The FedEx guy just dropped off an unexpected package and I was excited that maybe the Galaxy Nexus had come early. Instead, it was the Samsung DoubleTime. Le sigh.
While the Galaxy Nexus is the epitome of a high-end Android phone, the Samsung DoubleTime does show off the flexibility that the platform has to be on lower-end handsets with multiple form factors. The reason why it’s called the DoubleTime is because it has two touchscreens and a fold-out QWERTY keyboard. Picture an old school LG EnV but with a smaller, rounder frame and you pretty much have the Samsung DoubleTime.
The Samsung DoubleTime sports two 3.2-inch touch displays and a relatively bulky, yet satisfying hinge. Inside, you’ll find an extremely flat QWERTY keyboard that feels way too compressed for my fat fingers. A 3-megapixel camera and Android 2.2 Froyo round out the less-than-exhilerating specs. The eye-popping white with little pink accents do stand out and I like the textured backing.
It’s tough for me to get excited about a phone like the DoubleTime but I’m definitely not the core audience for a phone that looks like a compact. This handset can be had for free on places like Amazon and I’m sure that its super-texting teen demographic will get a kick out of the ultra-compact keyboard. I’m just a bit put off by its underpowered nature. Still, look for the full review soon and check out the photos below.
