Review: Samsung Galaxy Prevail
The Prevail is a compact Android phone, though not the slimmest nor the sexiest. It uses straight-forward black on black styling, with a few random chrome-y accents thrown in for good measure. It is definitely chunkier than other Galaxy phones from Samsung, but the reduced length and width make it comfortable to hold and use. The materials feel good, and I like the soft-touch paint job on the battery cover, which gives it a grippy texture. Pocket friendly? Sure, though it will be obvious in tighter pants.
The front of the Prevail is a smooth surface from top to bottom and side to side. The display, which measures just 3.2 inches, leaves plenty of black bezel surrounding it. There are four capacitive buttons below the display. These have no physical boundaries or markings at all, and I found it all too easy to accidentally press the wrong one.
Samsung placed the volume toggle on the Prevail's left side, close to the top of the phone. The toggle is very easy to find, and travel and feedback are great. The microSD port is below the volume toggle, and is protected by a plastic hatch. I had some trouble getting the hatch to cooperate. Longer nails might lead to success. The microUSB port is on the bottom, and is used for charging and data transfer.
The camera button is on the lower right side in what has become the default spot for it on many phones. It is a single-stage button, and has excellent travel and feedback. The power/lock key is on the top edge of the Prevail. It doesn't stick out as much as the volume toggle and camera keys do, and I thought it was a little bit too small. Travel and feedback were OK. The 3.5mm headset jack is also on top.
The battery cover peels off easily.
In sum, the Prevail may not set any new ground in terms of design, but the hardware works well, and that's what some of us want most from our phones.