Samsung A657 review

Network and connections
Samsung offers a simple but distinctive phone for the low-end market, together with the AT&T carrier. Equipped with Quadband GSM system on the 850, 900, 1800 and 1900 MHz frequencies, the Samsung A657 guarantees decent signal coverage, also thanks to UMTS support. As for wireless transmissions, it is equipped with Bluetooth to exchange files with compatible devices. There is also a USB 2.0 output that allows syncing with your home PC via the data cable. There's also an internal modem for browsing the Internet, along with the HSDPA protocol that handles data traffic. The browser thus allows viewing pages in HTML.

Design and features
The aspect that clearly stands out the most about this device is the design. Designed to withstand impacts and liquids, it allows use in any condition and situation. The casing is made of rubberized material which, besides making the phone even sturdier, offers more comfort and a more secure grip. The body is monoblock, classic candybar style with a standard numeric keypad on the front. Above it is the screen, a small 176x220 pixel display capable of showing up to 256,000 colors. The weight is also very contained, just 123 grams. The retail package is not very rich, however you can find the convenient earphones.

Main features
The features offered by the Samsung A657 are complete for basic use. The proprietary platform does not allow much expandability, although Java support makes it possible to install small utilities and compatible games. There's no shortage of alarm clock, calendar with synchronized agenda, as well as built-in speakerphone and voice recorder. The directional pad allows easy navigation through the menus, which are simple and intuitive given the limited capabilities. The use of the Push-To-Talk function may also be of interest.

Entertainment and multimedia
Samsung's designers chose not to equip this device with a rear camera. The phone proves to be good for the musical aspect, however, with a multimedia player to play music at will, to be saved on the 128 MB internal memory, expandable up to 16 GB via convenient microSD cards. There is also support for GPS navigation with AT&T Navigator. Finally, battery life is satisfactory, with a 1420 mAh lithium-ion battery lasting up to 250 hours in Stand-by.