Samsung Conquer 4G Android Phone (Sprint)

Just like the Evo, but in a smaller hand-friendly package November 7, 2011

Reviewer:  Dave 

While I loved my original HTC EVO 4G, I found that it was a tad too big for my pockets and to fit in my hand comfortably. Unfortunately, when the time came to replace the EVO, I discovered that all the new high-end spec'd smartphones had become HUGE. If I wanted a tablet, I'd buy one, but I don't. So, in my search to find an Android the size of an iPhone, I came across very few options. The Samsung Conquer, I found, is the same speed as the EVO, with the same amount of memory. After a few days of use, I find the Conquer to be a bit faster than the EVO, in fact. Here are a few pros and cons.

Pros
+ Perfect size
+ Hardly any pre-installed bloat (450MB of 512MB internal memory available upon first use, compared to ~300MB on the EVO, which had tons of crap pre-installed)
+ Good performance, almost identical to the EVO, which means it is responsive with no lag
+ Boots up VERY quick
+ Excellent build quality - the back side is a textured, almost rubberized-feeling plastic that provides great grip
+ Physical camera button
+ C H E A P !!!

Cons (pretty much echo what the expert reviews out there say)
- Screen resolution a bit too low. Colors are still great and the brightness is excellent, but you can definitely see some pixelation on smaller icons.
- Camera is only 3.2MP. This was not a huge issue for me, since I use a better digital cam for any pics that matter. And actually, I've found that if you tinker with the settings, this phone takes quite nice photos. The physical camera button has a half-press to focus feature, which adds to stability when taking shots.

The only other thing I'll mention, that is not a + or -, but just an observation, I had grown to like the HTC Sense interface. The Conquer's interface is stock Android, so a couple features I had come to love are missing (calculator widget, calendar/agenda widget, & a "restart" option for the phone). I found some calculator and calendar widgets in the market, but they lack the polish of Sense.

This is a great little phone. I really hope the manufacturers and carriers realize that not everyone wants a 4.5" screen in order to get top-of-the-line specs otherwise. I hate to say it, but the iPhone is the perfect package. If it weren't Apple, I'd buy it in a heartbeat.

Entry level Android never performed this well before! November 22, 2011

Reviewer:  Brendan A. MacWade  (New York, NY, USA) -

If you are not a game player, and just need a solid slab Android phone with zippy performance, accurate GPS and cell tower location reporting, and plenty of app storage space (not games), then the Samsung Conquer is an ideal phone.

Start with the processor, the Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM8655. Just a year ago, users were exited to be the first to try it out. It's the same processor that powers the HTC Evo and Thunderbolt. Now, it is entry level, as all flagship phones run on dual core processors.

But regardless what processor a phone has inside, what matters is how it performs running multiple apps and services. The Conquer can handle it all. It doesn't have to run a graphics-intensive HD Super AMOLED screen, so it focuses on what's running in the background, and stays connected to the network. I am impressed with how much more accurate my location is in Google Maps/Latitude compared to a Sprint CDMA 3G phone. With Sprint's 4G network, my location as seen by others is more accurate. I am no longer being shown as being in a river or harbor.

Call quality is top notch. Headphone audio quality is also excellent. Put in a 32GB microSD card, and you might want to use this phone as your primary MP3/AAC music player. You'll have to charge it at your workplace if you do so.

The screen is plastic, but it is capacitive. That means it responds perfectly to your touch. Scrolling is smooth and accurate. You won't miss a glass screen, so long as you keep this phone in a pouch or bag pocket when not in use. Keep away from coins and keys, of course.

Sprint and Samsung worked together on a very smart feature - 4G auto sleep. If you're not downloading an app or web page, or uploading a photo to Google+ or Facebook, the phone switches off the 4G radio. This saves battery life and helps the phone get through a busy day on the road before it needs to be recharged. Expect to charge the phone every day or night.

With 512MB of internal app storage, the Conquer can download pretty much any non-game app you need, including the memory hungry Google+ app. Camera resolution is very good, but the camera optics could have been closer to its high end Samsung siblings. Having said that, it isn't bad at all. It's about as good as the camera in the LG Optimus S (which might be the same 3.5MP device from a Korean supplier). Try the camera using the FX Camera app on the maximum size setting (960 x 640), and you can produce some impressive color or black & white photos for Google+ or Facebook.

As the former owner of an LG Optimus S, the Samsung Conquer is a definite step up. Twice the internal app storage. Almost twice the processor speed. A brighter, slightly larger display. A faster Sprint network. And it's thinner and lighter. This is one zippy and underrated phone.

Pros: Bright display, Inexpensive, Durable, Lightweight, thin, front facing camera, wimax ip network
Cons: camera could have better optics

Excellent phone at a great price January 24, 2012

Reviewer:  Brucer  (Hawaii) -

When I switched to Sprint I first got the Motorola Photon but it failed during the first 30 days. Rather than exchange it for another I decided to replace it with the just released Conquer and I actually like it a lot better even though its specs are less than the Photon. Here's why:

+ Smaller size (same as iPhone) is more "pocketable" and easier to handle.
+ No lag on screens - very fast!
+ Plenty of reasonable priced accessories.
+ Camera is surprisingly good and autofocus works very well.

Battery life, as with all smartphones, could be better but I carry an extra battery. I have a nice Samsung charging stand that charges the spare battery out of the phone.

It took awhile before I could root the phone but a one click method became available and rooting was dirt simple.

After 5 months I'm still very pleased with this phone. Not sure if it will be upgradeable to Ice Cream Sandwich but I'll hang on to this till it's time to upgrade to Sprint's LTE network.

Best value on Sprint December 11, 2011

Reviewer:  mwaite 

This is a great little phone, especially for the price. I wanted the iPhone 4S for my wife, but after reading of all the issues and listening to my friends complain about theirs, we decided to hold off until the next gen iPhone and get an android to pair up with my Epic. Could only be a little happier with this phone as it is missing one great feature that the Epic and other great androids have. Samsung and Sprint got most of this cell right as far as hardware, feel and interface. It's fast (faster than my Epic), it's light although it feels solid, it's just about the perfect size as far as smartphones go, and it has decent resolution for a non-AMOLED display with a plastic screen. Not sure of the radios in it, but it gets better downs and ups than my Epic, and the Epic is fairly fast. Call quality has been great, the external speaker is better than most and is in a much better position than most (next to the camera shutter). In some cells, they put the external speaker right next to the mic at the bottom of the phone. Now logic would tell you that in doing so, the mic is going to pickup all sound from the speaker when on calls. Right? Brilliant. No, not really. This phone sounds great when on speaker or at the ear. Touch response is amazing for a plastic screen. Feels durable and is easy enough to hold without feeling like you might drop it, but the textured back wasn't really necessary. I like the back on my Epic, it's smooth but it has that sticky feeling to it, they could have done the same with the Conquer. The only things that I don't like, and my wife REALLY doesn't like, is the fact that they did not put the function widgets in the notifications bar for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, and 4G - and no factory task manager. A couple of workable widgets in the stock UI are ok for functions, but it's nice to have a factory installed task manager to keep things under control for saving the battery. These are the only things I don't like about the phone, otherwise it's the best value Sprint has.

12-13-11 Edit
Loaded an app named Widgetsoid2x - awesome!!! A LOT of options as far as toggles and controls. Definitely a must for this phone and any other android without toggle controls in the notification bar. Make sure and watch video closely before attempting to make any changes or adjustments.

12/26/12 Edit
After a year with this phone, my wife is not too happy with it, and I'm pulling my hair out trying to keep the battery charged and launcher stable. No true task manager makes it difficult to stop apps running in the background. JuiceDefender keeps as little running as possible, though when on wifi it doesn't do as much as I'd like to keep running apps to a minimum. The size is perfect, it flies through apps and processing pages when browsing the web, just wish it were more manageable without having to install 3rd party apps that don't integrate perfectly into any given UI. It's still a 4-star, though low on that 4th.

Cute little phone December 16, 2011

Reviewer:  innocencebereft 

So, I made a switch from Tmobile to Sprint and got this phone on a whim. I was a bit disappointed to see the rubbery/plastic case and the lack of touch screen buttons my previous Samsung phone had (the buttons could easily be touch... come on Samsung!). However, I loved the smaller size. It's not tiny by any means, but more compact and fits nicely in my hands. Much better than the chunky phones we're all growing accustomed too. It's a pretty high performing phone as well. Quick, no lag on my apps, 4G network for fast load time while browsing (on my phone and laptop).... everything a phone should have. However, the camera isn't the best out there and the battery life sucks. That is the biggest con and it is super frustrating as this phone needs to be charged daily. Some would list the display as a con, but it suits me nicely. All in all, I like my little Samsung Conquer.