Samsung Galaxy S Lightray 4G

more

6/10

480 x 800 display
Android
Touchscreen
Wi-Fi
Bluetooth
Speakerphone
GPS
Memory slot
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There are now modern handsets capable of picking up digital mobile TV signals wherever you go. The type of channels you can pick up ultimately depends on where you live, but the fact remains that mobile TV is here, now. For a chance to see what it’s like, all you need to do is grab something like the Android-powered Samsung Galaxy S Lightray 4G.

What is the Galaxy S Lightray 4G? It’s one of the best handsets available from MetroPCS if you’re after display quality and camera performance; it uses a 4.3-inch screen and an 8-megapixel camera. It also comes with 4G LTE connectivity. Its other features include GPS, Bluetooth 3.0, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, microSD card support, stereo speakers, and microUSB connectivity. It’s built pretty much like many high-end Android handsets and it comes with an accompanying high-end price tag, too.

This high price is even more disappointing when you find out that it runs an old version of Android on a rather slow single core processor. Most reviewers call it good but too expensive. Add to that the fact that its mobile TV features are limited—its HDMI-port is locked-down—and you’ve got yourself a handset that’s a bit hard to recommend. Prospective buyers are urged to steer clear of it in its current iteration or look for it at discount prices.

Need to Know: Samsung Galaxy S Lightray 4G

1. Bright, 4.3-inch 480x800 touchscreen display. (The Good)

2. 8-megapixel camera with LED flash and 4G LTE connectivity. (The Good)

3. Mobile TV feature picks up very few channels. (The Bad)

4. Uses an older version of Android. (The Bad)

Prices (Where To Buy)

Samsung Galaxy S Lightray SCH-R940 - 1,370MB - Black (Metro PCS) Smartphone from eBay

•Condition: Used
•Availability: In Stock
•Carrier: Metro PCS
•Located In: USA

$250.00

Samsung Galaxy S Lightray 4G LTE Prepaid Android Phone (MetroPCS) from Amazon Merchant

•Condition: New
•Availability: In Stock
•Contract: No

$315.00

Latest Reviews

Offers video fanatics mobile television in an otherwise conservative package

Eric M. Zeman from Phone Scoop (9 months ago)

The form is good; the signal, calling, and data performance are all good; the camera and video camera work well; and the software runs fine thanks to the speedy Exynos processor. But the Lightray delivers too little when it comes to the main feature: Dyle TV. True, it's a burgeoning service that is apt... More

Unless you're addicted to local TV and need anytime access, the Samsung Galaxy S Lightray 4G isn't money well spent

Brian Bennett from Cnet (9 months ago)

6/10

In my view it's wise to be wary of products with first-gen services or hardware. The $459 Samsung Galaxy S Lightray 4G is great example of this. Those expecting the handset to operate as a true portable TV set picking up all the free digital TV stations in range will be sorely disappointed. With only... More

Old, slow processor, extremely expensive

Sascha Segan from PC Magazine (10 months ago)

6/10

The Samsung Lightray 4G has a lot going for it: the biggest screen MetroPCS offers, a sharp 8-megapixel camera, and between two and six channels of broadcast TV depending on where you live. But its early-adopter price is just out of sync with the rest of the market, and especially with the $249 MetroPCS... More

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