Samsung A746 Specs Prices Pros & Cons Uncovered

Overview

The Samsung A746, also known as Samsung Propel, was announced in February 2008 and made its mark as a feature phone in the pre-smartphone era. Although it has been discontinued, the device enjoyed moderate popularity due to its advanced capabilities for the time, particularly for messaging and network connectivity. Below, we explore the key features and specifications that defined the Samsung A746.

Network Capabilities

The Samsung A746 came equipped with GSM and HSPA technologies, supporting 2G and 3G bands. It was designed to operate on GSM 850/900/1800/1900 frequencies for 2G communications and HSDPA 850/1900 bands for 3G. This flexibility allowed it to connect on various mobile networks across different regions, offering a decent internet speed of up to 3.6 Mbps for data transfer, which was well-suited for email and instant messaging services.

Design and Body

Featuring dimensions of 101 x 51 x 13 mm and weighing just 90 grams, the Samsung A746 was compact and lightweight, which made it portable and easy to manage. The device utilized a Mini-SIM card and had a design that comfortably fit into a user’s hand. Its build reflected the typical style of early 2000s mobile devices, with a candy-bar shape and a simplistic keypad layout.

Display

The phone featured a 2.2-inch TFT display capable of showing 256K colors. With a resolution of 176 x 220 pixels and a pixel density of approximately 128 ppi, the display was fairly standard for devices of that time. Although not designed for high-definition media, it was sufficient for basic phone functionalities like reading messages or browsing through contacts.

Memory and Storage

Internally, the Samsung A746 was equipped with 50MB of storage. While this was minimal by today's standards, it was typical for feature phones, which relied more on external storage solutions. To complement its internal memory, it had a dedicated slot for a microSDHC card, allowing users to expand storage capacity further. The phone could handle phonebook entries up to 1000 contacts and kept records of 20 dialed, received, and missed calls.

Camera

The Samsung A746 was equipped with a single 2 MP main camera, which also supported video capture. While simplistic, the camera was an appealing feature for casual photography during the era, enabling users to capture moments on-the-go, albeit at a quality much lower than modern smartphone cameras.

Sound and Audio

The device came with a built-in loudspeaker and offered vibration alerts along with downloadable polyphonic and MP3 ringtones. However, it lacked a 3.5mm audio jack, which meant users had to rely on Bluetooth headphones or proprietary solutions for audio output.

Communication Features

While the Samsung A746 did not provide WLAN or radio functionalities, it did support Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP, allowing for easy file transfers and wireless stereo headphone use. The phone also featured proprietary USB connectivity, which was common for the era.

Additional Features

The device ran on a proprietary feature phone operating system and came with essential messaging services such as SMS, EMS, MMS, email, and instant messaging capabilities. Its browser supported WAP 2.0/xHTML and HTML, making it functional for basic web browsing. Additionally, the phone included Java support (MIDP 2.0), providing access to simple games and applications.

Battery and Power Management

Powered by a removable battery, the Samsung A746 could last up to 280 hours on standby and offered approximately 3 hours of talk time. This battery performance was standard yet reliable for daily communications, considering the phone's limited multimedia and application usage.

Pricing and Availability

When launched, the Samsung A746 was priced at approximately 120 EUR, making it a mid-range option for users seeking a reliable handset with enhanced messaging capabilities. It was made available in gray and had a SAR value of 1.31 W/kg for head related emissions.

Conclusion

The Samsung A746 was representative of a transitional period in mobile communication, providing a blend of essential features and improved connectivity. Its design and functionality catered to users who prioritized communication over multimedia experiences. While it may seem outdated in today's smartphone-centric market, the A746 holds a place in the evolution of mobile devices, showcasing early efforts in integrating various communication technologies into a single portable device.