Hands-on with Samsung's Rant and Highnote
by Sean Cooper 
posted Sep 10th 2008 at 8:48PM
Well, that about covers Sprint's new handset binge at CTIA,and we got hands-on with both the Samsung Highnote (pictured left) and the Samsung Rant to wrap up the announcements. The Highnote's the music centric handset -- isn't there always one? -- in this launch, but sadly, the speaker seems to lack oomph in the sonic delivery department, but the dedicated messaging button's kinda useful. The Rant is built like a tank, and the very solid metal construction is top notch -- so if you're prone to dropping your phone, it's worth checking out. The gallery covers the range of colors that'll be available -- and the purple is a glowing example of ugly -- when these two hit in October. You know the drill, the read link has the goods.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
booker @ Sep 10th 2008 9:19PM
OMG....these are sooooo awesome....I'm totaly ditching my iphone 3g...no matter what contract.
Fernando @ Sep 10th 2008 9:21PM
rant is a stupid name
Kate @ Sep 10th 2008 10:04PM
Watch what you say, or it might crash a car into you.
EJ @ Sep 10th 2008 9:26PM
These phones take me back to 2005.
mona @ Sep 10th 2008 9:30PM
I am using the palm centro now with sprint and that phone resets 3 to 6 times a day, I think I would like to try the rant. Where did they get that name?
Kate @ Sep 10th 2008 10:06PM
I've been using the Centro too, and only recently started having the same problem. Has it been ongoing for you, or just in the last few weeks?
mona @ Sep 11th 2008 1:10PM
This is my 4th centro, all had the same problem but worse. it was fine for the first month of usage and now its horrible.
aron @ Sep 10th 2008 9:51PM
KIRF'd! Or at least the bastard child of the Nokia 6300 and 1680. *shudder*
orangecat @ Sep 10th 2008 10:02PM
still think my rumor looks better, but I do kinda like the specific keys for the few puncuation marks on this one.
mykie @ Sep 10th 2008 11:51PM
I think I like the purple one.
Then again, I also fancy the green Rumor.
bearsfanedj @ Sep 11th 2008 12:42PM
Is that the new Sprint UI that people were talking about? Or is it something the Samsung brewed up? I hate Verizon's idea of really crappy UI...but the sprint one sounds intuitive and might not be as ugly as the big red giant's...
Henrik @ Sep 11th 2008 2:36AM
Coffeebreak @ Samsung developers office, 6 month ago:
-"You know those kids playing tunes on ther phones in the subway?"
-"Yeah?"
-"Could we maybe help them out a bit, say by adding a really loud tweeter to the phone"
-"That's great, we´ll call it highnote. i´ll see if we can have it preloaded with some psytrance"
derX @ Sep 11th 2008 3:45AM
Urgh, again with Samsung's innovation. The Highnote looks the like mutant progeny on an LG Chocolate, n95 with the dual slide (although, in their defense, it serves a different purpose), and SE w580i with the keypad.
And I've typed on the Rumor's keypad. Let's just say it's as useful as a parachute in a vacuum.
DssTrainer @ Sep 11th 2008 8:59AM
i like the high-note... looks like a sony ericcson which is a good thing. The rant is a dumb name but its the phone the rumor should have been.
Cmon Engadget.. these two phones are ok.. but give us the Hands-On with the LG Lotus! That's the only original phone coming out!
Felicia @ Sep 11th 2008 10:49AM
Thank you Lotus and Rant for coming in purple. I'm so tired of seeing red and pink phones all the time. There are purple lovers too!
JunkJugget @ Sep 11th 2008 12:44PM
Wow, that Purple Rumor . . . er . . . Rant is pretty . . . um . . . wow!
Stephanie @ Sep 25th 2008 2:08PM
I like the Samsung Rant...the name is stupid though. Even though it has the slide out keyboard like the LG Rumor I think the Rant looks better and it is EVDO capable unlike the Rumor. I currently have Helio and I have had some problems with them for like the last 4 months so I plan on returning to Sprint.
katy @ Dec 9th 2008 1:31PM
I am getting the rant for Christmas. I cant wait. It will be my first phone with unlimited messaging. (including text, picture, and all other messaging except IM) I do wish Iinstant Messaging was included in the "messaging" plan. It would be great. I am getting the rant in black, I think it will be a huge step up from my Katana 2.