Samsung Ace SPH-i325 Review

Samsung calls it the Ace, but you could just as easily call the company's newest Windows Mobile smartphone the BlackJack 1.5. This model from Sprint shares a lot with its GSM-based cousins, including the basic design, look, feel, and even some of the same components. But while it's very similar to the Samsung BlackJack offered on the AT&T network -- and you'll notice more than a couple comparisons in this review on that basis -- the Ace technically isn't in the same device family, instead standing on its own.

Design And Construction

The Ace, also known as the SPH-i325, features a basic slim design, just 0.46 inches thick over most of the casing, with a small bulge on the top rear housing the camera. The entire affair is wrapped in a hematite-grey plastic, prominently branded with the Sprint logo. Despite what seems like a lot of wasted space around the screen, the display is actually slightly larger than is average for a Windows Mobile Standard smartphone. Only by about a tenth of an inch, mind you. Most of that wasted space is caused by the fact that the Ace is slightly taller than similar designs: probably to make room for the extra radio hardware inside it, allowing it to sport both CDMA for use in North America and basic GSM functions for overseas.

They've also changed the docking connector, making it slightly thicker. This obliterates all compatibility with existing Samsung cables and headphones, for no actual benefit that I can see. On the bright side, they did include a stereo headset in the box, which they failed to do with the BlackJack. Still, I'd advise that anyone looking at the Ace should seriously consider the use of Bluetooth for headphones and synchronization. Changes aside, the BlackJack and the Ace are still close enough that you can actually swap standard batteries between them and have them work. The cover for the BlackJack's extended battery doesn't fit the Ace, however, and the Ace doesn't come with an extended battery of its own. Or a second regular battery, for that matter. The standard capacity is a little higher for the Ace, 1300 versus 1200 mAh, but not enough that you might not find yourself wanting a second battery at some point... more >>>