Samsung Gravity (T-Mobile)

[Edward]

I recently purchased a Samsung Gravity, on T-Mobile. I promised dmarkson I would post a review, so...here it is.

The phone is candy-bar shaped, yet also has a slide-out full QWERTY keyboard for text messaging and web browsing. The phone has EDGE speeds for mobile web, the BBR Mobile Speed Test site consistently reports speeds over 100K from this phone.

The display is larger than what I was previously accustomed to, however the larger screen is a huge plus for web browsing. Web pages formatted for mobile phones, display perfectly with all graphics. With the QWERTY keyboard slid out, the display changes from "portrait" to "landscape" mode, making the web pages wider and easier to read.

Phone calls are clear, it is a tri-band phone, 850/1800/1900 MHz, so it will work in Europe on the 1800 MHz GSM band. I have yet to have a dropped call with it.

Cost: $139 at Best Buy

[dmarkson]

Sounds like a keeper!

[Edward]

Unfortunately, I've been having a problem with the Gravity and do not believe that it is the network.

Both at work and home (in both places, I'm 1/4 mile away from the T-Mobile cell site), I will lose the signal on the Gravity, primarily while the phone is web browsing. The signal will sometimes gradually drop to zero, other times it will go from 4 bars and simply drop to zero without warning.

Yesterday, I took it and a Nokia 2760 (on T-Mobile prepaid) to work and had them side-by-side. When the Gravity lost the signal, I looked at the Nokia and it retained the signal.

At this point, I do not know if the problem could be the Gravity itself, or perhaps the (postpaid) SIM card in it, which was activated in 2004, but not knowing how long the initial prepaid package was put together where the SIM came from originally (a Nokia 3595 package), the SIM is likely even older.

[dmarkson]

Sounds like the phone

[Edward]

I was in CT yesterday, same thing happened. Had full bars (6) when web browsing (even though the browsing was rather slow for a Sunday) and then without warning, no signal, again...

[dmarkson]

Do you have another Tmo phone to try? That would be a good test.

[Edward]

Yes. I placed the postpaid SIM in the Nokia 2760 and have yet to lose the signal, not on calls and not on web browsing.

[dmarkson]

Guess its time for a 3g phone

[Edward]

Well...if metroPCS introduces that LTE/CDMA handset later this year, I'll skip 3G and go directly to 4G.

With my luck, if it turns out to be a Samsung handset..

[dmarkson]

You have not had good luck with handsets.

[Edward]

The headsets don't appear to be anything decent, regardless of vendor. My friend has a 2G iPhone on AT&T, she hates it!

I'm going to pin my hopes on that potential dual LTE/CDMA handset from metroPCS.

[dmarkson]

I would imagine that is what they would do. 4G only won't be that useful for awhile.

[Edward]

One other issue with web browsing, is the browser itself. For example, in the Nokia phones, where it might display a text login page for a particular mobile site, the browser in the Samsung will display full graphics.

[dmarkson]

If you are going to browse at all (other than a quick WAP sports score or news) you really need a smartphone.

[Edward]

I'm fine with WAP browsing, as long as pages do not take too long to load in.

FWIW, I have the Packet Data setting on the Nokia 2760 set to "Always On" and I have not noticed any increase in battery drainage as opposed to having it set to when needed.