Samsung surprises on the last day of CES with the SGH-F490

Looks like the folks at Samsung woke up on the right side of the bed this morning, and decided to gift us all with the SGH-F490. This handsome prada-esque set features full screen browsing on its 3.2 inch screen in both landscape and portrait mode, 5 mega pixel camera, 3.5 mm audio jack, 130 MB of internal storage, and memory expansion via microSD. The disappointing bit is that we're only getting tri-band GSM / EDGE and HSDPA in the European 2100 MHz band. Price is set for about €530 (roughly $780) and is expected to ship in February.

[Carbonize @ Jan 10th 2008 11:53AM]

I would of said it was more like the Viewty than the Prada given it's features. But then Samsung and LG are always copying each other.

[Chad @ Jan 10th 2008 11:58AM]

That's hot.

[Matthew @ Jan 10th 2008 12:01PM]

What OS is it running? And what web browser does it have?

It's nice enough hardware, but what's the software like? Do we have any details.

[Carbonize @ Jan 10th 2008 12:08PM]

There is a better story about it at http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_f490_specs_official-news-403.php where they go into more detail.

[Zak @ Jan 10th 2008 12:26PM]

Where are all the indignant comments about how this phone is a total ripoff, Samsung sucks, etc? If this were an article about the iPhone, there would already be three pages of people saying how expensive it is and how much it sucks because it only has 130 MB of storage. The levels of hypocrisy are reaching critical.

[Teodolito @ Jan 10th 2008 12:38PM]

You just did ;)

[Carbonize @ Jan 10th 2008 12:35PM]

Actually I was waiting for all the comments about how this is an iPhone rip off since that seems to be the more common comment. But then this has a 5 megapixel camera that can actually take video. Shame it doesn't have auto focus though.

I'll personally stick with my Viewty.

[Zak @ Jan 10th 2008 1:46PM]

A 5 megapixel camera?! REALLY?! Oh well that's totally different, I can see where the $400 price difference comes from now. And of course it's an iPhone ripoff. Have you looked at the picture? Have you seen an iPhone? And you are not allowed to complain about the iPhone's price any more, not when phones like this exist that cost *two times* more than the iPhone.

[theboss @ Jan 11th 2008 12:02AM]

I don't know about this one, but the Samsung F700 looks better than the iphone and has a physical keyboard which is better than the iphone. Deal with it fanboy. Plus it's been in production for a very long time.

[Carbonize @ Jan 10th 2008 4:52PM]

The term is twice. And I bet when taken out on a contract this phone is cheaper than the iPhone. The price quoted here is the sim free price for when purchased without a contract.

This phone (as well as the LG Viewty)
Decent camera
Flash
Takes video
Can send MMS
Can forward SMS messages
Can send multiple sms
Can be purchased unlocked
Doesn't require you to install proprietary software to activate the phone

iPhone
Errrr can it do any of the above?

[Chris @ Jan 10th 2008 12:34PM]

The email is being nailed to the cross. Will it rise again?

[Wwhat @ Jan 10th 2008 12:34PM]

Well if the same method of 'conversion' is used as from dollar to euro then €530 = $499.-
Don't use the rates of the exchange, the japs/koreans don't.

[tony @ Jan 10th 2008 12:39PM]

I agree with you but..
why do you have to fan the flames? It turns out that yours is the first annoying comment in this thread.
But, since you have kicked it off... To all the iPhone haters:
does the iPhone still seem too expensive?

[COCO @ Jan 10th 2008 12:42PM]

since it is locked to ATT with a 2 year contract, yes its still too expensive.

[Zak @ Jan 10th 2008 12:45PM]

I know, I know. But holy crap, seriously, the hypocrisy is astounding. So the iPhone has a better interface, 8 GB of storage vs. 130 MB, it's an actual iPod - AND it costs almost $400 less. If all these numbnuts who whine about the iPhone were really as objective as they all claim they are ("What, I don't hate Apple. I just hate everything they say, do, produce, etc") then there should have been a firestorm of epic proportions in the comments by now. Since there isn't, I can only assume that most people who talk shit about the iPhone just have their heads up their asses.

[L @ Jan 10th 2008 2:21PM]

OK, Zak, tell you one thing: compare apples to apples before YOU talk about hypocrisy, smartass!

_With a contract_ similar to the Germany/UK/France iPhone contracts, the F490 will surely be around 150€ or maybe even less, while the iPhone is 400€.

If you don't have a clue, just STFU, OK?

[john @ Jan 10th 2008 12:38PM]

If only it had a slide-out QWERTY, java or linux, and HSPA in US frequency bands.

[john @ Jan 10th 2008 12:38PM]

If only it had a slide-out QWERTY, java or linux, and HSPA in US frequency bands.

[Matt @ Jan 10th 2008 1:06PM]

It's SAD to watch that Samsung is the king of crippled devices. By crippled I mean stripped down to Tri band GSM and single band WCDMA... PITTY. They could own the market if only their devices were a true worldwide devices.

[Chris @ Jan 10th 2008 12:45PM]

Expandable to 8gb for a mere $115 or so.

[Zak @ Jan 10th 2008 12:49PM]

Bringing the price to a "mere" $895. Yes, you're right. That is such a better value than the iPhone.

[James Cameron @ Jan 10th 2008 12:53PM]

So it's $780 for the phone and $200 for a 12g memory stick? I would rather give in to the iphone.

[David @ Jan 10th 2008 1:03PM]

This price for the Samsung phone is for an unlocked contract-less phone. It will be a ton cheaper if it was locked to a carrier for two years like the iPhone.

[James Cameron @ Jan 10th 2008 1:16PM]

You can get a 8g iphone without signing any contract and get it unlock for $400.

[L @ Jan 10th 2008 2:27PM]

Yeah, and have problems each and every time the software is updated. Lovely.

[Udayan Tripathi @ Jan 10th 2008 1:33PM]

Meh. Not enough space, and then there's that scarily high price.

[fobi @ Jan 10th 2008 1:46PM]

lol floating cross subliminal message

[Ypoknons @ Jan 11th 2008 1:33PM]

It's really a shame. So close, yet the lack of autofocus, xenon flash, qwerty and US HSPDA (hey, I travel all over, and that includes the US) stop it short from being the ideal phone.

[Haro! @ Jan 10th 2008 4:26PM]

Although I like the way it looks (and the 5 mp camera) I'd still get an iPhone over that since I'm a mac user and find it easier to just do everything through iTunes. Plus, is the Samsung multi-touch? (not meant as a rude comment but a genuine question, apparently people get excited for misinterpreted posts sometimes) And I'd like to see how it works overall.

[Everett Stephens @ Jan 10th 2008 4:52PM]

I see the Europeans are keeping with their business style phones. It looks great; only if the price was cheaper. And I thought the LG Voyager was expensive......

[benny boy @ Jan 10th 2008 4:56PM]

Before everyone starts saying that its too expensive, remember that this is the price for the phone in the UK.

This is the normal price for a high-spec phone at launch over here. Remember that electronics in Britain cost nearly twice as much as their American brothers...

[benny boy @ Jan 10th 2008 4:58PM]

Before everyone starts saying that its too expensive, remember that this is the price for the phone in the UK.

This is the normal price for a high-spec phone at launch over here. Remember that electronics in Britain cost nearly twice as much as their American brothers...

[benny boy @ Jan 10th 2008 5:00PM]

Also, that much built in storage is normal for most phones, that's why it's got a memory card slot so that you can add as much storage as you like.

Plus, why are peple saying it' so much more expensive than an iPhone??

This is WITHOUT A CONTRACT. If it was selling it with only a contract: like the iPhone, it would be the same price or less. That's why phone contracts were invented: to make it look like a better deal when all they are really doing is ripping you off.

[coolbee8 @ Jan 11th 2008 4:02AM]

Well, think I will stick with N95 8gb...
2008 has just started, good stuff like S60 3rd Torch edition is getting there, get this and you'll probably regret it in Q2.

[Robert Jacobson @ Jan 11th 2008 1:44PM]

"Gift us all with"? How about just "give us"? "Gift" is not a verb; it's marketing speak.

[Preston @ Jan 12th 2008 9:18PM]

Zak, stop being a clown.
8gigs in an iPhone as hardware is more a hindrance than it is a plus right about now. 8 gigs is nowhere near enough to replace having a separate DMP/PMP. You get this, and with the available 8gig SD cards (and forthcoming 16 gig cards, not even mentioning the 32 gig capacity that is possible), you can store at least as much as the iPhone. And this has 3G and external music controls, while not being locked to iTunes? The real differences between these two is the screen (3.5 vs 3.2) and availability (now verse not now) in favor of the iPhone, and just about everything else in favor of this Samsung (Decent camera w/ flash that takes video, send and receive MMS (like every other modern phone...except the iPhone), can be purchased unlocked, and might even be able to sync with Enterprise-class Exchange e-mail and calendar over-air (where just the possibility is a huge advantage over the iPhone))
P.S.-I'm looking at my iPhone next to my Mogul, so I'm pretty biased, but lets all get real.