Samsung F490 review

Samsung F490 Review

Reviewed by: Andrew Lim

Reviewed on: 29 April 2008

We're totally chuffed that Samsung has included a 3.5mm headphone jack so you can use a standard pair of headphones. Unfortunately, the MP3 player leaves too much to be desired. The player interface is awkward to control, featuring a cross-like design that isn't very practical to use when you're crammed in a tube carriage on the way to work.

On the top of the Samsung F490, you'll find a 3.5mm headphone jack

A 5-megapixel camera didn't dazzle us either. Without the right optics or flash to support it, the advantages of the F490's high megapixel count are lost. It does take good shots for MMS pictures and small prints, but if you're out with your mates in a dark club and fancy taking a picture for posterity, don't expect it to come out.

Performance
The Samsung F490's battery lasted for over two days with moderate use and less when we connected to the Web over HSDPA for prolonged periods. If you listen to music going to and from work, take a few pictures throughout the day and browse the Web over HSDPA regularly, then be prepared to recharge it every night.

Conclusion
The Samsung F490 certainly tries to hit all the right moves to make it into more than just an iPhone lookalike. In reality, it lacks the finesse of its rival. It also lacks the flair that the F700 had in its slide-out keyboard. It seems that despite its best intentions, the F490 is mostly just dancing by itself.

Edited by Jason Jenkins
Additional editing by Shannon Doubleday