Samsung T919 Behold
| Industry | Consumer electronics, Telecommunications |
|---|---|
| Founded | January 13, 1969 in Suwon, South Korea |
| Products | Mobile phones, electronics |
| Website | www |
Template:Infobox Mobile phone
The Samsung Behold (model number SGH-T919) is a touchscreen-enabled, 3G candybar mobile phone developed by Samsung Electronics. It was launched on November 10, 2008, as a T-Mobile US exclusive variant of the Samsung Tocco, which was originally available in Europe, Asia, and Australia. The device's initial retail price with the carrier started at $149.99. Compared to the original Tocco model, the Behold includes added functionalities such as integrated GPS navigation. Similar to the Tocco, this phone operates on Samsung's proprietary OS featuring the TouchWiz user interface.
Upon purchase, the Samsung Behold came pre-installed with the music video "Somewhere Else," performed by YouTube personality Jodie Rivera, also known as VenetianPrincess.
Among Samsung’s early touchscreen offerings in the US market, the Behold stood alongside models like the Samsung Omnia, Samsung Instinct, and Samsung Eternity. Its primary market rivals included Apple's iPhone, the T-Mobile G1, and LG Dare.
User interface
The Samsung Behold utilizes the TouchWiz interface, an enhanced version compared to what was featured on the Samsung Omnia. This upgraded TouchWiz brings several improvements, including striking 3D visual effects, innovative gesture controls, improved integration of photos with contacts, and advanced haptic feedback capabilities.
Sales
In 2008, Samsung reported that its touchscreen phones accounted for roughly one quarter of all units shipped worldwide, with an estimated production volume of about 10 million devices across various models. Among these, five million units were the F480 model, marketed as the Tocco in some regions and as the Behold for T-Mobile in others.
Although Samsung held a 25% share of touchscreen phone shipments that year, the Apple iPhone dominated with approximately one-third (33.3%) of the market. Other manufacturers such as LG, HTC, and Palm comprised the remainder of touchscreen device shipments.
Reception and criticism
Ginny Mies from PC World praised the Samsung Behold as a well-crafted touchscreen smartphone boasting an impressive array of features. However, several reviewers pointed out notable shortcomings. For example, Wireless and Mobile News identified the absence of Wi-Fi connectivity as a significant disadvantage when compared to competitors like the Apple iPhone.
The Behold primarily targets consumers aged 21 to 35 who desire a multifunctional mobile device. Its web browser, however, is less advanced than the iPhone’s Safari browser and can only display portions of larger websites at a time. Additionally, the email client restricts users to selecting from 13 preset email providers without offering the option to add custom accounts. While some users find the QWERTY keyboard somewhat compact, many adapt to its size over time.
Customization options within the TouchWiz interface are limited; home screen personalization is confined to a small selection of wallpapers and lacks screensaver functionality. Nonetheless, users can set photos taken with the Behold’s camera as wallpaper. The phonebook also has a limitation in that it only supports contact searches by first name, which may inconvenience some users.
Regarding photography, outdoor images captured by the Behold’s camera tend to be sharp and vivid, but indoor shots often appear blurry with muted colors when taken from a distance. The built-in flash is effective only at close range—approximately three feet. Video recording quality disappointed many users due to its maximum resolution of 320 x 240 pixels and low audio volume requiring close attention to hear sound clearly. Overall, this 5.0-megapixel camera performs comparably to a standard digital camera.
Additional minor critiques vary based on user preferences: the music player’s design is basic; business users may find it limiting since Microsoft Office documents cannot be opened (though PDF files are supported); and the device lacks a standard headphone jack.