Samsung U3 (2GB, green)

Manufacturer: Samsung Part number: YP-U3JQG/XAA

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

Video Compare with most popular

$37.95 - $79.99 at 6 online stores

CNET Editor rating:
3.5 stars Very good
Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

More product information:: Editors' review; User reviews; Specifications; Product series; Manufacturer info

Bottom Line:: The Samsung U3 is the proof that a basic MP3 player doesn't have to be ugly and featureless; it's simple, inexpensive, cool-looking, and perfect for the gym.

Where to buy

Show only authorized dealers (5)
Show all online stores (6)

store	customer rating	inventory	tax & shipping	price
Authorized store	Rate this store See store profile	In stock	Enter zip code to get total price: Price +Tax +Shipping =Total price	$59.99 Shop now as of 10/06/2008
Authorized store	Rate this store See store profile	In stock Free Shipping on $24 and up		$54.99 Shop now as of 10/06/2008
PREMIER SOURCE of cutting edge electronics since 1973. Authorized store	Rate this store See store profile	In stock SHIPS IN 24 HR. Auth Samsung dealer w/ warranty		$49.95 Shop now as of 10/06/2008
TheNerds.net Authorized store	Rate this store See store profile	In stock		$59.99 Shop now as of 10/06/2008
Amazon.com Authorized store	Rate this store See store profile	See Site		$79.99 Shop now as of 10/06/2008

*Total price for the Samsung U3 (2GB, green) are estimated and may vary slightly based on exact tax, shipping, manufacturer rebate or any sale/promotion on the merchant site.

show

CNET editors' review

Samsung U3 (2GB, green)

price range: $37.95 - $79.99

Reviewed by: Jasmine France
Reviewed on: 08/16/2007

The good: The Samsung U3 features a cool design and a built-in USB interface. It's inexpensive and easy to use, yet still offers some handy features such as an FM tuner and a voice recorder. It also supports OGG and WMA subscriptions, and the package includes a snap-on belt clip and a headphone cable wrap.

The bad: The Samsung U3 doesn't offer the best sound quality, and the touch-sensitive controls won't appeal to everyone. It has a small, monochrome display.

The bottom line: The Samsung U3 is the proof that a basic MP3 player doesn't have to be ugly and featureless; it's simple, inexpensive, cool-looking, and perfect for the gym.

Read full review

Photo gallery:
Samsung U3

A basic MP3 player needn't be ugly or featureless to fall into the "simple and inexpensive" category, and Samsung's sticklike U3 provides the proof to that statement. The 2GB flash MP3 player offers a cute design, a simple user interface, and a handy plug-in design. And it will only set you back $80. Sure, it may not have a color screen or video support, but it has the best of basic music playback in spades.

It's hard not to see a pack of gum when first looking at the U3. At 3.2x1x0.5 inches, the thin, rectangular player looks strikingly like a six-stick pack of Doublemint; well, our green version did, anyway. The device is also available in black, blue, or pink versions (all with 2GB storage). The face of the U3 is almost entirely smooth but for the indent of the 1-inch monochrome OLED screen, which sits to the left of the touch-sensitive control pad. Here, you get track shuttle and volume keys, which alternately act as directional arrows within the menus, and a back selector. Continuing around to the right edge, you'll find a thin, retractable USB adapter, which can be popped out via a switch on the bottom side of the player. This area also houses a hold switch, a highly necessary feature in a device with touch-sensitive controls.

Samsung includes a clear belt clip with the U3, which can be snapped onto the back of the player.

Other notable physical features line the edges of the U3. On the top side, there's a play/pause/power button and a record/user-defined key. The left edge comprises a standard 3.5mm headphone jack surrounded completely in opaque plastic, which houses a blue LED that indicates if the player is on or syncing. This combined with the brightly colored, texturized body gives the U3 a cool, designer look--it may not appeal to everyone, but it's certainly not ugly.

We like that the U3's earbuds match the body color of the player, and that Samsung threw a cable wrap into such an inexpensive package.

The Samsung U3 is predictably light on features, given its price and body style, but it does offer some handy ones. It supports MP3, OGG, ASF, and WMA files, including DRM 10 for subscription music. Music is arranged handily by artist, album, genre, and so on. You get standard shuffle and repeat options, a nine-band user equalizer (EQ), and DSNe sound effects, which consist of 13 preset EQs. There's also a built-in mic for making voice recordings and an FM tuner with autoscan and at least 15 preset slots.

If the Samsung U3 disappoints in one area, it's sound quality. Although the sound settings help to fill in the low end and tailor tunes more to your taste, we found that music came across a bit flat, even through our Shure SE310 test headphones. It didn't have the richness or warmth we like, and we noticed some odd feedback during quiet moments on a couple of tracks. That said, the U3's sound is certainly passable; the clarity was quite good overall, and it gets plenty loud--it really is a great player for the gym. The rated 15-hour battery life ain't bad, either, but the actual battery life of 11.8 hours is a bit of a letdown.

See pricing

show

User reviews

Write Review

Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!
My rating: 0 stars

show

Specifications

Manufacturer: Samsung
Part number: YP-U3JQG/XAA
Description: The easy to use U3 works right out of the box with no need for cables, cords or docks and no need to install any programs. Simply slide a button and a slim USB connector will pop out. You may then plug it into any PC USB port and drag and drop your music files. Use the USB connector to charge the battery from any PC and enjoy up to 15 hours of playtime on a single charge when listening to music, recording, or playing the FM radio. The U3 also functions as a flash drive whereby you can transfer multimedia files from one device to another. With a 2GB capacity, the U3 has plenty of room to store your music library while still accommodating all of your file transfer needs.

General
Width 1 in
Depth 0.4 in
Product type Digital player / radio
Height 3.1 in
PC interface(s) supported Hi-Speed USB
Weight 0.8 oz
Color Green
Digital player signal-to-noise ratio 90 dB
Available body colors Pink, Gray, Blue, Black
Flash memory installed 2 GB Integrated
Digital storage None
Dimensions (W x D x H) 1 in x 0.4 in x 3.1 in
Voice recording capable Yes
Included accessories Clothing clip
Packaged quantity 1
Software type Drivers & Utilities, Samsung Media Studio
Digital storage media type None
Radio
Tuner frequency range FM: 87.5 - 108 MHz
Radio signal-to-noise ratio 55 dB
Tuner type Digital Radio tuner
Station preset qty 20
Auto preset memory Yes
Tuner bands FM
Antenna form factor Headphone cord FM
Tuning display OLED display
Digital Player / Recorder
Digital player supported digital audio standards WMA, ASF, Protected WMA (DRM), Ogg Vorbis, MP3
Digital player response bandwidth 20 - 20000 Hz
Digital player playback modes Repeat folder, Playlist, Repeat all, One track repeat, Resume play, Random play / shuffle
Digital player ID3 tags support Yes
Battery
Rechargeable Battery Rechargeable
Technology Lithium polymer
Battery Lithium polymer Rechargeable Player battery
Mfr estimated battery life 15 hour(s)
Battery Life Details MP3 playback Lithium polymer 15 hour(s)
Audio System
Sound output mode Stereo
Additional features Auto power off, Playback speed control
System Requirements
Peripheral / Interface devices USB port, CD-ROM
Min Operating system Microsoft Windows XP, Microsoft Windows Vista
Connections
Connector type 1 x Headphones Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm, 1 x USB 4 pin USB Type A
Built-in Display
Audio system built-in display OLED
Diagonal size 1 in
Resolution 128 x 64
Backlight display Yes
Features Adjustable contrast

Power
Power Supply / Device None
Audio Features
Built-in clock Sleep timer
CD System
Digital audio standards supported WMA, WMA DRM10, MP3
Equalizer
Equalizer factory preset qty 12
Equalizer user preset qty 2
Microphone
Microphone type Built-in
Headphones
Headphones type Binaural Ear-bud
Sound output mode Stereo
Connectivity technology Wired
Battery / Power
Power device type None

See pricing

show

Product series

show

Manufacturer info

Share
- Digg
- Del.icio.us
- Reddit
- Facebook
Print

Similar products

SanDisk Sansa Clip (1GB, sleek black) $33.99 - $41.99
- CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good
- Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 33 reviews
SanDisk Sansa Clip (2GB, candy apple red) $49.86 - $64.99
- CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good
- Average user rating: 4.5 stars out of 29 reviews
Samsung S2 Pebble (1GB, purple) $39.95 - $41.99
- CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good
- Average user rating: 4.5 stars out of 1 review
Samsung YP-K3 (2GB, black) $39.95 - $119.95
- CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good
- Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 19 reviews
Sony NWZ-B103F (1GB, black) $46.99
- CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good
- Average user rating: 2.5 stars out of 2 reviews

Shopper.com strives to provide the best price, review, user opinion, and product information on the Samsung U3 (2GB, green). Shopper.com updates pricing for all products multiple times each day. If you find a price, link, product specification, review, user opinion, or any other error for the Samsung U3 (2GB, green), please notify us through our support form.

shopper tools: All products; Popular brands; Deals; Rebates; Notebook Shopper; Site map

Popular topics: Apple iPhone; Apple iPod; Best hybrid cars; Cell phones; Dell; GPS

CNET sites: CNET TV; Downloads; News; Reviews; Shopper.com; Site map

More information: <

Samsung U3 (2GB, green)

Where to buy

CNET editors' review

User reviews

Submit your review

Specifications

General

Radio

Digital Player / Recorder

Battery

Audio System

System Requirements

Connections

Built-in Display

Power

Audio Features

CD System

Equalizer

Microphone

Headphones

Battery / Power

Product series

Manufacturer info

Similar products