Samsung SGH-T209 / X495 / X497 / X496
Average Ratings
Stinkin Volume Button
My only complaint about this phone is the circular volume button that you can not lock. You can go from the loudest ringer setting to no ringer at all with just one touch to that button. Up should mean louder. Down should mean quieter. Other than that this phone fits the purpose that it is needed for. It would be nice if you could have more than one phone number entry for a name in the phone book, but that is pretty minor, as there are easy ways around that delima.
Thank God it was free
I switched to Cingular from Verizon for this? HATED this thing, plain and simple...the phone was just boring first of all, horrible reception and dropped calls all over the place, microwave-like interference on my TV and computer...when the phone was in my purse! Very cheaply made too.
So...after a week I was back with Verizon. That's the last time I ever switch carriers due to the sole fact that I hate my phone.
Samsung SGH-X495
Pros:
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Pretty sleek, I like mine which has the blue and silver
Nice external screen, bright
Light , easy to carry in my pocket
Nice sized screen
T-Mobile service is pretty good ( I'm in the Seattle, Washington area)
Good voice quality
Good speakerphone
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Cons:
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Keys a bit small
Doesn't have a camera ( But I don't really need a camera on a cell phone )
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I gave this phone a overall 4 because of the fact that it is so good, but it doesn't have a camera, which most people need.
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Samsung x497 = CRAP
I first purchase the samsung x497 in April 2006, i was very very happy especially because of the speaker phone. This was my first time ever getting a cell phone that had a speaker. Now that its 3 months later (July 2006), I feel the opposite. To be honest, I have dropped the phone on several occasions so i really don't know if this is the reason my phone has been shutting off every time I try to charge it. I've had several phones in the past that I've dropped many many times, but it wasn't any harm to the phone, but some minor scrapes and scratches that you would normally get from dropping any phone. If the phone can't handle mistaken drops to a point that it damages the phone internally i can't buy them. Another odd thing is , i had other phones that was cheaper than this particular phone that been through hell back and still work just fine. *Confused*
Not a Fan of Samsung
Ok, I switched from sprint to tmobile. this was the only phone i could afford on such short notice. I hate it!
At first i thought i was just hating the fact of having no camera, but no. I get worse signal in my own house compared to my parents (who have motorola). the sound for ringtones suck! the speaker phone totally not even loud enough to hear over a normal car. You can't set individual pics for people except the dinky ones it provides. I would never ever recommend this phone to anybody. I have never liked samsung what so ever, but when its your only choice then thats what you get. not worth the price i paid, I will never get samsung if i get to choose again. Motorola is so much better. Sanyo totally better and if only if it came for tmobile, but so far thats a no go.
Death by Details
First - this phone is so very close on SOooo many features - but, Samsung just blew it at the close...
Cons:
Poor signal handling.
Weak volume.
Ringer volume EASILY changed to silent (with no vibrate).
Weak ringer - even when set to MAX.
Extremely difficult to Export / Import contact list to / from SIM card.
Can't change Shortcut Key (permanently set to IMs).
Pros:
One of the best External Displays available - easily see missed calls and messages.
Decent Speakerphone.
Good pickup (clear) and gain on the microphone.
My two biggest complaints on this phone were missing calls (the ringer kept getting "set" to silent) - and the shortcut key. The shortcut key is also the "Up" key when in the menus. So - you keep going "Up", and then you are in "Instant Messaging". My problem is that I don't have IMs on my contract (don't use it), and every time I go into it, I get a per-use charge. This "shortcut" is non-assignable.
not to bad for free
People say some phones suck because they either live in the boonies or have crappy service such as cellone. I am with cingular and I live in Erie, PA. They aren't even in Erie yet fyi...
- PROS
- Reception(not quite as good as nokia 3595, but still outstanding)
- Most vibrant color screen I even seen
- mp3 ringtones are loud and clear
- flip doesn't make a loud slamming noise
- outside screen (b&w) is crystal clear
- internet is fast (locaton dependent)
- CONS
- cannot get it to stay away form that crap they call predective text.
- needs a better (ring ring) normal tone (too quiet)
- antenna could have been inside like the little brother
- memory lacks
- easily hackable(don't ask)
- cannot change the text message tones to one of your choice, or normal ringtones to one you record.
I hope I helped you find your phone. if you have cingular, this phone is total domination, however if you have other services or live in the boonies, don't get it. I suggest a Nokia 3595 for place normal phones with moderate recpetion cannot go.
So far, so good ( one week )
Great, lightweight, little phone. Decent sound quality, nice menu features, decent reception (in the Bay Area, T-mobile reception is mediocre most of the time, but my phone is probably better than my sister's phone, who also has T-mobile.)
Pros:
- Lightweight and small
- sound quality is decent
- speakerphone
- perfect for those who are looking for a basic
phone
Cons:
- nav button kinda squished together
- outside screen, when not lit, is pretty much
unreadable
I'll be the first...
I recently signed up for T-mobile service and ported my number from Verizon. While my Verizon service was generally good, the actual reception within my apartment (Chicago) had suddenly gone downhill. I tried out a couple new phones to no avail, so Verizonp checked my area and said that they couldn't provide my with good service anymore due to "growth of vegetation" in the area. They let me out of my contract without a fee!
My neighbor had T-mobile with the Seimens basic flip phone. She actually had full bars on her phone, a sight I'd never seen, and said she never drops calls. Wow! So, I had to make the switch.
The Samsung 495 (white and silver) has provided me with excellent service thus far. The reception is immaculate in my apartment, showing near full bars all the time, and I never drop calls.
However, despite it's excellent call performance, and cute design, this basic phone model is just that: basic. Overall, I'll keep it because I'm not fond of T-Mo's phone selection, except for the pricey RAZOR.
PROS -
1. Excellent reception and ability to maintain/hold calls
2. Nice overall design and small size with the internal antenna - easy to slip into pockets.
CONS -
1. The speaker volume isn't all that great
2. Limited functions, and shortcut keys/buttons. It would really be nice if there was a button on the side of the phone to activate the speaker phone. The only way to do that is during the call, and you have to click twice to make it happen?
3. The menu isn't all that great either. Especially the phonebook settings. There is no simple, one-touch way to save a recent call into the phonebook. The most common of all phone functions, as I'm concerned.
4. The web browser is pretty slow compared to all of my last phones with Verizon (LGVX 4400, Motorola e815, LGVX 8000)
5. The phone supports MP3 playback, but I can't send any of my own MP3 ringtones via e-mail to the phone. It won't give me an option to save, unlike the Verizon phones I had.
