When I first picked up the Samsung Conquer 4G, I wasn't blown away by it. Sure, it's a cute little Android phone. But it lacks the big, sharp display that the Motorola Photon 4G offers. And sure, it offers the latest version of Android, but so does the HTC EVO 3D.
So, why would I buy the Samsung Conquer 4G? Because of the price: Sprint is offering this phone for $99.99 when you sign a new two-year contract. That makes it the cheapest 4G phone that the carrier offers, and the first to come in at under $100.
Design
Compared to most of Sprint's 4G smartphones, the Conquer 4G looks pretty darn small. It's just about the same size as an iPhone 4, though a bit thicker than Apple's svelte smartphone. Its design lacks the sleek polish of Apple's phone, though, as the back of the Samsung Conquer 4G sports a textured cover that looks and feels a bit cheap.
The Conquer 4G's touch screen measures 3.5 inches, which is a perfectly reasonable size, if a bit small. The resolution of 320 by 480 pixels is more problematic: when viewed on this screen, images and text lack the crispness that you'll find on a device like the iPhone 4. The touch screen is nicely responsive, though, and the four controls that sit below the screen -- menu, home, back, and search -- make it easy to navigate the phone.
Android, Updated
The Conquer 4G runs the latest version of Android, 2.3, which is a nice touch on a budget phone. Android's latest version is its slickest yet, and this once-geeky mobile OS has become more approachable, even for decidedly un-techie users. For more information, see Android OS: Geeky But Good.
Unlike other Samsung devices, the Conquer 4G does not include the TouchWiz interface on top of the Android OS. While I appreciate what TouchWiz tries to do -- make Android easier to navigate -- I was happy to see it omitted here. It's simply not needed. You do get Sprint ID, which lets you apply themes, such as "Entertainment" or "MTV," to your phone.
High-Speed Surfing
The front and back of the Samsung Conquer 4G.
SprintWhat the Conquer 4G lacks in screen resolution, it makes up for in high-speed data options. The phone supports Wi-Fi hot spots (801.11 b/g/n) and runs on Sprint's excellent 4G WiMax network. For more details about 4G, see 4G Wireless: Everything You Need to Know. You also can use the phone as a mobile hotspot, to which you can connect five other devices. (Using this option requires that you subscribe to Sprint's $30-per-month mobile hotspot plan, though.)
The Web browser itself is very good, but it lacks the elegance of Apple's Safari mobile browser. Too many functions, such as opening a new browsing window and switching between open windows, must be done through a menu. It should be easier to take advantage of these features. What's nice is the support that Android 2.3 offers for multimedia features. This means you can view embedded Web videos and animations right in your browser window, a feature that remains sorely lacking from Apple's Safari.
Call Quality
In my test calls made over Sprint's network, call quality was very good. I heard no background noise or distortion, and calls had ample volume on both ends of the line.
Camera
The size and quality of the Conquer 4G's screen is the most obvious concession you make for buying a budget phone. The other is the quality of the camera. The Conquer 4G's camera offers a mere 3.2 megapixels of resolution, while today's best smartphones offer 5- and 8-megapixel shooters. It also captures relatively low-resolution video (at VGA, or 640 by 480 pixels), when many phones are capable of capturing HD video.
And the specs don't lie: my snapshots looked a bit dim, and lacked the crispness of photos captured with the Motorola Photon 4G.
Multimedia
The Conquer 4G includes a basic media player, which is nicely laid out and easy to navigate, if a bit bland. You also get access to Amazon's MP3 downloads for buying music, a YouTube app for watching videos, and the Qik Video app, which lets you share mobile videos.
Bottom Line
The Samsung Conquer 4G isn't the biggest or the best 4G Android smartphone. But, right now, at least, it's the cheapest. And considering its bargain-basement price, this phone has plenty to offer.