Key specs
Critic reviews
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“The Helio Mysto is certainly an attractive handset, and the multimedia features are incredibly tempting. However, I found the user interface to be a bit difficult, specifically the inconsistent touch-sensitive keys and slider behavior. The battery life is satisfactory, but there's nothing that really makes this handset stand out from the rest of the Helio lineup. I would give the Helio Mysto a Recommended rating overall.”
What people say
Have only just activated this phone (it is a refurbished phone sent to me by Telus a couple of years ago, but never activated until now). In less than a week I am already experiencing major annoyance and frustration. It almost always does not hang up after making a call...closing it, pressing the...
Pros: - slim design - easy to use Cons: - if I miss a phone call while its in my purse or something, it will actually CALL people back on its own - the touch buttons became less sensitive over a year - after a few months, I had to send it back to get it fixed as the phone came out of alignment an...
Not bad. Basic. Cool design
In Depth
The Helio Mysto is the CDMA version of the Samsung U600, but with many improvements.
The popularity and intrigue surrounding Helio phones rests in the rich bundle of onboard applications, including robust IM and email features found on all their latest models, and the Mysto is no exception. In fact, the shorter feature list would be the one listing what the Mysto cannot do!
Helio could make a phone shaped like a spatula and it would have terrific features and awesome icons.
The Mysto is an attractive, super-slim slider, complimented by a beautiful 2.2 inch screen boasting excellent resolution and a variety of customizable settings. It comes with GPS and makes great use of it with numerous free, clever applications, including “Tellme”, a GPS search with voice recognition, and “WHERE”, an application which allows you to assign a value to a widget, such as “cheapest gas station”, “local pub finder”. The Mysto also includes the innovative feature “Idle Search”, which allows you to search directly from the main screen, simply by typing in a search term. Default search results come from Yahoo, Yelp, Amazon and Wikipedia.
The external keys are electrostatic; they vibrate when touched.
Keep in mind that Helio designs phones for young people, and I think they do it better than anyone else. All the features relate to personalization, communication and interaction. Like their other phones, the Mysto can do things you didn’t even know you wanted to do! The Mysto is a hip smartphone, but a smartphone for young folks who want a pocket-rocket of technology; it’s not for someone looking for a smartphone with business applications.
The Mysto includes a 2MP camera, down from the 3.2MP employed by the Samsung U600. It comes pre-loaded with photo software to modify the pictures in any number of fun ways.
The Mysto also includes full HTML, making surfing the web a blast. You can zoom in on an area easily and even copy pictures and videos found on the internet and use them as static or fluid wallpapers!
Deciding on the Mysto is clearly a form factor issue. If the crazy popular dual-slider Helio Ocean is too thick or bulky for you, the Mysto would be a wonderful alternative. Keep in mind, however, that in achieving the slim form factor, the keypad is flat, much like the Motorola Razr, and clearly different from the sure-fire knobby, rubber buttons found on the Ocean.
The Helio Mysto definitely continues the Helio mystique!
What people actually want to know
When was the Samsung SPH-A523 Mysto released?
The Samsung SPH-A523 Mysto was released on January 16, 2008.
How long does the battery last on the Samsung SPH-A523 Mysto?
The Samsung SPH-A523 Mysto has a 880 mAh battery.
Does the Samsung SPH-A523 Mysto have a headphone jack?
Yes, the Samsung SPH-A523 Mysto has a 2.5mm headphone jack.
Where can I get support for the Samsung SPH-A523 Mysto?
Visit Samsung's official support page for warranty info, repairs, and troubleshooting.
Where can I download the Samsung SPH-A523 Mysto manual?
You can view and download the Samsung SPH-A523 Mysto manual on our dedicated manual page.
Questions & answers
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