Reviewed by: Marisa Genuardi - Aug 21, 2006
Introduction
Newly launched on Sprint, the Samsung SPH-A640 offers consumers several
key visual enhancements and personalization features such as an illuminated
backlit external display and three user changeable interfaces including
a new black and white menu.
Offering many of Sprint's features, such as SMS messaging and ReadyLink
push-to-talk walkie-talkie technology, the A640 caters to functional consumers.
Including many now-standard necessities, the A640 features a built-in camera,
text messaging, and Bluetooth technology.
While lacking some newer cell phone features like MP3 and video recording
capabilities, the A640's sleek black design and focus on usability make
it attractive device for consumer looking for a fashionable and affordable
phone to communicate with friends and family.
Design
With dimensions of 3.6 x 1.8 x 0.09 inches and weighing 3.2 ounces, the
A640 is a light, compact phone for easy portability. Featuring a sleek black
clamshell design with a "disappearing" external OLED screen, the screen
gives the illusion that the blue OLED lights appear directly onto the glossy
black casing. This effect not only makes the text easy to read, but also
gives the phone a cool futuristic look, a nice break from the traditional
gray-and-silver approach.
The
external grayscale OLED screen is positioned in the center of the front
panel, with the VGA camera lens located above it.
Dedicated side buttons control volume, summon the call list, start up
the camera, and activate Ready Link. The headphone port is also found on
the side of the phone, with the electric port found in the usual place on
the bottom. The speakerphone, activated by pressing an external side button
during a phone call, operates via an external speaker on the back of the
phone.
The disappearing external screen gives a unique look to mid-range phone,
while the side buttons allow for easy access to oft-used features like the
camera and ReadyLink.
Although the current trend in cell phone design leans towards the ultra-thin,
with its light weight and sleek design, the A640 is as convenient to carry
and as nice to look at its more expensive cutting-edge counterparts.
Out of the box, the Samsung SPH-A640 comes with a Standard 800 mAh Li-Ion
Battery, Travel Charger, and User Manual.
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