewers. The Magnet lacks a multi-megapixel camera, a microSD card slot, a video recorder and a music player (all of which are available on the Samsung Propel for the same price). Stewart Wolpin considers the VGA camera one of the "most glaring missteps." In tests, editors at PhoneArena.com find the limited 16 MB of internal memory can't play a YouTube video. On the web front, Michael Oryl of MobileBurn.com says browsing is painful on AT&T's slow EDGE network, and editors at PhoneArena.com say it can't handle large downloads. Despite these drawbacks, the Magnet's battery life scores with experts and users. Rated at 8.5 hours of talk time, it worked for a "whopping" 12 hours in CNET's tests.
CNET and DigitalTrends.com provide in-depth coverage of the Samsung Magnet, showing how the device stacks up next to market rivals, such as the Pantech Matrix, Samsung Propel and BlackBerry Bold. Standalone reviews at MobileBurn.com and PhoneArena.com also provide plenty of detail, while user comments at ATT.com and PhoneScoop.com show how the Samsung Magnet fares outside the test labs with daily use.
Our Sources
1. CNET
After hands-on testing, Bonnie Cha concludes that the Samsung Magnet is a great choice for messaging mavens who want to skip the bells, whistles and price tag of a full-fledged smartphone. She praises the Magnet's slender, BlackBerry-like profile, full QWERTY keyboard, support for multiple email accounts and "whopping" 12 hours of talk time, but cautions that the VGA camera doesn't deliver the clearest shots.
Review: Samsung Magnet SGH-A257 - Orange (AT&T), Bonnie Cha, May 14, 2009
Stewart Wolpin sums up the Samsung Magnet as "the latest in a new generation of cheap, dumbed-down QWERTY phones." Although he praises the Magnet's voice quality, messaging support and battery life, he says the Magnet is more notable for what it lacks -- no video recording, no expandable memory and no music player.
Review: Samsung Magnet (SGH-a257) Review, Stewart Wolpin, June 11, 2009
Michael Oryl concurs with other experts that the Samsung Magnet is an affordable yet functional messaging phone. Drawbacks include the slower EDGE network that makes for "painful" web browsing, a stiff QWERTY keyboard and lack of Gmail support.
Review: Review of AT&T's Affordable Samsung Magnet QWERTY Messaging Phone, Michael Oryl, June 1, 2009
The editors of PhoneArena.com say the Samsung Magnet's liabilities outweigh its assets. The Magnet's slow EDGE network, lack of Gmail support and reflective display screen chip away at value despite the affordable price tag.
Review: Samsung Magnet a257 Review, Editors of PhoneArena.com, May 25, 2009
5. ATT.com
With a 150 reviews and counting, the Samsung Magnet walks away with an average rating of 3.8 stars out of five. Owners are polarized about the Magnet, either loving or hating it. The design appeals, but many find that the small, sticky QWERTY keys inhibit text messaging. "It looks and feels like a Blackberry but I warn you THIS IS NO SMART PHONE," says one owner.
Review: Samsung Magnet, Contributors to ATT.com, As of Oct. 2009
As with other owner reviews of the Samsung Magnet, it's a tug of war between attractive design and mediocre functionality. One owner even writes a poem about the contradictions titled Picturesque Polarity.
Review: Samsung Magnet A257 / A177, Contributors to PhoneScoop.com, As of Oct. 2009
7. Amazon.com
Only a handful of users review the Samsung Magnet, giving it a middling average rating. "I was excited to get a 'real' phone that I could do some serious texting on. This isn't it," says one of owners posting comments about the Samsung Magnet. However, another user disagrees, saying that the Magnet excels in looks, easy texting and call quality.
Review: Samsung Magnet a257 Phone, Orange (AT&T), Contributors to Amazon.com, As of Oct. 2009
