Samsung SGH-T239 Is A Decent Prepaid Kit, Just Little Low On Volume

The recently-released Samsung SGH-T239 is a throwback to around two years ago, when the Korean company was releasing one budget slider after another.  Meant for prepaid use, it hosts a decent feature set and a largely basic aesthetic.

You won't find any surprises here.  At 3.77 x 1.87 x 0.68 inches, the phone is slim and lightweight with a good feel in the hand.  Overall build is sturdy, but the battery cover is a little loose.  It comes in red and gray colors, neither of which are particularly appealing.

The 2.8-inch LCD features 220 x 176 pixels, managing bright and clear graphics.  Keys are big and slightly raised, making for a great experience when you're typing and navigating the interface.

As a phone, the T239 works well enough, with good voice calls and a complete set of basic features (300-entry phone book, simple applications and more).  Volume is a bit too low, though, which makes it near-impossible to use in noisy environments (e.g. traffic).  Speakerphone is below average, requiring you to move closer to the handset when you're speaking into it.  Battery life is great, with a rated talk time of up to 7 hours, making it usable for up to three or four days of regular handling before a recharge.

Despite being a basic device, the SGH-T239 does throw in a few small extras.  Apart from SMS and MMS, it comes with IM and audio postcard capabilities, although there's no email support.  It rocks a VGA camera with a couple of editing options (4x digital zoom, brightness control, color tones, etc) and average photo quality.   There's also stereo Bluetooth and a basic music player.

Overall, the Samsung SGH-T239 is a phone for those in search of a reliable, though not particularly outstanding, prepaid unit.  Available for $59 with no contract, it should prove a decent choice.