Samsung Samsung BlackJack i607 PDA Phone

Reviewed by: AngelicBeing

Duration of ownership:

Strengths: Small, thin, and light with impressive multimedia functions for a cellular/PDA phone.

Weaknesses: No 3.5mm headphone jack to play your audio files.

Overall Evaluation: The Samsung BlackJack SGH i607 phone is an impressive PDA/mobile phone; it being the latest mobile phone that Samsung has to offer with Cingular being the first cellular carrier to offer this exclusively. What is promising in the horizon is the Apple iPhone that will be available sometime in June -- a formidable player to contend with the Samsung BlackJack SGH i607. The BlackJack comes with two batteries (a standard and an extended battery). The extended battery can last you for nearly 2 weeks (probably more depending on usage) without needing recharging on average when using nearly most of the multimedia features: mp3, camera, Bluetooth, etc. The QWERTY keyboard is easily intuitive. The two batteries as mentioned earlier are standard and extended batteries. For those who would prefer the slimmer and lighter aesthetic look and feel may be comfortable with the standard battery and the standard battery cover. Removing the battery cover of the BlackJack was very difficult to remove. I had to use significant force to slide the battery cover almost causing my thumb to become sore!!! Samsung should look into this matter carefully. I bought two BlackJacks and both exhibit similar problems and difficulties removing the battery cover. The BlackJack comes with the basic travel adapter, battery charger, and a data cable. It would not be a bad idea for a $500.00 cellular phone for Samsung to throw in a car charger for free. You would think that a high-priced phone would include a car charger. One of the main drawbacks to the BlackJack is Samsung decision not to include a 3.5mm standard jack. The consumer is forced to utilize headsets with Bluetooth enabled capability if you want to listen to your mp3s in private. On average, the cost of a Bluetooth enabled headset will run you about $70.00 with better sounding headsets costing about $125.00 and more. As to why Samsung decided that a 3.5mm jack was not needed that would allow customers the choice of selecting hundreds of headphones is beyond my comprehension. There is a 25-pin USB/data cable/headset/power jack located on the left side of the BlackJack. Currently, there is no 25-pin conversion to a 3.5mm jack for the BlackJack. The display on the BlackJack only provides a 2.2 inch TFT active matrix, 16-bit viewing with only 240x320 maximum resolution. Taking pictures with its 1.3 megapixel built-in camera is very decent and sharp for its limitation. I was impress with the color depth of the camera. With the expansion slot for a MicroSD, you can increase you memory capacity to 1 GB or more to save your mp3s, WMAs, or videos for playback. The second problem I have with the BlackJack (at least with my model) is that I had to return the BlackJack for replacement due to synchronization problems. After spending nearly an hour on the phone with a technician from Samsung, and after engaging in several diagnostic procedures, it was determined that the 25-pin USB port was defective. To further determine that is was indeed defective, I grabbed the other BlackJack and it synched perfectly with Windows Vista and Windows XP, so it was obvious that the internal 25-pin USB was defective. The company from which I received the two BlackJacks was pro-customer and they did not waste any time giving me a RMA. Unfortunately, it cost me $23.00 to ship the BlackJack back (via USPS Express Mail and insured). In a few days (48 hrs.) I should be expecting my replacement to arrive shortly. I will subsequently update this review. I have read reviews that the sound quality is not that great regarding saving audio files and playback. As an audio/video-phile, I understand there could be many factors affecting the quality of your saved audio files (audio compression sampling rate, quality of your headphones, and the quality of the original audio source). I currently subscribe to online music offering 192k using WMAs. Knowing that 192k is far better than 128k, I personally prefer WMAs @ 256k which gives you far better close-to CD quality. For now (grudgingly) I have to settle with 192k compression. I will provide update information as to the quality of audio files playback ability of the BlackJack until my replacement arrives. Functionality-wise, I find the keypad a bit too narrow and small, but I anticipate this will take some time getting use to. I like the 4-way navigational key and the side thumbwheel. Reception is an improvement over the RAZR, but it is not perfect. I noticed there are some dropped signals while talking and some cutting in and out. In all, the BlackJack is a good contender in the cellular/PDA market. No technology is perfect, but the BlackJack has its major weaknesses and major strengths. Despite some of its problems, I will rate it, respectively a 7.5 out of 10