Samsung Conquer 4G Review – Specification, Features, Price

The Samsung Conquer 4G (SPH-D600) is being claimed as the first 4G smartphone to be available under the $100 mark. The Conquer 4G shares many of its specifications with the HTC EVO 4G from last year, however it comes in a smaller package.

Samsung Conquer 4G from Sprint

Specifications

• Display: 3.5 inch (320 x 480 pixel) 256K Color Capacitive Multi Touch TFT
• Operating System: Gingerbread, Android OS 2.3.4
• Processor: 1 GHz Single Core Second Generation Snapdragon
• Chipset: Qualcomm MSM 8655
• RAM: 1 GB
• Storage Internal: 512 MB
• Storage Removable: microSD, microSDHC 2 GB (32 GB Max)
• 2G: CDMA Tri Band (800 MHz, 850 MHz, 1900 MHZ)
• 3G: CMDA 1xEV-DO rev.A
• 4G: WiMAX
• Wireless: 802.11 b, g, n
• Wireless Tethering: WiFi Hotspot
• Bluetooth: v3.0 with A2DP
• Geo Location: GPS with A-GPS
• USB: microUSB 2.0, Charging Enabled
• Audio Out: Standard 3.5 mm Stereo Audio Jack
• Camera Primary: 3.2 Megapixel Auto Focus (2048 x 1536)
• Flash: LED
• Camera Secondary: 1.3 Megapixel
• Video Recording: VGA

Features

The build quality matches that of the mid or high end smartphones from Samsung, and the phone fits nicely in the hand without feeling like a toy. There is enough weight on the phone to give it a solid non-flimsy feel. The TFT display is no match for the AMOLED displays on the more expensive units but it offers good visibility under direct light. A pleasant surprise is that you get the stock Gingerbread and not the usual TouchWiz that Samsung likes to ship its Androids with. Sprint gives the Sprint Zone, Mobile Waller and ID, ThinkFree Office, My Files file management and Qik preinstalled on the phone. You also get Swype preloaded and using the ID Packs gives easy access to the immense Android Market. The front camera can be used for video calls and chats; however, Google Talk does not recognize the Conquer 4G, perhaps an update is in the pipeline. The standard media players allow streaming of media from online services or the microSD card. DivX video support is not there, however, the other popular codecs like XviD, H.264 and MPEG-4 are all supported.

Samsung Conquer 4G from Sprint

Verdict

The Samsung Conquer 4G does what it is supposed to do very well and inside a good budget too. It is almost impossible to find anything wrong with the phone keeping in mind that this is a “Budget” smartphone. The Conquer offers lightning performance, excellent call quality, lots of internal memory, limited (uninstallable) carrier bloatware and no manufacturer bloatware. Samsung perhaps could have put in a display with a slightly higher resolution, and low light imaging and video was less than desirable. The Samsung Conquer may be the fastest and only 4G budget smartphone in the market at this time.

Price

Sprint is offering the Samsung Conquer 4G for $19.99 with a new contract, at $79.99 on contract extension, for $49.99 when adding a second line. The smartphone without contract is approximately $439.99.