Samsung Wave GT-S8500

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Samsung Wave GT-S8500 review

Samsung is coming to the touchscreen smartphone arena with a bang in releasing the new Samsung Wave, designation GT-S8500, into this rapidly-crowding high-end handset sector.
 
Haha I got this phone a week ago, yeah you can hold it in your left or right hand :D

Runs rings around my iPhone 3G, miles faster. Clearer screen, and even a better apps store (since we get zilch on SA iTunes store - yes, there is one but might as well not be).

Only complaint I have is, is the screen to keyboard ratio is not great when SMSing (small screen v big keyboard) but there's probably a font size adjust function I haven't found yet.
 
Mike43110 said:
how much does it cost ???
Click to expand...

+1, there's no point saying things like
"Samsung is just taking the mass-market approach and assuming that lower costs will mean higher adoption rates. I think they’re onto something."
Click to expand...
And NOT telling us what the price is.
 
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I made some inquiries and the price is between R4200-R4800
 
Friend of mine has the WAVE.
Pretty impressive phone, screen is lovely and phone in fast.
It plays HD movies (MKV) smoothly.
The desktop software (KIES) are troublesome and only got it working on Win7 for some reason.
Their app store aint huge but found most things we were looking for.
My friend recons the screen is scratch proof, so far it is :P

BTW, MXIT works on the WAVE.
 
Awesome,awesome phone!!!
Got mine on thursday,way better than my iphone 3gs i had.
Nice screen,works fast.Just everything is great.
Oh and the battery last 3 times longer than my iphone used to.

Bought mine at vodashop for R4789,worth EVERY penny!!
 
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I got my wave friday afternoon! I love every bit of it. I would just like if the led could be used as a torch. On samsungs app store there is apps to turn the screen into a torch (which is very bright) but the one to turn LED into torch costs money. Anybody that can help me there? Also the photos are realy nice and the screen quality is super super. Way better then my pc screen!
 
My local Cell C shop has a Wave on display. It's a really awesome phone with a neat, clean interface. The graphics are high quality and the screen has to be the best I've seen. I was having a hard time deciding what phone to get for my upgrade and after seen the Wave, I just made up my mind. Pity though that neither MTN nor Vodacom have any ETA on the phone, and I don't want to port to Cell C.
 
seedat77 said:
My local Cell C shop has a Wave on display. It's a really awesome phone with a neat, clean interface. The graphics are high quality and the screen has to be the best I've seen. I was having a hard time deciding what phone to get for my upgrade and after seen the Wave, I just made up my mind. Pity though that neither MTN nor Vodacom have any ETA on the phone, and I don't want to port to Cell C.
Click to expand...

I was in the mall in Witbank and both Vodacom and MTN have got the Wave in stock.
 
Ah sorry chaps for omitting the price! But yes, as you now already know, it's sub-R5K, anywhere between R4200 and R4800 as trevorj found and shared.

Russell
 
Got my Wave yesterday. What a phone. Have not tested it to the full
One thing I would like is an open office app. I would like to run a spreadsheet from the phone. You can read these files.
 
How is the Web browser? Does it use Webkit? (if not, I'm not sold). I struggle to believe it's OS can compete with Android or iOS in terms of Apps or browsing capability at all.
SammyDavisSnr said:
Runs rings around my iPhone 3G, miles faster. Clearer screen, and even a better apps store (since we get zilch on SA iTunes store - yes, there is one but might as well not be).
Click to expand...
It's very simple to get a US account on the iTunes store.
 
The browser is called Samsung Dolphin 2.0 and yes, it's webkit-based. It's actually a later version than on the 3GS so it supports a few additional features. It's silly for phones not to use Webkit and hope that all manufacturers get onboard fast.

By the way, Samsung Wave (which runs bada) is not meant to compete with iOS or Android. It simply aims to bring smartphone features to the current feature phone market. The Wave just happens to have features that surpass many phones that cost nearly double its RRP.
 
Hi All

I am planning on getting myself the wave with my next upgrade on Vodacom. Can anyone tell me if I will get Vodafone firmware or the original Samsung firmware on this phone?

Thanks
 
Mine came with Vodafone firmware,but everything is working fine.Not a single problem at all.
 
Rico0505 said:
Mine came with Vodafone firmware,but everything is working fine.Not a single problem at all.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply

Do you mind giving a quick rundown of the functionality, are there game demos and pictures that you are unable to delete? What full apps come with the phone etc.
 
Well the phone is awesome!!
Had a iphone 3gs 32gig before this and the samsung is BETTER!
The screen movement is smooth and works the same as iphone.The screen is just WAY WAY better.
Yip you can delete demos and pictures that came with phone,no problem.
Full apps as in?
The gps i had to buy Route 66 maps(Southern Africa),but i had to buy that on my iphone also.
Cost for it was R576.
Other things like youtube,facebook,twitter,mini dairy,asphalt 5, plus some xtra came with.
Also the media player on it is very nice as ALL my files(movies,music) i just drag and drop and it plays all.
 
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