Samsung Ace SPH-i325

The Samsung Ace is similar in design to the original Samsung BlackJack, yet there are subtle differences. At 4.6 inches tall by 2.3 inches wide by 0.4 inch deep and 3.9 ounces, the Ace is taller and heavier but thinner than the BlackJack. Its slimness makes the smart phone comfortable to hold and use as a phone, and you'll be able to slip it into a pants pocket.

Plus, it has a soft touch finish for better gripping when using it as a messaging device.

The Samsung Ace has a pretty compact design that should be able to slip into a pant pocket. The Samsung Ace has a pretty compact design that should be able to slip into a pants pocket.

On the front, there's a 2.3 inch screen that's slightly smaller than either the BlackJack II's or the BlackBerry 8830's, but it still has a 65,000 colors output and 320x240 pixel resolution for a vibrant and sharp display.

Below it, you'll find a spacious and nicely laid out navigation array of two soft keys, Talk and End buttons, a shortcut to the Today screen, a back button, and a four way navigation toggle with center select key. We found the Ace's full QWERTY keyboard to be spacious and easy to use. We found the Ace's full QWERTY keyboard to be spacious and easy to use. The full QWERTY keyboard is slightly improved over that of both BlackJacks.

The keys have a slight pointed edge to them, making them easier to press than the smooth rounded buttons on the other models. In addition, they're not as stiff as the BlackJack II's, so we didn't make as many mistakes when composing emails and text messages. On the right side, you'll find a microSD expansion slot, a scroll wheel, and an escape key. Some, including me, will be pleased to see the Ace has the more traditional side mounted dial rather than the jog wheel on the Samsung BlackJack II.

We prefer the former because it has better feedback and registers commands without problems, while the latter was a bit temperamental. The left side has a connector for the AC adapter and headset, but it's a proprietary Samsung jack, so that's an annoying restriction. Finally, the backside holds the camera lens, a self-portrait mirror, and a speaker.