Samsung Galaxy Stellar Pro Reviews

The Galaxy Stellar isn't a bad phone, but it isn't a great one, either. It's pretty much exactly what it looks like: a very low-end phone designed to be free with a new contract. It has good performance, and a decent if unremarkable screen. So it might suit some people well. But frankly, a tiny investment will net you a vastly better device. With online retailers currently offering options like the Motorola Droid RAZR M available from $50, and the Samsung Galaxy Nexus from $60, I have a hard time seeing to whom I could recommend the Stellar to. It's a decent starter device, but as the user grows into more serious use, it'll start to feel increasingly limiting. And by the end of a two-year contract, it'll be an antique.

The Samsung Galaxy Stellar is something of an enigma in the smartphone space. You can get the phone for free from Verizon by signing a two year commitment and taking advantage of a $50 mail-in rebate, and “free” is a term we typically associate with bottom-of-the-barrel phones. Even the normal $50 price tag with the contract signing indicates that the Stellar isn’t going to be that great, but the Stellar does manage to defy these notions in a few ways. Yes, it’s true that the Stellar can’t really be considered “the best” in any way. If you’re a person who is always on the lookout for the best and you’ve made it this far in the review, I’m sorry to say that you’ve just wasted your time. This phone clearly isn’t for those who want to brag about their phone’s specs, nor is for those who want to pull a sexy smartphone out of their pocket and make the lowly masses jealous in doing so. If you’re looking for a budget-priced smartphone that still has some decent hardware though, the Galaxy Stellar is a good choice.

Not everything about the Samsung Galaxy Stellar is a hit, but I'm willing to give the phone a little leeway because of its price-tag-to-value ratio. It excels at the major points for entertainment and written communication, but is weaker in audio and photo. The Stellar remains best for Verizon customers seeking a starter smartphone, but who aren't interested in investing heavily in the hardware -- I'm thinking in particular about a family entering a new member on their data plan. However, genuine bargain hunters will recall that a free phone on a two-year contract still commits you to at least $90 per month on Verizon's new shared data plans. Take it off the plan and you're spending $330 outright for the phone. I'd probably have other first-choice phones at that up-front price with other no-contract carriers, but on Big Red, the Stellar's value will be hard to beat.

The Samsung Galaxy Stellar for Verizon Wireless is a stellar deal, but its camera isn't quite out of this world.

The old saying “you can’t get something for nothing” still applies today, as you have to sign a 2-year contract in order to get the Samsung Galaxy Stellar for free, as the full retail price is $330. The Galaxy Stellar doesn’t have any stellar features or specs, but does provide the basics, such as a usable 4” screen, nice 1.2GHz dual-core processor, and is running Android ICS. But the poor camera quality is a disappointment, as is the lackluster call quality.