MYSTERIOUS – that is the High Speed Downlink Packet Access-enabled Samsung SGH-F480 at first glance. Up close, it boasts simplicity and solidity.

It features a 2.8-inch touch-screen, front camera, earpiece and a trio of keys on its front panel, along with a few control buttons and slots on the side. The review unit came with a regular metal cover and another leather set that also covers the front screen.

Once fully charged and switched on, it is easy to get familiar with the touch-screen. Although it does get smudgy, it is sensitive and not “sticky”. Making use of the large screen and aptly sized virtual buttons, the interface does not force you to use only the tip of your finger.

Another way to get used to the touch-screen: try the pre-loaded game. PhotoPuzzle may be the only game aboard the review unit, but it is useful for practising taps, if not immersive.

On the main screen, the widgets toolbar on the main panel has a list of frequently used functions, including clock, birthday list, games, photo album and calendar events, to accommodate quick launch. More menu items can be accessed by tapping the virtual Menu tab.

The five-megapixel camera at the back is equipped with flash, ready to deliver photos at 2,650 by 1,920 pixels and videos at 320 by 240 pixels.

At Best Photo setting, the camera can handle subjects such as typed text on a magazine or shadowy reflection on a glass pane and reproduce them in natural colours. But for video recording, quality is only standard. On the plus side, you get to edit your videos using the Video Editor application.

As for video playback, the SGH-F480 supports H.263, H.265, WMV, Real and MPEG-4 file types.

The built-in music player, which also supports podcasts, delivers good audio in MP3, AAC and AAC+ formats. The widget also offers quick control bar, like those we usually see on dedicated MP3 players. For better sound, use the headset, which is also needed to enjoy the FM radio feature.

The SGH-F480 has a built-in memory of 220 megabytes. For memory expansion, it supports Micro Secure Digital cards of up to eight gigabytes in capacity. With universal serial bus and Bluetooth connectivity options, sharing your files should not be a problem.

With WAP 2.0 support and a browser on board, the SGH-F480 offers mobile Internet browsing. The network setting is relatively easy, but takes more steps than usual. No technical tweaks are needed if your telecommunications company’s data plan is in place.

In terms of personal information management features, the handset has plenty to offer, including calendar, memo and task. Other features are support for push message and e-mail, Really Simple Syndication reader and voice recorder.

The battery pack can last for 3.5 days when left idle. With regular use of voice and data features, the phone can stay powered for two days.

Product: SGH-F480
Manufacturer: Samsung Electronics
Enquiries: Samsung Contact Centre (Toll-free: 1-800-889-999)
Price: RM1,899

Specifications

Dimensions: 98mm by 55mm by 11.5mm
Weight: 101g
Network: GPRS/EDGE/UMTS/HSDPA
Display: 2.8-inch touch-screen (262,144-colour TFT)
Camera: Five megapixels with auto-focus, image stabiliser and video stabilisation
Video format support: H.263, H.264, WMV, Real, MPEG-4
Music format support: MP3, AAC, AAC+
Internal memory: 220MB
Expansion slot: MicroSD up to 8GB
Internet: WAP 2.0, xHTML, full HTML
Connectivity: USB, Bluetooth
Battery: 1,000mAh lithium-ion
Talk time: Three hours
Standby time: 250 hours

Our verdict: 3/5
Physical design: 4/5
Documentation: 3/5
User-friendliness: 4/5
Features: 3/5
Performance: 3.5/5
Value for money: 3/5