Lets be honest here, my review of this phone is probably negligible, as the tech industry, and phones in particular, are extra-eeeemly prone to becoming outdated. However, this phone's stats (processor, screen, camera quality, optional non mainstream extras) have continued to make it a viable alternative to paying 600+ for a phone, unless you meet specific requirements. That being said, I bought this phone from here just after amazon upped its price from 250 (what I paid) to 700.... so there's that.
Pros:
Super solid hardware, great processor and good amount of memory, camera quality is quite simply stunning for a phone, and the nonstandard-to-phones universal remote control (And its attendant program) are surprisingly good, considering its not just an IR remote. I often find myself using it, simply because I can.
Cons:
As most other reviewers will have said, Software software software. I seriously can't stress that enough. out of just under 2 gigs of ram showing, I'm lucky if the normal system resources will take half that, but it usually takes more. Despite the amount of bloatware and the slight glitchy-ness of the programs involved, the phone can generally keep up. A few of these programs are actually quite useful( although an SOS flashlight slightly puzzles me), and generally are well thought out if they are to help you use your phone. most of the programs that are used that use up the rescources seem to be ones designed to mask the standard Android system, which, if these skin programs effect speed and available ram, Id rather see standard android things. There are plenty of skins out on the market that you could use instead that are much nicer to their system. A lack of SD card saddens me, but, as having come from a note 2, I can attest to the added reliability to the system because there is no sd card slot. There are hubs in the market that help add its expandability, just not so conveniently as an sd card would do. Optional thing to note: the modding community has seen that this great piece of hardware has been slightly hamstrung, and as a result there are many different guides to root and reflash this phone. My suggestion would be to simply install superuser and root access, then use the list of programs that these people have listed as safe to stop-remove. XDA community is quite helpful in this facet.
Overall, I would give this phone a ringing endorsement for someone to purchase even now, so long after its release. The reverse buttons can become mildly annoying, however I don't think its a deal breaker.