Samsung SCH-A930 Cell Phone

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User rating 3.6   Read reviews - Add review The Samsung SCH-A930 comes in the popular clamshell design with an internal antenna, OLED outer display, and media keys on the front.  Key features include EVDO high-speed data, Bluetooth, a 1.3 megapixel swivel camera, and video capture.  Personalize your device with picture and ringer ID, voice dialing, and polyphonic ringtones.   View full phone specs View image gallery View reviews Compare against other phones Compatible accessories

As Verizon standardizes the user interface on almost all of their phones (the company says this makes things easier for customers when they switch handsets), weighing the merits of a device like the A930 is somewhat dependent on how many extra services you're willing to pay the carrier for.  Verizon's EV-DO data network provides a number of optional services from WAP Web browsing to VCast streaming video and music downloads.  I ran the A930 through its paces on as many of Verizon's media options as I could find.  How'd it fare?  Read on.

The A930 has something of a throwback look to me, which isn't to say that it's at all outdated.  Rather, amidst the current trend of ultra-thin mobiles with etched metal keypads and exotic glass finishes, the A930 is something of a fashion misfit with its no-nonsense all black body.  Measuring 91 x 48 x 25 mm, the A930 is over three times as thick but also 20% shorter than Samsung's new super-slim SCH-T519 "Trace" handset.  An all-plastic construction keeps the A930 reasonably lightweight at 113g (though, for the sake of comparison, the Trace is a mere 71g), though the phone does feel lighter in hand.
 
The phone has something of a sleek look to it when closed, thanks to the car hood-like slope and bold lines of the external housing.  A horizontally-aligned center panel features an OLED display and three buttons that allow access to time and call/network information as well the music player when the phone is closed.  The front panel also houses a light that's used for the swiveling camera sensor and the requisite Samsung and Verizon logos, done up in very subdued silver.

Flipped open, the A930 has a pretty standard clamshell phone layout.  The top half is primarily given over to a large 2" display flanked by more logos and the top-mounted speaker, which is flanked by a silver plastic panel.  The bottom half features a very roomy keypad that I found easy to use, even with my large digits.  A standard 12-button dialing arrangement is topped with two rows of three buttons each: Send, Clear, and End/Power topped by Camera, a four-way navigation pad with a center OK key, and Voice Dial.  All buttons are done in black with silver labeling save for the Camera, Nav/OK, and Voice keys, which are silver with black print.  The overall look is kind of industrial sleek with a little bit of silver chic thrown in for good measure.

The top "panel" formed by the flip hinge when the phone is closed is rather unique in its design.  Rather than forming a flat edge, the two halves of the closed phone form a sort of bulbous curved surface with a noticeably cut out on the bottom half.  This is to accommodate the swiveling camera sensor, which is centrally mounted in the top half of the hinge.  You really have to see the phone to understand what this looks like; the design doesn't really affect functionality one way or another, but it is a bit different than anything else I've seen.

On the left side of the phone, we find two more silver buttons: a rocker switch used to control volume and a dedicated speakerphone key beneath that.  I found the speakerphone button to be quite handy, though I could see how it could lead to inadvertent usage.  The right side of the phone is entirely black, including plastic-capped headphone and microSD memory card ports labeled with etched-in icons.

The back of the phone is entirely black - including a few more logos - save for a sticker alerting us to the "Internal Antenna Area."  Most of the panel slides off to reveal the battery and SIM card slots.  A single accessory port that handles the included AC charger is mounted on the bottom panel of the "keypad half" of the phone and is protected by a plastic cap.

Though the A930's weight lends it a pleasant heft without feeling too bulky, the phone took on a strange and somewhat cheap feel when I flipped it open and shut.  What feels like a spring - but apparently is the vibrating alert mechanism - buzzes noticeably when the handset snaps fully open or shut.  Something about feeling this buzz radiate throughout both halves of the phone into my hand gave me the impression that the device wasn't so sturdy.  I don't actually think this is true - and certainly didn't have any durability issues with the A930 during testing - but the handset lacks that solid feel that speaks to luxurious build-quality as found in, say, the Motorola K1 KRZR.

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Samsung SCH-A930 in-depth review - Introduction & Design

Samsung's SCH-A930 is a dual-band CDMA cell phone for Verizon Wireless.  Clad in basic black with external music player controls, this flip phone is one of the less flashy looking handsets in Verizon's VCast-compatible line up.  Don't let the plain design fool you, though: The A930 is more than capable of making calls and entertaining you with a variety of built-in and network-based media options. As Verizon standardizes the user...

Nov 2, 06, by Noah Kravitz -

1 comments

- all about: Samsung,  Samsung SCH-A930

Samsung SCH-A930 in-depth review - Features

As a VCast-compatible phone, the A930 is packed with entertainment-oriented features.  Thing is, most of them require you to pay Verizon a little extra for monthly or a la carte VCast service.  The built-in digital music player works with music files purchased and downloaded from the VCast music store.  Files may also be loaded onto an optional microSD memory card for use on the phone, but the A930 only supports WMA format...

Nov 2, 06, by Noah Kravitz - Add a comment - all about: Samsung,  Samsung SCH-A930

Samsung SCH-A930 in-depth review - Display & Audio

The internal 2" TFT screen on the A930 is quite nice - bright and vivid, though hard to read in direct sunlight.  Capable of resolutions of 176 x 220 pixels at up to 262,00 colors, the main display is more than adequate for everything from menu navigation to video playback, if not quite state-of-the-art. As mentioned, Verizon's interfaces are fairly locked down, but wallpapers and text styles are customizable.  Animated clips may...

Nov 2, 06, by Noah Kravitz - Add a comment - all about: Samsung,  Samsung SCH-A930

Samsung SCH-A930 in-depth review - Messaging, Internet & Connectivity

The A930 has support for SMS and MMS messaging.  Composing SMS and MMS messages was straightforward, as was attaching images, videos, and audio clips to MMS messages.  Samsung's predictive text input system worked well, though I prefer the messaging interface (and UI in general) on Samsung's unlocked phones over that found on Verizon branded handsets. Email is supported through Verizon's optional Mobile Web 2.0 "VZW Email" service,...

Nov 2, 06, by Noah Kravitz - Add a comment - all about: Samsung,  Samsung SCH-A930

Samsung SCH-A930 in-depth review - Conclusion

The Samsung SCH-A930 is a solid mid-range handset in Verizon's line-up of VCast compatible phones.  Something of a throwback, design-wise, the handset eschews the current trend of ultra-thin phones in favor of a more substantial obsidian black form with bold edges and strong sloping lines.  An externally mounted OLED display provides plenty of information in a no-nonsense manner, and works well with three adjacent music player buttons...

Nov 2, 06, by Noah Kravitz - Add a comment - all about: Samsung,  Samsung SCH-A930

Samsung SCH-a930 available at Verizon.

Verizon Wireless has launched the new Samsung SCH-a930 available with V CAST Music services.  With a new two-year contract agreement, customers can find the SCH-a930 available for $99.99 after a $50 instant credit.  This offer is currently only available in one of the Verizon Wireless 1,900 locations or on-line.  Let's Talk is already offering the phone for free after rebate!  WireFly should also have the a930 available...

Jun 5, 06, by phonedog - Add a comment - all about: Samsung,  Verizon Wireless,  Samsung SCH-A930

More Samsung SCH-A930 articles

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Best so far

Overall Rating:
4.7 out of 5

By: John asdfjl on Monday, June 11, 2007
From: nashville, TN (United States)
Experience: 6 Months

Pros: ease of use, hold's tons of music, doesn't feel flimsy, feels like qualitiy, great reliability.

Cons: discontinued already as all do. Text messaging, I do miss the itaps of motorola brand phones offer, but there are ways around that.

Summary: This is the best phone I've ever had. Some bad reviews have said bad things about the music abilities of this phone. If you have a brain and can use a computer, just get a Micro SD chip, they are cheap, and throw all the songs on there you want, I load mine with tons of songs with no problem. As long as you understand this song plays wma sound files like windows media player, which is why they want you to sync your phone to windows media player. Just connect your SD card to your computer, like any external drive, and paste all the songs you want. I've had no problems with mine at all. You can listen to your music with no special adapters, with nothing like speaker phone, or with your regular earbud. Camera is decent for it being a cell phone, but remember, its a cell phone not a camera, its a phone not an mp3 player. This phone has the best overall selection of options with the reliability unlike all of the other phones I've owned!

13 out of 34 people found this review helpful

Samsung's SCH-A930 (Verizon)

Overall Rating:
4 out of 5

By: Disturbed One on Monday, April 09, 2007
From: Alamogordo, NM (United States)
Experience: 5 Months

Pros: Nice Camera

Auto Flash

WMA Song/Ring tone Player

Small Form Factor

No bulky external antenna

Easy to read external display

External WMA controls

Light for Taking Videos

Unlimited or MMS Video taking

Expandable Memory (Micro SD)

Unique dialing fonts (animated)

Plastic covers for all the plug ins (charger, ear piece, memory)

External Stereo Speakers for Songs, Ringers, Sounds, and Speaker Phone

Cons: Battery Life is So-So

External buttons pressed very easily, I'm always having my MP3 turning on because the button accidentally gets pressed

No "Button Lock" feature

Phone supports MP3's, but doesn't offer it.

No Vibe and Ring for Alarm

Slow Camera start up.

Summary: I upgraded from my LG 7000, which was a great phone.
But even though its years old, it still seems to be better at a few things than this.

I really like the 1.3MP camera, and it has a nice flash, but no "Night Mode"

The video camera is very nice as well, you can take very large videos and save them on your computer.

I had to choose between this phone and the LG 8300, having been with LG for most of my Cell Phone usage, I actually passed them down.

From what I've read and used, the Samsung was the way to go.

Speaker phone is great quality, just don't turn it up to loud when you have it open, or the person your talking to will get to talk to themselves.

All and All this is a great phone.
And since I only paid $70 for it on a one year contract with Verizon, I can't complain.

22 out of 37 people found this review helpful

Pretty Good

Overall Rating:
3.3 out of 5

By: Mike Pinkerton on Tuesday, October 31, 2006
From: San Pedro, CA (United States)
Experience: 30 Days

Pros: Good phone capability, MP3 player, voice dialing, speakerphone and bluetooth

Cons: Comes with very small built in mempry (30 mb or so). Have to add a Micro SD to really have more than a few songs, pics, and videos. Web services expensive.

Summary: Great phone for me - needed the phone features (voice dial, speakerphone, bluetooth) and like the MP3 playing capability. I dont use the v-cast, navigation, and other web stuff so dont really care.

31 out of 66 people found this review helpful

Samsung flip phone

Overall Rating:
1.3 out of 5

By: Heather Tchir on Sunday, October 08, 2006
From: Somerset, NJ (United States)
Experience: 60 Days

Pros: blue tooth compatible, does lots of things, camera, video, music, speakerphone

Cons: flimsy, battery life is short, outside display is one color, tend to cover antenna with finger while talking

Summary: seems very flimsy compared to the lg previously had and confusing menu setup. would not suggest buying this phone to anyone

27 out of 47 people found this review helpful

Love This Phone!

Overall Rating:
3.5 out of 5

By: J. Bergman on Thursday, September 21, 2006
From: Pt. Pleasant, NJ (United States)
Experience: 99 Days

Pros: Great looking phone ... features are easily accessible from all angles.

Cons: Does get a little warm to the face over long conversations.

Summary: Love the Samsung cellphones. They have come a long way. My prior Samsung had its problems with ... falling apart ... could have been the few times I dropped it but I think they finally realized these phones need a little more durability.

17 out of 34 people found this review helpful

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