Samsung D488 Unveiling Specs Pricing Pros & Cons

Overview of the Samsung D488

The Samsung D488 is a classic feature phone that was announced in the fourth quarter of 2004. It is a device that served its purpose well during the pre-smartphone era, offering basic communication features with a focus on simplicity and practicality. With its compact design and essential functionalities, the Samsung D488 was targeted towards users who required a straightforward mobile experience without the complexities of modern smartphones.

Network Capabilities

The Samsung D488 operates on GSM technology, specifically supporting GSM 900 and 1800 bands. This made it suitable for use in various regions across the globe, ensuring users could stay connected via 2G networks. Its GPRS capability at Class 10 allowed basic internet connectivity, although limited compared to today’s standards, as it did not support EDGE technology. This made the D488 more of a device for voice communication and simple text messaging rather than data-heavy activities.

Design and Display

In terms of design, the Samsung D488 features a classic flip design, with dimensions measuring 92 x 48.5 x 24 mm and weighing 95 grams. This lightweight build made it extremely portable. The phone used a TFT display with 65,000 colors, offering a resolution of 128 x 160 pixels. Although the screen size is unspecified, it comfortably accommodated basic phone functions across 7 lines of text, which was typical for devices during that time.

Camera Features

The Samsung D488 was equipped with a single VGA camera with a resolution of 0.3 megapixels. At the time, this allowed for momentary snapshots, albeit with limited detail and clarity. The lack of a video recording feature and a selfie camera emphasized its primary role as a communication device rather than a multimedia gadget.

Memory and Storage

The D488 was designed with a very basic storage setup. There was no card slot available for expanding storage, reflecting the typical usage patterns of its era, which did not demand large storage capacities. Its internal memory supported basic SMS, EMS, and MMS functions. The phonebook feature included photo call capabilities, and users could store call records for 20 dialed, 20 received, and 20 missed calls.

Sound and Alerts

The phone did not include a loudspeaker and utilized vibration and polyphonic ringtones for alerts. It did not feature a 3.5mm headphone jack, indicating a focus on voice communication over multimedia playback. Despite these limitations, the D488 allowed for some customization with downloadable ringtones.

Connectivity Options

Connectivity on the Samsung D488 was quite limited by today’s standards. It lacked modern options like Bluetooth and WLAN, with an infrared port as the primary means for short-range data transfer. The absence of GPS positioning, radio, and detailed USB functionality further underscores its status as a basic phone.

Battery Life

The device was powered by a removable Li-Ion 800 mAh battery. It offered a standby time of up to 150 hours and a talk time of up to 3 hours and 50 minutes. This was sufficient for a full day of basic usage, fitting the needs of users who primarily required the phone for calls and texts.

Additional Features

The Samsung D488 included some features aimed at enhancing user experience within the constraints of a feature phone. It supported Java MIDP 2.0, allowing users to run basic Java applications and games, with downloadable games providing some entertainment options. However, the phone's browser was limited to WAP 2.0/xHTML capabilities, making it suitable only for very basic web browsing.

Conclusion

In its time, the Samsung D488 served as a reliable communication device with essential features. Its elegant flip design, basic connectivity, and straightforward functionality made it a practical choice for those seeking a simple mobile phone experience. While it lacks the advanced capabilities of modern smartphones, the D488 remains a testament to an era where mobile phones were valued for their simplicity and reliability.