Samsung Solid Immerse user reviews

klw 28 January 2012

Good: Rugged construction, waterproof, dustproof, shockproof, very long battery life

Bad: Not the best internet performance, average camera, video resolution is too low

Comment: This is a review of the Samsung GT-B2710 Immerse phone – the rufty-tufty waterproof, shockproof and dustproof model.

I was expecting something much bulkier with a heavy-duty rubberised coating and a spongy feel to it. Instead it’s smooth plastic and much more sleek – quite a pleasant surprise and it really doesn't look any different to a less-rugged phone. I also like the ability to add a lanyard to fasten to a rucksack, belt, canoe or hang it around my neck.

In terms of performance, it’s not a smartphone, cannot pretend to be, and anyone who’s been spoiled by a fast, high-performance smartphone is going to be sadly disappointed by it. But, if you’ve had a smartphone and concluded that they’re just too fragile for putting in a pocket and sitting on, dropping in the street or using in the rain – then this could be the phone for you, particularly if you’re an active or outdoorsy person looking for a phone to match your lifestyle.

Construction feels solid unlike some phones which feel quite flimsy and fragile. It’s easy to hold, the keypad has larger keys than every other phone I’ve used and there’s a positive feel to them. They’re also very easy to see, illuminated in the dark and a doddle for texting, even with cold hands or gloves on. The screen has an anti-scratch coating so dripping it into a pocket with your keys isn’t going to cause much damage although the rear camera lens, which is only slightly recessed, remains vulnerable.

It’s a simple phone to operate with all the usual facilities available from various menus – camera, video, sound recording, music player, radio, multiple alarms, organiser, emal (complete with pre-installed settings for hotmail and gmail) and there are apps for Facebook, Twitter and Google Maps. There are a few other good features – a compass, pedometer (which is surprisingly accurate) and a good LED torch. The fixed focus camera is OK – it’s nothing special and not up to the same crisp image quality you can expect to find on Sony Ericsson phones but it’s acceptable for snapshots and pics can be edited and effects added. The video function is very poor though and the low resolution clips are virtually unusable. The music player is good with excellent sound and the radio reception, using the supplied headphones, is very crisp.

Performance as a phone is very good with good volume for incoming calls and I’m told that I can be heard clearly on it.

Internet performance is good for a basic non-smartphone and it benefits from 3G, but it’s nowhere near the experience offered by a good smartphone. To demonstrate, it accesses the internet fairly quickly and is good for checking email using a web-based service (there are also email apps but I don’t use these because I don’t want to download hundreds of messages onto my phone), you can check the weather, visit sites such as BBC mobile and the character size can be increased by pressing the volume up button on the side of the handset. However, there are some shortfalls. It’s not compatible with all online forums – I found it wouldn’t allow me to enter my login details on some secure sites. Another very major shortfall, for me at least, when entering text on a few sites, predictive text wouldn’t work and the character size is so tiny that even with my very good reading eyesight, I couldn’t read it but had to rely on carefully inputting the correct letters. However, for general casual browsing, Facebook and Twitter updates, it’s fine.

Some phones are actually a joy to use but I wouldn’t describe this phone in this way. However, I would say that it’s a phone you can use in any environment without worrying about it getting knocked, scratched, wet or damaged. If you drop it, it will survive. If you tip a drink over it, just rinse it off. If it falls in the loo – no big deal. This phone will survive just about anything in normal day to day life. I use it with animals and know I can wash it when it gets dirty, I’ve used it canoeing and for taking photos then uploading them to Facebook while in the middle of a lake, it can go on a beach without worrying about sand ingress so it really is a go anywhere phone and one that isn’t going to let you down – and with its long battery life, you can take it away on a week’s holiday knowing that it may even last all that time without needing charging!

It might not be the trendiest and most high-tec phone but it’s one that you can rely on.

superBLUE 23 November 2011

Good: Can withstand anything you care to throw at it

Bad: Camera

Comment: Well after having a few smart phones and dropping one down the loo and another one dropped onto tarmac which cracked the edge I decided to look for something that could withstand a lot more.

I came across the Samsung Immerse, a month down the line and it continues to be my trusty friend, although I don't seem have had as many accidents since I got this phone! I did drop it into a stream whilst out with my dogs and it also hit a rock during the fall so I just wiped it off and used it straight away totally unharmed in any way at all.

The camera could be much better but it's by no means dreadful, The screen looks good and it is easy to use and navigate through the menus, and the battery life is quite good under moderate use.

No more worries about damaging an expensive handset, the Samsung gives me total piece of mind. You certainly don't see many people being able to stand in the rain and have a conversation on their dripping wet mobile!!

von dutch 11 June 2011

Comment: "cough" motorola "cough" defy "cough"

Jolly Mike 9 June 2011

Comment: the phone doesnt appeal to me that much...there are much better handsets....

Toyozo Iida 8 June 2011

Comment: I want Casio's G'z One to reach UK! It looks much cooler than that one!