Customer reviews from Samsung US
Samsung - Captivate Mobile Phone - Black (AT&T)
Average customer rating
4.2
(1,846 Reviews)
Rating breakdown 1,846 reviews
5 Stars
949
4 Stars
544
3 Stars
150
2 Stars
109
1 Star
94
82%of customers recommend this product.
(
1,418 out of
1,721)
Customer Reviews for Samsung - Captivate Mobile Phone - Black (AT&T)
Customer Rating
1
Buy this was a BIG mistake
on November 12, 2010
Posted by: SaddenedByCaptivate
Expertise:Intermediate
I gave in to all the shiny specs and boy am I paying for it dearly now! It feels slow and sluggish. The battery doesn't make it through a train ride to work...so i just look at it and cry inside on the way back. Forget about the GPS, it simply does not work. And never, under any circumstance, expect speedy/timely updates! Very disappointed and deeply saddened by this whole ordeal!!! :(
[they did not let me post my last review!!!]
Pros: Bright display, Lightweight
Cons: Did not meet expectations
Features
4
Performance
2
Design
4
Value
1
Written by a customer while visiting Samsung US
Customer Rating
4
The 3 bads of the Captivate
on July 22, 2010
Posted by: moejoe
from West Chester, PA
Expertise:Intermediate
I am an old Iphone user. I have owed every model except the Iphone4 because of my long anticipated wait for a powerful android phone. So now I have my Samsung Captivate....
I love everything about this phone except for three things that I am not the only one complaining about.
1. The phone does not have a strong signal. I have compared it next to a blackberry, and Iphone 3g, Iphone 3gs, and a windows software phone and my samsung has always had at least 2 bars less then any of these phone.
2. Syncing to any computer is the biggest headache that I have ever had! I HATE itunes but compared to the syncing problems that I am having it might be worth it... Also I am a graphic designer so I have an mac book and there is no software available to sync my captivate with my mac besides blue tooth which takes 30 seconds for each song.
3. I have spent too much time trying to restrict my widgets and apps on the phone from syncing every 10 seconds. My phone barely lasts a 10 hour day without the battery dieing. Every 10 seconds my phone is sending and receiving information.
These are 3 little problems that can be fixed very easily. But if these problems aren't fixed I might have to return my phone before the 30 day return policy.
Please help samsung!
I would recommend this to a friend!
Features
4
Performance
5
Design
4
Value
4
Written by a customer while visiting Samsung US
Customer Rating
1
Ramdom Shutdown
on December 8, 2010
Posted by: skyhigh
Expertise:Intermediate
this phone would be perfect, but the ramdom shutdowns
and the reception quailty are making me considering switching carriers and brands.....Absolutly terrible that theres
not a fix for this yet........
and the reception quailty are making me considering switching carriers and brands.....Absolutly terrible that theres
not a fix for this yet........
Pros: Built-in speakers, Bright display, Durable, Realistic color, Lightweight
Cons: Poor quality, Did not meet expectations, constant shutdowns
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Features
5
Performance
1
Design
5
Value
1
Written by a customer while visiting Samsung US
Customer Rating
4
Great phone
on July 29, 2010
Posted by: pullapint
from Carson City, NV
Expertise:Intermediate
I have had no problems with wi-fi, making calls, texting, camera, downloading apps or GPS. The screen is big, clear and sharp. Although it is a finger print magnet. I like the lack of buttons. I gives it a clean, sleek look.
The only problems I have is the proprietery usb connection on the phone itself. It seems to not go in all the way and comes unconnected very easily.
Also the fact that it syncs all your contacts with your gmail account without asking. Gmail is not my address book. It has my email contacts and I don't want email contacts on my phone. You should turn off gmail syncing if this will be a problem. You can change it here: apps>settings>accounts and sync. You should definitley download the full users manual and go through it. The quick start guide, by definition, is very basic.
I also wish there were an "official" way to delete AT&T preinstalled apps without rooting the phone.
One more thing, a way to tell if an app is truly off. Not all apps have an exit button. I've installed a task killer and that works fine.
Overall, this is a great phone. I'm glad I bought it.
The only problems I have is the proprietery usb connection on the phone itself. It seems to not go in all the way and comes unconnected very easily.
Also the fact that it syncs all your contacts with your gmail account without asking. Gmail is not my address book. It has my email contacts and I don't want email contacts on my phone. You should turn off gmail syncing if this will be a problem. You can change it here: apps>settings>accounts and sync. You should definitley download the full users manual and go through it. The quick start guide, by definition, is very basic.
I also wish there were an "official" way to delete AT&T preinstalled apps without rooting the phone.
One more thing, a way to tell if an app is truly off. Not all apps have an exit button. I've installed a task killer and that works fine.
Overall, this is a great phone. I'm glad I bought it.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Features
5
Performance
5
Design
4
Value
5
Written by a customer while visiting Samsung US
Customer Rating
4
Great but missing Bluetooth capability
on August 18, 2010
Posted by: ELVV
from Victoville CA
Expertise:Intermediate
Great phone, had blackberry for two days and traded back for the Captivate for extra $35. Then realized too late the Captivate does not have any way to dial out on Bluetooth with out using hadset - NOT COOL while driving. If anyone has solution, I will be watching posts. Otherwise I love the phone...
I would recommend this to a friend!
Features
4
Performance
4
Design
4
Value
4
Written by a customer while visiting Samsung US
Customer Rating
4
Almost perfect
on September 26, 2010
Posted by: LuvtheVideo
from Pennsylvania
Expertise:Expert
I like this phone very much, however there are just a couple of things that bother me.
1st: I cannot find a user manual, not online or on disk or in the box.
2nd: This may not be Samsungs fault, but the phone will not let me install any apps that are not downloaded from the marketplace. I have many apps I placed on an SD card but the phone refuses to install them. Very annoying.
1st: I cannot find a user manual, not online or on disk or in the box.
2nd: This may not be Samsungs fault, but the phone will not let me install any apps that are not downloaded from the marketplace. I have many apps I placed on an SD card but the phone refuses to install them. Very annoying.
Pros: Built-in speakers, Bright display, Durable, Lightweight
I would recommend this to a friend!
Features
5
Performance
5
Design
5
Value
5
Written by a customer while visiting Samsung US
Customer Rating
2
If it can be improved...
on October 11, 2010
Posted by: Anonymous
There is an inconsistency between the advertisement of Galaxy S and its actual performance. While the options are plentiful, their functionality is sometimes quite limiting. One would expect a design so sleek and easy to navigate be more able to live up to its potential, but it fails at the one thing that would keep me from not being delighted had I bought the iPhone instead: GPS. The GPS cannot pinpoint a location in any application I have tried. The only reason I am hanging onto it is if I believe that if the problem can be fixed. Then I will give it five stars and a recommendation to my friends, "Best Phone Ever. It changed my life."
Pros: Bright display, Lightweight
Cons: Did not meet expectations
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Features
2
Performance
3
Design
4
Value
2
Written by a customer while visiting Samsung US
Customer Rating
3
Almost great, with some serious disappointments.
on November 13, 2010
Posted by: TheOnlyMerlin
from CA
Expertise:Intermediate
I found this phone to be, in many ways, great. It offers a large, gorgeous screen, a very impressive looking camera (5mp stills and 720p video), and many of the Android Apps have seriously added to my life. I also like the 4in screen better than the iPhone's slightly smaller screen.
However, this phone could have been quite a bit better. There were a number of extras that could have been included, although I fault Samsung less for this. There a number of included features that simply did not operate as they should, effectively broken, these are the things I fault Samsung for. I will try to break these two sections down.
However, this phone could have been quite a bit better. There were a number of extras that could have been included, although I fault Samsung less for this. There a number of included features that simply did not operate as they should, effectively broken, these are the things I fault Samsung for. I will try to break these two sections down.
Improvements Highly Recommended:
-Add camera flash (does not currently have)
-Add front facing camera (does not currently have one)
-Matter of preference: Add physical keyboard (I very much prefer this)
-Add camera flash (does not currently have)
-Add front facing camera (does not currently have one)
-Matter of preference: Add physical keyboard (I very much prefer this)
"Broken" Features:
-GPS is almost useless. On the best days, the gps can find me within a hundred or so feet after a few minutes. Most days, it can't find me at all. A few months ago, I went to Tahoe, and while standing on the beach on a clear day in an open area, after several minutes it couldn't find me. I kept it on as a test for the rest of the trip, and made it back to the valley without it ever knowing I left. My friend who owns an iPhone always laughs at me for this one.
-Compass is nearly useless "jittery." This is mainly noticed in Google Sky. My phone is nearly useless here too, I once took it outside to show my nephew the stars, and pointed it at the big dipper and on screen it, in a jittery fashion, showed me that was where the sun was. I was embarrassed. My friend with the iPhone friend mocks me for this too, showing me his perfectly smooth and accurate sky map.
-The system seems to be generally often laggy.
-Battery life is not preferable, I generally have to keep my charger nearby. Often charging at night is not enough to get you through the day with regular use. I would happily trade a little weight for more battery.
-GPS is almost useless. On the best days, the gps can find me within a hundred or so feet after a few minutes. Most days, it can't find me at all. A few months ago, I went to Tahoe, and while standing on the beach on a clear day in an open area, after several minutes it couldn't find me. I kept it on as a test for the rest of the trip, and made it back to the valley without it ever knowing I left. My friend who owns an iPhone always laughs at me for this one.
-Compass is nearly useless "jittery." This is mainly noticed in Google Sky. My phone is nearly useless here too, I once took it outside to show my nephew the stars, and pointed it at the big dipper and on screen it, in a jittery fashion, showed me that was where the sun was. I was embarrassed. My friend with the iPhone friend mocks me for this too, showing me his perfectly smooth and accurate sky map.
-The system seems to be generally often laggy.
-Battery life is not preferable, I generally have to keep my charger nearby. Often charging at night is not enough to get you through the day with regular use. I would happily trade a little weight for more battery.
General Recommendations for Samsung:
-Please do not integrate touchwiz directly into the operating system. It's fine that it is there, but it should be separate, something that can be optionally removed, like a app normally would. This should greatly simplify and speed up the update process, and give greater options to your customers. As it is, I feel like I will be soon abandoned by Samsung in favor of new customers, as I don't see us getting the 2.3 / 3.0+ updates. If that's true, don't expect me to be one of your customers for my next phone.
-Keep your physical designs consistent. You are already the underdog, and finding I phone accessories is simple because they have the same form factor, not so with Galaxy S phones. The more unity you have, the better for you and your customer.
-Please do not integrate touchwiz directly into the operating system. It's fine that it is there, but it should be separate, something that can be optionally removed, like a app normally would. This should greatly simplify and speed up the update process, and give greater options to your customers. As it is, I feel like I will be soon abandoned by Samsung in favor of new customers, as I don't see us getting the 2.3 / 3.0+ updates. If that's true, don't expect me to be one of your customers for my next phone.
-Keep your physical designs consistent. You are already the underdog, and finding I phone accessories is simple because they have the same form factor, not so with Galaxy S phones. The more unity you have, the better for you and your customer.
Pros: Built-in speakers, Bright display, Durable, Realistic color, Lightweight
Cons: Did not meet expectations, no camera flash, slow performance, mediocre battery life, very slow software updates, few case options, very poor gps tracking, no front facing camera, compass nearly useless
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Features
3
Performance
3
Design
4
Value
4
Written by a customer while visiting Samsung US