Samsung Mysto Cell Phone

Details

W/new plan

W/family plan

Prepaid

Phone only

Used

Specs   Images   Expert reviews   User reviews   Manual   Compare   Accessories   Mobile Content

User rating 5.0   Read reviews - Add review The Samsung Mysto (SPH-A523) slider features a large QVGA display, 100MB of internal memory, 2.0 megapixel camera, stereo Bluetooth, voice control and search feature plus GPS and video capture capability. View full phone specs View image gallery View reviews Compare against other phones Compatible accessories

What’s Good:

What’s Not Good: Touch sensitive controls are very finicky; End key in an odd place; Call quality only so-so; Camera not as good as original U600

Bottom Line: Samsung brings their Ultra U600 sliderphone to the US in the form of the Helio Mysto.  While Mysto’s thin profile is sexy and Helio’s myriad features are excellent, this handset’s electrostatic touch controls are more trouble than they’re worth.  Helio fans may love Mysto as a companion to their Oceans, but others may look elsewhere.

Specs:
Make/Model: Samsung Mysto
Network: CDMA
Data: EV-DO (1x Rev. 0)
Carrier: Helio (Locked)
Size: 105 x 50 x 12.7 mm
Weight: 95 g
Form Factor: Slider
Display: 2.2” Color LCD, 320 x 240 (QVGA) resolution, 262,000 Colors
Memory:  106 MB built-in, microSD card slot
Notable Features: Integrated GPS with location based services; 2MP camera with LED flash; Email and IM clients; Music Store access; Flickr and YouTube upload clients; Helio on Top RSS feed reader

 CommentsVideosArticlesReviews

Add a comment

Your comments:

To create a live link, simply type the URL (including http://) or email address and we will make it a live link for you. You can put up to 2 URLs in your comments. Line breaks and paragraphs are automatically converted — no need to use <p> or <br /> tags.

Unlocked #1 - iPhone SDK, Unlimited Calling, Helio Mysto, Palm Centro for Sprint

Unlocked episode 1 with Noah from PhoneDog.com. Apple unveils the iPhone SDK and announces iFund. Unlimited plans take center stage with Sprint and Helio leading the way. Hands-on with the Helio Mysto and Palm Centro for Sprint.

Mar 6, 08, by Noah Kravitz -

View/add comments

- all about: iPhone OS,  iphone sdk,  unlimited calling,  unlocked video series,  Apple,  Helio,  Palm,  Sprint PCS,  Apple iPhone,  Apple iPhone-16GB,  Samsung Mysto

More Samsung Mysto videos

Virgin Mobile phasing out Helio brand?

It was widely thought the day would come at some point, but it looks as if Virgin Mobile is shuttering the Helio brand name.  Not only is the Pantech Ocean 2 no longer available on the website (oddly enough, it leaves the ancient Ocean as the only QWERTY device available), but the "Helio" moniker is gone from the devices, being replaced by the actual brand names.  According to the screenshots of the phones (which we all know aren't...

Oct 27, by Aaron Baker -

4 comments

- all about: Helio,  Pantech,  Virgin Mobile,  Pantech Ocean,  Samsung Mysto

Samsung Mysto in-depth review - At a Glance

What’s Good: All kinds of multimedia, Web, and location-based features; Super slim profile; Speedy EV-DO access; GPS; 106MB Internal Memory What’s Not Good: Touch sensitive controls are very finicky; End key in an odd place; Call quality only so-so; Camera not as good as original U600 Bottom Line: Samsung brings their Ultra U600 sliderphone to the US in the form of the Helio Mysto.  While Mysto’s thin profile is sexy and Helio’s myriad...

Mar 25, 08, by Noah Kravitz -

2 comments

- all about: Samsung,  Samsung Mysto

Samsung Mysto in-depth review - Introduction

Slim’s still in, and sliderphones don’t get much slimmer than Samsung’s Ultra U600.  Samsung and Helio brought a CDMA version of the U600 to the States in the form of Mysto, Helio’s successor to the Drift.  Mysto packs just about all of Helio’s many, many features and services into a sleek, pocketable form factor that offers an alternative to the chunky, QWERTY-packing Ocean.  In fact, I could see Mysto becoming popular as a...

Mar 25, 08, by Noah Kravitz - Add a comment - all about: Samsung,  Samsung Mysto

Samsung Mysto in-depth review - Design & Features

Mysto is one sleek, thin cell phone, and it looks great.  Measuring just over 12mm from front to back, Mysto will fit in all but the tightest of pockets and won’t weigh you down when you head out the door with it in tow.  The front panel of the phone features a gorgeous 2.2” QVGA display that’s really one of the best screens you’ll find on a slider right now.  Beneath the display is a navigational array built around a circular...

Mar 25, 08, by Noah Kravitz - Add a comment - all about: Samsung,  Samsung Mysto

Samsung Mysto in-depth review - Usability & Performance

Helio phones make use of Sprint’s CDMA cellular network, and Mysto is compatible with Sprint’s EV-DO network for high speed data usage, as well.  I tested Mysto in the San Francisco Bay Area and found voice call performance to be so-so.  Signal strength was fine, but calls were too often staticky and/or muffled sounding.  When voice quality issues arose, they were more often of the callers having trouble hearing me ilk than the...

Mar 25, 08, by Noah Kravitz - Add a comment - all about: Samsung,  Samsung Mysto

Samsung Mysto in-depth review - Conclusion

Helio offers an amazingly comprehensive set of multimedia, Web-based, and location-based services for their devices.  Their new $99/month Unlimited All-In plan offers one of the best values in the industry if you make heavy use of messaging and data services  in addition to voice calling on your mobile device, and their use of Sprint’s EV-DO network ensures speedy data transfer for all of that Web surfing, streaming media, and...

Mar 25, 08, by Noah Kravitz - Add a comment - all about: Samsung,  Samsung Mysto

More Samsung Mysto articles

Write your own Samsung Mysto review

Super Spiffy phone

Overall Rating:
5 out of 5

By: Mit Hol on Thursday, January 24, 2008
From: Lubbock, TX (United States)
Experience: 5 Days

Pros: Light weight, Slider, friggin sweet display

Cons: Hard to purchase do to Helio's inability to produce

Summary: First of all the weight on this phone is exceptional I have never owned a phone that has been so light and user friendly. The features on the phone are far beyond what I have become fond of with other slider devices including the heat also made by Helio.

11 out of 33 people found this review helpful

All Samsung Mysto user reviews

Buying choices

With new service
This item is not being sold with a service plan by any online merchant.

With pre-paid service
This item is not being sold with a pre-paid service service plan by any online merchant.

Purchase phone only

Compare prices from various merchants

Shop

or try ebay

price varies

Accessories

Shop

Purchase compatible accessories for this phone

Ringtones & Media

Shop

Shop for compatible mobile content for this phone

Publish these prices on your site