Samsung Propel SGH-A767 – Impressive high end features
For:
Samsung Propel SGH-A767 has slim design and offers great 3G and multimedia features.
Against:
The phone has flat navigation array, lackluster display and cramped keyboard.
The Whiz Kid Speaks:
Samsung Propel SGH-A767 is based on WCDMA (UMTS) / GSM technology that supports WCDMA (UMTS) / GSM 850/900/1800/1900 band. It has 45MB internal flash memory and one micro-SD card slot.
2.2 inches display of Samsung Propel SGH-A767 is based on TFT technology. It has a resolution of 176×220 pixels that supports 18-bit (262,000) colors. The messaging features include WAP Push 2.0, Mobile email, Instant messenger, multimedia messages (MMS) and text messages (SMS). The Propel supports J2ME platform and WAP 2.0 protocol.
Samsung Propel SGH-A767 has 1.3-megapixel camera that features 4x digital zoom and self timer delay. The still image storage resolution options are 320×240, 640×480 and 1280×960. Six shooting modes are panorama, frame shot, mosaic shot, multi-shot and single shot. The video recording resolution is 176×144.
The additional features of Samsung Propel SGH-A767 are Intelligent Typing (T9), Bluetooth, HSDPA and support for POP3/IMAP4/SMTP email accounts. The phone has preinstalled Windows Live Messenger, AIM Messenger and Yahoo! Messenger. Supported ring-tone formats are MIDI and MP3.
Samsung Propel SGH-A767 has 1000mAH lithium ion battery that has a life of 180 minutes of talk time and 240 hours of idle standby time.
Razzle Dazzle:
Samsung Propel SGH-A767 is 3.85 inches tall, 2.23 inches wide and 0.58 inches deep and it weighs around 3.8 ounces. Our test model had green color.
Inside Dope:
Samsung Propel SGH-A767 is one of the latest messaging phones from AT&T apart from Pantech Matrix. It seems that text messaging craze is spanning in U.S.A. The Propel SGH-A767 offers QWERTY keyboard, multimedia features and 3G support. Propel costs $79.95 with two years contract from AT&T after mail-in rebate. Its design is similar to Verizon Wireless Blitz, both of them have square like shape and slides out for physical QWERTY keyboard. However, the Propel is thinner than the Blitz. In addition, the Propel is not as curvier as the Blitz. Verizon Wireless Blitz appears cuddlesome and cute, whereas the Propel looks more mean and lean. Unfortunately, the Propel has flat navigation array and cramped keyboard. The phone comes with a 1.3 megapixel camera which gave us decent quality images but again, you cannot expect too much from a 1.3 MP camera. If you need a messaging phone that supports POP3/IMAP4/SMTP and does not mind cramped QWERTY keyboard and lackluster display, then go ahead and buy new Samsung Propel SGH-A767.
Design
You will find the volume rocker key and micro-SD card slot on the right spine of Samsung Propel SGH-A767. Shortcuts keys and charger jack are located on the left spine. Shortcut keys allow toggling between games and application folder, music player, Media net browser, messaging menu and phone. You can slide down the phone at bottom side to get a self-portrait mirror and camera on the back.
Display
2.2 inches display of Samsung Propel SGH-A767 has a resolution of 176×220 pixels that supports 18-bit (262,000) colors. The display screen does not have standard size as per our measurement. It produces dull and mute colors. The Propel SGH-A767 continues to have typical and traditional menu interface. You can change the menu style, brightness, dialing font (background color, size, type, color) and backlight time.
Navigation Array
Navigation Array has End/Power key, Talk button, Clear key, text message button, round toggle with center confirmation/browser key and two soft keys. You can assign four different shortcuts to four directions of the toggle. The two soft keys are raised above the surface, whereas other keys are flat. We disappointed with the feel of slippery flat keys.
Keyboard
You can slide down the Samsung Propel SGH-A767 on the bottom to reveal QWERTY keyboard. This physical keyboard is neither spacious nor cramped, but it looks in between these two types. The individual keys are slippery and small in size. Therefore, we will prefer the manufacture to provide better keys in future messaging phones. You will find dedicated keys for Caps, Shift, phone’s sound profile, AT&T Cellular Video and camera.
Phonebook and PIM features
Samsung Propel SGH-A767 can store 1000 contacts in its phonebook. Each contact entry can save two numbers, notes, one email address, and one instant messenger handle. You can divide the callers into groups and pair them with one ring-tone and a photo for caller ID. Its basic feature set includes voice recorder, stopwatch, timer, world clock, unit converter, tip calculator, calculator, notepad, to-do list, calendar, alarm clock, multimedia and text messaging, speakerphone, vibrate mode and 11 polyphonic ring-tones.
On the enlightening side, the advanced features are A-GPS, Yahoo Messenger, Windows Live Messenger, AOL messenger, Mobile email, stereo Bluetooth and Web browser. For GPS, the Samsung Propel SGH-A767 comes with AT&T Navigator.
Carrier Services
AT&T has also included its services with this 3G/HSDPA phone, Samsung Propel SGH-A767, such as AT&T Mobile Music for downloading on the air songs; AT&T Cellular Video for streaming video contents via partners like ESPN and NBC; and AT&T Video Share for accessing live stream one-way video from other compatible phone.
Music Player
Samsung Propel SGH-A767 has access to AT&T Mobile Music that offers inbuilt music player, ability to download and streaming music from eMusic and Napster, access to streaming videos, XM radio and Music ID. You can upload the songs through USB also. Music player supports file formats of AAC+, SMAF, WAV, MMF, MIDI and MP3. The interface of music player is good to provide functions such as pause, play and skip music tracks. It features creation/editing of play-lists, shuffle and repeat modes and preset equalizer. The Propel SGH-A767 allows storing photos and music tracks on 50MB shared memory and on micro-SD card slot.
Camera
Samsung Propel SGH-A767 has 1.3-megapixel camera that features video recording and still capture. You can capture the still images with three quality settings, four color effects, five white balance presets and three resolutions. The still capture settings are night mode, six shot modes, three shutter sounds plus silent option, self timer, brightness and 3x zoom. You can record videos in two storage modes – one for MMS and other normal for long video length limited to available storage capacity. The camcorder settings are same as that of still camera.
We captured some photographs for testing. The photo quality was good for a mobile camera. The images were sharp and bright, but colors seemed muted.
Games and Personalization
Samsung Propel SGH-A767 comes with four games: Tetris, Midnight Bowling 2, JewelQuest 2 and Guitar Hero III. In addition, the phone also has some applications such as WikiMobile, Weather Channel, MobiTV and Mobile Banking.
You can personalize the Samsung Propel SGH-A767 with various ring-tones, sounds and graphics. You can also download more options, applications and games through store via Web browser.
Call Quality
We made few calls through Samsung Propel via AT&T for testing. The overall call quality was good. We received natural, clear and loud sound on our end with some static occasionally. The callers also received natural and clear sound at their end. Both of us received such natural sound as we used to receive on landline phones. The speakerphone call quality was also good. We received tinny sound at our end with some echo. However, the callers could not think of a difference between our normal and speakerphone calls.
3G Speed Testing
The HSDPA speed was impressive on Samsung Propel SGH-A767. A song completely downloaded in 50 seconds at AT&T Mobile Music and streaming video at AT&T Cellular Video buffered quickly. The Microsoft Website loaded in 20 seconds in the Web browser.
Battery Life
Samsung Propel SGH-A767 has a life of 10.4 days of idle standby time and 5 hours of talk time. The digital SAR rating is 0.968 watts per kg as per FCC radiation tests.
Verdict:
If you need a messaging phone that supports POP3/IMAP4/SMTP and does not mind cramped QWERTY keyboard and lackluster display, then you can buy new Samsung Propel SGH-A767. However, we recommend you to check the LG Xenon for AT&T also which offers better features in the same price range.
