Planet Computers Reviews 74

Back in January 2022 I ordered an Astro Slide device from Planet Computers. This was via IndieGogo, and I was told my item would be with me in March 2022. I have tried endless times to communicate with Planet Computers, and in fact having sent something in the region of 20 to 40 emails, for an update. I also tried to leave comments on the Indiegogo Planet Computers comments page,, but am told they have blocked me because they don't like that I am consistently asking for contact from them by way of an update, and did notice that they have now moved my delivery date for my device to July 22. I appreciate that they do not have an ability to just send me a device instantly, BUT there is NO EXCUSE for rudeness and failing to communicate with a genuine customer. I also cannot see why it's taken 7 (YES SEVEN!!) MONTHS to get my order delivered to me. Surprisingly there is no telephone number listed for this company unless someone knows something that I don't. I could not start this review unless i gave a 1 star rating but to be honest they don't even deserve that..... Planet Computers take note. This review posted Wednesday 13th July, no response by Friday 15th will see me visiting the addresses I have been given for Planet Computers.

I bought my Cosmo a couple of years ago. I was once a big user of the original Psion and was delighted that the format was being returned in a modern phone and that the original designer was involved. I also have big hands and struggle with a screen keyboard so the idea of a real keyboard really appealed to me.

The phone itself is a great piece of kit. There are niggles, the camera doesn't interface well with 3rd party apps making it rather awkward to use with WhatsApp and some banking apps that require facial recognition. Annoyingly, the support dismisses this as a problem with the apps rather than taking responsibility themselves. The software was updated just once since purchase, but otherwise, it does its job and gets interesting comments when paying at the till using NFC!

When closed, there is a small display for notifications and performing simple tasks. However, I find that you end up accidentally touching the screen in your pocket and finding that the torchlight has been switched on, or you somehow activated the airplane mode, or worse, managed to phone some random person. So for me, I ended up switching this off most of the time. It wasn't well thought out. Would have been better if there were a 'notification only' mode.

I may have been able to forgive these foibles, given that it is a niche product and I do like the form factor a lot. However the rear hinge finally gave in on my phone, and no matter how many emails asking if they offer a repair service, I have received no response. With the lack of updates and the nonexistent support, I conclude they are so in with their new model, us Cosmo users have been left to die. I would have considered upgrading to their new phone, but have given up on them and been forced to buy a mid-range slab. My Cosmo will end up in the drawer along with my old Psion 5.

Great build quality. Love both the Gemini and Cosmo. Sadly, some buyers simply do not understand that these are not iPhones or mass produced droids. These are niche market, and work well if cared for. Not to be used by kids for gaming, used in the rain, thrown on back seat, left in sunshine. Above all, get a case and treat it with the respect the product deserves. Customer support is fair to good - depending on staffing issues and Covid.

TL;DR Nice product, works well as a phone. However, the build quality is poor.

I ordered the cosmo communicator. The phone/pda device is nice. I quite like the keyboard feature, for me this was the main selling point of the communicator.
I have had some issues with the build quality of the product. After using the device for circa 20 days I noticed that some of the pixels were out. I also found that the hinge keeps making a popping sound when opening the phone.
I sent the phone off for repair which the company was happy to accept and repair. The repair job worked for about a week and now the loud popping sound is back. They also haven’t looked at the pixel issue I had despite being asked to.
I want the company to do well as I am all for alternative phones being made but, honestly, I wouldn’t buy this product again. Sadly the main feature I wanted in the phone is its biggest fault.
The OS works well, and the device functions as a phone in exactly the same way you’d expect.

I just want to say that every comments below that say that they never got their products or that their customers service is the worst are SO TRUE.

I have ordered a product from them over a year ago and has not received anything. Eventually they responded and said they shipped the product. But it wasn’t even delivered to me and got stuck somewhere. I ask for support for help with this and that if they aren’t able to get the product to me then to just give me a refund but then they just stopped responding.

Yeah so i am another customer who just lost their 750 USD for the cosmo that i never got....

I just want everyone to be aware that the comments below are all true and that a year have passed and the customer service has not improved a tiny bit...

The worst service ever. I paid the amount and they couldn’t send the phone to my location and they stopped replying & I didn’t receive my refund yet! it has been approx. a month ! very unprofessional and bad service

I've paid 750 USD for a Cosmo Communicator from Planet Computer with Swiss Keyboard back in September 2019 under Indiegogo's "in demand" regime and never got delivered.

Planet tried to fulfill my perk with any keyboard layout they had on stock, more than a year later after countless lies and promises, instead of the paid keyboard as I complained for never being delivered and claimed a refund that was refused.

Of course, I've refused the AZERTY Cosmo they've sent me spontaneously to clean their hands as I won't be able to use it anyway, the localized Swiss keyboard was the main and only argument for me to back this campaign.

Their explanation is that I must understand that the factory cannot build such a small amount of keyboard key caps, in other words, I won't get the Cosmo I paid with a Swiss keyboard but Planet still refuses to refund.

Now, almost two years later, I'm still waiting.. but of course I know that I will never receive anything. The Cosmo story is over for me, but I want the people to know about their practices and have the justice involved.

My mistake? Obviously yes, as I've trusted Planet Computer and backed their Cosmo campaign on indiegogo.. to finish with nothing but regrets on my 750 USD.

The support from Planet Computers is simply atrocious.

I invested their new Cosmo Communicator on IndieGoGo late 2018. Delivery was significantly delayed in order to refine the product, which I was happy with as too many companies rush an unfinished product to market. When I received it at the end of November 2019 it turned out that despite the extended development time I had numerous usability issues, as well as a space bar that broke on one side.

I contacted them about this on December 4, but never received a reply. I allowed for the holiday season and Chinese New Year, but a reply never came.

I contacted them again on February 19, and while I got a reply the same day, there was no apology, no acknowledgement of my complaint, no answers to the questions I had asked; all I got was a copy and paste of a support article on their website that didn't even remotely address the issues I had raised. The broken space bar issue was completely ignored.

I responded to this useless email the same day, but got no reply.

I wrote to them once more on February 28 to express my frustration over the lack of response or any meaningful support, but this email too went unanswered.

On March 4 I chased them up again, still not having had any communication from them. Even a couple of tweets on their official Twitter account (@planetcom2017) got ignored.

On March 10 I finally got some communication from them: a marketing email with special offers trying to tempt me to part with even more of my money. Unbelievable, no time to deal with support on a product I've already bought, but plenty of time to write to me to sell me more!

I wrote back on March 10 to express my disbelief at this, which prompted a response on March 11, this time with a brief apology and a promise that I would get a response to my issues "no later than Friday March 13". Which never came.

Chased them up again on March 19 but didn't get a reply until March 28, more than two weeks later than the promised March 15, and only because I chased them up. Again.

The March 28 email was useless, so I wrote back the same day. Once again there was no reply.

On April 15, I chased them up once again, but chances are I won't get a reply.

In the meantime it turns out Planet Computers _did_ have time to announce a brand new device! No time to support their existing products, yet plenty of time to work on new hardware. This tells you all you need to know about this company.

I've bought both a Gemini and a Cosmo from Planet Computers, as well as various (expensive!) accessories. I've spent a small fortune with this company. My Cosmo has now been sitting in its box, unused, since December 4, nigh on 4 months since I received it, and I'm using a basic Sony Xperia X from 2016 that, while it has it own issues, functions better than a modern 2019 $600 device with twice the RAM, 4 times the storage capacity, and a considerably more powerful processor.

Highly unacceptable, so anyone tempted by either the Cosmo Communicator or the cheaper and older Gemini (which Planet Computers won't support past Android 8.1 despite being less than 2 years old), should think twice before parting with their money.

I've never seen such contempt for customers.

To Planet Computers: this review will stay up for as long as it takes you to resolve my issues and acknowledge my complaints. How many stars I'll give you once everything has been resolved depends entirely on your efforts to restore my faith in your company, or even retain me as a customer.

The ball is in your court (and has been since December 4 2019).

EDITED 15-04-2020 with additional information about the ongoing saga.