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Review GSM phone Samsung X480

Samsung X480. Live pictures

Standard kit:

Handset
Manual
Headset

Samsung do their best to intensify the impact in the middle segment. And frequently this implies the necessity of releasing similar models with some design modifications. For the most part, a release of similar models is engaged in extending the model series and drawing the maximum public. The distinction of some models tends to be the least, so stands the case of Samsung X480. In contrast to X460, it has no external screen so that cost decreasing. This is a low-end clamshell with a standard set of functions and providing emoticons for SMS - all that form the difference from X460. The design is quite interesting: the front panel has an insert of a transparent plastic with the body of another colour underneath. The model is supposed to have a wide variety of colour solutions and that renders a tribute to modern fashion tendencies. The device has average dimensions of 85х43.5х22 mm and weight of 75 grams. Starting from the design we should say the handset is intended for girls and succeeds to Samsung X460.

There is a service indicator above the insert, it has a backlighting of several colours. The lack of an external screen is the handset's drawback. One can hardly surmise why the company has returned to manufacturing such models. And the only logical explanation is the purpose of decreasing expansions and maintaining a high standard of the trademark..

A coupled volume level button is placed on the left-side surface, a headset connector is a bit higher and it is covered with a plastic shutter that is fixed to the body. There is a strap hole on the top and a standard (short) interface connector on the bottom.

Having opened the phone we will see an internal 65K screen with the resolution of 128x160 pixels (UFB). As different to the models of higher price segment the screen is acceptable, but does not amaze with vivacity and saturation of colours. Such screen fades in the sun more than a TFT one does and that is quite natural. In general the screen is not so bad low-end solution at the most.

The keypad is designed as vertical rows and keys are prominent and rather handy. A backlighting is traditionally blue, yet characters are not seen very well under any conditions, owing to the small size.

The device is equipped with an 800 mAh Li-Ion battery. According to the manufacturer, it is capable of providing about 3.5 hours of talk time and about 250 hours of standby time. In Moscow the handset has been working for about 4 days in case of 40 minutes of talks and minimal use of other functions. Full recharging takes about 2 hours.

The model has a main menu renovated and now the menu can be represented in one of three states. There is a quick navigation with number keys using. The I button inserted into the navi button serves as OK key in the main menu. Each submenu is also done as vertical lists and shifting lists is also supplied (horizontal deviation). Vertical deviation of the navi button may have own functions, right and left deviation are assigned to the access to messages and choosing melodies.

This product has a very good localization. There are T9 vocabularies for all menu languages. While inputting data, it is possible to switch them. Russian input in letters is also available as well predictive text input.

Phone book. Up to 2000 phone numbers can be stored in the phone memory. Up to 10 phone numbers, an e-mail can be assigned to one name. All phone numbers can be grouped in users' groups (up to 10). It is possible to assign a melody, an SMS melody or a picture to each entry. There is no option to assign an image and select a melody for a single entry.

Both phone numbers from SIM-card and phone memory are displayed in the total list. There is a search by name, you just have to enter first letters of the name and the list is changing.

You can adjust up to 9 fast dial numbers.

Messages. There are two separate items, which allows operating with SMS and MMS messages relatively. Up to 200 SMS-messages can be stored in the phone. There are up to 9 editable SMS-templates. The phone supports EMS, so it is possible to add pictures, animation, melodies and text emoticons. Set of standard files is usual, there are no changes compared to other models.

In its turn, MMS are created from the submenu of Picture Messaging, you can produce several pages and add various files. That is all simple and quite ordinary. Memory of 1400 Kb is allocated for MMS.

Call records. There are lists of 20 received, 20 missed and 20 dialed calls in the phone. Time and date of each call is indicated in this menu. You can also view time of the last call, total time of all incoming and outgoing calls.

Sounds. The phone supports 40-tones polyphony which sounds not bad. There are several modes of incoming alert, for example, only sound, only vibracall, and then a melody. Other settings are standard. You can select a signal tone for SMS-messages, MMS-messages, adjust minute minder during the talk, select silent mode (vibra or absolute silence).

Settings. Apart from greeting messages, you can adjust display settings here. You can set animation (the handset has 5 pre-default ones) as a wallpaper. It is possible to select font style and location of text.

The duration of the backlighting can be also different (from 15 seconds to 10 minutes). The longest value is interesting for those who like to play games. In this case they will not have to move keys to activate backlighting while playing a game.

There are up to 23 points of the screen brightness.

Organizer. You can easily add a new reminder that may contain up to 40 characters. There is no category for events as well as differing events. You just insert an event for the current date. A day may have several events and the necessary date is quick shifted. The calendar shows the present month.

World time functions is usual. The same is related to calculator, currency converter.

Alarm-clock can be set for certain days of week. The user can use an autopower on/off function. Alarm-clock will be active even if the phone is switched off.

To-do list permits to set a priority for notes inserted.

Dictaphone records for periods of 30 seconds and the greatest number of records runs to 5.

Fun Box. Wap-browser of version 2.0 is hidden here. It allows viewing colour images. The phone supports GPRS 4+2. So, you will not pay much for browsing.

The folders Sounds and Pictures hold all received pictures, images and melodies.

There are four pre-installed games in the phone: Bubble Smile (favourite version of Balls), Fun2Link (logical game), Ultimate Golf, and Mobile Chess. These games cannot be deleted.

Melody editor is the simplest and merely allows adding monophonic melodies.

The handset's memory has 512 Kb allocated for Java, this amount is separate from that of images and messages (1945 Kb).

Impressions

The vibracall force is average whereas the volume of 40-tones polyphony suffices entirely. The device works well in city conditions, since it is a standard one. And the loudspeaker volume suffices almost always.

The model unites both X450 (software) and X460 (design succeeding). This solution from new Samsung handsets is likely to become the least expensive in the clamshell form-factor. The supply is expected to start in March and a price will form 140-150 USD. The primary cost is rather high as it was for Samsung X450. Still a quick cost decrease will result in the model becoming of an interest. It is known that during Samsung models' whole lifetimes their cost be quite higher than that of similar products. The company levies an extra due for a design constituent, for its production is of bigger prestige among the costumers. Virtually the model is quite simple in technique and does not offer any new solutions.

Call melodies (mp3, 306 KB)

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Eldar Murtazin (eldar@mobile-review.com)
Translated by Maria Mitina (maria.mitina@mobile-review.com)

Published — 4 March 2005

Have something to add?! Write us... eldar@mobile-review.com

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