-
"Do NOT buy this phone, it is flimsy" on by NativeNYer
Pros: Small, light, good color display
Cons: poorly made, battery gets hot, character limitation in contacts
Summary: Do NOT buy the SCH-A530 phone. I read the CNet reviews and didn't come across most of the problems I have with this model, so maybe it's just me but I doubt it since I barely use my cell phone. I'm now fighting with the insurance company to try to get my FOURTH replacement phone in a year. On the first phone the antenna cracked right above the spot where it meets the battery, then they sent me a replacement phone and it arrived with the antenna cracked in exactly the same spot. On this third phone the little plastic thing that holds the battery in place broke; apparently this little piece of plastic is no where to be found on this planet so they have to send me an entirely new phone. Until I get a replacement phone I have to use scotch tape to hold the battery in place, boy, that looks really cool. Trust me, I barely use this phone so it's not that I'm abusing it.
When you talk on the phone for even 1 minute the battery heats up to the point where your face feels like it's on fire. The character limitation in the address book is annoying, as is the fact that it won't let you put in an entry for a person who shares a phone number with another person who is already in your contacts.
You can't preview anything in the Get it Now feature (such as backgrounds) so you just have to download them (and of course pay for them) before you even see what you're getting. Plus there's just not that much there to choose from. Gotta go research a new phone now. -
"Lame phone" on
Pros: Good looking and compact
Cons: I am on my 7th phone. The headset doesnt work or the buttons fail or people can call but they cant hear me or I can call them but the cant hear me or I sound like I am in a wind tunnel when talking......the list goes on. Verizon has been good about replac
-
"love love love it" on by SallyMacRusin
Pros: the swipe test & the brightness of the screen
Cons: voice navigation is tied to VZ Navigator at an additional $10 month
Summary: get it
-
"This is a great phone for those who just want a phone and easy to use." on by kushbon
Pros: I really love the voice dial feature, long battery life, small and lightweight, easy to use
Cons: ringing is too quiet, there is no camera, phone does get warm held to your ear for too long.
Summary: I really like the voice dial feature on this phone, you click one key, say the name and it connects you! All of the newer style phones you have to go thru a series of voice commands, and i find it mixes up teri with sandy with kenny and THEN you have to say if home or mobil or email..it takes a long time to get the right person! The batteries on the A530 last a long time, and you can be recharging a battery while you take you phone with you on a different battery. You are not glued to the wall while recharging. easy to carry, no screen problems like another review I read. I have had my phone for over 2 years with no problems and the same 2 batteries I switch around! I am temped to return my newer fancy phone I just got and buy another extended battery for my old A530! I really liked it, and it is nice and small.
-
"Good phone, terrible screens" on by apesic
Pros: Gets great reception, nice battery life, durable
Cons: Both front and main screen are poor quality, front screen has failed twice for me, lacks many features,
Summary: If you're looking for an inexpensive phone and don't care too much about fancy features like a camera, the SCH-a530 performs quite well. It gets great reception everywhere I've been, and the battery lasts a long time. Call quality is quite good, the interface is easy to use, and can take quite a bit of punishment.
However, three months after I got this phone, the front color screen (which is terrible quality) completely blacked out. The phone hadn't been left in the sun or abused, the screen just died. I took it in to Verizon and they gave me a new phone immediatly. Everything worked fine for about a year, until the front screen once again completly died. I haven't had any problems with the inside screen except it has poor resolution and extreme amounts of ghosting (images fade out over about two seconds).
Overall, my experience with this phone has been decent, but the manufacturing lazyness of Samsung's screens makes me inclined to never buy from them again.
Write a Review
Check coverage in your area 
%20-%20Cell%20Phones%20-%20CNET%20Reviews&srcUrl=http://reviews.cnet.com/cell-phones/samsung-a530-verizon-wireless/4852-6454_7-20959207.html&x_breadcrumb=8900:3488:3504:6454&x_arw_bkts=MAD:high_wireless_switcher){kind=small}