T309: Not a bad phone for free
Written: Aug 07 '06
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Pros: Good features, good construction, good speakerphone, low cost.
Cons: Fair network reception, sound overflow from earpiece.
The Bottom Line: This is a good, unspectacular phone with good features. If it's free with your plan, give it a look.
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| s_trimble's Full Review: Samsung SGH-T309 Cellular Phone |
I recently switched my cell phone service from Cingular to T-Mobile, and received the T309 for free. Cingular's customer service is simply the worst I have ever encountered--not one person at that company seems to know what is going on from one moment to the next, from the phone reps to the store managers. T-Mobile's service is an order of magnitude better so far.
Anyway, the phone. It looks good, sleek and black with a black and white external display. It's about standard size for a flip phone, not too big and not too small. It fits comfortably at my ear.
FEATURES
The phone comes with a fairly wide array of standard features. Open the phone and you are greeted with a bright, full-color display and the standard button layout, with a four-direction and selector at the top. The onscreen menu is standard, with text messaging, settings, downloads, et cetera.
One key feature I was looking for when phone shopping was a speakerphone. This one is excellent. Distortion is minimal, and those I've talked to say that my voice comes through very well when I'm using it.
As for general voice quality, it's very good to excellent. One minor complaint I have is probably true of many cellphones, and that is that when the volume is medium to high, the voice on the other end is completely audible to anyone standing less that 10 yards away from me. It needs some more sound baffling around the earpiece.
Battery life is average--about 2-3 hours talk time between charges. It has a Lithium-Ion battery. I charge the phone on average of once or twice a week, but I do use the phone to play games fairly often.
The phone is a cameraphone. This isn't important to me, because if I want to take pictures, I'll use my digital camera. The camera is less than one megapixel resolution, and has a 4x digital zoom. Its pictures are serviceable, but as with any phone, it's just useful in a pinch.
The ringer on the phone is very good--it'll play those downloadable mP3 files as ringtones. I have the full orchestral Theme from Superman and Raiders of the Lost Ark on there now, as well as Friend of the Devil. Good stuff, and I get a lot of comments on how good my ringtones sound. Needless to say, the phone is WAP-capable, meaning it works with T-Mobile's T-Zones internet service.
RECEPTION
So far, reception on my phone has been good, but not excellent. However, this is probably due to T-Mobile's status as the fourth-best network out of the top four. I do lose reception in remote areas, but in most populated regions it's adequate. If I have a bar, dropping the call is a distinct possibility.
DURABILITY
The phone is clearly constructed of durable materials. I've dropped it several times, as I am an incurable klutz, but it's not scratched or chipped at all. The hinges on the flip are smooth and sturdy. The phone is made mostly out of plastic, but feels very high-grade.
OVERALL
I am very pleased indeed. T-Mobile, whose network coverage is not the best, nevertheless has impressed me with their customer service and plans. The phone itself is well-constructed, feature-rich, and attractive. You can't ask for much more. At least, not for free.
Recommended:
Yes
Recommended for: Stylish Trendsetters - Hip and Trendy
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Epinions.com ID:
s_trimble
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Member: Stephen Trimble
Location: West Chester, PA
Reviews written: 127
Trusted by: 95 members
About Me:
I'm back to my roots, writing business newsletters for Progressive Business Publications.
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