Samsung SCH-N380

Samsung SCH-N380

Aalaap Ghag, Jul 12, 2005 1843 hrs IST

The slimmest CDMA handset by Samsung - the SCH-N356 - has just been upgraded to a slimmer, smoother shape in the SCH-N380.

Sleeker, a bit smaller, lighter, new advanced shortcut menu, LMS support

Keys feel sticky and don't register when typed fast, only 12-tone polyphonic ringtones (instead of 16), doesn't feel as sturdy as the N356, comparatively poor battery life

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EXPERT REVIEW


User Interface and Features

The user interface remains unchanged in the N380, but there are a few additional features included, and a few removed. You still have to read messages in just two lines, as the rest of them get taken up by the folder name or title bar and the menu keys below. When you go into the messages menu and choose the compose option, you know you're writing a message, so why would you need one entire line to constantly remind you what you're doing?


The N380 supports LMS (Long Messaging Service), allows a user to send text messages up to 480 characters long against the standard 160 characters in an SMS.



The most important, and probably the coolest, is the navipad shortcut menu. All the four directions are mapped to shortcuts by default - Write SMS, change ringtone, play a game and open the calendar - but the N380 goes one step further by introducing the advanced shortcut mode which is accessible once any number is keyed in. There are four shortcuts, each corresponding to a direction on the navigation pad. The left key lets you instantly set an alarm, so you just type 0600 and hit the left key to set an alarm for 6 in the morning. The top key is to instantly send an SMS to the number you just keyed in. Handy if you message numbers that aren't in your phonebook. The right key immediately dials the number corresponding to the location that you've keyed in, for eg. 30. The down key starts the calculator with the number typed in, which is quite useful, I feel.

The N380 also includes an "Airplane Mode", more commonly known as the Flight Mode, which turns off the network functionality so you can access the organizer features, games, and other stuff that isn't going to use any remote services. No calls, no SMS, no checking for balance.

As for stuff that has been removed, the N380 has only 12-tone polyphonic ringtones, compared to the 16-tone ones on the N356. Side by side, the same tone sounds quite different on the phones, but its difficult to say which one sounds better. The Cancun tone on the N356 sounds "straightforward", while the N380 has a softer instrument used to change the general feel of the tone. I still can't say which one I like better, so you'll have to listen to both yourself. Also there are only two games - Jump Jump and Dolmen - as opposed to the N356's five (Child Monk Adventure, Black Planet, Hello Monkey, Bowling and Othello).



The piece we received hanged a lot. The only way to get it out was to pull out the battery and put it back again. It would go blank and suddently show DOWNLOADING MODE on the screen and that's it for that session. Once, it even junked the entire screen with non-english characters and symbols. We hope this is a prototype and the bugs have been fixed in the model you're going to buy. For reference, the firmware we got was YD30, and the hardware version was 10.

Battery

The phone uses the same 800mAh battery as the N356, but we got much less time from it. The N356 goes on for around 3-3.5 days with moderate usage, but the N380 required charging after every 1.5-2 days.

Conclusion

The Samsung SCH-N380 is available for Rs 2,250. With a Reliance IndiaMobile prepaid connection, the phone costs Rs 2,470 (handset + Rs 220), and with a postpaid connection it costs Rs 2,800 (handset + Rs 550). Both get you 50 bucks of talk time. The N356 is still available, but that costs Rs 1,900 and comes with a pre-activated connection and 50 bucks talk time. So this "comparison" review should help you make a decision if you're out there looking to buy either one. If you're looking for a sleeker looking phone, this N380 is a better choice, but if you're looking to message a lot, the keys on it will be a vexing problem. So, its your call.



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USER COMMENTS

i need the hand set very urgently

by manu, bangalore, on Nov 21, 2008 07:11 PM, Report abuse   Reply

i have Samsung SCH N380 CDMA mobile i need software upgradation could you tell me where i can get that

by babu, hyderabad, on Sep 11, 2008 09:09 PM, Report abuse   Reply

when will reliance launch new handset like N series and comunicator

by Puneet Singh, agra, on Sep 21, 2006 01:55 PM, Report abuse   Reply

Hi, Puneet i have recently buy a new samsung 2 on mobile phone, now i want to sell it due to some personal reason. features are double sim which support GSM and CDMA, touch screen with 2.3 TFT screen, 2 megapixl camera, support mp3 and sd slot MRP is 16999/-, u can get it by only 15500/- wid bill and everything.

by Biswajit, NEW DELHI, on May 05, 2008 10:41 PM, Report abuse

Dear I have aphone securty code lose problem so howcan Ibreak the phone securty code for Nokia model 1600

by kibrom Hadgu, Ethiopia, on Nov 27, 2007 12:31 PM, Report abuse   Reply

We are also loking for a model Samsung SCH N380 CDMA can you send us your adress in India/Delhi we would like to meet with you and make a deal on them. And also can you send us information and prices about all cdma samsung cell phone models you have, including even used that you can offer.

by Yakub, Bishkek, on Jan 11, 2006 03:29 PM, Report abuse   Reply

Hav got a number of units to sell ex South Africa

by Zach, Johannesburg South Africa, on Aug 04, 2006 12:20 PM, Report abuse

dear sir kindly sent to me software of samsung C210 mobile phone with regards

by Muhammad Usaman, Hyderabad, on Oct 23, 2007 09:08 AM, Report abuse

hello I have forgotten my lock code for motorola c115. plzzzzzz help me......

by Ish Sharma, Delhi, on Sep 21, 2007 07:04 PM, Report abuse   Reply

i have a job

by bhavdeep nag, jabalpur, on Jun 30, 2007 04:56 PM, Report abuse   Reply

SCH 380 ASSISERIS relance cell model

by SADIQHUSSAIN, COIMBATORE, on May 17, 2007 06:40 PM, Report abuse   Reply

I WANNA BE A SUCCESSFUL MODEL THIS IS MY AIM,

by SAGAR MAHENDRA, BIJNOR(UP), on Apr 29, 2007 01:56 PM, Report abuse   Reply

Why samsung not coming out with the new CDMA mobiles for Reliance Users

by Abhishek Mathur, Mumbai, on Apr 16, 2007 04:41 PM, Report abuse   Reply

I LOSS MY MOBLE SECURITY CODE SAMSUNG SGH-C210 PLEASE TELL ME HOW CLOSE THIS SECURITY CODE

by PANKAJ, AMRAVATI, on Feb 24, 2007 05:33 PM, Report abuse   Reply

Respected sir, my mobile model sch-n380 display damaged , were to get display near thalassery,(dt)kannur.(state)kerala,India? how much does it cost?

by unmesh vm, thalassery, on Feb 12, 2007 04:01 PM, Report abuse   Reply

I bought a sagem MyS-7 phone recently and after downloading some desktop themes on the net through the phone,t was giving an error of flight mode whichi try to put off but it refuse to switch off. the phone cannot received call bcos it do complain that flightmode is On.

by odus, nigeria, on Jan 10, 2007 06:10 PM, Report abuse   Reply

how to download polytones for samsung slim model SCH-N380

by vasanth, chennai, on Oct 10, 2006 12:24 AM, Report abuse   Reply

i have a c3400 lg cemra mp3 phone when i switch on the mobile it's shows blannk blue screen what is the problem.

by mrinal, delhi, on Sep 07, 2006 10:02 PM, Report abuse   Reply

We are loking for a model Samsung SCH N380 CDMA model know and going to deal with your company at minimum 15000 quantity. How can we contact to you? Please write me back for our future deal in CDMA business sphere. Yours sincerely Perfectum Mobile CDMA Technology Uzbekistan (+998 98) 3005022

by Dilmurod, Tashkent, on Sep 16, 2005 04:40 PM, Report abuse   Reply

Dear Mr.Dilmurod. we can offer you N380 kindly send your target price.

by Mohammad Saleem, UAE, on Oct 15, 2005 01:18 AM, Report abuse

CAN SUPPLY YOU WITH A QUANTITY OF 1000 UNITS immediately if you still want very low price

by ZACH, Durban South Africa, on Aug 21, 2006 04:00 PM, Report abuse

Please contact us for CDMA phones of LG, Samsung, Nokia, etc... from india

by C J Karira, Hyderabad, on Sep 03, 2006 12:23 PM, Report abuse

Dear Sir, we are the basically trading company and doing business last 5 years. we are working from Sigapore,Hong Kong, Dubai and china. we are very much intrested in Samsung CDMA N356,and N380 mobile phone in large QTY .Please send me price ASAP. Best Reg. Amit 007-9163762808

by amit, moscow, on Aug 26, 2006 03:23 AM, Report abuse   Reply

Dear seller, i will be very happy you mail me back,so i will be waiting for you to mail me since i enter into you a mail through alibaba,i am a seller in bestproductstore(worldwide),i travel round the continent,i have stores in Holland,London,France,Nigeria and also Republic of Cotonu i will like to send this item i mail you for to nigeria,you will shipp it as soon you receive your payment,and i will be very co-operative to business with you. ATTN:i will like you to send the amount for the item to me,,i will like to buy 10item of the product, send to me your contact information .i am sending a personal cheque to you.so send amount for item and total it 2and also for shipping so i can send it to you asap. Thanks waiting for you Manager of the Bestproductstore(worldwide)

by dan, lagos, on Jul 17, 2005 05:57 AM, Report abuse   Reply

I will be glad to know if you have office in Johannesburg South Africa so that we can provide you with the phones

by ZACH, Durban South Africa, on Aug 21, 2006 04:05 PM, Report abuse

We are loking for a model Samsung SCH N380 CDMA. Minimum order 5000 quantity. My e-mail: shuhratsky@yandex.ru

by Shuhrat, Tashkent, on Nov 28, 2005 12:03 PM, Report abuse   Reply

Please confrim if you can collect from Durban South Africa

by Zach, Johannesburg South Africa, on Aug 04, 2006 12:23 PM, Report abuse

My Samsung BOSS SCH-N380's panel has become very old, is it possible to get a panel(the same panel or some other)

by Lenin, Hyderabad, on May 29, 2006 11:00 AM, Report abuse   Reply

how does one download ringtones on this handset? and does it support GPRS?

by varun, hyd, on Oct 11, 2005 03:05 PM, Report abuse   Reply

how does one download ringtones on this handset

by ANU, LUCKNOW, on Apr 15, 2006 11:25 AM, Report abuse

break password of SCH-N380

by sameer, raipur, on Mar 03, 2006 11:57 PM, Report abuse   Reply

i forgotten by security password. how can i break the password.

by Avinash kumar, Dehri-on-Sone, on Mar 11, 2006 11:54 AM, Report abuse

is there any way by which we can download a ringtone on SCH-N380 ,since on its pack it is written that image and melody can be downloaded

by INTEZAR AHMAD, ALLAHABAD, on Aug 07, 2005 12:51 PM, Report abuse   Reply

if u get a ANSWER4 PLS POST IT TO MY mail id manish_ksi@rediffmail.com

by manish jain, Bhilai, on Sep 17, 2005 08:12 PM, Report abuse

Pls let me know too, i.e. how to download, ringtones or images om SCH-380

by Jagdip, Chandigarh, on Feb 20, 2006 10:53 AM, Report abuse

i want to sell my samsung boss set for rs. 2200, pls help me.or i can exchange a gsm set. anybody interested can call me on the no. 09861065301

by pankaj jena, bhubaneswar, on Feb 04, 2006 02:28 PM, Report abuse   Reply

lousy phone. the keypad coating comes off afetr a months use, u cant see the digits.

by ananth, kakinada, on Jan 26, 2006 05:49 AM, Report abuse   Reply

ya its a great idea but their should be more handset models.

by abhshek, delhi, on Jan 15, 2006 09:54 PM, Report abuse   Reply

please send the image of the charger of this mobile Phone Samsung SCH N356

by anil kola, hyderabad, on Jan 11, 2006 10:51 AM, Report abuse   Reply

Hi...After reading ur Review...I dropped my idea of getting the Samsung Boss...& I saved myself from a Loss.

by Dinesh, Bangalore, on Jan 09, 2006 11:59 AM, Report abuse   Reply

please help me for yu company reliance cell model

by s_sureshp, chennai, on Nov 13, 2005 07:33 PM, Report abuse   Reply

please help me for yu company reliance cell model

by s_sdureshp, chennai, on Nov 13, 2005 07:29 PM, Report abuse   Reply

I really feel happy with the appearance of the N380 so I wanna get it in near future. I can have a brochure of it which describes all features and specifics.

by Hien Nguyen, HCM city, vietnam, on Oct 20, 2005 04:05 PM, Report abuse   Reply

I can send you the copy of information brochure by post. I am ready to sell my SCH-N380 mobile handset with charger for Rs.2470.

by Mr. Pariqxit Sa, Pune, on Nov 11, 2005 11:00 AM, Report abuse

universal lock code of sch-n380

by pravin, patna, on Nov 03, 2005 06:02 PM, Report abuse   Reply

please send me some information about n 380 handset mobile with showing the picture of handset mobile

by Naga Lakshmi, habshiguda, on Oct 25, 2005 02:45 PM, Report abuse   Reply

I want to know more aboat n 380, please send me some informatin and picture aboat it . If possible, please use Vietnamese . Thank you .,

by Hoagn Long, Ha Noi, on Oct 21, 2005 04:55 AM, Report abuse   Reply

sometimes the error in mobile is "download mode" then i do just remove battry and then it start othere wise it not working so give how can i solve the error.....

by jignesh chauhan, bharuch, on Oct 12, 2005 12:37 PM, Report abuse   Reply

All Above Written Thingz r Correct...but After Visiting ASC ...I Got It Better......Despite All The Cool Pros .....The Only One lackz is "....BAttery Life.."...... : Do Something About It......A Request To The Creator of The Boss.......

by Arvind, Mumbai, on Sep 20, 2005 11:25 PM, Report abuse   Reply

How much price of these Mobile Phones with discount, and semd min. to max prices list on my id as soon as possiable.

by sunil singh, Delhi India, on Sep 19, 2005 12:12 PM, Report abuse   Reply

With cost Rs. 2250/- Could we expect the more better quality ? ...... it's worth for very basic use. As samsung is also declaring it as a entry-level model.

by Satish Patil, Pune, on Aug 31, 2005 10:25 AM, Report abuse   Reply

don't buy it with any offer its worth only Rs. 999/-. I have taken it with RIM offer but Rs. 1000/- talk time is nonsense first you've to search who has RIM then you have to call him BULLSHIT.

by rajendra joshi, bangalore, on Aug 22, 2005 11:42 AM, Report abuse   Reply

i bought one last week and the bug "It would go blank and suddently show DOWNLOADING MODE " turned up .. what to do now

by prabhakar.a, bangalore, on Aug 11, 2005 12:40 PM, Report abuse   Reply

Yes, its known problem and they have got a fix, you have to visit their Service Plaza on BTM ring road, they will replace to software with few other problems also solved. One main difference is, on their web site they claimed 280 hrs standby and 180min, talk time, but if you talk for 30 minutes, you have to take off from office to get charger from your home. I got replace the battery but it didn't worked, service is good if its under service period.

by Dharmesh Patel, Bangalore, on Aug 12, 2005 04:35 PM, Report abuse

HeyGuys, Really nice comparision. It gives clear idea about the two same functionality models. I was thinking to buy one and your review cleared my doubts. Thanx.

by Rajkumar Adsule, Mumbai, on Jul 13, 2005 01:40 PM, Report abuse   Reply

good review of a not so good phone. i have the old version. the new one certainly looks much better but the overall package is disappointing....

by Pranshu, Pune, on Jul 13, 2005 10:26 AM, Report abuse   Reply

Hey, thats a real good review of the fone with them comparison pics and the slaps-n-bangs and the appreciations in the review... I REALLY suggest you guys to have a COMPARISON (atleast where the physical dimensions are concerned) with side/top/bottom and face-up views of similar functioned phones. Give it a thought

by Chetan Thaker, Mumbai, on Jul 12, 2005 07:48 PM, Report abuse   Reply

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