DailyTech - Samsung Introduces REX Smart Feature Phone Line

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Gadgets Samsung Introduces REX Smart Feature Phone Line
Tiffany Kaiser - February 15, 2013 6:30 PM

17 comment(s) - last by herveypapele.. on Feb 16 at 9:59 PM

Samsung didn't mention pricing or availability for the REX line, but the company plans to offer these phones in emerging markets with low price points

Samsung announced a new series of smart feature phones called REX, which consists of four available models.

The REX series offers four new phones, including the REX 60, REX 70, REX 80 and REX 90. All four come with an intuitive, touchscreen user interface, a compact design and an optional Dual SIM for those who want to separate their work lives from personal lives.

The REX 60 features a 2.8-inch QVGA TFT LCD display; a 1.3 MP camera; 30MB user memory/microSD slot up to 16GB; USB 2.0 Host/Bluetooth v 3.0 HS/Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n) connectivity; H.263+AMR/MPEG4+AMR video, and the EDGE (850/900/1800/1900MHz) network.

The REX 70 offers a 3.0-inch QVGA TFT LCD display; a 2.0 MP camera; 10MB user memory/microSD slot up to 32GB; USB 2.0 Host/Bluetooth v 3.0 HS/Wi-Fi (802/11 b/g/n) connectivity; H.263+AMR/MPEG4+AMR video, and the EDGE (850/900/1800/1900MHz) network.

The REX 80 has a 3.0-inch QVGA TFT LCD display; a 3.2 MP camera; 20MB user memory/microSD slot up to 16GB; USB 2.0 Host/Bluetooth v 3.0 HS/Wi-Fi (b/g/n) connectivity; H.263+AMR/MPEG4+AMR video, and the EDGE (850/900/1800/1900MHz) network.

The REX 90 features a 3.5-inch QVGA TFT LCD display; a 3.2 MP camera; 10MB user memory/microSD slot up to 32GB; USB 2.0 Host/Bluetooth v 3.0 HS/Wi-Fi (802/11 b/g/n) connectivity; H.263+AMR NB/MPEG4+AMR NB/MPEG4+AAC video, and the EDGE (850/900/1800/1900MHz) network.

“As the number one mobile leader and innovator, we are committed to developing the best possible mobile solutions to suit all lifestyles and budgets, which is why we are so excited to launch the REX series across a number of the world’s fastest growing markets,” said JK Shin, President and Head of IT & Mobile Communications Division at Samsung Electronics. “REX devices are designed to seamlessly prioritize and consolidate essential mobile functions that matter most to customers across diverse markets. The result is an extraordinary end-to-end mobile experience with the best value for money.”

Samsung didn't mention pricing or availability for the REX line, but the company plans to offer these phones in emerging markets with low price points.

Source: Samsung

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Battery life

By SPOOFE on 2/16/2013 1:56:12 AM , Rating: 1

Wonder what the battery life is on these things. My phone is like 7 years old at this point and it still gets more life per charge than any "Smartphone" I've seen put on the market, and this one feature is what's kept me from upgrading this whole time.

I get it, big giant fancy screens suck up some juice, but I can't help but think of all those electrons going down the drain when I see reviews focus on performance I wouldn't ever need to use.

RE: Battery life

By martin5000 on 2/16/2013 4:53:29 AM , Rating: 2

My Lumia 620 (which is a massively under rated phone in my opinion) gets over 8 days normal use if you put "battery saver mode" on, and all that really means is your emails don't get automatically synced.

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RE: Battery life

By UpSpin on 2/16/2013 5:17:03 AM , Rating: 3

Any smartphone has longer battery life than old feature phones if you use it as a feature phone.
Nexus 4: Standby: 390 hours, Talk time: 15 hours
Nokia 6230: Standby: 300 hours, Talk time: 5 hours

But people don't use their smartphone as a feature phone, so you can't compare the battery life of a mobile phone you only used for talking and writing SMS with a smartphone you use to do everything and thus use much more frequently.

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RE: Battery life

By hughlle on 2/16/2013 7:36:16 AM , Rating: 2

you say this, but my htc desire is a smartphone, albeit getting on in adys, but i recently bought a new battery, and with wifi off, and using it as nothing but a kitchen timer and say 10 texts, it will be lucky to last me 24 hours. I've an old sony w850i i think it is, that i've had for donkeys years, and with the original battery, i'll still get a few weeks use from is for timer/flashlight/texts

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RE: Battery life

By UpSpin on 2/16/2013 10:26:01 AM , Rating: 2

I also own a HTC Desire. My first and currently only smartphone. And with moderate usage (like on a boring weekend at home, occasional checking mails, checking time, short web surfing), with Wifi on, mobile data off, I can get 3 days or more of usage, with the 2.5 years old battery I used from day one. With normal usage, talking, browsing, mobile data on, it lasts over one day, up to max. two. With heavy usage, playing games, full brightness, it's empty in less than half a day.
Most probably it's because I use a custom ROM based on CM, or maybe it's because you have mobile data, GPS or other devices turned on?
But your point is valid, the battery life of the HTC Desire in default configuration is nothing spectacular, but also remember it was one of the first Android smartphones and is far from perfect.

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RE: Battery life

By shabby on 2/16/2013 11:13:09 AM , Rating: 2

If data/wifi are off your phone should last for a week.

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I got this one

By laviathan05 on 2/16/2013 2:36:36 AM , Rating: 5

Samsung drinks. Samsung Drives. Samsung REX.

RE: I got this one

By Motoman on 2/16/2013 8:02:35 PM , Rating: 2

Hail to the king, baby.

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Like it

By Stuka on 2/16/2013 11:53:48 AM , Rating: 2

I would rock the Rex 80 for a compact vacation/outdoors phone that I wouldn't freak if I lost it and still get the convenience of Google Maps (I assume), trail guides and a video player for the plane ride. Plus, I only wear shorts with a cell phone pocket and these would fit in better than my SGSII.

Er...

By Cheesew1z69 on 2/15/13, Rating: -1

RE: Er...

By Chadder007 on 2/15/13, Rating: -1

RE: Er...

By Reclaimer77 on 2/15/2013 8:44:08 PM , Rating: 5

You guys are silly. With modern hardware and Android, a cheap phone doesn't necessarily have to "suck". Like it or not, underdeveloped (PC for "poor") areas would benefit greatly from these phones.

Samsung is working all the angles, what's wrong with that?

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RE: Er...

By GulWestfale on 2/15/2013 9:32:01 PM , Rating: 2

they use samsung's own OS, probably a version of bada, with the touchwiz interface from their android devices. as such, you can only buy apps from samsung's own app store (~2400 apps), but most important stuff is available. nokia sell something similar in developing markets, called the nokia asha, which features a version of symbia and nokia maps (which seem to be missing from the REX due to the lack of google apps).

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RE: Er...

By chµck on 2/15/2013 10:53:17 PM , Rating: 2

Nokia sold nearly a quarter billion asha phones last year so you're right, there is definitely a market for these cheaper smart feature phones. Samsung wants a piece of the pie.

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RE: Er...

By Samus on 2/15/2013 11:44:15 PM , Rating: 2

I sure as hell would never go into business with cheezewiz or cheddar since they obviously don't realize this market Samsung is trying to penetrate is the exact market that Nokia's only income has come from for years.

Just more examples of DT readers that think they know $hit, but don't.

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RE: Er...

By retrospooty on 2/16/2013 8:26:22 AM , Rating: 2

"they use samsung's own OS, probably a version of bada, with the touchwiz interface from their android devices. as such, you can only buy apps from samsung's own app store"

These arent meant for the guy who buys alot of apps. These are super low end phones on the 2G EDGE network. You know in the US when you get those really low end smartphones for free with a 2 year contract? These are WAY below those phones, built for emerging markets.

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