Samsung's compact, entry-level handset arrives on the scene with SMS messaging, a speakerphone, voice commands, and not much else. Is it worth the monthly service fee?
Review summary of the Samsung SPH-A420:
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 The Samsung SPH-A420 may be light on features, but this easy-to-use clamshell is perfect for cell-phone neophytes, and the price is right. Release: July 2006. Price: $1.
Pros: Easy to use; compact and relatively light; friendly, icon-based menu; voice calling
Cons: No Bluetooth, camera or WAP browser; some choppiness during calls; address book only holds 300 entries; low-resolution screen
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Full review of the Samsung SPH-A420:
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Calling - Good
We got fair call quality from the A420; our callers sounded loud and clear, but we noticed some occasional choppiness and the odd dropped call. The phone's speakerphone sounded a bit tinny to our ears, but that's pretty standard. Voice dialing was an unexpected plus, although you'll have to record voice tags for each of your contacts. The address book holds about 300 entries and supports while-typing contact lookup, but don't expect to sync your PC-based contacts to the phone.
Messaging - Good
You can only squeeze about 70 characters (a little less than half the 160 characters in a full SMS message) onto the A420's relatively low-resolution display, and there's little in the way of message management. That said, we had an easy time keying in our missives using the flat, easy-to-press keys, and we had no trouble addressing messages to our recently-used contacts.
Odds and ends
Lacking such gotta-have features as an external display, Bluetooth, a built-in camera, or even a WAP browser, the A420 makes for a pretty basic clamshell. Still, we liked its friendly, icon-based menu and straightforward operation, making it an idea choice for cell phone newbies or technophobes.
Related phones: Pocketbook-friendly Samsung phones
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Samsung SGH-T609
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Score: 72% When: May 2006 Worth: $50 - $200 Carrier: T-Mobile
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Samsung's light, compact clamshell comes to the fore with EDGE and world-phone capabilities, Bluetooth, memory expansion, a slick MP3 player and more. Ben Patterson tries the SGH-T609 on for size.
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Read »
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Samsung SPH-A640
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When: June 2006 Worth: $Free - $200 Carrier: Sprint
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The mid-range A640 boasts Bluetooth, a VGA camera and a striking OLED display, while the entry-level A420 comes with a thin-and-light profile and the SCP-2400 sports a series of parental controls.
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Read »
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Price and availability
The Samsung SPH-A420 will start selling for Free to $160 ((Sprint)) in July 2006.
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