This review is from: Samsung Universal Style Micro USB Desk Dock for Galaxy S3 – Chrome Blue (Wireless Phone Accessory)
I bought this thinking that it’d be something broadly similar to my old (and much liked) official Apple dock (the one with the remote control), but in this case for my new SIII phone – especially as the latter is supposed to have some very high quality sound hardware.
First off, the colour – described as “chrome blue”, the one I received is DEFINITELY black – which the product picture kind of shows also. This is fine, since I think a black dock would possibly work equally well for the white and the (dark-)blue SIII variants. My white SIII is currently in a black gel case and this blends in perfectly with the dock.
The design is visually very appealing – reminding me of a high-class jewellery box – the dock port is usually hidden until you flip up the portion at the front-top – the lid then becoming a back rest for the phone. At the back are two ports – one for power (standard microUSB – not usable for data transfers) and the other a standard 3.5mm audio jack. My phone – even in it’s gel case – fits easily into this – and doing so switches the phone to desktop/dock mode automatically. Very neat and tidy, and folding the lid down when not in use keeps out dust and makes for a neat looking unit on your desk.
Drawbacks? Firstly, there are no cables supplied – just the dock and a manual. I can understand why this has been done, but it’s a bit annoying to then have to find appropriate cables elsewhere, especially for audio (the charging lead supplied with the phone could be used for power/data). Secondly – and this is a MAJOR drawback – the backrest/lid provides very little/NO support for the phone (it needs to be LONGER), so operating an on-screen button high up the screen causes the phone to flex unless you use a very light touch, putting strain on that microUSB dock connector – this is very bad design on Samsung’s part! Thirdly, for the price I also would have liked to see a remote (like the Apple dock) that would have allowed basic control of the media player (volume, play/pause, next/previous track). Lastly – do not buy this thinking it’s a data dock too, that doesn’t work – and in fact when I tried powering the dock from a PC I kept getting audible feedback through the PC speakers every time I operated an SIII button/menu – so I switched back to a power adaptor.
So if you still want a desk stand (the sound from the SIII IS very good through speakers) and are willing to get your own cables and exercise some care in operating it, then I’d cautiously recommend this dock.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
This review is from: Samsung Universal Style Micro USB Desk Dock for Galaxy S3 – Chrome Blue (Wireless Phone Accessory)
The S3 doesn’t even fit properly, it precariously balances on the mini usb and fell off as I hit my knee on the desk leg. For 2/3 the price you can get a (secure) charging dock that also charges the spare battery which this does not
Feels well made but is very badly designed. The front and rear ‘flaps’ don’t hold the phone at all, it just sits on the mini USB
Amazon also mailed me to inform me there was a months delay and delivery would be mid July. So I bought another unit elsewhere and tried to cancel this order. The following day it arrived. Make your minds up Amazon.
Being returned.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
This review is from: Samsung Universal Style Micro USB Desk Dock for Galaxy S3 – Chrome Blue (Wireless Phone Accessory)
Well, the Amazon description is pretty poor for this product, but the pictures do paint the picture a little. The product has 2 connectors, a micro USB to connect to a charger and a 3.5mm Audio out. This is excellent for connecting to an auxiliary input on a radio/ amp for example. I have mine connected to my DAB alarm clock in my bedroom and is easy to play tunes from 🙂 The dock screen allows for easy playback from the off, ignoring the lock screen to make things a little easier. As other reviewers have said it does wobble a little on the dock connector and there is some form of flexible base around the connector so for me there is no issue. I cannot comment about the colour matching the phone as I have a white S3.
For my purposes it fulfils all my needs!
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Samsung designed this in a lunchbreak,
I bought this thinking that it’d be something broadly similar to my old (and much liked) official Apple dock (the one with the remote control), but in this case for my new SIII phone – especially as the latter is supposed to have some very high quality sound hardware.
First off, the colour – described as “chrome blue”, the one I received is DEFINITELY black – which the product picture kind of shows also. This is fine, since I think a black dock would possibly work equally well for the white and the (dark-)blue SIII variants. My white SIII is currently in a black gel case and this blends in perfectly with the dock.
The design is visually very appealing – reminding me of a high-class jewellery box – the dock port is usually hidden until you flip up the portion at the front-top – the lid then becoming a back rest for the phone. At the back are two ports – one for power (standard microUSB – not usable for data transfers) and the other a standard 3.5mm audio jack. My phone – even in it’s gel case – fits easily into this – and doing so switches the phone to desktop/dock mode automatically. Very neat and tidy, and folding the lid down when not in use keeps out dust and makes for a neat looking unit on your desk.
Drawbacks? Firstly, there are no cables supplied – just the dock and a manual. I can understand why this has been done, but it’s a bit annoying to then have to find appropriate cables elsewhere, especially for audio (the charging lead supplied with the phone could be used for power/data). Secondly – and this is a MAJOR drawback – the backrest/lid provides very little/NO support for the phone (it needs to be LONGER), so operating an on-screen button high up the screen causes the phone to flex unless you use a very light touch, putting strain on that microUSB dock connector – this is very bad design on Samsung’s part! Thirdly, for the price I also would have liked to see a remote (like the Apple dock) that would have allowed basic control of the media player (volume, play/pause, next/previous track). Lastly – do not buy this thinking it’s a data dock too, that doesn’t work – and in fact when I tried powering the dock from a PC I kept getting audible feedback through the PC speakers every time I operated an SIII button/menu – so I switched back to a power adaptor.
So if you still want a desk stand (the sound from the SIII IS very good through speakers) and are willing to get your own cables and exercise some care in operating it, then I’d cautiously recommend this dock.
Was this review helpful to you?
|Don’t waste your money,
The S3 doesn’t even fit properly, it precariously balances on the mini usb and fell off as I hit my knee on the desk leg. For 2/3 the price you can get a (secure) charging dock that also charges the spare battery which this does not
Feels well made but is very badly designed. The front and rear ‘flaps’ don’t hold the phone at all, it just sits on the mini USB
Amazon also mailed me to inform me there was a months delay and delivery would be mid July. So I bought another unit elsewhere and tried to cancel this order. The following day it arrived. Make your minds up Amazon.
Being returned.
Was this review helpful to you?
|Audio Dock only,
Well, the Amazon description is pretty poor for this product, but the pictures do paint the picture a little. The product has 2 connectors, a micro USB to connect to a charger and a 3.5mm Audio out. This is excellent for connecting to an auxiliary input on a radio/ amp for example.
I have mine connected to my DAB alarm clock in my bedroom and is easy to play tunes from 🙂
The dock screen allows for easy playback from the off, ignoring the lock screen to make things a little easier.
As other reviewers have said it does wobble a little on the dock connector and there is some form of flexible base around the connector so for me there is no issue.
I cannot comment about the colour matching the phone as I have a white S3.
For my purposes it fulfils all my needs!
Was this review helpful to you?
|