Samsung makes three models of Instinct phone designed for use on Sprint's cellular network, at time of publication. None of these phones can use Sprint's 4G network. This means that they cannot take full advantage of the fastest data transfer speeds that Sprint has to offer. This drawback does not affect call quality or the ability to access the Internet via Wi-Fi connection.
Speed
Smartphones designed to work with Sprint's 4G network have an average download speed of 1.5 megabits per second, according to PC World. As non-4G devices, Samsung's Instinct phones operate at Sprint's 3G speeds. PC World reports these as 0.795 mbps for downloads and 0.396 mbps for uploads.
Alternatives
The Instinct can connect to the Internet when it has access to a Wi-Fi hotspot. Wi-Fi connections are generally faster than 4G connections. The exact speed depends on the Internet service provider supplying the connection and on the number of users connecting to the Wi-Fi router. However even the slowest Wi-Fi hotspots allow connections of at least 3 mbps for downloads and 1 mbps for uploads. This means that when it's using a Wi-Fi connection, the Instinct can access data faster than it could with Sprint 4G support.
4G Phones
Samsung only offers one smart phone compatible with Sprint's 4G network at time of publication. This is the Epic 4G. The phone is most comparable to the Instinct s30 in that it includes a touchscreen, GPS navigation and video recording capability. As a newer smartphone, the Epic offers features beyond 4G that the Instinct s30 doesn't. These include a 5 megapixel camera and 6-hour battery life. Compare this to the Instinct's 2 megapixel camera and 4.6-hour battery life.
Considerations
It may not be worth the cost for some users to upgrade from the Instinct to a Sprint 4G-enabled phone. The main reason for this is that as of the summer of 2011, the carrier has been slower to widen the range of its network in comparison to its competition. According to a PC Magazine report, Verizon and T-Mobile have outpaced Sprint in terms of offering 4G speeds in more new cities since the rollout of their 4G networks.
Tags: Sprint network, with Sprint, 6-hour battery, 6-hour battery life, battery life