Samsung Behold T919
It seems that ever since the iPhone was released, every wireless carrier is rushing to release their flagship touchscreen phone. Everyone wants to be the best, so they are all competing for the most features and the most power. From Blackberry to Google, almost everyone has already released theirs. Well, Samsung may have taken a little longer, but they definitely used that time to pack their phone full of features. The question, though: Is it enough? Can Samsung’s new baby compete with all of this powerful competition? Let’s take a look and find out.
At first glance, the Samsung Behold T919 looks similar to most phones of its type. The sleek, sexy design is the perfect answer to what modern consumers are seeking. Compared side-by-side with most of the touchscreen phones, it is a little bit smaller – which does mean that the screen is a little smaller as well. There is no keypad, of course, so most of the phone’s face is dedicated to the screen, helping to maximize usable space. Total resolution is 240 pixels wide by 400 pixels tall, which is quite good for a phone!
The three slender buttons at the bottom of the bright, crisp screen offer basic functionality. The larger button in the center is a “Back” button for navigating the touchscreen, and the small buttons on either side can be used for making calls.
Overall, the phone looks like what you’d expect, and doesn’t vary much from the tried-and-true design for touchscreen phones. It is very eye-catching, and is sure to get you some glances whenever you pull it out to snap a high-resolution camera using it’s built in flash, or to check your email on T-Mobile’s blazing fast 3G network.
The Samsung Behold caters to the trendy, tasteful crowd who has maybe a little bit of a high-end geeky edge to them. The target audience for this phone is a 21 to 35 year old individual who is business oriented, but still wants to have lots of fun on the side.
Like most of its competition, the Samsung Behold T919 does not come cheap. If you buy it outright without signing into a service contract, it will cost you $399. However, sign-up promotions along with a new service contract will bump you down to the $150 range – which is very competitive for a touchscreen phone that is this powerful.
Everyone seems to compare each new phone of this type to the one that started the trend: Apple’s iPhone. This review would not be complete if we didn’t do so as well. Side-by-side, the Behold’s smaller profile makes it more comfortable to carry around in your pocket, while the screen is only a little bit smaller than the iPhone’s. The 5 megapixel camera on the T919 blows the iPhone’s out of the water, even though Apple did include a capable camera.
One of the biggest selling points of the iPhone is its computer-like web browsing experience. The browser on the T919 isn’t quite as good as Safari, but it still provides a very enjoyable experience. Like the iPhone, the Behold has built-in sensors to determine screen orientation, and will rotate from portrait to landscape as needed. If web browsing isn’t your number one priority, the Samsung Behold will probably provide a better overall experience.
Now, T-Mobile has done something kind of odd. They have released two competing phones under their own name. One of the Samsung Behold’s largest competitors is the T-Mobile G1 powered by Google. They are largely different in many ways, but they are still very much competitors. Unlike the Behold, the G1 has a full featured pull-out keyboard, which adds functionality – but also increases thickness. The screen is also a little larger, which is easier on the eyes, but again, it makes it bigger overall. The camera and the hardware of the Samsung blows the G1 out of the water, but the Google-based software on the G1 is definitely better. The camera isn’t as good on the G1, and it has less power and memory than the T919 does. However, one area where the G1 excels over the Behold is wi-fi. The G1’s got it, the Behold doesn’t.
The Samsung Behold and the Samsung Instinct are somewhat similar. The software and interface have a lot in common, and you can see where Samsung took ideas from the Instinct for this phone. Think of the T919 as an Instinct with a hardware upgrade, since they have so much in common. They have taken what they have done right on several phones in the past, and combined it all into one “super phone”. Side-by-side, the Behold definitely has more options than the Instinct.
One of the most innovative things about this phone is their TouchWiz interface, that gives you complete control to customize your interface as much as you wish. Like the iPhone and even Windows Vista, the Behold allows for various widgets on your desktop. You can place your favorite tools and applications right under your nose so you don’t have to pull them up each time. You can also pull up “mini” versions of your favorite applications, such as the music player, so they can be interacted with from a corner of the screen. This is multitasking at its finest!
Now, we’ve covered some of the pros of this phone, but everything has it’s drawbacks. Let’s take a look at some of the negative aspects of the Samsung Behold. First, the internal memory only holds 180 MB, which is ridiculous when you’ve got 5 megapixels at your disposal that can also record video. Thankfully, it does have a memory card slot, just be prepared to purchase a large card in addition to the phone.
The web browser on the Samsung Behold T919 isn’t quite as good as some of the other mainstream phones in its class. Zooming in is awkward, and requires a button press each time you want to change the zoom level. Most pages load okay, but some just aren’t compatible and end up looking skewed and misformatted.
Finally, we have to fess up to one of the worst parts about the Samsung Behold: there is no wi-fi option, at all. There are no plans for one in the foreseeable future. If wi-fi is something you would use a lot, you might want to take a look at a different phone.
In summary, the Samsung Behold T919 is a very powerful phone that gives the competition a run for their money. If this phone suites your needs, it would make a great choice.
omg i have this phone it is soooooo kool i luv it
do you know how to transfer files from the phone to the computer with the usb?
THis phone is amazing. Does it need web to function cuz that costs extra..
Set it to Mass Storage device
Go to Menu,
then Settings,
Then phone settings
then usb.
i have the phone and i love it. altough i have to say the battery life kinda sucks, but beside from that is tottal awsomeness. and no you donot need internet for it.
Im in love with this phone, but Im a little sad, because dont work as a modem. In Tmobile they tell me it works but its no true, or I cant configure it as well. Is somebody knows how I’ll appreciate it.
Behold, the behold.
I’m getting mine on the 9th and I can’t wait 2 receive it.
I have the midnight blue sidekick right now and I feel that this is 4 the kids now since everytime I see someone pull it out its a kid.
My sister has the behold in rose color and I loved it at first sight. I ordered mine in espresso I have a ipod touch so I will know how 2 work this phone with ease. I can’t wait to receive this phone yea.
i have this phone its pretty good tha battery could have been bigger beacause it kinda dies fast but over all its awesome i can never put mines down !!!!!
i JUST GOT MINE AT LUNCH! .. I LOVEEEEEEEEEEEEEE IT! FOR ALL THE GUYS TRYING TO CHANGE THE SCREEN SAVER YOU CAN EITHER CHOOSE FROM THE PICTURES THEY HAVE AVALIABLE OR YOU CAN TAKE YOUR ON PICTURES ON THE PHONE AND SAVE.. GO TO DISPLAY SETTINGS, WALL PAPER AND THEN SET THE PICTURE YOU WANT FROM THERE! HOPES THIS HELPS YOU!
THE PHONE IS VERY CLEAR, VERY LITE (WEIGHT) AND VERY EASY TO USE. I JUST GOT IT AT LUNCH AND I HAVE DONE SO MUCH ALREADY WITH OUT READING THE MANUAL!.. I LIKE “HANDS ON”!
ANY WHO.. HOPE YOU GUYS FIGURE IT OUT! LOT’S OF LOVE – ENJOY YOUR BEHOLD!
Nice phone i cant wait to have it man.
Gotta ask though, any one who can help me i need it please. I stay in Zambia and there is no t-mobile here, so i’m planning to unblock it will i be able to access the internet or you can only access that only through t-mobile? Any one help. I’d be so thankfull.
Does it come wit a memory card?
i have the 2008 sidekick right now and it is seriously starting to piss me off. the phone’s battery sucks first of all, and i can work through that, but then if u dont go onto the internet to buy all the features, you have nothing!! some of us cant afford buying every little thing in order to enjoy the phone. my point of all that was is i have searched long and hard and i think im goin to get the behold. it seems like one of the better phones out there. the only thing that may have a run for my money would be the G1. what do yall think?
I am trading my G1 for the behold. G1 is too bulky. Battery life is crap. I don’t like how the keyboard flips out. And as you continue using the phone it is like the memory gets full and it begins to slow down, a lot! I can’t wait for my behold to get here sometime this week.
I want this phone, however i live in Australia!
Does anyone know if i can use it with the AUSTRALIAN network providers and SIM card????
HELP ME!!!!
Does anyone know how to download the newest version of adobe flash player?
get is at walmart for $50 with contract
Thanks for the info! I was just wondering…..I’ve had an older phone for about a year now, but my sim card is about 3 years old. Do I need to get an upgrade on my sim card to buy the Behold?
I would really appreciate it if you reply back.
Thank you
I just purchased the behold and I love it!! Does anyone know if you can log into more than one instant messaging service at a time? I would like to log into my aim and yahoo im, but I am having trouble getting back to the screen after I log into one.
thanks!
wow love the behold friend has fell i love with it so i ordered it and it will be here on the 2nd
The Behold from Wal-Mart does not include the USB. So the USB I have that fits the slot does not work. For 24 more dollars, I can buy the USB from Samsung to download the more than 65 photos that are on my Behold. This is a rip-off from both companies.
I finally got my behold, i was wonderin if it would work in my country (zambia) so Vee From australia, the samsung behold is a world phone in can work anywhere you just get it unlocked like i done did. BUT i gotta tell you, you will have to forget about accessing the internet cuz the phone is locked to t mobile though i been told you can also get that unlocked for gprs, but overall the behold is one of samsungs best phones. The camera is crazy, i love to take panoramic photos it is so intelligent how it stitches itself,there are a lot of features and effects.. The behold!!!
i wnt a behold so bad!
i need help with my behold . I want to put songs on it but im not sure how to . Also i have windows vista so i need help on how to put songs on my behold. By The way this is my second Behold already so im taking precautions to not screw this one up
absolutely junk…..battery life is laughable……touch screen is barely usable……t9 function is unusable, and it locks up allllllllll the timeeeeee…….dont waste your money
i hat this phone good for nothing no use of GPRS no wifi dont buy this phone am feeling like cheated