MetroPCS snags Samsung Caliber

The Samsung Caliber is not going to blow away an iPhone or Droid but it appears to be a solid choice for MetroPCS customers. The Caliber has a 3.2-inch touchscreen, 3-megapixel camera, 3G, full HTML browsing, a microSD slot, and the widget-tastic TouchWiz user interface.

Unfortunately, it’s only EV-DO Rev. 0, so the data connection isn’t going to be blazing fast. I also used MetroPCS in San Francisco for two god-awful months, so I don’t know how good the network will be where you live. I’m a bit torn on TouchWiz because I generally like the ideas of widgets more than Samsung’s implementation. Still, at $249 before a $90 mail-in rebate, the Caliber is an appealing prepaid device.

[Via MetroPCS]

About The Author

Marin Perez

Marin Perez has torture tested cell phones and smartphones for industry leaders like CNET and InformationWeek. He remembers when 4G was just a screen on PowerPoint presentations and is fascinated with the amount of innovation out there. Marin has spent a lot of time with BlackBerry and Android but he finally broke down a bought an iPhone to see what all the hype's about. He also has too many tablets.

AusFest

I dont know why but samsung’s touch screen phones and that touch wiz crap just looks like it was slapped together. Looks like junk. All of it.
Marin Perez

Samsung makes solid phones but I agree touchwiz is a better idea than a reality. Metro doesn’t have a great selection though, so this does stand out.
J Al

Can’t decide between the Samsung Code and this phone. The Code seems to be a true smart phone, while this phone looks more like a contemporary smart phone. Will Google aps run on it? Google Calendar? Gmail?
lawrence

this phone seems to be a better option if your going to metro for a touch screen but as far as deciding between the samsung code and this new caliber there is a hard decision withn trying to compare.
erick

I like it because of the cheap service, I do not have an Iphone, blackberry, droid, or even an internet phone. I have a Nextel it is $40 a month I can get this for $50 a month and have an entry level smart phone. for me I cant go wrong.
Jones

I’ve had the Caliber for two days now and it has performed
flawlessly without so much as a glitch. True it may not be an
iphone I don’t really care. It all depends on the purpose someone
is purchasing a particular phone for…I just need it to do some pretty basic
things, such as checking email on my server…The “bonus” features
of this phone (for me) are the camera, video and navigation. I
don’t have to pack my camera, video camera or GPS unit when I go on
vacation, I just need the phone and my netbook…If I’m going to
surf the net, I have my netbook, why on earth would I to
surf the net on small screen device like a phone, the phone would
work in a pitch, but I don’t plan using it to surf the net on a
regular basis with it…For those that need their phone to do
EVERYTHING, then they can buy something else and get roped into a
2 year contract and get whacked for data, minutes, taxes, along
with hidden fees…No Thanks, been there, done that…
Fame Appeal

Jones, I totally understand where you are coming from. However can you add new apps to the samsung code? i dont want to be roped in2 a two year contract either, however i love the android service, and really want the luxury of adding apps!!!

ugh
elizabeth

i just recieved the phone. i work for metro pcs. soo far its a goos seller!! fast, reliable and cute!!
Eric C

just got this phone from MetroPCS in Glendale and it really is Bad@$$… Metro have really outdone themselves with this phone and reception/internet speed are pretty solid.
mario

I had this phone since the first day it hit the store. I have not been let down, the samsung caliber is great, everything for 50 $ a month, other companies are charging double that price for worse service. This phone was a good investment for me and it will be for you too.
michael

look heres something to help you guys out
i have ben trying to decide if i want the caliber or not and keep my samsung code, but the first wek io got my code i have had problems with glitches and the apps suck horribly, and its not like apples apps either, there isnt a lot of aps on it and if you want certain ones you have to pay a lot of money and you can hardly download apps from the computer that will work. so get the caliber
mayrabella

I just got the caliber and it is a great phone. I like to text alot so the $50 a month was very good
Dee

Does anyone think the caliber will go down in price anytime soon? At the time, it is $249.00
Dee

Liz do you think the price on this phone will change anytime soon? It’s $249.00 now
Marin Perez

Unfortunately, I don’t see it coming down anytime soon because there’s no contract or subsidy. We really appreciate the feedback, by the way.
Tom Hunter

Was looking into the Code or the Caliber for my 13 yr old daughter. She just wants to text, video stuff, surf and play games. I somehow get the impression that the aps on the Caliber are set in stone so to speak – can you buy/download webaps, google aps too? Curious. Was cosidering a code but the screen is smaller and the OS and platform seem sketchy.
jose

im pretty sure it is when they release the new phone from metro pcs around summer.The phone would be almost the same as the caliber just whit a keyboard.How do i know this well,i asked a guy that worked at metro pcs and he told me. I dont know to belive him or not all we can do bis wait
BLITZWING2

Dumb fuck i didnt spin all that money on my phone for some ass hole to just diss it like that…
Donald Sheldon

I would like to know how to download photos from the Caliber to a laptop. If it is in the manuel I cannot find it. Please let me know how to delete all pictures after downloading them as well.
Thank You
Don
Ivette

I would just like to know how to add new widgets. I hate those awful introductions to something. Those widgets like Tactile, and Love Calculator are stupid. Anyone with new information as to how we can add Youtube, Outlook Mail, etc. Please keep me posted.
tasha

i want to get the Caliber so badly but i also want to wait to see the phone that they come out with this summer what should i do? i need help.
suga86

u should wait . the rumored phone that Metro is supposed release this summer (2010) is called the Samsung Sch -R900. I have not seen how it works, I have just seen pictures, and it does not look like it has the manual keyboard.However, it is going to be using a 4G network, and is also said to be using the Windows Mobile interface.
EV PARKER

I HAVE THE CALIBER PHONE WITH PCS METRO, YES ITS A GREAT LOOKING PHONE , AND THE PRICE IS REALLY GREAT, BUT I WAS REALLY LET DOWN WITH THE NO-G SERVICE I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DOWNLOAD ANY SONGS OR VIDEOS FOR SOME REASON, MY GIRLFRIEND HAS TO BLUETOOTH SONGS AND VIDEOS FROM HER T-MOBLE PHONE . HER PHONE IS ALSO SAMSUNG JUST SMALLER, BUT THE T-MOBLE SERVICE IS SO MUCH BETTER IT HURTS . THE CODE HAS A OS THATS LIKE WINDOWS ' SO IT MAY BE BETTER FOR DOWNLOADING
moonlight

I want a new phone for my birthday. I was going to get the Samsung caliber but i heard about some better new phones coming out. My birthday is in late June. Will the phones be out in june or july.
Alex

I'm contemplating between the code and caliber. Which shall I get? Which is the better phone?
Anthony

alright i bought this phone its WORTH IT !!!! love it price high but worh i internet good n fast no cntract an all this is s far the best metro cell touch phone i bought me an my grl friend it. camera gps an video is rely good go great feautres an its not gona bet the iphone but can be used as an ipod. also yeah you might not surf the internet with this but when you do it works great im on it right now as i write this. overall breat cell phone an fetures. go buy it! price not goin to drop but ts worth its price. that other person that wroth a dumb comment abou te phone can suck it for been a hater.
SHAWN

THINK TWICE ON BUYING A PHONE FROM METRO PCS WITH A REBATE …I BOUGHT THIS PHONE AND SAMSUNG HAD A 50.00 REBATE THAT WE HAVE NEVER GOT AND WILL NOT RETURN CALLS AND METRO PCS CAN'T HELP YOU ITS A JOKE ..I HAVE A TRACKING NUMBER WHERE THEY HAD RECEIVED AND STILL NOTHING .METRO PCS IS ONLY OUT TO SALE THERE PHONE AND LIE ABOUT REBATES PLEASE THINK TWICE
raistlehoff

I have bought a total of three phones (messenger, and two freeforms) and have received all three rebates. I have also never gotten bad service from metro as well.
John

Ya, I got the $25 rebate after two months but the$50 never came and no record of it from the CO. If they are going to give a rebate, they should do it at the point of sale!
Jay

I never recieved my 50 dollar rebate either which is a joke This phone is not worth the time
Dave

well guys i dont have metro pcs i have uscellular and i can tell u that this phone is great i got it the day before it came out which was about 2 months before metro got it. i haven't had an issue with this phone yet its now been almost a year the only downside is that i can't find downloadable apps anywhere… thanks alot for that one samsung
Jim

We also got our 25.00 rebate right away, and its been 13 weeks and still nothing on the 50.00 rebate. I was with mtro myself, and left for sprint, but my girl bought the caliber, and its her rebate weve been waiting on. What a joke
Maureen

Never received my rebate either.
blackhawk

there are a few ways. you can email them from the caliber or you can hook up a usb cable from the phone to your pc..or if your pc is bluetooth compatible you can transfer them that way.
Dennis

I have the same issue they keep giving me bogus phone numbers to call and no one at metro pcs will help they repeat themselves and belittle you before transfering to the next idot. Samsung i found out holds no claim to any rebate offers from dealers so now it goes back on metro pcs doorstep. I just finished with the latest moron representative there and she said I need to bring a picture ID to authorize dealer and ask them, then very nasty said would u like for me to draw you a map to the store!
Randy Jones

Its true abgout the rebate we never received ours from our samsung caliber. Only reason we upgraded from the one we wanted was because of the rebate. No one to call no one to help. its a scam
lexii .

GET THE CODE. do not make the same mistake i made. i've had the caliber for alittle over a month now, and i've verry unhappy and displeased with it., for a while now i wish i would have gotten the code. so, get the code.
code has windows mobile 6.1, keyboard and a good quality camera, for me, thoes are the biggest things for a teenager.
nothing could be worse than this phone…. trust me.
lexii

via usb. open my computer and you should see removeable disk F (depending on you're version of windows) if you have windows, i dont know alot about macs.
and just open that and click on the correct folder.
and if you want to delete just highlite and press delete. or right click, either way. ha.
philip

I have this phone and within a month the actual buttons stopped working…I took it back and they said they didnt have it in stock…yet I still had my receipt and the fine print says that if they dont have it in stock they will exchange for an equal phone, they wouldnt do it, so on principal I wont stay with metro because of the crappy customer service
marc

first of all u dum asses didnt get ur rebate cause u prolly didnt put all the info on the form that u were suppost u haft to send the sticker off the bax with it an a couple other things i have had no problem downloading ringtones now watching youtube the internet is pretty dam fast to. the olny thing thats is gay is downloadable apps are hard to come by so all u pepole dising this phone an metro fuck off an listen to wat ur suppost to do for the rebate iddiots metro is the shit
josieb

I cannot get my Caliber to trasnfer photos at all. It will not transfer them to a microSD (“File transfer incomplete” everytime I try), there is no link or way to upload photos to facebook, and email does not work (nothing happens when i try to run the download for metromail) AND the software disk that comes with it wont install on any of my 3 PCs so the CD program installer must be defective . Been to the shop more than once about it and was just told its a “newtork issue” or a “computer issue” when neither is the case. And now I’m $250 out for a useless phone .
Stevie D

i recieved my 50$ rebate just weeks after i purchased the phone, GREAT SERVICE!
Cliff

Marc,
I will agree with you that Metro PCS is awesome but the rebate issue is definitely a turn off. I’ve filled out every piece of paper that I was supposed to and although Metro PCS has sent their $25 rebate, I still have not heard anything back from SAMSUNG (not Metro pcs) after for the last 12 weeks. It’s not Metro that is the problem, it is because of Samsung not holding up their end of the deal. By the way, just to let you know, ranting about how people are idiots and then having grammatic as well as spelling issues definitely cuts your credibility to just about nothing.
-Cliff
Iz_dis_me

um isnt the samsung caliber an instant rebate and the code the mail in? well at least for my phone it was.
Dcoopa

hooked on phonics worked for me! Dude, You are a retard…
Dcoopa

hooked on phonics worked for me! Dude, You are a retard…
Dcoopa

hooked on phonics worked for me! Dude, You are a retard…
Dcoopa

hooked on phonics worked for me! Dude, You are a retard…
Dcoopa

hooked on phonics worked for me! Dude, You are a retard…
Dcoopa

hooked on phonics worked for me! Dude, You are a retard…
Dcoopa

hooked on phonics worked for me! Dude, You are a retard…
Dcoopa

hooked on phonics worked for me! Dude, You are a retard…
Dcoopa

hooked on phonics worked for me! Dude, You are a retard…
Dcoopa

hooked on phonics worked for me! Dude, You are a retard…
Dcoopa

hooked on phonics worked for me! Dude, You are a retard…
Dcoopa

hooked on phonics worked for me! Dude, You are a retard…
Dcoopa

hooked on phonics worked for me! Dude, You are a retard…
Dcoopa

hooked on phonics worked for me! Dude, You are a retard…
Dcoopa

hooked on phonics worked for me! Dude, You are a retard…
Dcoopa

hooked on phonics worked for me! Dude, You are a retard…
Dcoopa

hooked on phonics worked for me! Dude, You are a retard…
Dcoopa

hooked on phonics worked for me! Dude, You are a retard…
Dcoopa

hooked on phonics worked for me! Dude, You are a retard…
Dcoopa

hooked on phonics worked for me! Dude, You are a retard…
Dcoopa

hooked on phonics worked for me! Dude, You are a retard…
Dcoopa

hooked on phonics worked for me! Dude, You are a retard…
Dcoopa

hooked on phonics worked for me! Dude, You are a retard…
http://www.facebook.com/carla8dec Carla DeLancy

How do you email photos from the caliber? I get the option to send in a text message or send via bluetooth, but not to send via email.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_IHGT6536GJNB5XTDDBSZNWALAA just me

this phone stinks its locked so bad i cant even add gmail to mail@metro
Williesistrunk28

how do i get apps
Awilson25

the code breaks easy, the wheel goes bad after a couple of months. i would not get another code. i had two of them.
Awilson25

while the code does a lot of good stuff like real email, ms applications, etc….the mouse wheel breaks after a few months and then its junk. i had 2 of them, both bad wheels. $80 to replace them under the replacement plan. could not get samsung to warranty the phone. MetroPCS is not helpful in this regard. when you have metro, you are on your own.
Xicana562

the caliber SUCKS… i should have fought metro or corporate on it the first week i got it. after 3 or 4 days of purchase my phone was turning off and on on its own. it would not remain on. i went in and miraculously (hmmph) it was working again. its been 4 months and im experiencing the problem once again. grrrr
Tinkerbell_1302

I got my rebate pretty quick $25 from metro and $50 from samsung it was a good deal i like the phone,maybe you guys didnt follow the rebate steps correctly..
Mompoint_2

does the samsung caliber connect to wifi?
SamsungCaliberUser

No.