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Samsung x495
Wireless/Mobile Phone/Cell Phone
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Rated 4.0 out of 5 This big upgrade to the popular X475 adds great features like a speakerphone and a brighter, clearer main display. Plus, it looks a heck of a lot sexier. The X495 also supports MP3 ringtones, so you can really make some noise when the phone rings. This model retains all the great features of its predecessor, including support for MMS messaging, instant messaging, and wireless Web capabilities. 
Take a closer look at the X495's functions. You can also see it in action. | Design
Inside the x495's sleek clamshell you'll find a large 128 x 160 color display with support for 65,000 colors. The outside cover of the handset sports a supplementary 96 x 64 OLED monochrome display that can display time, call information, battery and signal strength, and more. Up and down buttons for volume control are placed on the left side, while most of the phone's features and onscreen menus are controlled by a five-way center button on the handset's control pad. There's also a standard jack to accept universal hands-free headsets. And because the X495 has no antenna, there's nothing to snag or break off. Calling Features
The x495's phonebook can handle up to 500 of your contacts, and you can store up to five numbers per entry, plus an e-mail address. In addition to having a discreet vibrating alert, the X495 supports 40-chord polyphonic ringtones, which means you can really jazz up your incoming calls with cool tunes. Custom ringtones in MP3 format are also supported. A number of ringtones come preloaded on the phone and more ringtones can be downloaded from T-Mobile's t-zones service. You can also assign icons and ringers to your most common callers. Like all T-Mobile phones, the x495 supports voice mail, caller ID, conference calling, call forwarding, call waiting, call hold, built-in paging, and access to T-Mobile's 411 service. Messaging, Internet, and Tools
When it comes to messaging and Internet connectivity, the x495 has you covered. The phone features support for Yahoo! and AOL instant messaging applications (T-Mobile messaging charges apply). There's also a built-in Web browser for t-zones downloads and mobile Web browsing. T-Mobile's t-zones service lets you receive and send e-mails, read news headlines, get weather updates, download games and ringtones, and more. Traditional text messaging, as well as picture and sound messaging, is supported by the phone. T9 text entry, which is a technology that makes it easier to enter words and text on handsets, is built into the unit--a plus for mobile e-mail and text messaging users. A number of handy software tools are bundled with the x495, including a voice memo recorder, a calculator with unit converter, a to-do list, a calendar, and an alarm clock. Entertainment
The x495 is easy to customize to suit your style. Screen savers, themes, and wallpapers can be set to your tastes, and you can even browse and download more wallpapers from the t-zones service. The x495 is Java-enabled, meaning it supports games and application downloads written on the Java platform. Games are available via the T-Mobile t-zones service. Vital Statistics
The Samsung x495 weighs 3.00 ounces and measures 3.5 by 1.9 by 1 inches. Its lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 5 hours of digital talk time and up to 8 days of digital standby time. It runs on the 850/1800/1900 MHz GSM/GPRS frequencies. The phone comes with a one-year limited warranty. What's in the Box
x495 handset, lithium-ion battery, power supply/charger, hands-free headset, SIM card, and user's manual.
Features of Samsung x495:
- built-in speakerphone frees your hands and go truly wireless while working or when gathering friends around for a group call
- compact flip phone with 128 x 160 pixel, 65k ufb color display
- external phone number display
- instant messaging available for yahoo!, and aim
- limit 5 phones per customer.
- predictive text input for easy messaging
- prepaid phones
Reviews:
| Get a free unlocked Motorola RAZR v3i instead! | Rating: 4 |
| Why settle for less, or commit yourself to a specific cellular provider and service plan, when you can get a complimentary unlocked top of the line Motorola RAZR v3i cell phone that works with any cellular service provider and any SIM card. I got mine free at this web site: stuffgratis.biz/razrv3i |
| Nice Basic Phone for Everyday Use | Rating: 4 |
| I previously purchased an expensive import phone (unlocked) to use with my t-mobile service. The phone was stylish and full of features but broke in a couple of months... therefore I've concluded expensive phones aren't worth the trouble and decided to stick with cheap, basic phones. This phone was free with a 2yr contract (I'm on a family plan so ended up getting 4 of these). First of all this phone is VERY BASIC, with no camera, bluetooth, and/or mp3 player, etc. Most people do NOT use all of the features mentioned above so it may not be worth paying for those extras. The phone is easy to use/set-up, which is the case with most Samsung phones (Motorolas on the other hand, are not very intuitive). The battery life is pretty good (so far, I've had it for about a month) and last about 2 days with "normal" use, which means couple few minutes calls a day. It has basic features like alarm, memo, and calendar for events. The color scheme is somewhat feminine in my opinion but others may differ. I don't recommend getting aftermarket covers since they are much lower quality than the factory part. The phone comes with handsfree earpiece which works decent, but does not come with a car charger. The reception is slightly worse than my old phone, which was a Samsung E720....... the previous phone was t-mobile so the generally weaker reception quality has to be attributed to this phone. If you are seeking lots of extras, do not even consider this phone. On the other hand if you are just looking for a solid, everyday phone with no frills consider this phone. |
| I'm with "Hannah" | Rating: 1 |
| I had exactly the same experience as "Hannah". I had the Siemens flip phone (which I loved!), had battery problems and was told I could upgrade to the Samsung under warranty. Got the new Samsung and used it for two days and hated it! The volume control on the outside is the stupidest design ever. I press it the whole time I'm talking. The sound quality was horrible. It sounded like my callers were inside a tin can. The design includes two "hinges" when the phone is opened that press into your cheekbone while you talk. I sent that phone back and am just going to get a new battery for my Siemens (which, thankfully, I hadn't sent back yet). |
| excellent phone | Rating: 4 |
I've been using this phone for a few months now, and overall I highly recommend it.
I'll give a comparison with the Motorola V300, the phone I had prior to this one.
Good:
The battery life an sound quality are excellent. Both are much better than the V300. These are the most important things for someone who just wants a phone that works.
The buttons on the outside don't do anything. The V300 was constantly beeping when the outside buttons were getting pushed by my keys or something in my pocket.
The connector port for the charger has a little movable flap that covers it, protecting it from being damaged in my pocket.
Bad:
A few minor quibbles:
I find the operating system less intuitive than that of the V300.
When you're charging it, there's no way of knowing if it's 100% charged. There's no message like "Charging complete".
The LCD screen on the outside of the phone is usually very dark and basically unreadable unless you've just opened or closed the phone, so you can't use the phone conveniently as a watch. This probably leads to the battery life being longer so I can't complain too much about that.
The ring is a little on the quiet side, and by default it only comes with one ring that I wouldn't be embarassed to use. |
| Need a simple cell phone? Try this. | Rating: 5 |
Before I begin, let me say that if you're looking for a cell phone DO YOUR RESEARCH. Your experience with a cell phone will be affected by the phone you choose, the provider you choose, and where you live (i.e. the coverage in your area). If you don't do your research, don't be surprised if you have a bad experience.
This is a good phone. It's simple--a phone. No camera, Bluetooth, or PDA. If you want those, get someting else. The construction appears to be solid. The color screen is nice and readable. The phone is responsive, and sound quality (speaking and listening) is clear. Standby time is fantastic. The buttons are well backlit and tactile. The exterior screen is not lit normally but is readable. I find the interface intuitve and easy to use. Although the antenna is internal, I haven't noticed any serious problems with reception.
I went with T-Mobile To Go because I wanted a cell phone for urgent situations, but I just don't talk a lot. T-Mobile's pay-as-you-go options are more in line with my family's talking habits. As an example, last year I purchased a Siemens CF-62T for my wife, and paid about $70 for the phone, and $100 for 1000 minutes (expire after one year). When the expiration time came around, she'd only used 200 minutes. I purchased a $10 recharge card, added time to her account, and she now has over 800 minutes of talk time, expiring in March 2007. When March 2007 rolls around, she'll have had 2 years of cell service and I'll have paid only $180, including the price of the phone--$7.50 a month! At the current rate, assuming the phone survives, I'll spend an additional $40 over the next 4 years. That's about $220 for five years of service. You do the math.
In my experience, T-Mobile's customer service has been fine. Whenever I've called the person I talk to has always been helpful. No complaints there.
In terms of coverage, remember that a cell phone is not a magic phone. If there's no antenna near by, you can't talk. We've had T-Mobile to go service for a little over a year, and have used our phone all over the San Francisco Bay area, in Utah, the East Coast, San Diego, New Mexico, and places in between. Coverage has never been a problem. BUT coverage is different where YOU are! Check first! T-Mobile's web site has a coverage map. |
| Get a free unlocked Motorola RAZR v3i instead! | Rating: 4 |
| Why settle for less, or commit yourself to a specific cellular provider and service plan, when you can get a complimentary unlocked top of the line Motorola RAZR v3i cell phone that works with any cellular service provider and any SIM card. I got mine free at this web site: stuffnocost.com/razrv3i |
| Don't Waste Your Money | Rating: 3 |
| This is the second Samsung x495 that I've owned. The messenger service quit working on the first one I had. When going to use the messenger feature, the phone would shut off on it's own & turn back on by itself. Luckily it was just days before the store warranty was to expire so I took it back & exchanged it for another of the same model. Well the store I purchased & returned it to only had three models to choose from, the Nokia 6010 and the newer Nokia which cost more than I could afford. So I exchanged it for a new Samsung x495 and this one is having problems as well. I just got it a couple days ago. The phone shuts off on it's own which is not a good thing because I use the alarm feature to wake me up. The messenger service on both of these phones is poor. When I type a message, the screen freezes. It does have poor reception, even when trying to send a text message. Alot of times the texts will fail to go through and if your using the T-Mobile to go service like I am, you still get charged 10 cents whether or not the text actually goes through or not. It costs 10 cents just to log into messenger and even more if you are able to send messages without the screen freezing up on you. The games,the wallpaper and the ringtones that are already on this phone when you purchase it are really bad. I do have to say that the phone looks really nice but that's the only good thing about it. Now I'm going to have to take this phone back and I'm going to get my money back this time and try to find something better. This phone is a complete waste of money. T-mobile support isn't the greatest either. |
| Stay Away From x495 | Rating: 2 |
The Samsung x495 looks sleek and cool but doesn't really meet my basic expectations. I used to have a Kyocera on Verizon's service and switched because I wanted something a little more affordable. Choosing this phone/Tmobile was a big mistake. I'm paying less but I get a fraction of the quality.
I consistently don't get service in entire areas around the region--sometimes I'll be out and find I have voicemail for calls that didn't even ring, I have dropped calls, the sound quality is poor, the design isn't that great, it's uncomfortable to hold against my hear due to the hinges. And the way things are set up inside the phone's systems are totaly counter-intuitive--it offers to edit numbers I want to call and call numbers I want to retrieve information on. Plus the little "T-Zones" button is totally annoying and puts me onto the internet everytime I breath on it! Oh and I found the battery life ot really be unsatifactory--when the battery is low--the phone gives you only a minute or two of warning before shutting down completely. I'm going back to Kyocera as soon as possible! Stay away from the X495~! |
| Get a free unlocked Motorola RAZR v3i instead! | Rating: 4 |
| Why settle for less, or commit yourself to a specific cellular provider and service plan, when you can get a complimentary unlocked top of the line Motorola RAZR v3i cell phone that works with any cellular service provider and any SIM card. I got mine free at this web site: reallyfree2u.com/razrv3i |
By Samsung |
The Mobile Phone Saving Network