Camera

The Propel Pro has an excellent camera. Its 3.0-megapixel lens takes sharp images that rarely blur thanks to an auto-focus feature. Users can zoom in, set a timer, choose a focus mode, adjust brightness levels, select single or multiple shot mode, and choose effects and resolution quality before snapping a shot.

Samsung Propel Pro (SGH-I627)

Your Price: Free! with service

Effects include taking a picture in black and white, sepia or in photo negative mode.

Users can adjust the ISO, metering, daylight, cloudy, incandescent bulb or fluorescent bulb lighting, white balance, and settings according to the scene: night mode, landscape, portrait, text, sports, sunset and auto.

Images have good color quality, contrast and shadowing, and a range of resolution choices: 2048 x 1536 px, 1600 x 1200 px, 1280 x 960 px and 640 x 480 px.

Photos can be sent, copied, viewed in a slideshow or edited. Editing options include resizing the resolution, zooming in or out, and adjusting brightness and contrast. Unfortunately, there is no crop option.

The camcorder can limit recording time in order to send video in a multimedia message or record for extended periods and save to the phone or a memory card. Resolution options are 320 x 240 px or 176 x 144 px.

Users can film in black and white, sepia or negative and choose to white balance the screen image, adjust brightness, and adjust for sunny and cloudy conditions, or incandescent or fluorescent lighting. They can also launch Video Share -- a live or recorded video message sharing service.

Recorded videos aren't as clear still photos taken, but the they still look good and sound decent, with the mic picking up on even the faintest noises.

The Propel Pro has a high-quality camera with numerous image adjustment and editing options. Resolution is great on the camera and pretty good on the video camcorder. It lacks a crop option, but otherwise offers plenty of ways to spruce up a photo before and after taking it.

Basic Features

The Propel Pro is a good fit for consumers seeking a portable version of their office computer. They can access mobile banking, check personal or work email directly through the XpressMail application, keep track of appointments, and browse the Web using Internet Explorer.

Basic features include pause dialing, conference calling, three-way dialing and call forwarding.

The Microsoft Office Suite offers access to all Microsoft Office programs. So users can type, view and edit documents, view PDF documents and access Outlook Mobile email, contacts, calendar and tasks -- all on the smartphone.

The personal organizer includes a calendar, calculator and schedule alerts and other tools such as an alarm clock, world clock and stopwatch. A converter tool calculates measurement, currency, temperature, area and volume. There's also a voice recorder, speakerphone and business card reader that can capture and save business card images into the phone.

The 1440 mAh Lithium Ion battery supports up to 6.5 hours of talk time and lasts up to 12 days on standby. That doesn't sound like much time, and it isn't, especially for standby, but it's actually pretty average and decent stamina for a smartphone that holds so many features.

The Pro is packed with business features made for anyone seeking writing, messaging and Web browsing features as its focus.

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