Design
At a technical level, Telstra's Next G network is marvellous. It works pretty much everywhere they say it does, and quickly, to boot. The one label you couldn't apply to it with much gusto, however, is "cheap". While there have been budget Next G phone models available previously, they've largely been very unappealing fare, such as the ZTE F850.
Samsung's A411 does represent something of a shift in the Next G pricing model; it's a phone that we wouldn't be embarrassed to bring out in public. Well... almost. The biggest strike against the A411's design is the stubby retro-style antennae that sits on top of the phone. We're not sure if someone at Samsung is trying to be ironically hip, or if the external antennae was a practical design consideration. Either way, it doesn't look very good, and has the tendency to jab into your personal parts if you stuff it in a pants pocket. Because it can catch on jeans (as we discovered), you then look like you're fiddling with yourself when you try to remove it.
Features
The A411 measures in at 94 x 48.5 x 19.5mm and a svelte 88g carrying weight. The internal display screen is a 2-inch, 65K-colour display, while the smaller external screen is one inch and monochrome only. The A411 comes with a moderate level of available storage, with 54MB of internal memory. Mind you, you'll have to squeeze all your desired photos, MP3s and videos into that 54MB; there's no external storage capability. Given that the A411 only ships with a VGA camera, it could be some time before you fill it up with photos.
In network terms, the A411 sits a level below the recently reviewed A711; both share the same basic menu style, and as Next G phones, both share the same basic feature set in terms of streaming Foxtel and BigPond Web access. Where the A411 differs is in the speed at which you'll be able to experience these mobile-based thrills. It's a 1.8Mbps-only phone, unlike the A711's swift 3.6Mbps access speed.
Performance
Samsung rates the A411 as being good for up to 150 minutes of 3G talk time, and up to 200 hours standby time. Our tests mostly agreed with that; we lasted a week between charges, on a very light usage pattern.
With variance in network quality -- even when you're standing still -- it's tough to accurately assess what difference the lower speed Next G connectivity has on how well a given phone will work. Certainly, we noticed a longer pause when requesting streaming Foxtel channels with the A411 than we had with the A711, but your location and the congestion on the network could make that a moot point.
Any budget phone is always going to be a mixture of compromises. The A411's compromises are pretty striking, especially with the rather clunky styling, limited inbuilt memory and VGA camera. That being said -- and with an eye to Telstra's plans to kill off CDMA early next year -- the A411 does represent a fair balance for the asking price.
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a j o
11/08/2008, 01:30 PM
rating
9/10
i have the a412 (pretty much the same as a411 only in silver) and have had it since christmas and is a very good ,reliable phone
Pros: easy to use menues
next G
external screen
Cons: not much memory
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samsung i520
12/06/2008, 09:50 PM
rating
8/10
Old is gold. This is my first hand set. I love this one very much because its reliable and affordable. Its very fast and efficient hand set.
Pros: Fast and efficient hand set.
Cheap and flip hand set.
Cons: Nothing.
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jayz
01/05/2008, 09:02 PM
rating
9/10
its a good fone but not enough memory space :( but the rest is excellent 9/10
Pros: every thing except memory:(
Cons: said it had lots of memory but no :(
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Dazza
07/04/2008, 09:53 AM
rating
2/10
Cheapest pre-paid G3 phone available, so what can you expect, i suppose. But one does expect it to ring when incoming calls. In my trousers pocket or on my belt, have not yet heard an incoming call tone, and missed a lot of calls. At close range, like across a table, it will ring, but at about 6km. from the nearest tower, where I live, I am not sure that it rings at all, never having heard it. The Telstra agent where I bought it does not want to know me, so after sales service is non-existent. The seller says that it must be connected to an aerial to work!!!!! Is this for real, or is Telstra having a go! Perhaps will have to have an aerial stuck up behind my back at all times for it to work, hey!? Come on, Telstra!!!!
Pros: None.
Cons: No ringtone, or none heard anyway, when carried.
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mildew
04/03/2008, 12:59 AM
rating
10/10
cool fone
easy to read and operate
Pros: everything
Cons: none
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jimspiva
24/02/2008, 05:51 PM
rating
5/10
Ive been useing this phone for about a month i found it to be a very basic phone but quite nice to use the slower next-g is also hardy noticable
Pros: Nice Looking OS
Cons: Dictunary, VGA Camera, No 3rd Party Apps Support
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RobG
28/01/2008, 02:01 PM
rating
2/10
Rubbish! I hate this phone
Pros: none
Cons: Text is ugly, no word wrap.
Awful sounds when you surf the menus, you can turn them off but I like to hear keypad tones and they are connected.
If you want to set your own SMS tone be prepared to learn all about MMF files. Why couldn't they just use MP3 like the ring tone?? Plus I had to find this out on the internet. The manual sucks @SS.
Text is very awkard. Dictionary is broken. My phone substitutes Yot for "you", 367 instead of "for" and 273 instead of "are".
Volume is soft when making calls.
I'm going back to Nokia!
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RobG
28/01/2008, 01:59 PM
rating
2/10
Rubbish! I hate this phone
Pros: none
Cons: Text is ugly, no word wrap.
Awful sounds when you surf the menus, you can turn them off but I like to hear keypad tones and they are connected.
If you want to set your own SMS tone be prepared to learn all about MMF files. Why couldn't they just use MP3 like the ring tone?? Plus I had to find this out on the internet. The manual sucks @SS.
Text is very awkard. Dictionary is broken. My phone substitutes Yot for "you", 367 instead of "for" and 273 instead of "are".
Volume is soft when making calls.
I'm going back to Nokia!
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dot
25/01/2008, 09:41 PM
rating
5/10
Worked really well till this evening sim card busted and have to buy a new simcard
Pros: excellent very good for teenagers
Cons: simcard
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dot
25/01/2008, 09:39 PM
rating
5/10
Worked really well till this evening sim card busted and have to buy a new simcard
Pros: excellent very good for teenagers
Cons: simcard
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