Mobile Reviews: Samsung Gravity SMART review

Introduction

Samsung Gravity has been a successful line of affordable, slide-out QWERTY messengers for T-Mobile for several years now. With the latest addition to the family, Samsung not only improves the package, but takes it in a whole new direction. Unlike its predecessors, which were feature phones, the new Samsung Gravity SMART, as its name suggests, is an Android smartphone.

Samsung Gravity SMART official press shots

The Gravity SMART is clearly aimed at the first-time smartphone users who are looking for a sensible device, which will deliver an Android experience at an affordable price. It is by no means a Galaxy S II, but it is not priced like one either. It packs a lot of droid functionality in a small, well-built package. Now let’s see what the Gravity SMART has to offer.

Key Features

3.2" 16M color, TFT capacitive touchscreen with 480 x 320 pixels resolution, multi touch
Full four-row, slide-out QWERTY keyboard with a customizable social networking key
ARMv6 800MHz CPU, 270MB RAM, 150MB of user-available storage
Android 2.2.2 (Froyo) with TouchWiz 3.0 UI
Quad-band GSM and dual-band 3G support
Wi-Fi Calling enabled
Wi-Fi 802.11 b, g, with hotspot functionality
GPS with A-GPS connectivity; digital compass
3.15 MP autofocus camera
QVGA video recording @30fps
microUSB port (charging) and stereo Bluetooth 3.0
microSD slot (up to 32GB, 2GB in box)
Standard 3.5 mm audio jack
Accelerometer and proximity sensor
Web browser with Flash support
Smart dialing

Main disadvantages

QVGA-only video recording
No shutter key
No secondary video-call camera
No ambient light sensor
No dedicated video player app
Android 2.2 Froyo, instead of latest Android 2.3 Gingerbread

As you can see, the Samsung Gravity SMART is by no means one of the Android super phones. If you are looking for a high-resolution screen, HD capable camera, and graphic intense gaming, this is not the device for you. Instead, the Gravity SMART is a great messenger and social networking companion with a comfortable keypad.

Samsung Gravity SMART live shots

Now that we know the Samsung Gravity SMART weaknesses, it is time to find whether this little droid can deliver where its strengths are. Hit the next page for the hardware inspection.

Retail package at the bare minimum

In the box of the Gravity SMART, you will find a charger, microUSB cable, as well as an SD adapter for its microSD card (there is a 2GB one included). You also get some T-Mobile/Samsung leaflets. There’s nothing else (a headset would have been nice).

The Samsung Gravity SMART retail package

Design and construction

With dimensions of 114 x 59 x 14 mm, and a weight of 130 grams, the Samsung Gravity SMART is on the lighter side of the messenger devices with sliding keyboards. It feels compact to hold in hand and will not slip out of your grip easily.

A quick look at the device (especially in the color of our test unit) will tell you that this is by no means a business device. Its design and color schemes make its youth orientation obvious. In terms of build quality, it feels quite solidly put together. Its soft feel plastic does not hold fingerprints.

Samsung Gravity SMART next to Samsung Exhibit 4G and T-Mobile Sidekick 4G

With the keyboard in, the Gravity SMART looks like your regular, run-of-the-mill droid. You have four buttons available – the home screen button dead center and also the Options, Back, and Search buttons. The last three are touch sensitive, not hardware ones. They can cause slight confusion when using the device – when you swipe across the screen, you can occasionally press them.

The screen itself is nothing memorable but, at this price category, you cannot expect Samsung to put an AMOLED unit in the device. At 320x480 pixels, its resolution will satisfy all your needs. Multi touch is a nice addition which can take your attention away from the screen’s unimpressive resolution. Viewing angles of the unit are far from superb and so is its sunlight legibility. At this price point we can hardly expect a lot. It is also important to note that a lot of high end phones with significantly higher price tags suffer from this issue.

The screen is far from impressive

Right above the screen you will find the device’s earpiece and the proximity sensor (to the right). There is no ambient light sensor or front facing camera on the Gravity SMART.

The earpiece and the proximity sensor above the display

The four row QWERTY keyboard is the key feature of the Samsung Gravity SMART. Its design is rather unique, and its build quality solid. The keys are properly space to avoid accidental presses while you are typing those emails or social network updates. You have two customizable buttons – one for a social network preference, and the other for a messaging service of your liking. All in all, the keyboard is nothing short of pleasure to use.

The keyboard is very nice

The left side of the Gravity SMART is a home to the volume rocker. On the right side of the device you will find the Sleep/Power key and the microUSB port which is also used for charging the battery.

The volume rocker on the left • Power/Lock key and microUSB port on the right

You will find the 3.5mm audio jack on the top of the phone. The bottom of the Gravity houses a tiny mouthpiece and nothing else.

The 3.5mm audio jack • the mouthpiece is at the bottom

When you turn the phone around, you will find a 3.2 megapixel camera with an LED flash, and a loudspeaker grill.

The 3.2 megapixel camera has LED flash

Under the battery cover is the 1500mAh battery, the hot swappable microSD card and the SIM card slots. In terms of battery use, the phone performed as expected – it managed more than a day of regular use, but less than two days.

A typical view under the battery cover

The Samsung Gravity SMART is quite well built for its price range. The QWERTY keyboard is a pleasure to use and, overall, the device is perfectly proportioned and easy to operate.