The Samsung Illusion is Verizon’s entry-level Android option at $79.99. For that price, the compromises are reasonable, and Samsung didn’t leave much room for complaining.
One complaint worth noting upfront: the power button placement on the side of the phone is awkward on a 3.5-inch form factor. On larger phones it makes sense; on the Illusion, the top of the device would have been a better location.
Call quality was fine, matching what you’d expect from an $80 device. Speakerphone performed decently in quiet environments. The 3-megapixel camera without flash produced acceptable results indoors under review conditions; outdoor shots should be noticeably crisper.
Notable specs: 1GHz Hummingbird processor, 3.5-inch TFT HVGA curved glass display, 3-megapixel camera (no flash), Swype input, Mobile Hotspot, 6-axis accelerometer with compass, Bluetooth 3.0, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, and a 2GB microSD card expandable to 32GB.
The Illusion is a solid choice for someone who wants a simple, no-frills Android phone on Verizon without spending much money. It’s not for power users or enthusiasts, and Verizon and Samsung clearly didn’t design it with those buyers in mind.
