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The main problem with the Samsung Infuse is that AT&T refuses to let it live up to its true potential. We're dreaming of Ice Cream Sandwich on the Infuse's gorgeous 4.5" screen but without a firm Gingerbread release date, there's just no point in holding our breath. For all intents and purposes, its just another neglected Android phone in dire need of an update.
We Disliked
The build quality left a little to be desired and the flimsy battery cover feels like a break waiting to happen.
If you're a fan of Samsung phones, it's hard not to notice that for the same price, on the same network, you can invest in the Galaxy line. You'll likely receive updates on a more regular basis and have a phone with a few more goodies.
Most of AT&T's bundled software just feels like bloatware, that will surely sucker some users into adding expensive subscriptions to their already expensive plans.
We're not too fond of AT&T's liberal use of the term "4G," either. Is the Infuse actually 4G? Even with the Cat 14 speeds, we think it feels more like a cog in the AT&T propaganda machine than a next generation internet speed.
We Liked
If you don't care about timely updates and all this talk about Gingerbread and Ice Cream Sandwiches just sounds like a toothache, there's a lot to love here, too. The display is clearly the Samsung Infuse's killer feature, and even with the lower sharpness we loved the size and clarity.
Despite whatever extra battery the Infuse 4G sucks up lighting that display, we were equally impressed with its battery life. We could easily make it through an entire day using our Infuse moderately with a few phone calls.
Photographers will also love the camera, and switching focus modes and other onboard settings made a surprisingly large difference in the quality of our photos.
Verdict
From the moment Samsung opted to throw a 4.5" screen on the Infuse 4G, it was destined to be a niche phone. If you've got huge hands or just feel cramped on your normal-sized phone, the Infuse's size won't disappoint. But that's also the first dividing line - we handed the phone off to multiple people who said it was way too large for them.
Ultimately, it's just doesn't have fast enough bandwidth or the build quality required to swing us from our Galaxy preferences. But if you're a huge fan of huge phones, the Samsung Infuse 4G is clearly a winner, and we're certainly not complaining about having another size to choose from.
