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Solid, but quirky business smartphone
- Wi-Fi capability
- Excellent battery life
- Good camera
- Clear call quality
- Fast download speeds
- Proprietary headphone jack
- Joystick control takes getting used to
- Glossy finish gets dirty easily
- Poor web browser
Design gets mixed reviews
The Samsung Propel Pro, the business-oriented update to the Samsung Propel (Free with new/renewal contract), features a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, a 2.5-inch display and measures a squat 3.9 inches by 2.4 inches by 0.6 inches when closed. It has a glossy plastic finish, which polarizes reviewers. Some feel that the design is sexy and stylish, while others find it tacky and cheap. Even those who like the Propel Pro's shell admit that it attracts smudges and fingerprints very easily. The mini joystick for navigating menus also splits critics: A few find it very responsive, but more find it awkward.
Call quality is generally regarded as very good, and the speakerphone earns praise, too. Samsung rates the Propel Pro as having 6.5 hours of continuous talk time, and most reviewers easily meet -- and in some cases greatly exceed -- this figure. Bonnie Cha says that in CNET's tests, 10 hours of continuous talk time was squeezed from a single charge. PCMag.com gets a little over seven hours, a "stellar result" for this kind of phone, while InfoSyncWorld.com gets a "disappointing" 5.5 hours of continuous talk time.
Performance good overall, despite Windows Mobile OS
Connectivity is also one of the Propel Pro's strengths, boasting Wi-Fi and Bluetooth compatibility as well as built-in GPS functionality, which reviewers like. The Propel Pro has a 3-megapixel camera that is revealed when the phone is opened. It has autofocus (but no flash), and testers say pictures taken with the camera are very good, considering it isn't a dedicated digital camera. Some also like the unique feature that allows users to photograph and store pictures of business cards with this camera.
Critics are mostly unimpressed with the software on the Propel Pro, but this is more a reflection of their feelings about the Windows Mobile operating system than of the phone itself. Some recommend the Samsung Epix (*Est. $200 with contract) as a better phone for Windows Mobile users. Still, many critics note that the Propel Pro, with its 528 MHz processor, runs its applications speedily, despite the aging OS's notoriety for poor performance. Microsoft's Mobile Office suite comes in handy for some. No one likes being restricted to using the bundled Internet Explorer, however; reviewers generally prefer Opera's mobile browser.
The Samsung Propel Pro gets a good mix of in-depth reviews. CNET, PCMag.com, EngadgetMobile.com, InfoSyncWorld.com, MobileBurn.com and WMExperts.com all give the phone comprehensive evaluations. PocketNow.com, BrightHand.com and Mobiledia.com also look at the Propel Pro, but aren't as specific in their criticisms.
Our Sources
1. CNET
Despite the Samsung Propel Pro's generous feature set, the device's bulkiness and cramped keyboard keep Cha from recommending it wholeheartedly. She is impressed with the camera's image quality. Call quality, both incoming and outgoing, is generally good, though Cha reports that the sound is not totally clear. Speakerphone performance is also satisfactory.
Review: Samsung Propel Pro (AT&T), Bonnie Cha, April 9, 2009
2. PCMag.com
Lendino is disappointed by some of the Propel Pro's design decisions, though he says call quality is good, as is reception. He is particularly impressed by the smartphone's wind rejection. Though the camera lacks a flash, Lendino says that it takes very sharp pictures. He finds the joystick control difficult to use, and blames many of the Propel Pro's software woes on the "tired" Windows Mobile operating system.
Review: Samsung Propel Pro SGH-i627 (AT&T), Jamie Lendino, May 18, 2009
Darren Murph is enamored with the Samsung Propel Pro's stylish looks, although he is critical of the square shape of the LCD screen, and says that it is noticeably dim, especially outdoors. Murph cites common complaints about the Windows Mobile OS (such as application lags and screen freezes), but does point out that these are lessened on the Propel Pro in comparison to other Windows Mobile-equipped smartphones.
Review: Samsung Propel Pro Review, Darren Murph, April 16, 2009
Philip Berne is much more comfortable using Windows Mobile than other reviewers, and he is impressed with the Propel Pro's messaging performance, though even he finds web browsing and media playback unsatisfactory. Berne likes the looks and design of the Propel Pro, saying that its only drawback is that it can be tricky to open and is a little thick when closed. In tests, 3G download speeds on the Propel Pro are some of the fastest he's seen on a smartphone.
Review: Samsung Propel Pro Review, Philip Berne, Philip Berne
Michael Oryl gives the Samsung Propel Pro a "Highly Recommended" rating for design and overall functionality. He reports that reception and call quality are good on the Propel Pro, but the speakerphone doesn't sound good. Download speeds are also good, and the camera performs better than expected. Echoing other reviewer opinions, he says of the software "the WinMo interface is very long in the tooth at this point, and is in dire need of a massive overhaul."
Review: Samsung Propel Pro, Michael Oryl, Apr. 22, 2009
George Ponder says the Propel Pro's glossy finish is a fingerprint magnet and the keyboard is "good, but not great." He doesn't much care for the joystick either. Ponder likes the camera and thinks that having the lens exposed only when the camera is opened affords it added protection. The software is "middle of the road," and Ponder feels there's an inordinate amount of bloatware installed; on the other hand, he reports no trouble with "hiccups, handups, or stalls" while using it.
Review: Review: Samsung Propel Pro, George Ponder, Apr. 13, 2009
PocketNow.com's look at the Samsung Propel Pro is short on analysis, but long on photo documentation of all aspects of the device. Reviewer Brandon Miniman says that battery power, software performance and call quality are good, but doesn't go into detail. Miniman finds the keyboard might be cramped for those with larger hands. He is also critical of the joystick, and reports that the glossy plastic finish makes the Propel Pro feel cheap and scratch-prone.
Review: The Real Blackjack Slider, Brandon Miniman, May 4, 2009
Edwards likes the Propel Pro's screen, but notes that it doesn't perform well in bright sunlight, and is too reflective: at times "I could see my reflection much better than I could see the screen." Call quality is described as "good, but not exceptional." The Propel Pro's processor is speedy, as Edwards says that she didn't have applications lag at all.
Review: Samsung Propel Pro Review, Jen Edwards, May 21, 2009
Emily Anderson takes an in-depth look at the Samsung Propel Pro for Mobiledia.com, though much of the review is a list of features without much evaluation. She likes the screen, finds call quality and the speakerphone good, and says that the rated 6.5 hours of talk time is in line with similar phones, but doesn't provide an independent estimate of battery life. She complains that many of the ringtones are more appropriate for the dance club rather than the boardroom.
Review: Samsung Propel Pro Review, Emily Anderson, May 17, 2009
