Samsung Fascinate (Verizon Wireless)
Hi, I'm Bonnie Cha, senior editor at CNET.com and I'm here to give you another look at the Samsung Fascinate for Verizon Wireless.
You might remember this phone from Samsung's Galaxy S Event this summer but now that we've got the final product, that it'd be nice to give you a little more detail about the phone's features and design.
As far as the design, the Fascinate is very similar to a Samsung Vibrant from T-Mobile.
It's not particularly flashy or different from other devices but it's got a clean and simple slate design.
It also feels a bit more solid than the Vibrant which I thought was a little cheap and plasticky feeling so I was definitely happy to see that.
In front here, you've got a 4-inch SUPER AMOLED touchscreen which is just gorgeous.
The sharp display and bright colors make it easy to read text and enhances the multimedia experience.
The built-in accelerometer and pinch-to-zoom support work well so you can easily zoom in on images and get more screen real estate.
In terms of overall navigation, the Fascinate is pretty easy to use.
Like other Galaxy S models, the phone uses Samsung's TouchWiz interface which includes some handy widgets like the Buddies Now and Feeds and Updates.
Unlike the standard Android interface, all your apps are laid out on multiple pages in a neat grid view which I like.
But, of course, everyone's style is different and TouchWiz is definitely not going to appeal to everyone.
I think it's nice, if you're coming from a feature phone but if you've used Android before, you might be happier with something like the Droid X or Droid Incredible which isn't quite as heavily skinned and offers a more pure Android experience.
Feature wise, the Fascinate is shipping with Android 2.1 with an Android 2.2 update promised for later this year.
As a Verizon phone, you get support for a number of carrier services such as NFL Mobile, VCast Music and Video, and VZ Navigator.
This also includes Bing Search and because Microsoft and Verizon have a deal, Bing is the default search engine on the Fascinate and can't be changed.
The only way you can use Google Search is if you actually go to Google's site on the phone's web browser which is pretty annoying.
One other aspect of the phone that was a bit of a disappointment was the GPS capabilities.
The Fascinate didn't have any issues getting a GPS fix like the Vibrant and Captivate but its positioning wasn't always accurate.
Sometimes, it was spot on and other times it could be up to five blocks off so I really didn't feel confident using this as a navigation device.
Those issues aside, there's still a lot to like about the Fascinate.
It's fast and offers good quality.
It's also a great multimedia phone with the 5-megapixel camera with flash and HD video capture,
and has some extra entertainment features like Blockbuster Video app, Kindle for Android, and EA's Need for Speed: Shift.
The Samsung Fascinate will be available from Verizon starting September 8th online and in stores on September 9th for $199.99 with a two-year contract and after a $100 mail-in rebate.
I'm Bonnie Cha and this has been your first look at the Samsung Fascinate for Verizon.
Up Next
How Google Tests the Cameras in Its Pixel Phones
Up Next
How Google Tests the Cameras in Its Pixel Phones
The Missing Piece to Apple's Eco-Friendly Mission
The Missing Piece to Apple's Eco-Friendly Mission
What's the Future of Phones? Expert vs. AI
What's the Future of Phones? Expert vs. AI
We Revisit the iPhone 15 Pro Max, 7 Months After Its Launch
We Revisit the iPhone 15 Pro Max, 7 Months After Its Launch
Xiaomi 14 Ultra Review: The Best Camera Phone I've Ever Used
Xiaomi 14 Ultra Review: The Best Camera Phone I've Ever Used
Apple to Talk AI in June: This WWDC Is a Big Deal
Apple to Talk AI in June: This WWDC Is a Big Deal
What Google Gemini AI on the iPhone Could Look Like
What Google Gemini AI on the iPhone Could Look Like
You Thought Your Phone Was Cool. Check Out These Design Concepts
You Thought Your Phone Was Cool. Check Out These Design Concepts
Can I Live With a Nokia Flip Phone in 2024?
Can I Live With a Nokia Flip Phone in 2024?
First Look: The $349 Nothing Phone 2A Aims to Brighten Your Day
First Look: The $349 Nothing Phone 2A Aims to Brighten Your Day
Tech Shows
Latest News All latest news
Battle of the Humanoid Robots: MenteeBot Is Ready
Battle of the Humanoid Robots: MenteeBot Is Ready
What to Expect at Apple's May 7 iPad Event
What to Expect at Apple's May 7 iPad Event
Did a Week With the Apple Watch Make Me Use My iPhone Less?
Did a Week With the Apple Watch Make Me Use My iPhone Less?
How Google Tests the Cameras in Its Pixel Phones
How Google Tests the Cameras in Its Pixel Phones
Boston Dynamics' New Electric Atlas vs. Tesla's Optimus
Boston Dynamics' New Electric Atlas vs. Tesla's Optimus
What is the Fediverse?
What is the Fediverse?
Most Popular All most popular
First Look at TSA's Self-Screening Tech (in VR!)
First Look at TSA's Self-Screening Tech (in VR!)
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Review: More AI at a Higher Cost
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Review: More AI at a Higher Cost
'Circle to Search' Lets Users Google From Any Screen
'Circle to Search' Lets Users Google From Any Screen
Asus Put Two 14-inch OLEDs in a Laptop, Unleashes First OLED ROG Gaming Laptop
Asus Put Two 14-inch OLEDs in a Laptop, Unleashes First OLED ROG Gaming Laptop
Samsung Galaxy Ring: First Impressions
Samsung Galaxy Ring: First Impressions
Best of Show: The Coolest Gadgets of CES 2024
Best of Show: The Coolest Gadgets of CES 2024
Latest Products All latest products
Battle of the Humanoid Robots: MenteeBot Is Ready
Battle of the Humanoid Robots: MenteeBot Is Ready
2025 Audi Q6, SQ6 E-Tron: Audi's Newest EV Is Its Most Compelling
2025 Audi Q6, SQ6 E-Tron: Audi's Newest EV Is Its Most Compelling
Hands-On with Ford's Free Tesla Charging Adapter
Hands-On with Ford's Free Tesla Charging Adapter
Nuro R3 is an Adorable Self-Driving Snack Bar
Nuro R3 is an Adorable Self-Driving Snack Bar
First Look: The $349 Nothing Phone 2A Aims to Brighten Your Day
First Look: The $349 Nothing Phone 2A Aims to Brighten Your Day
Best of MWC 2024: Bendable Screens, AI Wearables and More
Best of MWC 2024: Bendable Screens, AI Wearables and More
Latest How To All how to videos
Tips and Tricks for the AirPods Pro 2
Tips and Tricks for the AirPods Pro 2
How to Watch the Solar Eclipse Safely From Your Phone
How to Watch the Solar Eclipse Safely From Your Phone
Windows 11 Tips and Hidden Features
Windows 11 Tips and Hidden Features
Vision Pro App Walkthrough -- VisionOS 1.0.3
Vision Pro App Walkthrough -- VisionOS 1.0.3
Tips and Tricks for the Galaxy S24 Ultra
Tips and Tricks for the Galaxy S24 Ultra
TikTok Is Now on the Apple Vision Pro