Key features:
3.2" 256K-color resistive touchscreen at WQVGA resolution
Dual-SIM dual standby quad-band GSM/EDGE support
Single-band 3G with HSDPA (SIM 1 only)
TouchWiz UI
5 megapixel autofocus camera and QVGA@30fps video
Wi-Fi connectivity
FM radio with RDS
Stereo Bluetooth 2.1
Standard microUSB port
Office document viewer
Good audio quality
Main disadvantages:
Quite pricey
Memory management issues
Poor screen sunlight legibility
Smudge-prone back and front panels
No standard 3.5mm audio jack
The Samsung B7722 certainly is worth a look. But is it worth your time and money? To begin with, if dual SIM service is a must you’re given a limited choice already. There are people out there who would swear dual SIM phones are the best this industry has ever come up with. But dual SIM phones will never be mass market.
So, how does it work for the Samsung B7722? It is ready to accommodate two SIM cards and packs a touchscreen. It’s also quite social and enjoys taking pictures or listening to music. These are all nice features to have – and we can remember quite a few touchscreen feature phones that made a fortune with far less impressive feature sets.
That takes us to the question of price. The B7722 has nearly all we would normally expect in that price range. At launch, the phone had a 400 euro price tag and now it goes for around 300. That’s serious money for a feature phone. More importantly though, we’re not sure how many dual SIM shoppers will find the value-adding features relevant.
We can’t ignore the fact either that the Samsung B7722 has a serious RAM issue. The phone is struggling with multiple applications running at the same time. The whole thing is at its worst when browsing the web. But to be fair, there’s an easy way around this: the Opera Mini.
Anyway, if you do need dual SIM action, the B7722 should definitely be on your list of things to see. No need to remind you, the solid connectivity (including Wi-Fi) is more than welcome. What’s working against the Samsung B7722 is the general view of dual SIM handsets as the perfect second phone – a cheap two-in-one device that’s nice to have at hand.
One that fits this profile better is the Samsung B5722. It is a full touch dual SIM feature phone as well but it’s cheaper for a reason. The screen is smaller, there is no Wi-Fi and the camera is relegated to 3MP. It does cost half the price of the B7722.
Speaking of alternatives, the LG GX500’s feature set is almost identical to the Samsung B7722’s. So don’t forget to check it out, too. It offers a 3-inch WQVGA touchscreen, Wi-Fi connectivity, 3-megapixel still imaging, as well as a promising 1500mAh battery. As for its price tag, the GX500 costs around 200 euro.
For the same 200 euro you can get the Gigabyte GSmart S1205. Unlike the other dual SIM phones mentioned so far, it is a smartphone. And of course it can handle two SIM cards as well. The GSmart S1205 runs WinMo 6.5 Professional, packs a 3.2” touchscreen of WQVGA resolution, Wi-Fi support and a pretty nice user interface. Just like the B5722 and the GX500, the Gigabyte GSmart S1205 skimps on 3G.
So, to sum it up, there aren’t that many full touch dual SIM phones on the market and the Samsung B7722 is in the premium zone of a niche that’s pretty limited to begin with. It’s not overpriced for what it offers but it does seem like it’s charging more than the typical customer is willing to pay. If Samsung are trying to change how people see dual SIM phones, the B7722 will be right to claim credit. Could be a consolation for the fact that it’s just not meant to be a market success.
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