Samsung S3500 Complete Specs Prices Pros & Cons

Samsung S3500 Overview

The Samsung S3500 is a feature phone introduced in 2009 that showcases a classic and sleek design with a metallic finish, providing a solid and premium feel despite its entry-level status. This phone was released during a time when smartphones were just starting to gain popularity, making it a viable choice for users who needed basic functionalities with a touch of style and reliability.

Design and Build

Measuring 99.9 x 48 x 14.3 mm and weighing 95 grams, the Samsung S3500 is compact and lightweight, making it easy to carry and use with one hand. Its form factor is a slider design, which was quite popular at that time. The sliding mechanism reveals the alphanumeric keypad, providing a satisfying tactile feedback with each press. The phone's silver color and the metallic-looking finish appeal to users who prefer devices with a classy and understated look.

Display

The device features a 2.2-inch TFT screen with a display resolution of 240 x 320 pixels, achieving about 182 PPI pixel density. With support for 16M colors, the display quality is adequate for its time, offering decent clarity and color reproduction for viewing photos, reading text messages, and navigating the menus. However, compared to modern standards, the display size and quality are relatively basic, focusing on function rather than multimedia consumption.

Camera

Equipped with a 2-megapixel rear camera, the Samsung S3500 is not designed for serious photography but can capture satisfactory snapshots for casual use. It supports video recording at 320p@15fps, which suits simple video moments. The camera functions are accessible and straightforward, catering well to the phone's target audience who's looking for simple features rather than professional-grade photography.

Network and Connectivity

The Samsung S3500 operates on GSM networks with support for 2G bands including GSM 850, 900, 1800, and 1900. It provides GPRS (Class 10) and EDGE (Class 10) for mobile data, offering basic internet browsing capabilities, suitable for checking emails and using simple web applications. The phone lacks Wi-Fi connectivity, which limits internet access to mobile data networks. However, it does feature Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP for wireless file transfers and audio streaming, and a microUSB 2.0 port for data synchronization and charging.

Memory and Storage

Internally, the Samsung S3500 has 40MB of storage space—a modest amount given the period of its release. However, the device supports external storage expansion via a dedicated microSD slot, allowing users to store more photos, music, and additional applications. It can store up to 1000 contacts in the phonebook with Photo call capability, making it suitable for users needing comprehensive contact management. In terms of call records, the device keeps a detailed log, making it easy for users to track outgoing, incoming, and missed calls.

Battery Life

The phone houses a removable Li-Ion 800 mAh battery, which provides a reasonable standby time of up to 380 hours and a talk time of approximately 7 hours and 30 minutes. This battery life is efficient given the phone’s limited power requirements and lack of power-hungry features seen in smartphones today.

Audio and Multimedia

The Samsung S3500 features an integrated FM radio with RDS support, allowing users to tune into their favorite radio stations even without internet connectivity. It does not come with a 3.5mm headphone jack but includes a loudspeaker for convenient hands-free calls. For audio playback, users need to rely on Bluetooth-enabled earphones or the built-in speakers. The device includes built-in games with the option to download additional ones, providing basic entertainment for users during leisure times.

Messaging and Applications

The phone supports SMS, MMS, and Email for messaging, catering to both casual and business communication. The integrated browser, compatible with WAP 2.0/xHTML and HTML, allows users to browse the internet, albeit at restricted speeds and data capacity compared to modern smartphones. Java support with MIDP 2.0 allows for additional application installations, enabling users to broaden the phone’s functionality with various third-party applications.

Miscellaneous Features

The Samsung S3500 does not incorporate modern-day sensors like accelerometers or gyroscopes but maintains a typical feature phone simplicity, focusing on core functions. Although the device was priced around 60 EUR when it was launched, offering a cost-effective solution for users seeking basic mobile phone functions.

Conclusion

In summarizing, the Samsung S3500 aptly serves users looking for a reliable and straightforward mobile phone with necessary features and a polished appearance. Its strengths lie in its compact design, basic multimedia capabilities, and efficient battery, making it suitable as both a primary device for basic communication or as a secondary backup phone.