The Samsung Chrono joins U.S. Cellular's lineup as a simple flip phone that gets the job done.
Jessica Dolcourt
Jessica is a passionate content strategist and team leader across the CNET family of brands. She leads a number of teams, including commerce, performance optimization and the copy desk. Her CNET career began in 2006, testing desktop and mobile software for Download.com and CNET, including the first iPhone and Android apps and operating systems. She continued to review, report on and write a wide range of commentary and analysis on all things phones, with an emphasis on the iPhone and Samsung devices. Jessica was one of the first people in the world to test, review and report on foldable phones and 5G wireless speeds.
Jessica began her leadership role managing CNET's How To section for tips and FAQs in 2019, guiding coverage of topics ranging from personal finance to phones to home. She holds an MA with Distinction from the University of Warwick in the UK.
Judging by the name alone, the Samsung Chrono may evoke the passage of time. Instead, its typical flip design with the same old QVGA main screen resolution and old-timey VGA camera specification makes us feel like the phone design is in fact frozen in time, with the exception of the more modern Micro-USB charging port, that is.
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Face
The Chrono is actually pretty nice to gaze upon, with a steel blueish, grayish lacquer, and a sharp top to serve as foil to the otherwise smooth lines.
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Back
Samsung flip phones often share a sturdy hinge up top. Other than the external speaker, the back is bare of elements.
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Profile
The Chrono's volume rocker is surprisingly short, but we had no problem adjusting the sound.
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Dial pad
Large, responsive buttons and full separation between the keys make the Chrono's dial pad comfortable for texting and dialing.
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Portability
Overall, the Chrono's size, light weight, and smooth contours make it easy to carry around.
