Samsung SGH-T519 Trace Review - Conclusion
ConclusionThin is in, and Samsung keeps pressing the outer boundaries of just how thin a mobile phone can be. The Trace is a solid mid-range handset that represents Samsung's "thin" foray into the middle part of the consumer market. While not quite as thin as the company's X820 and X828 handsets, at 8mm from front to back, the Trace is plenty thin to be eye-catching. And it won't mess up the lines of your jacket or pants pocket.
While I had some trouble with the long, thin form factor and flush mount buttons, I'm sure that other users will see these aspects of the Trace as "features" and not "issues." That being said, the Trace is attractive and functional, with a solid offering of features bolstered by a generous amount of internal memory and a microSD card slot. The phone also works with T-Mobile's new myFaves plan, which should save some money for heavy talkers with friends on other mobile networks.
Save for minor volume issues, the Trace is a solid performer with an amazingly thin body. At its introductory price of $99 with service, it's sure to wind up in the hands of more than a few T-Mobile customers in the months to come.
 Compare prices »Fetch me more...Quickly jump to more information about related topics, cell phones, carriers or phone manufacturers mentioned in this In-Depth Review by using the links below. About our in-depth cell phone reviewsWe take great pride to ensure that the our reviews are thorough and accurate. In no way are our editors directed or influenced by any manufacturers, advertisers, or partners; we believe that honest, opinionated reviews -positive or negative - are the only way to maintain credibility and serve our users. Reviews by companyApple, BenQ, BlackBerry, Eten, HTC, LG, Motorola, Nokia, o2, Palm, Pantech, Samsung, Sanyo, Sharp, Sony EricssonCan a mobile phone be too thin? Samsung deems determined to find out, as they keep pushing the envelope when it comes to building feature-rich mobiles that are as thin as possible. While the 8mm thin T-Mobile exclusive "Trace" SGH-T519 isn't Samsung's thinnest phone - that title currently rests with the X828, a 6.9mm thin model - it's darn close.
Samsung packed a solid feature set into the Trace, including a 1.3 MP camera, audio... The Trace has a solid feature set highlighted by compatibility with T-Mobile's new "myFaves" service plan. myFaves allows for unlimited calling between you and your choice of any five numbers on any mobile networks, and is available as an optional add-on to standard T-Mobile rate plans. Only very recent release T-Mobile handsets are compatible with the service.
Samsung's standard digital audio player is also included on the... DisplayThe 1.6" TFT screen on the Trace is quite nice. With a resolution of 220 x 176 pixels at 262,000 colors, the display is capable of sharply rendered photos and graphics, if not on par with the QVGA screens now found on higher-end phones. The screen isn't readable in direct sunlight, but otherwise performs quite well.
Samsung built the Trace with a simpler interface than the Flash-driven UIs common on their recent... MessagingThe Trace has support for SMS, MMS, and IM messaging. Messaging packages are available through T-Mobile as add-ons to voice service plans, and messaging is also available without a package on a fee-per-message basis.Composing SMS and MMS messages on the Trace was straightforward, as was attaching images, videos, and audio clips to MMS messages. Samsung's predictive text input system worked well, though I did have some...
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4.3
