Samsung F480 review: Touchdown!

To pick up where we left, prepare to meet the next bestseller by Samsung. If you think Samsung F480 is not up to such a challenge you might want to think again. The compact touch-operated handset has every chance of becoming the next best thing since sliced bread. It is extremely pocket-friendly but its own pocket is bulging - so to say - the little fella has it all. Plus, the looks are fantastic, so only one important question remains - is the performance on par with the marvelous specs. Luckily we are just about to answer that question, so sit back and enjoy.

Samsung F480 official photos

Key features

• Ample 2.8" 262K touchscreen color display of QVGA resolution
• Touch-operated flash UI
• 5 megapixel camera with autofocus and LED flash
• Camera comes with face detection and wide dynamic range
• 3G with HSDPA
• Great design and high quality construction
• 228MB of internal memory
• microSD card slot
• Widgets
• Excellent haptics
• FM radio with RDS
• Great camera interface
• EDGE, Bluetooth and USB connectivity
• Great web browser

Main disadvantages

• Tri-band only
• Display legibility suffers under direct sunlight
• No landscape mode and no virtual QWERTY keyboard
• Fingerprint magnet
• Inadequate flash for the camera
• Video recording capabilities max out at QVGA resolution

Samsung F480 all over

The place on the market Samsung F480 is aiming at is far from vacant. There is a number of touch-operated Flash UI devices out there and, accidentally or not, most of them are made by Samsung.

Samsung F480 in its full glory

The Armani phone is probably one of the bitterest rivals of Samsung F480. As we see it, the … well… designer handset has very little chance against the F480. The device we are currently reviewing is far more capable and its interface is well above the Armani. The difference in specs is also important. So much so that, if it wasn't for the haute couture engraving, the Armani phone would have been nothing more than the goofy sibling.

Samsung F490 is also taking part in this race but despite that its name suggests higher class than the F480, its functionality is not speaking of anything like that. The Croix interface may be an award winner, but is not nearly as nice to use as the flash UI of Samsung F480. Besides, the F480 definitely looks better and is more compact.

The LG KU990 Viewty is another similar handset in terms of functionality but of a significantly larger size. Still, it may seem as a good alternative for those who insist on good camera and video recording capabilities in their handsets.

So, crowded as it is in the touchscreen non-smartphone market, Samsung F480 seems to have good chances of success.