Samsung Behold II t939 Android Phone (T-Mobile)

by Samsung

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 4.7 x 2.2 x 0.6 inches ; 5.6 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B002VWK83E
• Item model number: Behold II
• Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #63,677 in Cell Phones & Accessories (See Top 100 in Cell Phones & Accessories)

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

The sequel to Samsung's popular Behold smartphone, the Samsung Behold II for T-Mobile is now powered by the Google Android operating system and further augmented with Samsung's 3G Cube menu navigation for one-touch access to your favorite multimedia applications. It also offers three different home screens to organize multiple workspaces with favorite widgets and application shortcuts. Enabled for T-Mobile's expanding high-speed 3G network, the Behold II offers fast data delivery while on the go as well as compatibility with Wi-Fi networks and hotspots (802.11b/g).

The full touchscreen Behold II is a multimedia powerhouse with fast Web and data supported by Wi-Fi and T-Mobile's high-speed 3G network.

The phone sports a 3.2-inch AMOLED screen for crisper colors and wider viewing angles, and a 5-megapixel camera with auto-focus, zoom, flash, five shooting modes and video capabilities. The Behold II offers GPS location services for turn-by-turn directions using Google Maps as well as third-party applications that can be downloaded from the Android Market. In addition to personal email and corporate email with Exchange ActiveSync, you'll enjoy instant messaging, and text, picture and video messaging.

Other features include Bluetooth connectivity for hands-free devices and stereo music streaming, memory expansion up to 16 GB via optional microSD memory cards (a 2 GB microSD card is included), digital audio and video player, full HTML web browser, personal organizer tools, and up to 6 hours of talk time.

The Samsung Behold II comes pre-loaded with a variety of Google mobile services, including:

• Google Maps: Get turn-by-turn directions and instantly view maps and satellite imagery, as well as find local business. And Google Maps Street View enables you to explore cities at street-level virtually while on the go.
• Gmail: Multiple accounts support and undo for common operations.
• YouTube: One-touch recording and playback from home screen widget or app, one-touch sharing with friends, and the ability to view your own uploaded videos and high-resolution videos.
• Google Talk: Easily switch between chats, search your chat history, and preview pictures and videos sent by links.
• Android Market: Browse and download applications created by third-party developers.
• Calendar: Ability to see who has R.S.V.P.'d to your meeting invitations.
• Amazon MP3 Store: Download stereo-quality non-DRM protected tracks instantly to your wireless phone.

Key Features

• Fast 3G connectivity via T-Mobile's HSDPA/UMTS network. (1700/2100 MHz bands, UMTS/HSDPA; see more about T-Mobile's 3G service below)
• Quad-band GSM phone for good global voice connectivity. (850/900/1800/1900 MHz bands)
• Powered by the Android 1.5 operating system with deep integration of Google services and access to thousands of apps to customize your phone via the Android Market.
• Samsung's intuitive 3G Cube menu provides quick access to six top multimedia features: music, photos, videos, the Web, YouTube and Amazon MP3 for music downloads.
• TouchWiz user interface for easy customization through movable widgets and one-touch access to commonly used features and applications. The Behold II offers three different home screens to organize multiple workspaces with favorite widgets and application shortcuts.
• Built-in GPS with turn-by-turn directions provided by Google Maps and other third-party apps (for real-time directions). With Google Maps, you can instantly view maps and satellite imagery, as well as find local business. And Google Maps Street View enables you to explore cities at street-level virtually while on the go.
• 3.2-inch AMOLED capacitive touchscreen: The AMOLED (active matrix organic light-emitting diode) screen reproduces sharper and brighter colors with better battery consumption. The screen also features an accelerometer that automatically changes the orientation from portrait to landscape.
• On-screen keyboard with built-in familiar layout lets you type messages easily without searching for the letter you want.
• Bluetooth connectivity (version 2.0) includes profiles for communication headset, hands-free car kits, and the A2DP Bluetooth profile--enabling you to wirelessly stream your music to a pair of compatible Bluetooth stereo headphones or speaker dock.
• Wi-Fi networking (802.11b/g) for accessing home and corporate networks as well as hotspots while on the go.
• Memory expansion via microSD card slot with support for optional cards up to 16 GB (a 2 GB card is included with the phone).
• Visual Voicemail allows you to listen to your voicemail messages in any order, respond in one click and easily manage your inbox without ever dialing in to the network.
• Rich HTML email application seamlessly syncs your email, calendar and contacts from Gmail as well as most other POP3 or IMAP email services. The Gmail application provides features such as conversation view, spam filtering, search, and labels that Gmail users enjoy on their computer while offering new features such as integration with the phone's contact list. And it multitasks, so you can read a Web page while also downloading your email in the background.
• Corporate email with Exchange ActiveSync
• Instant messaging support for Google Talk, as well as AOL, Yahoo! Messenger and Windows Live Messenger.
• Text (SMS) and picture/video (MMS) messaging
• Full HTML Web browser enables you to view more pages and enjoy better Web content delivered efficiently to your phone.
• Organizer tools including calendar, memo, tasks, calculator, converter, stopwatch, voice recorder, world clock
• Airplane mode allows you to listen to music while the cellular connectivity is turned off
• Voice dialing capabilities

Vital Statistics
The Samsung Behold II weighs 4.2 ounces and measures 4.57 x 2.2 x 0.48 inches. Its 1500 mAh lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 6 hours of talk time, and up to 400 hours (16.7 days) of standby time. It runs on the 850/900/1800/1900 MHz GSM/GPRS/EDGE frequencies, as well as T-Mobile's 3G network (1700/2100 MHz).

What's in the Box
Samsung Behold II handset, rechargeable battery, charger, 2 GB microSD memory card, USB cable, wired hands-free headset, quick start guide, user manual

T-Mobile Services

• High-speed data connectivity via T-Mobile's 3G network: In addition to its quad-band GSM connectivity, this phone is also compatible with T-Mobile's UMTS/HSDPA 3G network, which operates on the 1700/2100 MHz AWS spectrum. This phone is designed to automatically connect to the best available network (3G or GSM/GPRS/EDGE) to provide faster data speeds when accessing the Web.

  In areas where the 3G network is not available, you'll continue to receive service on the via T-Mobile's EDGE network (which stands for "Enhanced Data Rates for Global Evolution"). This high-speed, mobile data and Internet access technology is fast enough to support a wide range of advanced data services (with average data speeds between 75-135Kbps), including full picture and video messaging, high-speed color Internet access, and email on the go.

  While this phone is optimized for use with T-Mobile's high-speed 3G network, many of its functions will also work well on the moderate-speed EDGE network. If you plan to access the Internet extensively on your phone, 3G network coverage may serve you best.

  Activities that work well on EDGE or 3G networks:

  • Email, instant messaging, and texting
  • Downloading ringtones, CallerTunes, wallpaper, light data files
  • Sending photographs via email or picture messaging

  Activities that work best on a 3G network:

  • Viewing content-heavy websites (lots of images or videos playing)
  • Viewing YouTube and other video files (they will play on EDGE, but require loading time)
  • Uploading large files (photos, videos, presentations) to sharing websites
  • Downloading large files from an email or a website

  T-Mobile's 3G network is currently available in 222 cities nationwide and covers more than 160 million people. By the end of 2009, T-Mobile USA expects its 3G network to be available to approximately 200 million people across the U.S.

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Technical Specifications

• 3.2-inch AMOLED display with 320 x 480-pixel resolution, 16 million color depth; with accelerometer and proximity sensor
• Audio format support: MP3, MIDI, AAC/AAC+
• Video format support: MPEG4, WAV
• Graphic format support: PNG, JPEG, GIF
• USB connectivity
• Internal memory: 200 MB
• Memory expansion: Up to 16 GB via optional microSD memory cards
• Call history: Last 90 incoming/outgoing/missed calls
• Real-music ringers and 64-note polyphonic ringtones

Product Description

With Samsung's unlocked Behold II Android Quad-band Smartphone connect to the Android market quickly and easily and download apps from games, news & weather...to shopping and social networking. This platform is fully integrated with Google applications; so you can view your Google Talk friends' status, check your own Gmail and synch events to your calendar.

Easily access popular multimedia programs with the 3D cube navigation button. With one touch, you can access YouTube, the AmazonMP3 store, the web, and your music, photography and video gallery.

Up to 400 hours standby time Up to 6 hours talk time Wi-Fi Connectivity Speakerphone Voice Recognition Memo Pad Stop Watch To Do List Auto Focus camera 5.0 megapixel digital camera 8x digital zoom camera LED flash MPEG4, WAV Video Player MP3 & Music Library Capability Up to 16GB External Memory Storage Up to 200 MB Onboard Memory Up to 1000-Entry Phone Book Dialed/missed/received Call Display Multiparty Calling Messaging - Email; Instant Messaging; SMS, MMS, Messaging; Predictive Text Input T9 Voice Mail 30 Day J&R USA Warranty Coverage only Features may vary based on your chosen GSM service carrier. May not include English manual. Online Download available from phone manufacturer's website in various languages Unit Dimensions - 4.57 x 2.2 x 0.48, Weight - 4.20 oz.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Not Bad, but Could Have Been Better (But won't be!), February 18, 2010

By 

Tamahome Jenkins "TJ aka S" (Asheville, NC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Samsung Behold II t939 Android Phone (T-Mobile) (Wireless Phone)

Pros:
-Awesome camera: 5MP w/flash, anti-shake, and a better interface than the stock Android camera app.
-AMOLED screen: the brightest, most awesome display of any phone not named Nexus One or Motorola Droid.
-More RAM than other Android phones not named Nexus One or Motorola Droid

Cons:
-Samsung's proprietary Touchwiz interface
-Sluggish at times (because of Touchwiz)
-Android 1.5

When it came time for me to upgrade my phone I went to the T-Mobile store and tested every Android phone they had (the Cliq, Behold II, G1, and MyTouch). None of them were particularly jaw-dropping, but the Behold II has the best hardware by far. The camera is great and the screen is bright and crisp. With the screen brightness at 9% it's brighter than my iPod Touch at 50%.

My issues with the Behold II are with its software. Samsung decided to overlay Touchwiz on Android which can be a resource hog and doesn't allow for as much customization as a stock Android build. Also, the cube interface is a neat trick, but it's pretty useless and I never utilize it. It would be nice if there wasn't a dedicated button for it or if you could at least re-assign said button. It's not a dealbreaker, it's just a bit of a head-scratcher.

I ultimately chose the Behold II over the others because its issues are software based so when Samsung upgrades the phone to Android 2.0 the performance issues should be resolved (hopefully) and this will be the best phone that nobody is talking about.

UPDATE (5/28): I've had this phone replaced twice in the last 3 months due to software AND hardware issues. I figured I would stick it out because the software issues would be fixed once the phone upgraded to Android 2.x. However, Samsung has since decided that they will not upgrade this phone past 1.6, meaning all of the cons listed above will remain. There are MUCH better Android phones available, and I would recommend to cans and string over this POS.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars It isn't that bad., July 29, 2010

By 

matt.mingkee (Brooklyn, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Samsung Behold II t939 Android Phone (T-Mobile) (Wireless Phone)

I think a lot of customers are discouraged to buy this phone because of massive negative reviews.
I purchased it when my t-mobile is liquidating it and I think it isn't that bad IMO.
The hardware is actually great:
AMOLED screen yields pretty beautiful graphics
calling quality through microphone is pretty good
320MB RAM, which is much more than average
easy-swappable memory card with 140MB ROM
decent reception, it's on par with most HTC phones
Now the problem is the software:
Touchwiz takes a lot of resources which causes the system lags, and the "cube" only makes the thing worse
laggy keyboard, and missing dot makes typing a hassle
the wasting of resources also cause the battery falls short

Fortunately, this is one of the few Android phones which can be easily tethered, you need to run the phone in USB samsung studio mode, and download and install Samsung Kies software.
If you want to get this phone, you may want to flash it with 1.6 custom ROM, search BH-MAN ROM and try, you'll realize what great the phone hardware is.
I give 3 stars with original ROM; 4.5 stars with BH-MAN ROM.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Terrible Battery Life, April 12, 2010

By 

Peazfool (New York NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Samsung Behold II t939 Android Phone (T-Mobile) (Wireless Phone)

I received this phone three days ago and after fully charging the phone and unplugging it at 12AM, it died the following day at 1 PM. So 13 hour battery life (about 9 of them are on standby) and 4 hours of (below) average usage. Battery life on this phone is a major issue, as it has been discussed vigorously in the t-mobile forums.

See here -[...]

The phone is relatively slow. Bootup takes about 5-10 seconds, the text messaging application takes on average 3 seconds to load, making a call hasn't been the most pleasant thing in the world.

I like the responsive touch screen but at times there is a significant lag at times. Sometimes I press the screen twice before it loads the application and somehow call someone in my phone book before I even know what's happening.

The camera quality is good - but terrible in low light (but what do you expect from a camera phone right?), and even worse when zooming in. It also takes on average 5 seconds to load - so you're bound to miss a shot or two.

After 3 days of messing with the phone, I have decided to return it for a full refund.

CNET review gave it 3.5 stars - they obviously did not do a good job of actually testing the phone itself.