Tech test | MetroPCS Samsung Galaxy Indulge
Published 12:01 am Sunday, March 27, 2011
What it does
This 3.5-inch touch-screen smartphone comes with Android 2.2 operating system and runs on a 1GHz processor. It has a slide-out full QWERTY keyboard and a 3-megapixel camera and video recorder with auto-focus. It includes a 4 GB memory card and can support a larger memory card.
Price
Sold without a contract for $399. Data plans are either $50 a month for 1 GB of data, or $60 a month for unlimited data.
Ups
The screen and case might not be as snazzy as the others in the line of Samsung Galaxy phones, but it still delivers a smooth, bug-free experience. The camera’s dedicated shutter button on the side and auto-focus makes for an easy photo-taking experience. And because it has the latest Android operating system, it can stream Flash videos, something Apple’s iPhone can’t do.
Downs
When not in the MetroPCS 4G network, the phone can’t handle data-heavy applications such as video, downloading apps or browsing websites. Instead, the user just sees error messages to try again. This is because MetroPCS doesn’t have 3G network speeds to fall back on; it’s got more of a 2G experience. During tests in downtown Miami, websites and video loaded without a problem. But testing at home in a weak signal area meant I couldn’t browse or download much without finding a Wi-Fi connection.
The battery also drained unusually fast during the testing days, even while I was trying to avoid the typical power-sucking culprits like Wi-Fi. I suspect it drained faster while trying to scan for a stronger 4G connection signal during times I was at home and not in 4G.
Bottom line
If you want a keyboard — and don’t mind dealing with possible battery issues and the lack of a camera flash — the MetroPCS Samsung Galaxy Indulge has everything one can want in an Android phone. It’s nice to snag a phone like this with a lower monthly bill, yet be aware of the sacrifice of not being able to do much online when not in a 4G area.
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