Virgin Mobile Samsung Intercept – $189.99 SHIPPED
(reg. $220) Sale expires 12/4
By: Dappered Tech Correspondent Paul Olson
Back in the in the spring, we mentioned that prepaid phones are a great deal. Then in the summer, we talked about cheap iPhone alternatives. This winter, Best Buy is offering the best deal yet on a Google Android-powered smartphone — the Samsung Intercept — and it’s offered on the best-deal-yet provider — Virgin Mobile. Get it at Best Buy, and it’s $189. Get it elsewhere, and it’s $249.
The plan is the great thing — unlimited text and data for $25 (Verizon charges $29 for unlimited data and charges extra for texts). With Virgin, you also get 300 voice minutes included — it’s insane. You can spend more at Virgin and get more minutes, maxing out at their $60 full unlimited plan. These are tremendous deals.
The phone has two shortcomings that I can see — a slightly slower 3G modem (supposedly, given the same connecting, other phones will be able to download data faster) and a lower resolution screen (240×400 instead of the 400×800 on higher-end phones). Do these matter? Probably not. It will run Angry Birds for Android.
Other features to note:
- Android 2.1
- 800 MHz, ARM11 Samsung S3C6410 processor
- 256 MB of RAM
- 2 GB MicroSD memory card included
- Physical keyboard
- Nationwide coverage on the Sprint network
What do you think? Is this a sweet enough deal to make you ditch your current contract?
The sale price and free shipping expire Saturday 12/4