By The Samsung Fascinate has been the one Galaxy S smartphone we haven’t heard too much about, lately. The Vibrant and Captivate launched for T-Mobile and AT&T without a fuss – and we’re just days away from the launch of the Epic 4G – but Verizon’s been very quiet on their plans to launch the phone. We know their schedule’s been clogged up with the launch of their latest Motorola offerings – the Motorola Droid X and Droid 2 – so they’re probably not in as much of a hurry as T-Mobile, AT&T, and Sprint are.
Still, we can’t imagine they’ll let September go by with nary an Android launch to talk about (unless you’re counting that R2D2 Droid 2), so perhaps the trek toward America’s last Galaxy S launch is finally going underway as it seems they’re starting to get some of these into warehouses, according to our anonymous tipster. The weird thing here, though, is that the phone has not yet popped up into Verizon’s equipment guide.
We know the phone is coming out – Samsung themselves made it official – but the big thing everyone’s wondering about is “when”. Hopefully with the phone just now popping into Verizon’s systems, the wait won’t be for much longer.
I actually can wait a while before the next launch. I think the launches have been coming fast and furious. I say let the sheets cool a bit before taking on a new lover.
Which would you guys recommend? I have the Droid Eris and I’m eligible for an upgrade in late October…the Droid X, the Droid 2, or the Fascinate?
I just don’t understand why Verizon is being so quiet about it.
Still, no official release date :P
The unconfirmed roadmap that was leaked a little while ago stated that the Fascinate wouldn’t come out until mid to late October, though the original rumor was late September. I bought my Eris the day it came out (November 9th) with a 1-year contract, so I’m eligible for subsidized upgrade on September 9th. Granted, I’m having fun with a custom ROM I just loaded on it, but I still can’t wait to get a powerhouse phone like the Fascinate.
Oh, and Lewis, I would definitely recommend waiting for the Fascinate. I don’t like the custom UI Motorola has made, nor do I like the general look of the devices. The X is a bit too big for my taste, and the function buttons are very slim, and hard to press, and the smaller Droid 2 has a physical keyboard, which doesn’t interest my and just adds unnecessary bulk. The Fascinate has the perfect screen size, not to mention Super AMOLED color, has a better stock UI, and has the capacitive function buttons I’m used to with my Eris. Of course all that is personal preference, but one thing that’s a fact is that it will slaughter anything Verizon currently has when it comes to gaming performance, due to the graphics capability of Samsung’s 1GHz Hummingbird processor.
@Lewis, either of those phones will be great…I have a Droid w/Froyo and I love it, haven’t had a chance to play with the Droid X nor the Fascinate but I have played with the Captivate on AT&T and the screen is amazing! It’s way better looking than my Droid. However, having said that, the UI on the Captivate reminds me of the iPhone a bit with the sliding app panels and the Fascinate looks kinda iPhonish…but I guess the best thing for you to do is just check out the phones before you purchase…
Maybe Verizon is just waiting for Samsung to fix all the issues with the Galaxy S phones before unleashing it on their customers. I plan on switching to Verizon at the end of the year when my contract with TMO is up, so I bought the Vibrant to get an early look at the Galaxy S. At this point I think it’s safe to say I would choose the Incredible or Droid X.
I would guess it’s a combo of both Wade’s and matthewdlyons’ theories. Verizon is still playing catch up with the Inc and X. Also waiting for Samsung to fix the GPS issue would be a good idea.
THE FASCINATE IS THE BEST DROID TO COME OUT. HANDS DOWN! Motorola products are ok, but Samsung just makes a superior product.
Thanks guys. Before I got the Droid Eris, I had a Gleam by Samsung, and it was a great phone. I think the Fascinate is the new Droid for me.
My vote is for the Incredible. I still love it after 4+ months with it.
You guys do know that Droid is a model name trademarked by Motorola for their line of phones running Google’s Android operating system, right?
Anyhow, this phone is looking very promising. I’m considering the Droid X but also thinking about waiting for the release of this phone. I’m not sure if I’d rather have the larger screen or better screen, and while I hate Motoblur I haven’t seen the latest edition on the X. Hmm… decisions, decisions.
From everything I have read about it, this phone has everything except the front facing camera and so what? I mean really, how often would anyone use that in real life? So for me, not a deal breaker. Comes with internal gyros for gaming, a decent screen, a camera that although not great, still does the job and best of all, it makes phone calls. I am all in for this phone when it is released next month. The wait is almost over.
The phone is amazing. I have the Captivate on AT&T. I left Verizon to get it. If I get a confirmed date (very unlikely) that it’s coming out in the next month, I’ll switch back to Verizon.
The only drawback of the phone is a major one- that GPS is, as you may read on the web, broken. The fixes out there don’t really fix it. Samsung is working on a real fix, but it’s not out yet.
So- my recommendation is get the Fascinate when it comes out on Verizon- hopefully they will have the GPS fix. The screen is better than incredible. (Pun intended).
Guys the Samsung processor is unreal. For all that plan on rooting and maximizing your device, check out the over clocking of the Galaxy. Can’t wait.
The Samsung Fascinate was in the August 29th Best Buy add for pre-order! :)
Right now I have the Samsung Omnia ( a windows mobile device, nuff said). I really hate the OS on this phone and I am due for an upgrade in November. I know I want a phone that runs on the Android OS but I can’t decide on one. When I found out Samsung was coming out with the Droid Fascinate I was excited but I’m wondering if the Fascinate holds up in comparison to the Motorola handsets or if it is plagued with the usual Samsung phones lack of style when it comes to menus, browsers and such.The Omnia I have now has such ugly menus and program displays. Also I want to know if the Fascinate being a Droid will have access to the Android market? Can anyone help me out?
I would choose between the HTC Droid Incredible and the upcoming Samsung Fascinate. The Incredible is a really fast phone and comes with HTC Sense… a great UI. Motorola products have always been so-so in my opinion. I just don’t like their custom UI very much. Samsung’s UI feels like a blend between the iOS and stock Android. Anyway, you will not regret choosing between either the Fascinate or Incredible.
@cheese: I’m certain it will have access to the Android market, it will run the Android OS after all. Droid is just a name Verizon uses on some phones that run Android OS.
I’m excited for this phone, was having trouble deciding what to get and this may just be it. Although I am concerned about it not having a hardware keyboard for games (constantly covering part of the screen for the buttons seems awkward). But hardly a deal-breaker.