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Please note that this review pertains specifically to the Straight Talk version of the Samsung Finesse r810c, although in most respects the phone will be identical to the r810c offered for other carriers. Read on for the review.
General Overview
The Samsung Finesse is now available from Straight Talk for $329, and when you buy it directly from Straight Talk you’ll have the choice of buying it bundled with either an “All you need” $30 monthly card, or an unlimited $45 card. This model is also available in some Walmart stores, though it seems to be scarce in stores right now. It’s also not currently listed on Walmart’s website.
Like all Straight Talk phones, the Samsung Finesse uses Verizon’s CDMA network. Unlike all other Straight Talk handsets, however, the r810c uses the high-speed EVDO data network.
Another first for Straight Talk phones is the Finesse’s touch-screen function. The phone has just three buttons on it’s face; the rest of the navigation is accomplished through the touch screen.
The screen is 1.9 inches by 3.2 inches, or a diagonal measurement of about 3.7 inches. The device in total is 4.6” x 2.3″ x .5.” It’s roughly the same size as an iPod Touch – a little longer, a little narrower, and maybe .15″ or .2″ thicker. The Touch definitely feels sleeker due to its rounded corners and convex back, but the Finesse is an acceptable size. I think Samsung did a pretty good job of making the device as slim as possible while packing in the large screen and necessary hardware.
The features on the Finesse are so numerous that I’m sure I’ll miss one or two, but I’ll give it a try:
- Touch screen
- EVDO data access
- Web browser capable of displaying HTML (though many sites detect the browser and redirect to a WAP version of the site designed specifically to be viewed on small devices)
- 2.0 megapixel camera
- Video Recording
- mp3 player
- Expansion memory card slot
- Voice Dialing
- Voice Commands
- Full Bluetooth – including data transfer
- Hands-Free speaker
I’ll cover each of these in future review segments, but for now I’ll get to my assessment of the appearance of the device.
External/Appearance
I don’t think it’s any surprise that this is the most advanced-looking phone we’ve ever seen from America Movil. Granted, Net10 and TracFone don’t have anything even remotely in this price range, so that makes sense. The large touch screen takes up most of the front of the screen and the phone looks like most other smart phones these days.
I prefer a clean, simple look in my electronic devices, and the Finesse meets that standard. Just three buttons adorn the front of the phone, below the touch screen. Additional controls are on the various edges of the device, including the power/lock key, a volume rocker switch that also functions as a zoom control in some applications, a camera shortcut key, and a voice command shortcut key.
Samsung stamped it’s name on the r810c in a couple of places, but there is no visible indication that this is a prepaid phone, even when viewing the menus. And considering the same devices is used on other providers, including Sprint and US Cellular, I think it’s safe to say that no one will suspect this of being a prepaid phone.
In general, I think the Finesse is constructed of quality materials, and the design seems solid. However, I do have one concern. I’ve noticed that when I tap the device along the right side, there’s a vibrating sensation in the phone. I believe this is caused by the vibrating mechanism within the phone resonating with the tap of my finger. The vibration is less noticeable when tapping other portions of the phone, but it’s definitely there. I hope this is a normal function of the phone, but I’m a little worried that shaking inside might affect the function of the vibration mechanism over time.
I’ll do my best to keep up with posting segments of this review through all the holiday bustle, but I have to admit I definitely won’t get it all posted before Christmas. I’ll probably also be hard-pressed to wrap it all up before the new year, but that’s mainly because I want to be so thorough. I’ll try to get the general review wrapped up ASAP, then address more specifics after that. Please let me know what you want to know!
December 22, 2009 at 6:18 pm
I look forward to hearing your impressions of this phone and also to the discussion by others who own it. Together we can figure out what the manual fails to reveal.
I have had my R810C for a few days and, despite some minor problems, I am satisfied with the feature set included and it meets my needs.
I checked and I do not have a vibration when I tap the right side of my phone.
I have a battery that lasts only about 48 hours on standby. I called Straight Talk and they agreed to send me a new battery. I assume I have to send them the old one when it arrives.
The ringtones that I have tried from those on the phone start out weak and increase in volume. Because of a mild hearing loss (advancing age rears it’s ugly head) I usually do not hear the first rings. I would prefer to have a constant volume ringtone but customer support was unable to do this.
I have found the camera to be superior to others I have had on phones and the MP3 player is high quality in my estimation with decent earbuds. Mine is filled with jazz.
Just some information for others that Straight Talk neglects to provide: Your initial required code to set up your voicemail is 9999. Then you change it to one you want. Your security code (to do resets and such things) initially is the last four digits of your phone number – this can also be reset to your choice on numbers. Why would they not tell the owner this – it means they get more phone calls to deal with.
Thanks for doing the review!
December 22, 2009 at 6:27 pm
Hi,
I was just wondering how the email is on this phone. I heard the Metro PCS version had an email app. Does Straight talk have the same type of email app?
Thanks,
Ryan
December 22, 2009 at 7:31 pm
Couple of questions:
1.) Is the straight talk version of the finesse have a full HTML browser? Or is it the straight talk WAP browser that they have used on other phones?
2.) Can you see full HTML sites, or do you have to count on the site you are looking for having a mobile page?
3.) Is it true that you cannot view any kind of video on the phone from sites such as youtube etc.?
December 23, 2009 at 2:13 am
So, the browser actual does full HTML? On the sites that redirect to the mobile version, say amazon.com for example, can you just click the button on the site to view the full version if you want to? I really don’t want to spend the $300, but as someone who got used to an iPhone and can no longer afford the $90 a month for a single line (with only data and text unlimited, not minutes), Being able to have a smart phone for $45 a month is reaaaaaaalllly appealing.
December 23, 2009 at 7:00 am
Hi Patrick. I guess you finally got one. What I DON’T understand on Howard Forums is that at least TWO members have spent the $300 for it, but they are running it on the $30 1000 minute/message/30 meg plan. WHY?
If I had this device, there is ONLY ONE PLACE it would go: Straight Talk Unlimited EVERYTHING at $45 including web.
Really , 30 megs? WHY bother? I could go to Page Plus, get a Verizon phone that’s way cheaper then the R810c and equal in capability, put it on their 29.95 1200 min/message/50 meg plan if I wanted to do what they are doing.
The whole point of this phone IS THE UNLIMITED DATA, which is something no other Verizon reseller including Page Plus has yet.
That’s just my view. But c’mon. $300 for phone? You BET I want unlimited data at that price! LOL!
December 23, 2009 at 4:02 pm
I am looking at switching from virgin mobile to straight talk and this phone looks really appealing. I would like to know as much as possible about this phone before I go out and spend that kind of money on a phone. Like texting is it in a chat style form? can you download other widgets? How is the quality of the calls, like do you get echoes?
December 24, 2009 at 1:42 am
Great review. I would love to read more on the phone’s browser, the phone’s speaker phone clarity and volume, and the phone’s touch responsiveness. I am very interested to see how the phone is set up for checking email accounts. Thank you so much for providing this site. It is fantastic.
December 25, 2009 at 6:41 pm
I am very interested in buying this phone, but would like to see more reviews before deciding to purchase it or not. The straight talk website doesn’t say if the browser is full HTML or not. In the feature listing for this phone it just says ‘mobile web’. However when you go through the tutorials the browser appears to be fully HTML capable when accessing weather.com in the tutorial. Having the HTML browser is a deal breaker for me. Why pay over $300 if you are going to get a browser equivalent to much cheaper phones? Another thing I am interested in is if you can download apps and install them on this phone, or are you stuck with only the preloaded apps? I look forward to future reviews for the Samsung Finesse r810c.
December 25, 2009 at 8:12 pm
Just got this phone last week. Very solid quality phone. To answer some common questions floating around. It does not have an email application built in like the metro PCS version. There is no messenger application either for AIM/YAHOO etc. The web browser is full HTML, and with the Verizon EVDO network pages load very fast. Does not support Youtube video’s even when on mobile YouTube which has video as 3gp format. What is very strange, is the phone WILL play 3gp video clips on a memory card or phone memory fine, but not when they are streamed from a website like youtube, it will say “Not Supported”. Call quality is fantastic! In regards to texting it does support text, video, animated Gif’s, pics. Awesome texting phone!
December 25, 2009 at 11:18 pm
Can you make your own ringtones and can you get on youtube?
does it have any messanger like yahoo or msn how is the media player is it easy to add music an video?
December 26, 2009 at 5:28 pm
I HAVE A SAMSUNG R810C FINESSE AND I WOULD LIKE TO FIND OUT WHAT PROVIDER I CAN USE OR HOW TO GET RINGBACK TONES FOR MY PHONE.
December 28, 2009 at 4:52 am
Just wondering if the Straight Talk version of the Samsung Finesse R810C was GPS enabled like i read on one of the “contract” phone company sites, or for that matter exactly identical? Because if it is i really want it through Straight Talk cause I’ve been using Net10 and running out of those $30, 300 min cards in half a month with their reliable but out-dated LG600G. Straight Talk’s unlimited everything sounds awesome for $45 per 30 days of service in comparison to my apparent, current phone usage. Plus i sold my 120GB ZUNE and I’m lacking an MP3 player right now, wouldn’t mind also having a camera/video camcorder device, and a way to surf the net. But here it is all in one solid phone with good standard features as well. Thats why this phone and service stood out to me in the first place.
I really want to know that if i were to buy the Finesse through Straight Talk, it wont be lacking any features or downgraded or limited in any way in comparison to Finesse bought through a “contract” phone company. I would worship a deal so amazing coupled with a REAL, completely functional smartphone that does everything any FINESSE from any other phone service sells. I WANT THE REAL THING. please if you can help me figure this out Thank You cause Its Driving Me Crazy
To put a question short:
I dont want a contract but i want the real phone. Are they the same?
December 30, 2009 at 12:56 pm
The phone does not include an email app, and I have not yet found a way to put your own apps on this phone, but I’ll keep looking.
December 30, 2009 at 12:58 pm
The browser is a full html browser, but many sites with mobile versions will automatically detect that you are browsing on a mobile device and direct you to the mobile version of their site. Facebook, for example, loads the mobile version but presents a link to get to the “full” version. And no, I have not yet found a way to view streaming video on the Finesse.
December 30, 2009 at 1:01 pm
I have not yet found a way to download apps, but I’ll be looking into it. Text messages can be displayed in either chat view or “normal” mode, by changing the setting in the “message settings” menu. Call quality is good but not great – no echoes, though. for pure voice calls, I preferred the LG 290c or 220c.
December 30, 2009 at 1:03 pm
Steve – please see other comments on this thread for answers to your questions. Also, I’ll be getting into them in more depth in future segments of the review.
December 31, 2009 at 12:08 am
I’m glad I found this site, wife and I are about to buy two of them so I want all the information I can find on this phone before we buy them in about 1 month or so….
Most of my questions have been answered and so far happy with what I’ve learned…
Keep up the great works and keep posting all your findings on this phone…
January 1, 2010 at 3:59 pm
Thanks, Marc, I’ll do my best.
March 8, 2010 at 6:29 am
Very nice, thorough review. Thank you for the time you took to put this information together. It was very informative and helpful.
March 14, 2010 at 12:27 pm
Thanks so much for the awesome review of this phone! You really spent a lot of time and effort and as someone who was thinking of purchasing this phone and plan, I really appreciate it. I am not going to get the phone now, as I realize it’s not for me and I appreciate you helping me make that decision. I am going with a super loaded phone, free because it’s new activation, and even though the plan is $20 more a month, it works out the same as the cost of buying this phone and paying $45 a month for two years. Yes, I’ll have a contract but that’s ok. Thanks again so much!
March 21, 2010 at 5:19 pm
1) when i make a call from my phone there is an automated voice that tells me how many hours i have left of airtime, its soo annoying! and i cant figure out how to take the voice off and just let me call normaly! can you please tell me how if its possible? 2) i bought a usb cord for this phone but it didnt come with a cd, so what specific cd do i have to buy to be able to transfer data to my phone? 3) how do i put games on the phone? since it didnt seem to come with any preloaded ones
is there any way? please w/b when u can! thnx so much!!
-Jessi
April 16, 2010 at 8:44 pm
i was planning on getting this phone off of walmart’s website,but i noticed yesterday that is is no longer available could some one tell me where i could find one,i looked on straight talks website and did not see it,did they discontinue it?
April 19, 2010 at 10:42 pm
Hey people can somebody tell me if can download SKYPE on Samsung r810c and use it like on computer? Because I’m gonna buy this phone only because of skype and unlimited plan!!! Please who has this phone try to download skype and post the resaults please !!!!!
April 30, 2010 at 1:14 pm
Hi Angelina
I don’t think you’ll be able to get Skype on this. I’m 99% sure of it. I don’t think you can put any extra software on it other than what comes with it.
May 18, 2010 at 8:17 am
jesse…when you buy the $30 plan you will get time available updates. when you are on the unlimited plan, there is obviously no alert to time left on plan.
May 30, 2010 at 4:04 pm
This phone does NOT do YOUTube, which is a pain in the a$$ as people will post stuff on facebook and you cannot look at it! For over $300, that is ludicrous! Also have gotten the message at lease 6 times in the last 3 months that I’ve owned the phone that “you are out of minutes” (or something similar) which is NOT true but means you must hang up and redial.
I would suggest Virgin Mobiles new plan of $25 unlimited with their new $150 LG Rumor touch phone…it does the full gamut including You tube!