Samsung F490 Review

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Samsung F490 Overview

Expected UK Release Date: Available

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Key Features
3.2 Inch TFT 262k Colour Touch Screen (240 x 432 Pixels)
5 Megapixel Camera with Auto Focus & Flash
Video Player with Widescreen Viewing
Music Player (MP3, AAC, AAC+ & WMA)
3G HSDPA Technology
130 Mbytes Memory plus MicroSD™ Memory Card Option
115 x 53.5 x 11.8 mm

Design
79%
Usability
65%
Features
69%

The above ratings are average figures, which have been generated from submitted mobile phone reviews.

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Samsung F490 Review

The F490 is a 3G mobile phone which comes with a large touch screen complete with touch controls. Samsung have designed this 3G phone full of easy to technologies & with many high quality features. The Samsung F490 is similar in its design to the Samsung Armani phone which is also a touch screen handset. The F490 weighs 102 gram which gives it a solid feel & its dimensions make it slim & easy to hold. The handset is 11.8mm in depth, 53.5mm in width & 115mm in height. A large high colour & high resolution touch screen dominates the front of this sleek handset. This eye catching touch screen displays up to 262k colours on a 3.2 Inch screen. The phone comes with a call key & end call key which is situated in an easy to locate position below the touch screen.

An integrated five megapixel camera feature comes with all the camera features which allow the user to capture a clear & precise shot when the capture key is pressed. The user can be sure to gain the perfect effect & finish using the built in camera options. The five megapixel camera comes with an auto focus feature which automatically focuses on the target to get a crystal clear shot. The Samsung F490 comes with video recording capabilities which provide the user with a tool to capture moving footage as well as still images. The user can play videos on their new stylish 3G touch screen phone which provides the user with a mobile entertainment feature which can be enjoyed time & time again. The user can turn their Samsung F490 around ninety degrees to enjoy a widescreen viewing experience on the 3.2 Inch touch screen. This 3G phone can playback video in MPEG4 format, WMV format, H263 & H264 video format.

Samsung F490 3G Phone Front View
Samsung F490 3G Phone Side View
Samsung F490 3G Phone Back View

The Samsung F490 comes with built in messaging service which includes a mobile email service, instant messaging service, text messaging & multimedia messaging. The phone supports predictive text input which allows the user to start to write a word which will automatically be completed by the predictive text feature. The predictive text input method saves the user time & effort when typing a long message. An instant message service allows the user to enjoy an online chat using text input with any contact whom is online. The Samsung F490 comes with a document viewer which allows the user to view documents in popular document format. This beautiful 3G phone comes with a HTML browser which allows the user to have a full mobile Internet browser on their handset. The user can enjoy a Google search feature on the F490 which will feel like an Internet search on the user's personal computer.

An integrated music player comes with easy to use play options & the music player is easily located from the phones main menu system. The user can play their music in either MP3 format, AAC, AAC+ or WMA music format. The user can make voice recording on the Samsung F490 using the small built in microphone feature. The phone supports MP3 sound ringing tones & polyphonic sound. The 3G capabilities & the second camera on the Samsung F490 allow the user to have a 3G video call on their phone. A 3G video call can be shared between two compatible 3G mobile phone users which video calling capabilities. The user can view their contact on their touch screen & the contact can see the user on their mobile phones screen.

A rechargeable fully charged battery provides the user with approximately six hours of talk time & approximately two hundred & twenty hours of standby time. One hundred & thirty megabytes of built in memory provides the user with much storage for messages, emails, photos, videos, contact names & numbers. A memory slot allows the user to insert a MicroSD™ to extend the phones memory further. The tri band network allows the user to use their 3G phone in Europe & most of the US which is dependent on the network provider. The built in 3G HSDPA technology provides the user with high speed broadband type connectivity on this sleek touch screen phone. The user will feel the benefit of built in EDGE technology which provides fast data transfer rates for the user. A Bluetooth® wireless connection can be gained between two compatible devices which allow the user to enjoy connectivity to other devices without the use of wires. The Samsung F490 has an easy to locate USB port which provides the user with a USB connection between their handset & other USB compatible devices.


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Samsung F490 Specifications & Features

Screen
3.2 Inch TFT 262k Colour Touch Screen (240 x 432 Pixels)

Imaging
5 Megapixel Camera
Auto Focus
Flash
Camera Settings
Video Recorder
Video Player (WMV, MPEG4, H263 & H264)
Widescreen Video Viewing
Video Call
Wallpapers
Screensavers

Messaging
SMS (Text Messaging)
EMS (Enhanced Messaging)
MMS (Multimedia Messaging)
Instant Messaging
Email
Predictive Text

Sound
Music Player (MP3, AAC, AAC+ & WMA)
Polyphonic Ringtones
MP3 Ringtones
Microphone
Voice Recorder
Vibration Alert

Entertainment
Embedded Games
Downloadable Games
Organiser
Phonebook
Calendar
To Do List
Clock
Alarm
Converter
Calculator
Speaker Phone
Document Viewer
Google Search

Connectivity
3G HSDPA
Bluetooth® with A2DP
USB
EDGE
GPRS
3.5mm Headphone

Network
Tri Band (GSM 900, GSM 1800 & GSM 1900)

Internet
WAP 2.0 XHTML
HTML Browser

Memory & Talk Time
130 Mbytes Memory plus MicroSD™ Memory Card Option
6 Hours Talk Time
220 Hours Standby

Weight & Size
102 g
115 x 53.5 x 11.8 mm



Your Samsung F490 Reviews

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Click here to add your own review for the Samsung F490



Reviewer: John - Wellingborough, UK
Date: 31st Dec 2009

Had this phone for 18 months, still not sure what it does. The camera is good but takes too long to take a snap. Texting is easy but seems to take a long time to choose all the options. Most annoying is the locking during calls & the locking even when the phone is unlocked. Going back to old fashioned buttons now.

Design
50%
Usability
35%
Features
85%

Reviewer: Zoe - UK
Date: 17th Mar 2009

I am in love with this phone. I am not really worried about the phone locking when in a call. Because I am a pretty patient person! I just wanted to know is it available in UK yet? (I don't really think it is) I love the look of this phone.

Design
50%
Usability
50%
Features
50%

Reviewer: Robin - Newcastle, UK
Date: 28th Feb 2009

I had the phone for 3 days before it broke & the screen stopped working. I then sent it back to Vodafone & it has been OK ever since. The specs of the phone are good, & as a camera & media player it's pretty good most of the time. The phone looks stylish & has a nice colour scheme although dents easily.

Answering calls can be difficult. If the phone is locked, you have to unlock it, wait 4 seconds for it to tell you it's unlocked then answer it. When it is unlocked & you get a call, that's where the fun starts. You have to press one of the fiddle little buttons on the side in order to be able to answer the call & more often than not, this rejects the call. I think in the 8 months I had this phone I was only able to answer about 5% of the incoming calls without having to call the person back because in answering the call, the phone had rejected it.

Texting can be very difficult as well. It can be difficult to press the right keys, & the space, 7 & change word keys are very in distinct & it very often registers the wrong key.

Another problem I found was the small pouch that comes with the phone. This has metal inserts at the top which over time wear away at the material & expose sharp corners. For the last 3 months of usage it was hard to pull the phone out of my pocket without scratching or cutting my hand. Definitely not an asset, leaving the case behind allows the very scratch prone surface to be exposed & you do pay the price.

Thankfully I have now got rid of this dreadful phone & am using a BlackBerry Curve 8900 & it is magical. The double joy of losing a phone I despised & acquiring one I love is very satisfying.

Design
40%
Usability
5%
Features
60%

Reviewer: Hollie - UK
Date: 2nd Feb 2009

I got this phone, around 7 months ago, & already getting a new one. It dents way to easily, plus doesn't send messages, & freezes when I listen to music, the memory is amazingly bad! I did lose the memory card that came with it though.

The touch screen is so so slow, & when you receive a text if you don't practically hit the little box it won't come up & you'll be waiting forever until you actually go into messages. Then if it's sunny you can't even see the screen so it's completely pointless.
It does look stylish though, & very easy to put in a back pocket, but it's so large it tends to fall out.

The camera takes forever to take a picture & when you click the camera button at the side half the time it won't even load. You can film for around about 5 seconds before it stops.

Also trying to hang up is a bit fiddly if you've locked the phone, because you have unlock it then press the camera key then hang up. When texting, it never never remembers any of the words you put it when doing predictive which means you find yourself writing the same words over & over again, & when you try to cancel you end up pressing d or whatever & making a long word. Also, doing it the non predictive way takes so long.

When on vibrations, putting it on a hard surface is not a good idea as, it sounds like a fog horn going off.

The media player is good, when you get used to it.

I wouldn't recommend this phone, unless it was to someone with patience. That can withstand around 10 minutes to send a 1 minute text.

Design
60%
Usability
5%
Features
25%

Reviewer: Cherry - London, UK
Date: 8th Aug 2008

Well I want to get this phone & I think it sounds great as for the person who said get the LG Viewty. Don't I know 3 people with one & they all find them heavy & annoying.

I have 5 questions.

- When did it come out?
- How much is it?
- What exactly is wrong with the camera?
- Is it better than the Motorola KRZR (now THAT is a rubbish phone).
- Does anyone think it would be suitable for a child?

Design
100%
Usability
100%
Features
95%

Reviewer: Paul - UK
Date: 25th Jul 2008

Phone was great for the first two weeks then the microphone stopped working, took it back to Vodafone who refused to fix it claiming I broke it, send it to Samsung who fixed it. Now all is well. Some of the phones features take a bit of getting used.

Design
80%
Usability
80%
Features
80%

Reviewer: Tom - UK
Date: 20th Jul 2008

I have had this phone for a week now & I got used to it under an hour. It is a great phone. The touch screen is really easy to use & texting is easy to use as the buttons are so big LOL. I can understand why the phone locks itself when you're on a call but would you rather have to wait a second to unlock it & a second to hang up or hang up ten times per phone call?

It looks great & black is the best but screen is a bit too big for the camera. Samsung should have given it a better camera. Sony Ericsson's made a new phone that is coming out soon with an 8 mega pixel camera which would have most likely made the picture crystal LOL.

Still the phone is 100 out of 100. BEST PHONE EVER.

Design
100%
Usability
100%
Features
100%

Reviewer: Grant - UK
Date: 20th Jul 2008

Anyone know if it will take micro SD cards other than that great phone.

Design
95%
Usability
75%
Features
95%

Reviewer: Tom - UK
Date: 18th Jul 2008

I bought this phone about 2 weeks ago, I don't regret it but I bought it on eBay so none of the features work unless I get my own Vodafone SIM card, which I will.

From the basic things it is very simple & easy to use, the texting is very efficient if you don't use the stylus & phoning is even easier. People complain about having to press 2 buttons to hang up on a call, but after a few days you get used to it, or you could just get the person at the other end to hang up on you.

Overall I am glad I bought it & think it is a great phone!

Design
100%
Usability
85%
Features
90%

Reviewer: Lucy - England, UK
Date: 14th Jul 2008

I got this phone a few days ago & I really like it the first day! But as soon as it came to calling someone it all went messy the phone locks whilst you're on the phone & it takes ages to put the phone down! The camera is OK but for the price of the phone I think it could have a better megapixel don't you?

Design
75%
Usability
25%
Features
50%

Reviewer: Hobo - UK
Date: 11th Jul 2008

This is a really good phone got it a few days ago! I was just wondering how you get it on predictive text, it is so annoying.

Design
100%
Usability
90%
Features
95%

Reviewer: Hobo389 - UK
Date: 4th Jul 2008

Goodness if you people stop complaining about the phone locking when you call someone, & when you try & hang up. ASK the PERSON ON the OTHER END OF the LINE 2 HANG UP. Otherwise it is an immense phone!

Design
100%
Usability
100%
Features
100%

Reviewer: Warren - London, UK
Date: 2nd Jul 2008

Had this phone for almost a week & I think it's excellent. Having to unlock the phone before answering a call is no problem whatsoever. Its touch screen! Would you rather cancel a call accidently? Texting is so simple & took me all of 5 minutes to get used to & I have very chubby fingers! The ringing volume is perfect. It's slightly hard to see the screen in sunlight but then again most phones are.

Overall I can't see any problem with this phone. 100% happy with it.

Design
100%
Usability
100%
Features
100%

Reviewer: Star - UK
Date: 27th Jun 2008

I've had this phone for a couple of months now. Took a while to get use to especially having to unlock when you want to end a call but last night the touch screen started to play up. It was selecting things I wasn't even pressing & now this morning the touch screen doesn't work at all its just frozen. I've tried turning it off & on again which has left me with no phone as it won't even let me enter my pin number now to access the menus. I am so annoyed as I promised myself I wouldn't get another Samsung as the screens keep crashing. (I should have taken my own advice! ).

Design
50%
Usability
50%
Features
50%

Reviewer: Andy - Margate, UK
Date: 17th Jun 2008

I got this phone about a week ago when I first got it seemed to drive me made because of having to press a button on the side to hang up calls the user interface does seem a bit dated though Samsung would of changed it by now.

The other bad thing is the music player rubbish you don't have a skip button

Apart from that I would definitely recommend this phone takes a few days to get use to but after that it's fine. I don't know why people are moaning about the camera yes the pictures do look rubbish on the phone but they are perfect on PC.

Design
90%
Usability
75%
Features
80%

Reviewer: Simon Gray - UK
Date: 15th Jun 2008

I just got this phone on Vodafone. I have to say, it is a very pretty phone. I've got quite big hands & fingers & found it very easy to use the touch screen. Yes, the camera is pretty bad (my Nokia E65 2MP is better). I don't see how people are finding it hard to unlock after phone calls, it's fairly simple, I managed to get into the swing of things straight away.

Comes with a 1GB memory card, which is quite handy.

Overall it's a very good phone.

Design
100%
Usability
80%
Features
80%

Reviewer: Groovy - Liverpool, UK
Date: 12th Jun 2008

I have just upgraded to this phone from a Nokia N95, although this Samsung is sleek & different I have to say I miss my Nokia. If not for ease of use, then for my beloved poker games! I tried to download various games from Vodafone live but sadly this phone won't support any I wanted! Booo! Oh well, only 18 months until my next upgrade! I'll try anything once. Within reason! Ha! Don't think I'll b getting another touch screen! Sorry Samsung, nice try though!

Design
80%
Usability
60%
Features
70%

Reviewer: Allan Whiteford - London, UK
Date: 12th Jun 2008

The only problem I have found so far is, you can't turn off the button noise without turning of the ringtones? If I am doing it wrong would someone explain it to me please.

Design
80%
Usability
80%
Features
75%

Reviewer: Alison - Farnborough, UK
Date: 11th Jun 2008

Had the phone a couple of weeks now, got used to it really quickly even with the phone lock to answer & hang up. However, after being on a call for more than a minute or so, I then found I couldn't hang up as the phone had actually locked up! Then when a call came in I couldn't answer it either. The phone then kept flashing locked or unlocked & then kept on powering off & restarting again. Took it into Vodafone shop & they said that maybe it was the battery that was short circuiting on itself. They gave me another battery but after a couple of days it's doing it again! Has anyone else had this problem? Other than that, I love the phone, just wish it would work properly!

Also, the actual phone memory doesn't seem that good, you can only use caller ringtones from the phone memory & not the memory card & when I tried to download a game it said not enough memory & I had to delete all my music & pictures just to get the game!

& yes, the camera is very slow compared to my previous D840. My daughter tried to take a picture & it was so slow the moment had passed!

Design
90%
Usability
75%
Features
70%

Reviewer: Bekii - London, UK
Date: 5th Jun 2008

I find the phone very easy to use. I think it's stylish & easy to use. Maybe it's just the older generation that have a problem with it. Because I certainly don't.

Design
95%
Usability
100%
Features
85%

Reviewer: Rob - Wigan, UK
Date: 4th Jun 2008

I have had one for 3 weeks now & it is a fantastic phone. If you had asked me after 1 week then I'd have thrown it at you. Yes, it is hard to get used to, yes, you may need to change the camera, sound, phone settings. It just takes a little patience.

You do get used to the phone lock, it just takes a second longer to answer, hang up phone calls. It isn't the end of the world. The sound is fantastic & louder than any other phone I have had.

The only problem I see is the screen issue with regards to sunlight. Ha, well, nothing is perfect. If you opt for a phone that consists of just one big screen, this is going to be a problem.

Take time to get used to the phone, the PC Studio is great software & if you sort the settings on the cameras, the photos are great.

Design
95%
Usability
85%
Features
85%

Reviewer: Jon Mac - London, UK
Date: 30th May 2008

Fantastic phone easy to use looks good really nice design only thing that's wrong with it is the camera it's so slow to take photos by the time you take your photo the moment has gone. Apart from that 10 out of 10 fantastic well done Samsung keep up the good work.

Design
100%
Usability
95%
Features
95%

Reviewer: Sarah - London, UK
Date: 27th May 2008

I really like the look of this phone more than Samsung F480, both phones are great but I am more interested in F490 unfortunately in shops & even on websites so I don't think I'll get it soon or even ever!

If you got your phone cheap can you please tell me where. Thank you & who knows maybe soon I'll get the phone & also is the phone really big or look & weigh a lot on small hands?

Design
100%
Usability
100%
Features
100%

Reviewer: Sarah - Essex, UK
Date: 26th May 2008

HI EVERYONE, I NEED SOME HELP ON THIS PHONE IS IT REALLY ANNOYING WHEN IT KEEPS ON LOCKING & IS IT HARD TO UNLOCK IT ALSO CAN YOU TURN A SETTING OFF TO GET RID OF THIS PROBLEM OR IS IT AWAYS THERE PERMANATELY? PLEASE ANSWER ALL OF MY QUESTIONS IN the CLEAREST ANSWER AS POSSIBLE. ALSO IF YOU'VE HAD BOTH OF THESE PHONES (SAMSUNG F480 & F490) CAN YOU PLEASE TELL ME WHICH PHONE YOU LIKE BETTER & WHY OR IF YOU'VE GOT ONE OF THESE PHONE WHY YOU LIKE IT, THANKS PLEASE REPLY BACK ;).

Design
50%
Usability
50%
Features
50%

Reviewer: Dave - Durham, UK
Date: 24th May 2008

In a nutshell this phone is seriously flawed. It looks the job & but as for readability in the outside world it's just pathetic.

You try taking a picture with the below par 5 megapixel camera in the sunlight. You can't see a thing.

Try looking at a text message or even sending one, so difficult. The screen is just terrible in outside conditions.

As for the phone itself, not bad really although sound is a bit quiet for ringtones & some of the touch buttons are awkward & you need fingers like Twiglet's.

Bought this phone & sold it within 2 days as it was overall overhyped. I pity those who spent a fortune on it when it first came out. I sold mine. Thank goodness to eBay.

PS most Samsung phones are pathetic in sunlight conditions so don't expect the next generation to be any better such as the f480.

Design
90%
Usability
40%
Features
70%

Reviewer: Simon Skinner - Chesterfield, UK
Date: 16th May 2008

Had this phone 2 weeks now & find it very easy to use now that I have got used to it. Touch screen OK to use I find that if you use your nail on your little finger it presses the buttons fine even the back button. Thanks to a previous review can now change the message tone to anything you like & it is quite simple to change. I don't know what I have done but I seem to have locked the text message input to predicative text. When using the camera if you press the symbol that looks like a radiator then select size you can alter the size of the photo before taking a picture this the fits better when you use it as a wallpaper.

Overall a fabulous phone & it looks great. Very clear voice reception & I am very pleased with the overall package.

Design
100%
Usability
95%
Features
95%

Reviewer: Nj - London, UK
Date: 14th May 2008

I've received my F490 yesterday & haven't been playing around with it for long, but it is pretty easy to get used to. The touch screen is refreshingly different, & the only thing I would say about it is because the screen is so big, I find it difficult to tap in text messages with one hand.

The main thing I have been disappointed with is that this phone is not compatible for syncing with the Mac book. It seems to have lots of functions which you can tinker around with on Windows, but Mac book doesn't even get a look in (I wander if this is part of the rivalry with the iPhone as it does have some very similar functions). This means I have had to revert to my old PC to try & sync up my contacts etc. & will have to be a bit more creative when it comes to transferring files to my computer.

The other thing I would have also liked is an option to change the colour schemes in the options menu. It seems to be unchangeable from a very cool black & blue. This was a nice feature of my last Sony Ericsson phone which hasn't been adopted by Samsung. Sometimes a girl just wants some pink & Orange!

Otherwise, the camera function is great & there are lots of fun options on that to tinker around with. When you are browsing the Internet you can switch to landscape mode viewing which is quite funky, & the music player also looks quite sophisticated but again is only compatible with windows. On the search contacts function, it is quite easy to call someone up by mistake (& then figuring out how to hang up takes some practice! ) but this irons itself out with practice.

A few bugs with the keyboard randomly switching itself to a different language at first but this seems to have sorted itself out randomly.

Size wise, it is light & thin but not the smallest when it comes to surface area, but given the size of screen this is a fair exchange.

I think if you have psyched yourself up to switch to an all touch screen phone, this is a handy model to go for.

Design
90%
Usability
90%
Features
90%

Reviewer: Charlotte - UK
Date: 6th May 2008

Amazing phone, stylish & light, I love it

Everyone is moaning about the call lock, they put that on there so some idiot doesn't accidentally cancel the call when you're on the phone! Awkward but it's that or you just keep hanging up on people.

& the touch screen, if you can't work the touch screen why get this phone!

Another good phone from Samsung.

Design
100%
Usability
100%
Features
100%

Reviewer: Yaneil Moses - Catries, Saint Lucia
Date: 4th May 2008

Oh my god what can be done without it.

Design
100%
Usability
100%
Features
100%

Reviewer: Stephen Flynn - London, UK
Date: 30th Apr 2008

I would some up this phone as Style over Substance. I have to agree with a previous review about this phone. When I first received it as an upgrade from Vodafone, I was very excited. It looks great & the touch screen, 5MP camera & Internet make it incredibly attractive.

I have now had the phone for just over two weeks & it drives me crazy. The main problem is that the screen locks when you are making a call, & you have to press the side button to be able to use the call end buttons, which often results in me being unable to hang up calls, which is a source of enormous frustration, particularly when I am busy & they are work calls! I am gradually getting the hang off remembering to press the side button to use the phone during or at the end of a call though.

The touch screen is very sensitive but either chose options without you meaning to, or it freezes & needs several touches before the button actually presses. This is particularly true of the buttons at the bottom which have a tendency to freeze for a few seconds. The scrolling function at the side of the screen if particularly frustrating as it is too narrow, & you end up pressing things you don't want to.

My biggest disappointment is the 5MP camera. You have to hold the camera button down for ages before it works. Also the quality of the photos particularly in the evening & indoors are particularly poor, despite having a flash.

Also the Internet feels basic, nowhere near as impressive as the iPhone. You cannot use the keypad when viewing it from the side view.

The actual features on the phone once you have explored it for a while are quite basic. It feels like this phone was rushed out to rival the iPhone, but having used my friend's iPhone, it does not come close to it. My advice, shell out your money for an iPhone. I have passed the 2 week return window & am now stuck with this phone until December 2009. I feel I might end up buying another handset before then.

Design
90%
Usability
40%
Features
50%

Reviewer: Tim Phillips - London, UK
Date: 29th Apr 2008

Really easy to get used to. I went into Vodafone to get the N95 but when he brought out the F490 for me to look at it just looked so much nicer & weighs a lot lighter. Amasing camera. Samsung all the way.

Design
95%
Usability
90%
Features
85%

Reviewer: Michael - UK
Date: 26th Apr 2008

Yes the keypad does lock during a call but if you think about it then it makes sense it prevents you accidentally cancelling the call!

But everything is absolutely amazing I love it.

Design
100%
Usability
100%
Features
100%

Reviewer: Gary - Bournmouth, UK
Date: 25th Apr 2008

What a phone it's great to look at & although it took a little while to get used to it is great for entertainment & I had a Nokia N95 but I feel this matches it on feature & sound & the design & the screen are better. The camera is just as good. The only thing it lacks is GPS which I won't miss a great deal but a great phone & would strongly recommend it.

Design
100%
Usability
75%
Features
85%

Reviewer: Dan - UK
Date: 25th Apr 2008

Had this phone for a few days now & am really impressed with it. Very nice to look at & does everything you want. The only problem I have is that when you take a picture with the phone, then try to use it as a wallpaper the picture is too big, I have tried changing the size but cannot get the image to fit, but all together a great phone.

Design
85%
Usability
90%
Features
85%

Reviewer: John Kerans - UK
Date: 15th Apr 2008

This is a very nice looking phone, unfortunately it suffers from a number of significant flaws.

The biggest is the touch screen, whilst it's an excellent idea it doesn't work very well, I find that every time I touch my finger to the screen to move down a list in a menu rather than letting them scroll it just selects the first item I touch, making it virtually impossible to scroll through menus.

Secondly the fact that the screen locks when a call comes through, meaning you have to unlock it to answer, it then locks during the call, meaning you have to unlock it again to hang up.

Also the camera is appalling, it takes about 5 seconds (no exaggeration) from pressing the button to taking the photo

Overall it's a very nice looking phone, but it's totally unusable.

Design
90%
Usability
5%
Features
30%

Reviewer: Ben - UK
Date: 14th Apr 2008

This phone is great. Best camera phone in the world. Better than the LG viewty. Get the samsung.

Design
100%
Usability
100%
Features
100%

Reviewer: Rob - UK
Date: 13th Apr 2008

I think phone is good had it for two days at least I can use it Internet is good down loaded ringtones little big but screen nice size fits in my pocket fine. Things work well first touch screen I have had like features it does link up to PC good looks good get one.

Design
90%
Usability
80%
Features
80%

Reviewer: Chris - UK
Date: 13th Apr 2008

I thought I'd wait a couple of days before I'd write a review. So now I can confidently say, wow, this phone is fantastic.

I've just come away from the infuriating Sony Ericsson W850i which browsed the net on its own, played MP3's randomly in my pocket, the lock feature was poor. Glad to get shot of it.

Anyway, the Samsung F490 is brilliant. It's taken a little while to get used to, but the touch screen is really smooth & responsive. You just need to use the tips of your fingers & it behaves well. Text typing is easy, but doesn't lock to predictive text. You have to select it every time you text. Also, the predictive text only gives you a one word option.

However, don't worry about sticky fingers because it comes with a nice cloth case that you can use to clean the screen with. The audio & video playback is perfect. MP4 H263 & H264 compatible. The 5MP camera does auto focus when you gently press the camera button.

All in all, a good phone that you will get to love after a bit of patience. By the way everyone who's seen it have commented on how stylish it is. Very Nice.

Design
90%
Usability
85%
Features
85%

Reviewer: Andy - Leeds, UK
Date: 9th Apr 2008

Seriously if your thinking of getting this phone GO FOR IT! It is an awesome phone & as of yet I honestly can't find one fault, one thing which would make it perfect would be to have Wi-Fi but hey don't let that stop you getting this phone, everything about it is great & I know I have made the right decision!

Design
95%
Usability
95%
Features
90%

Reviewer: Barry - Glasgow, UK
Date: 9th Apr 2008

Overall a good phone with good features. Not so keen on the select & back buttons. Someone else mentioned they were a real pain & I totally agree but might just need getting used to though. Hoping the music & video player are up to scratch as haven't had the chance to use them yet.

Design
85%
Usability
75%
Features
85%

Reviewer: Mandy - UK
Date: 8th Apr 2008

I just got this phone last week, & so far I am chuffed with it. It looks great & the touch screen is easy to use, & the vibration feedback is a nice feature. The interface is very easy & is similar to the menus found on other Samsung's. The camera's OK in daylight but it's not so great taking pictures at night, it's still OK though, you just need to adjust the settings a bit.

When I chose this phone I was concerned about writing a text message without the keypad, but it turns out to be exactly the same as a virtual keypad comes up on the screen & it's very responsive. The phone might be a bit tricky to use if you have big fingers, although mine came with a mini stylus so I am assuming others would too, & this can be used easily & keeps the screen clean. The call/end call touch buttons are also useful, & the only thing I am having trouble with is unlocking the buttons by pressing the camera key when getting a call, but this will hopefully come with time.

The Internet is OK, but I can't really compare it with other phones because it's the first time I've used it on a mobile. It seems to be pretty fast to me though.

As for physical features, the phone is quite thin & light, but some might find it a bit large, although it fits comfortably in the hand. It's very sleek & a definite eye catcher.

You can change the message tone & the ringtone by going into settings, phone profiles & edit normal mode & there's a message icon at the top of the screen. Touch that & it's the profile options for messages, & the second option down is the message alert tone. There are 7 tones you can use or you can use your own music. This is the same to set the ringtone.

Overall I'd recommend this phone to anyone who wants a stylish phone with a fair camera & many features, but the phone itself is a bit pricey & might be fiddly for someone with large fingers!

Design
100%
Usability
90%
Features
75%

Reviewer: James - Worthing, UK
Date: 7th Apr 2008

Having had the phone for nearly a week now, I am still finding the features & touch screen a pain to use. The theory & idea of this phone is brilliant but practicality is poor. The phone front is completely touch & therefore certain features have had to be adapted & now can be tricky to undertake. Answering the phone is the biggest nightmare. If the phone is locked to have to unlock it to answer the call, in standby mode you still have to press a button to enable function to be able to answer the call. Menu design has been taken from previous Samsungs with number buttons & this is evident as the menus are not so easy to flick between. As previous reviews, OK & back buttons are pain as you have to have the right angle of force or they do not accept your touch. This is a Samsung you can change the message tone to you own uploaded tune. Does come with Google maps which is trying to take of iPhone but this phone has not got the functionality nor the technology compared to the iPhone but is 3G.

Design
50%
Usability
50%
Features
50%

Reviewer: Tommo - UK
Date: 7th Apr 2008

Just got this phone & make no mistake it is lovely to look at & use, it falls down for me when it comes to customising options, e.g. Menu colours, to this end, fully changeable themes would have been nice. Don't be afraid of the touch screen I have almost got used to it already. I am putting some videos on it as I type, they'll look magic on a screen this size.

Design
100%
Usability
80%
Features
80%

Reviewer: Joe Baldwin - Gloucester, UK
Date: 7th Apr 2008

Got the phone this morning & first impressions are it looks great. Interface seems to be one of the better touch screens although still not as good as the iPhone. However this phone works unlike the iPhone. Calls are clear & volume is good.

Menu seems easy to use & the on screen keyboard isn't as bad as I thought it was going to be.

Had to turn off the button press noise & vibrate as it was annoying as hell after half an hour.

My only grip so far is the screen isn't the easiest to see when outside in sunlight. Which can be annoying but I'll have a play with the brightness to see if I can find a suitable compromise.

Overall I am happy. I was stuck between this & the N95 8gig & this just won be over on looks.

Design
100%
Usability
70%
Features
70%

Reviewer: Ian - UK
Date: 6th Apr 2008

It's totally rubbish it's big like a brick & just boring, get the LG viewty.

Design
20%
Usability
30%
Features
35%

Reviewer: Ste - UK
Date: 5th Apr 2008

Bit disappointed by this phone, got it on Thursday when it came out & within 4 hours rang Vodafone to change it but have it till Monday when they swap. Far too much messing about to answer & hang up a call, cannot see the screen very well when outside in daylight even with the brightness turned right up. Quite big to hold, back button can be unresponsive & mine one seems to reset itself after a few hours if you don't use it. Waiting to upgrade my phone till this one was realised but not at all what I was told this phone would be. Have had Samsung's for years, the E700, E720, D900, U600 & don't rate this one. Maybe the complete touch screen just does not do it for.

Enjoy it if you can get on with it.

Design
95%
Usability
75%
Features
70%

Reviewer: Mike - Portsmouth, UK
Date: 4th Apr 2008

Nice phone, a bit on the large side but then the screen size dictates this. Touch screen takes a bit of getting used to & the select or back touch screen buttons are really hard to use. It doesn't look like you can change the message tone either. Camera is really good when pictures are uploaded to PC.

All in all, not a bad phone.

Design
90%
Usability
70%
Features
90%

Reviewer: Dee Cook - Middlesbrough, UK
Date: 3rd Apr 2008

I am probably one of the first in the UK to get one of these mobiles I am afraid to say I am a bit disappointed with it, it wasn't worth the wait unfortunately.

Design
80%
Usability
50%
Features
50%

Reviewer: Jane - UK
Date: 31st Mar 2008

Can't Decide Between This & the F700?

Comes Out On the 7th So I Will Have Time To Decide!

Looks a Nice Phone Though Very Nice I Only Wish It Has the cool Keyboard Like the F700?

Design
100%
Usability
70%
Features
70%

Reviewer: Mony - Phichit, Thailand
Date: 21st Feb 2008

Quite a nice phone. Not many features, not the best phone I've had but not worst.

Design
90%
Usability
70%
Features
65%

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