Digital Trends

Samsung Trace SGH-t519 October 2nd, 2006 | by Vince Veneziani

Performance

First off, let’s compare the Trace to its predecessor, the T509. The T509 is a slim, candy bar phone that had the old Samsung UI, a terrible camera, and an overall design that wasn’t bad, but wasn’t impressive either. Enter the Trace: a new name, metal finish, enhanced UI, and upgraded camera make this phone what the T509 should have been in the first place. The only similarity between the 2 phones that remains is the exceptional battery life. You won’t have to worry about bringing your charger for a day trip.

Other thin phones like the Motorola SLVR focus more on features like a music player. Both phones can play MP3s, but the SLVR does a better job and has the power of iTunes behind it. Samsung probably should either start doing the MP3 player right or should do away with it entirely. MicroSD can be useful for other things like video and images, you know.

What about the strength of this phone, you ask? It’s strong, but I’m in no mood to drop test it. The phone feels sturdy and looks like it could handle a fall, but still remains very delicate. Therefore, I must recommend keeping the Trace in a pocket or bag when not using it.

Conclusion

Forget the other thin phones on the market right now. If you’re content with a good looking, easy to use phone, then you’ll fall in love easily with the Samsung Trace. The great organizational tools, the improved UI, 1.3MP camera, and slick design make it a solid phone that is great for any occasion. You won’t even be able to feel it in your bag or pocket! Plus, you can pick it up for $99 right now from T-Mobile (after rebates of course), which won’t break the bank at all.

Pros

• Stylish Design
• Excellent New UI
• Lightweight
• 1.3MP Camera

Cons

• MP3 Player Nothing Special
• Small Joystick
• Delicate
• No Flash For Camera