Whether your current phone has one too many ailments to keep you sane, it’s time to upgrade in general or you’re in the market for your first, some of us just want a phone that’s just a phone. This is a Samsung SPH-A640 cell phone review.
While many of today’s bells and whistles are a fine fit for some of us, another contingent of consumers merely uses the technology to place and receive calls. If you desire a phone that simply gets the job done without bogging you down with advanced features you’ll never use, the Samsung SPH-A640 from Sprint may pique your interest.
While many of today’s bells and whistles are a fine fit for some of us, another contingent of consumers merely uses the technology to place and receive calls. If you desire a phone that simply gets the job done without bogging you down with advanced features you’ll never use, the Samsung SPH-A640 from Sprint may pique your interest.
The main points of criticism with this phone are related to features it doesn’t have. In acknowledging it’s expressly designed not to be all things to all people, we’re left appreciating its minimalism as designed for the basic, everyday phone consumer. It’s a flip phone, too, so it’s not for the candy-bar consumer.
If you want your phone to play music, allow you to watch mobile TV or afford effortless emailing on the fly, the SPH-A640 isn’t for you. If instead you want a device with the primary purpose as a phone and a few extra features that may be handy, the SPH-A640 could be as a snug as a bug for you.
Design:
The flip phone – which weighs in at an appropriate 3.2 ounces with a standard battery and is 3.6” by 1.8” by 0.9” – feels a tad bit thick when subjected to the protrusion in the pocket test.
Samsung engineers included an external display screen that’s visible when the phone’s closed. The primary perk of this screen is to check the time quickly without having to flip it open. For those of us who use a cell phone in place of a watch – like yours truly – that’ll fill you with glee.
Features:
While this phone’s primary allure is its simplicity, it does offer various features without going over the top. They’re very straightforward and you’ll find them to be relatively effortless to pick up.
If you want your phone to play music, allow you to watch mobile TV or afford effortless emailing on the fly, the SPH-A640 isn’t for you. If instead you want a device with the primary purpose as a phone and a few extra features that may be handy, the SPH-A640 could be as a snug as a bug for you.
Design:
The flip phone – which weighs in at an appropriate 3.2 ounces with a standard battery and is 3.6” by 1.8” by 0.9” – feels a tad bit thick when subjected to the protrusion in the pocket test.
Samsung engineers included an external display screen that’s visible when the phone’s closed. The primary perk of this screen is to check the time quickly without having to flip it open. For those of us who use a cell phone in place of a watch – like yours truly – that’ll fill you with glee.
Features:
While this phone’s primary allure is its simplicity, it does offer various features without going over the top. They’re very straightforward and you’ll find them to be relatively effortless to pick up.
Samsung SPH-A640
Photo © SamsungFor starters, the SPH-A640 is Bluetooth compatible, which means it can easily connect to wireless headsets or other short-range devices. Its phonebook holds up to 300 contacts and voice dial – for you to say “Peter” and it dials his pre-stored number – comes standard.
While the phone comes with 10 ringtones, they’re underwhelming. Though you can download new ones if you choose, be careful because you can only store 4 megabytes of downloads. That’s not a lot. There are 32 polyphonic ringers, too, which feature more than one note at a time.
The phone has a standard, 65,000-color display and an external speakerphone for hands-free talking. While the SPH-A640 comes with a built-in camera (at 640x480 resolution with minor zoom) and camcorder, it’s only designed to produce very mediocre quality.
Don’t expect professional photography with this phone. You can store your photos on the phone. You have access to the mobile Internet and can send text messages with predictive technology to help with the traditional slow burden of texting while on the go. The phone also has speed dial, alarms and wireless backup, which for a small fee allows you to back up all your contacts to the Sprint Web site.
Wallpaper allows you to choose your own main-screen background and ReadyLink is a walkie-talkie feature to connect instantly with other phones that also have ReadyLink. The battery is acceptable and is rated at 3 hours with a standard, genuine Samsung battery. There’s no music or television on this phone.
While the phone comes with 10 ringtones, they’re underwhelming. Though you can download new ones if you choose, be careful because you can only store 4 megabytes of downloads. That’s not a lot. There are 32 polyphonic ringers, too, which feature more than one note at a time.
The phone has a standard, 65,000-color display and an external speakerphone for hands-free talking. While the SPH-A640 comes with a built-in camera (at 640x480 resolution with minor zoom) and camcorder, it’s only designed to produce very mediocre quality.
Don’t expect professional photography with this phone. You can store your photos on the phone. You have access to the mobile Internet and can send text messages with predictive technology to help with the traditional slow burden of texting while on the go. The phone also has speed dial, alarms and wireless backup, which for a small fee allows you to back up all your contacts to the Sprint Web site.
Wallpaper allows you to choose your own main-screen background and ReadyLink is a walkie-talkie feature to connect instantly with other phones that also have ReadyLink. The battery is acceptable and is rated at 3 hours with a standard, genuine Samsung battery. There’s no music or television on this phone.
Price:
You won’t go wrong here. It won’t break the bank, and depending on your circumstance, you might not even notice the price much at all.
Bottom Line:
If you’re seeking a basic phone that basically does what you need with a few extras in case you want them, the SPH-A640 can fit like a glove. More advanced users, though, should seek out more advanced devices.
Your Two Cents: Have a comment or question related to this cell phone review? Chime in on the forums!
You won’t go wrong here. It won’t break the bank, and depending on your circumstance, you might not even notice the price much at all.
Bottom Line:
If you’re seeking a basic phone that basically does what you need with a few extras in case you want them, the SPH-A640 can fit like a glove. More advanced users, though, should seek out more advanced devices.
Your Two Cents: Have a comment or question related to this cell phone review? Chime in on the forums!
