ASUS Galaxy 7 touchphone gets manhandled

Photos of the ASUS Galaxy 7 touchscreen phone have been popping up for months now, and due to a resemblance a certain Samsung device, it's been referred to more than once as an "Omnia-killer" (of course, we understand the urge, but we have to ask if it's even worth the effort). Now it looks like the folks over at Mobile Review have their hands on the thing, and they've been kind enough to share their thoughts. Right off the bat, they were disappointed to learn that plans for a 800 MHz processor had been scrapped in lieu of the far less exciting 528 MHz Qualcom MS7200A, but they then go on to give props to the phone's Glide interface (on par with TouchFlo3D, it seems) and its build quality -- the handset itself seems sturdy, well considered, and it even integrates some leather for that touch of "class" that only a dead animal can bring. Other than that, it's pretty much what you were expecting: a WinMob phone with a 5 megapixel camera, a 3.5-inch (800 x 480) display, 512MB memory, 4GB storage and a microSD slot. The phone should be available early next year.

[Via Wmpoweruser]

[ZSX @ Dec 18th 2008 10:42AM]

Decisions, decisions, HTC Touch HD, Sony Xperia X1, Asus Galaxy or Samsung T-Omnia (if you live in Korea of course)!

[Mobius_1 @ Dec 18th 2008 10:54AM]

Or lots of booze. I think I've made my mind up about this one.

[Samboini @ Dec 18th 2008 11:16AM]

I prefer blow and hookers.

[OneLove @ Dec 18th 2008 11:21AM]

put android on it

[BananaBoat @ Dec 18th 2008 12:42PM]

Go with the HTC HD. I hear that android will be on it sooner rather than later.

[JerkfacedFed @ Dec 18th 2008 4:13PM]

ikurk s*** a d*** he wants a smart phone not a showoff phone

[David Russell @ Dec 18th 2008 10:43AM]

It sorta looks like the ORIGINAL full-screen touch phone: LG's Prada... or even sorta like Apple's LG Prada rip-off: The iPhone. (insert Apple fanboy comments HERE).

[rock99rock @ Dec 18th 2008 11:24AM]

Your record must be broken. Thats really what it sounds like.

[David Russell @ Dec 18th 2008 11:59AM]

Someone contact UrbanDictionary and let them know the phrase "broken record" has been re-defined as "Repeating a phrase or idea one time".

[rock99rock @ Dec 18th 2008 1:27PM]

Oh is that what i said inadvertently? I guess i couldn't help myself as seeing every 5 of your "Historical" posts say the same damn thing. The subconscious is a crazy thing!

[teej @ Dec 18th 2008 3:54PM]

DOUBLE PWNAGE! CANDYBARS!

[CJ @ Dec 18th 2008 10:46AM]

Nicely done Joseph! You managed to convey news about a touchscreen-based mobile phone without sounding condecending and mentioning certain other, ahem, parties. (Which, for sake of keeping the comments section pure (for now), I will not mention).

[Mobius_1 @ Dec 18th 2008 10:50AM]

Was just about to laud them as well for that... But I guess that certain, ahem, can't match this beast of a phone (flame war ON)

[McLovin @ Dec 18th 2008 12:11PM]

iPhone, iPhone, iPhone

Just kidding, I couldn't wait for the t-Omnia, i reviewd the omnia throughly (and I was thoroughly impressed), but I settled for the touch HD, which I love to death! So much so that my G1's collecting dust. Despite the lack of 3g, the Touch HD kicks ass, If I was sure this phone was coming to the states, I might have delayed my purchase, but You can't compromise a 3.8" screen. I'm spoiled now, how will I ever go back.

Touch HD f'n rocks!

[joe23521 @ Dec 18th 2008 10:51AM]

Nice specs. Though the design, to me, seems somewhat dated and blah.

[Ruth @ Dec 18th 2008 10:52AM]

This has nothing to do with ASUS Galaxy but I read this morning an Engadget article about OS X 10.5.6 update time machine problems. Where did that go?

[CJ @ Dec 18th 2008 11:02AM]

Try going to page 2 or 3.

Genius

[KIFF @ Dec 18th 2008 12:12PM]

What, now people are expecting Apple stories to be stickied?

[Racy @ Dec 18th 2008 1:04PM]

yes, at least the ones bashing apple

[huh @ Dec 18th 2008 11:02AM]

the real questions are will it run Android and will it support multitouch. (Oh, and is the cam good quality).

[Nadool @ Dec 18th 2008 2:33PM]

The REAL question is: will it blend?

Ok sorry I had to do it. Anyways, not the worst looking phone. Specs are decent too. Give me less cow, more Android, I agree.

[talrico @ Dec 18th 2008 11:06AM]

Umm.. what's ridiculous is that has the same resolution as my Asus Eee 701... thanks guys.

[andy @ Dec 18th 2008 11:21AM]

Good coverage and unbiased. Engadget could use more of you.

[KIFF @ Dec 18th 2008 12:10PM]

X2

This is how to report impartially. I hope other Engadget 'bloggers' take note.

[Seriously @ Dec 18th 2008 11:31AM]

I believe that if a philanthropist announced that he would give ten million dollars to a charity every day that engadget and wired did not mention apple products, the charity would get about three dollars and seventy five cents and nineteen tech bloggers would be admitted to the hospital for withdrawal symptoms.

[Ineed911 @ Dec 18th 2008 11:38AM]

"...for that touch of "class" that only a dead animal can bring."

Bravo - nicely done!

[deliverinsanity @ Dec 18th 2008 12:20PM]

It's actually plastic, not leather.

[RK @ Dec 18th 2008 12:00PM]

No US 3G!!!! :(

[Kevin @ Dec 18th 2008 12:54PM]

Why can't google convince a phone maker to come out with a phone like this for android? If I could get android on a nice looking device like this I would be sold.

[JJ_13 @ Dec 18th 2008 1:42PM]

device looks OK, not bad, not great,
main selling point should be functionality and UI. more reviews on those two should clear the dark cloud of future :-).

no iPhone killer on market yet. looking for better handsets, competition is always good.

[David @ Dec 18th 2008 1:46PM]

No Touch HD, nor T-Omnia for the US...is this phone coming to the US?

Except for the Touch Pro, it looks like the US carriers are sitting out this round of high end WinMo phones. What gives?

[Nadool @ Dec 18th 2008 3:41PM]

Not gospel or anything but my friend heard that the US shouldn't worry about the Touch HD and that they have something in the works for us. Not sure where he got it but that kind of eased the pain.

"But daddy, I want it NOW!"

[brie @ Dec 18th 2008 3:40PM]

Ok I know this article is about the phone but I cannot help but notice the handsome hand. What are the spec on the hand?

[superhobo @ Dec 19th 2008 4:59AM]

Did you know ASUS is pronounced as uh-soos?

[Rick @ Dec 21st 2008 8:28AM]

Touch screen was, and still is, a gimmick.