This week at CTIA, the wireless conference in Las Vegas, Samsung and Sprint unveiled what they hope will become an iPhone killer: the Samsung Instinct. It's a familiar-looking candy-bar shaped smartphone with a large touch screen and no keypad. Critics were impressed with the Instinct, though none seemed to think that it will actually be an iPhone killer. Unlike the iPhone the Instinct is on a 3G data network and has real GPS. On the other hand, it won't have OS X, an accelerometer, or iTunes. Click Continue to read more about what the media had to say about the new phone this week.

Sprint is faster than AT&T
"As for high-speed surfing, the Instinct can use Sprint’s EV-DO mobile broadband network for zippier download speeds than the iPhone can muster on AT&T’s Edge network." — J.D. Biersdorfer The New York Times

The network may be fast, but the browser's not there yet
"GPS on this device is great, but the web browser will need more work if Sprint and Samsung hope to put up a fight against the iPhone. The browser was clunky and failed to load "IntoMobile.com" fully." — Will Park, IntoMobile

One of the two most exciting phones at a less-than-stellar CTIA
"Everyone I talked to in Vegas…felt a little, well... underwhelmed by this year's show. Besides perhaps the Samsung Instinct (which was still a little rough around the edges) and Sony Ericsson's new Windows Mobile slider, there were no real barnburner phones that debuted during the show." — Ben Patterson, Yahoo! Tech

CNET votes the Instinct Best In Show at CTIA
"Comparisons with the iPhone are obvious, and while the Instinct can't quite match Apple's device on the design front, it offers many more features on paper. As we've said before, Sprint could have quite a hit on its hands, as long as the Instinct delivers on its promises." — Editors, CNET

3G + GPS + gangbusters marketing make it hard to ignore
"It has true 3G data support (via Sprint's EVDO network), real (not cleverly triangulated) GPS to support its navigation app, plenty of customization features, the possibility of third-party support via its Java/Brew underpinnings— and, oh yes, did we mention it should significantly undercut the iPhone in price? — Given Sprint's intention of spending $100 million to market it, we'll be interested to see how things play out." — Editors, PC World

Apple's not going to be running scared
"It has been 14 months since the iPhone has been unveiled, but this year’s CTIA shows that traditional cellphone makers are still behind Apple in designing a “cool” smartphone. And while the new generation of phones is catching up, the next-gen iPhone could reestablish or even extend the lead." — Christian Zibreg and Max Wilson, TG Daily

It's cheaper than an iPhone, but its monthly fee will be more expensive
"[Sprint] management has hinted that it will be significantly cheaper than the iPhone… One caveat, though, is that Sprint will require those who purchase the device to choose one of its latest unlimited plans that all the major carriers are now pushing "— Dave Mock, The Motley Fool
[Ed. note: Engadget originally reported that these plans cost $100/month (post removed, no correction posted). In fact, there will be $70 plans available.].

If you want to compete with Apple, you need a more exciting launch and better PR team
"Instinct came out yesterday at a cellphone conference. If Sprint was so adamant (confident?) about the phone, it at least could have rented out some floor space in NY or SF a couple days before or after CTIA to say, “OK, this is was we have.” As it stands, the phone is just one of many. " — Nicholas Deleon, CrunchGear

It's for people who will never switch to AT&T
"The Instinct should (and probably will) sell like crack injected hotcakes. The fact that a good many technophiles are locked into Sprint contracts or actually want high speed data access from their mobile devices virtually ensures high demand for the Instinct." — Danny Dumas, Wired