Samsung SGH-R225 Cell Phone- did you say free?
Written: Apr 07 '03 (Updated Apr 08 '03)
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Pros: It was free, it feels durable and has decent features.
Cons: It doesn't have voice command and the reception is just fair.
The Bottom Line: This is a decent, average phone. For free I can't say much negative about it!
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| jo.com's Full Review: Samsung SGH-R225 |
I am reviewing my husband’s cell phone, the Samsung r225. He had been using a pre-paid phone but we got a good deal through T-Mobile so he decided to get his own “real phone.” We can talk to each other for free so we have switched phones just because I have wanted to see what it was like to go back to a non-flip style.
Why I got it and what it has:
Please note: This review is written by a layperson. I am not an advisor in electronics and getting a phone that vibrates was exciting for me. Any specs about this phone will be coming from the manuals that I have.
Features, What it does and What it has:
The r225 comes with a hands-free car kit, battery, what they call travel charger, which just means the phone doesn’t sit in a cradle to charge and it came with a car charger. In addition, unlike Samsung SGH-N105 my phone, which didn’t come with a car charger or cover, his did.
The phone is not one of the tiny ones. It is 4.3 inches long x 1.8 inches wide by .9 inches in width. (Mine is 4.10 inches x 1.64 inches by .68 inches) It weighs 3.4 ounces. The phone is blue and silver with an antenna that looks as if it is part of the phone but can be screwed off – they call that retractable.
The type of battery it has is a 1 x Lithium Ion battery. You can talk on this phone for up to 250 minutes with a standby time of up to 5 days. I know that sounds like a lot but that would mean that for 5 days it isn’t in use at all.
I really like that it tells us when the battery is low by beeping. Of course I have learned the hard way to shut off the phones before bed unless they are being charged. I have been woken up more than once with a low battery warning sound.
To attempt to make this review understandable to both of us, I will keep it simple and compare it to mine once in awhile. Basically, there are 7 (mine has 8) main functions and within those functions are options that will bring you to more functions. I will list them and a couple of the more important sub functions.
~Call Records: missed calls, incoming and outgoing calls, call time
~Messages: voice mail, read, write messages
~Tones: There are 25 Versus 47 which I have; melody composer (You can write your own tone); ring volume, alert type (including a vibrating-melody option)
~Settings: phone settings, greeting message, LCD settings security settings
~Organizer: Scheduler, alarm, calculator, to do list
~Games: Casino, Mole, Hexa
~AIM: Unlike mine you do not have to set it up through your provider. Just sign on but be prepared to pay. Check with your provider for the cost. It was $3.99 a month when I got my phone but we haven’t opted for that feature on either phones.
Of course the program that comes up when you open your phone or turn it on is the phonebook/menu screen and from there the rest of the “tree” is found.
It does not have (Which I found I have come to love on my phone.) is the Voice Function feature on the menu. This feature has a voice command option. I can just say the name of the person to whom I am making a call and the phone dials the person.
The phonebook can store up to 250 (Mine can store 350 numbers.)
It can be used in English, Spanish, and French.
It doesn’t have a data port, which is the reason I chose my phone. That means that if someday you wanted to connect it to your computer (This whole thing boggles my mind!) you cannot.
It is interesting, though. We have the same service provider and live in the same house. In spite of that, the Samsung r225 does not get as good reception as mine. When I look at it right now, the reception bars show 2 in this room while mine shows 3 bars. In addition, there are certain parts of town where the reception is bad even with my phone but with this Samsung, it is non existent. It breaks up more than mine does and in general the reception isn’t superb.
Durability and Warranty:
The Samsung r225 feels much more durable than my flip phone. I did get a case for mine adding a bit more security. This one, though, feels much stronger. It doesn’t feel as if it will break if dropped on the ground and there is no flip that could break off. It looks and feels more like my old Ericsson. The charger that plugs into the phone is sturdy. It is not flimsy like my former phone, the Sony Ericsson A1228di.
There is a one-year limited warranty, which is spelled out in detail with the phone.
My final thoughts:
It is hard to find fault with a free phone but I do like mine better. The Samsung r225 is adequate if that is what your plan gives you. It has most of the bells and whistles I have and at least one I don't have. It is durable, easy to use and easy to program.
This phone is a little “cooler” than mine is in that the signal light can be changed to different colors. I don’t have that option. The blue for example is very bright so seeing the face will not be difficult at all! The buttons are easy to press and since I now know how to navigate around something with more bells than my old Ericsson, I have no trouble with this one. If you are not used to the displays and the way to go back and forth, it will take a little getting used to.
It has other features I didn’t mention such as the ability to give different people different rings, speed dial, personal information manager, headphone jack, scratch pad memory and a missed call indicator.
Network Compatibility:
GSM
Wireless Network Capability Technology GSM 900/1900 Mode Dual Mode
Please - don't dial and drive! In at least one state it is illegal to drive and talk.
Please - shut off your phone in hospitals.
Feel free to leave a question or comment.
Samsung SGH-N105
Sony Ericsson A1228di
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): free
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