KaliS
11-10-2005, 08:13 AM
The Sanyo RL-4930 "Power Bar"
Let me start of by saying that I went through a lot of hassle to get this phone, so if its a piece of junk I am going to be more than willing to state so. That being said this is my first review and I am so far very pleased to write it, especially about this phone. The rl-4930 has been given the nickname, "power bar" by Sanyo, after a little while with this phone it is clear to see why and how accurate a name that is. My main selling points for getting this phone were its stated reception, phone book capacity, battery life, and voice recorder. On with my review and first impressions.
look/feel - Simply stated, the phone looks NICE. I remember reading a thread about the samsung A840 looking like a guy phone or not. Well this would definitely fall into the realm of being a "guy phone", there is nothing gurly about it's appearance at all. It is mostly all black with grey as shown in images. The first thing I noticed is how good the phone sits in my hand and feels natural to hold (in either hand). Surprisingly it also feels very good up against my ear, something that I dont do too often because I'm a heavy headset user. The rounded edges are good and help give the power bar a real smooth feel all around. Hardened rubber sides are not bad at all and a nice "rugged" touch, they dont hold to your skin or feel cheap at all or like it will fall apart very soon. This is a really SOLID feeling phone and feels like it is very sturdy, well put together. Although I do like the exterior color scheme, I think having the phone be all black (including the back and battery) would really set it off...but still I have no complaints. The jury is out on the data port/battery charge area and headset jack, they are both covered with a rubber flap and im wondering how it will hold up over time.
size/weight - This phone is slighty larger than my friends RL-4920, but feels thinner and less bulky. I think the size is good, small and compact...but not too small. I would only maybe make it a bit taller to increase screen height. Compaired to other flip phones it actually doesn't seem much bigger and thinner or as thin as the A620 (flip closed). The phone isnt heavy in my opinion, but does weigh enough to let you know it is a bar phone and not a toy. That being said, I have held it to my ear for a lengthy conversation and didnt mine it at all. It is easy to carry around and barely noticeable in the pocket of my dress slacks.
screen - My only real gripe (but minor) with this phone. Seems Identical to the rl-4920, and no real upgrade here at all. It is not as bright as the A620, which actually has a nice screen. I would like it to have a little bit taller screen as well for viewing the web. If Sanyo could find a way to do both of those things then this phone would really not have much, if anything, that anyone could complain about. Background colors are blue ripple (best so far), aqua green, misty rose, and high contrast...I wish there were more to choose from and again, not as bright as my samsung. This is something that I think that I will get used to in sometime, therefore not a biggie...but it would be nice to
have a taller & brighter screen, get on it Sanyo.
menus/speed/functionality - I really have no complaints at all. Everything seems to fit in well with the phones design. Comming from Samsung I have been a bit spoiled with their UI and easy of use. This phone has a lot more going on under the hood and more functions/toys to play with. The speed of the menu is fine, seems to be a little faster than the rl-4920 too. The key pad is nice, well spaced for a small bar phone. I actually like the green backlight so that is a plus to me. I have big fingers and I'm able to get to all the buttons without mistakenly hitting anything. The keys are also raised a bit so you dont have to keep looking at them, if you know the basic sanyo layout then you will be right at home. This phone turns on and off very fast. No problems with start up at all, the A620 takes a LONG time to turn on and get going. All the personal tools are there, including a stopwatch and calculator. The voice recorder works well (2 hours of digital audio recording) and really a nice option as I'm a grad student and do a lot of lecture recording.
battery - The jury is still out on this. I can say that since my initial charge I have been using the phone like mad and the indicator hasnt moved. I'm on a full charge as of 7am this morning (11/10/2005) and will let it drain completely using it as normal. I'm optimistic to see how this lil dude holds out.
reception/signal - WOW!!!, this phone really kicks butt in this area. I have driven in about a 30 mile area around the city and didnt see the signal bars drop down to less than 2 bars, they actually stayed around full for the most part. Reception is excellent so far, everyone can hear me just fine, some didnt even know I was on a cell phone.
Whether or not signal bars are a measure of signal strength is a debate for some, so the big test for me was to take the phone into the "dead call zone", my basement. I made a call and no problems, down to two bars, then one, and back to two bars....no dropped calls :headbang2 . I have actually had full conversations on it with no problem at all...this is a biggie as none of my other friends can make calls except the one who has the rl-4920. I thought the phone would do well in this area due to it being an upgrade to the 4920. My friend who has the 4920 drives a truck nationwide, he stated that he went through 100 miles of no man's land on a single call that never dropped. big ups to the power bar for maintaining the standard.
speakerphone - Full Duplex, this is a major plus. I tested it out in actual use and it holds up very well, both parties talking and no cutting the conversation at all. I also went on hold with the dreaded "on hold music" and started talking and still no cutting out, hence...full duplex. No need to turn the volume up high either, level 3 to 4 have been good for me. I had the 4700 long ago and the speaker sounded better when the phone was laid on a surface or standing against one, the same holds true for the 4930. I tested it with RL once last night as well, sounded good as expected.
bottom line - The RL-4930 "Power Bar" is a Great Phone (IMHO). I'm happy to be back in the Sanyo family and this is the right phone for me to come back with. My first 2 phones with sprint were the sanyo 4700 & 6200, so this phone fits in well with what I have had in the past. Although it lacks features like bluetooth and a camera (options I dont really need in a phone), this phone is solid and should be a very high volume seller once people start getting hip to it. I think it will likely be more popular amongst guys, as it lacks the cute/sexy appeal that some of the ladies may want in a phone, but I could be wrong (look how many are driving rugged SUV's).
Let me start of by saying that I went through a lot of hassle to get this phone, so if its a piece of junk I am going to be more than willing to state so. That being said this is my first review and I am so far very pleased to write it, especially about this phone. The rl-4930 has been given the nickname, "power bar" by Sanyo, after a little while with this phone it is clear to see why and how accurate a name that is. My main selling points for getting this phone were its stated reception, phone book capacity, battery life, and voice recorder. On with my review and first impressions.
look/feel - Simply stated, the phone looks NICE. I remember reading a thread about the samsung A840 looking like a guy phone or not. Well this would definitely fall into the realm of being a "guy phone", there is nothing gurly about it's appearance at all. It is mostly all black with grey as shown in images. The first thing I noticed is how good the phone sits in my hand and feels natural to hold (in either hand). Surprisingly it also feels very good up against my ear, something that I dont do too often because I'm a heavy headset user. The rounded edges are good and help give the power bar a real smooth feel all around. Hardened rubber sides are not bad at all and a nice "rugged" touch, they dont hold to your skin or feel cheap at all or like it will fall apart very soon. This is a really SOLID feeling phone and feels like it is very sturdy, well put together. Although I do like the exterior color scheme, I think having the phone be all black (including the back and battery) would really set it off...but still I have no complaints. The jury is out on the data port/battery charge area and headset jack, they are both covered with a rubber flap and im wondering how it will hold up over time.
size/weight - This phone is slighty larger than my friends RL-4920, but feels thinner and less bulky. I think the size is good, small and compact...but not too small. I would only maybe make it a bit taller to increase screen height. Compaired to other flip phones it actually doesn't seem much bigger and thinner or as thin as the A620 (flip closed). The phone isnt heavy in my opinion, but does weigh enough to let you know it is a bar phone and not a toy. That being said, I have held it to my ear for a lengthy conversation and didnt mine it at all. It is easy to carry around and barely noticeable in the pocket of my dress slacks.
screen - My only real gripe (but minor) with this phone. Seems Identical to the rl-4920, and no real upgrade here at all. It is not as bright as the A620, which actually has a nice screen. I would like it to have a little bit taller screen as well for viewing the web. If Sanyo could find a way to do both of those things then this phone would really not have much, if anything, that anyone could complain about. Background colors are blue ripple (best so far), aqua green, misty rose, and high contrast...I wish there were more to choose from and again, not as bright as my samsung. This is something that I think that I will get used to in sometime, therefore not a biggie...but it would be nice to
have a taller & brighter screen, get on it Sanyo.
menus/speed/functionality - I really have no complaints at all. Everything seems to fit in well with the phones design. Comming from Samsung I have been a bit spoiled with their UI and easy of use. This phone has a lot more going on under the hood and more functions/toys to play with. The speed of the menu is fine, seems to be a little faster than the rl-4920 too. The key pad is nice, well spaced for a small bar phone. I actually like the green backlight so that is a plus to me. I have big fingers and I'm able to get to all the buttons without mistakenly hitting anything. The keys are also raised a bit so you dont have to keep looking at them, if you know the basic sanyo layout then you will be right at home. This phone turns on and off very fast. No problems with start up at all, the A620 takes a LONG time to turn on and get going. All the personal tools are there, including a stopwatch and calculator. The voice recorder works well (2 hours of digital audio recording) and really a nice option as I'm a grad student and do a lot of lecture recording.
battery - The jury is still out on this. I can say that since my initial charge I have been using the phone like mad and the indicator hasnt moved. I'm on a full charge as of 7am this morning (11/10/2005) and will let it drain completely using it as normal. I'm optimistic to see how this lil dude holds out.
reception/signal - WOW!!!, this phone really kicks butt in this area. I have driven in about a 30 mile area around the city and didnt see the signal bars drop down to less than 2 bars, they actually stayed around full for the most part. Reception is excellent so far, everyone can hear me just fine, some didnt even know I was on a cell phone.
Whether or not signal bars are a measure of signal strength is a debate for some, so the big test for me was to take the phone into the "dead call zone", my basement. I made a call and no problems, down to two bars, then one, and back to two bars....no dropped calls :headbang2 . I have actually had full conversations on it with no problem at all...this is a biggie as none of my other friends can make calls except the one who has the rl-4920. I thought the phone would do well in this area due to it being an upgrade to the 4920. My friend who has the 4920 drives a truck nationwide, he stated that he went through 100 miles of no man's land on a single call that never dropped. big ups to the power bar for maintaining the standard.
speakerphone - Full Duplex, this is a major plus. I tested it out in actual use and it holds up very well, both parties talking and no cutting the conversation at all. I also went on hold with the dreaded "on hold music" and started talking and still no cutting out, hence...full duplex. No need to turn the volume up high either, level 3 to 4 have been good for me. I had the 4700 long ago and the speaker sounded better when the phone was laid on a surface or standing against one, the same holds true for the 4930. I tested it with RL once last night as well, sounded good as expected.
bottom line - The RL-4930 "Power Bar" is a Great Phone (IMHO). I'm happy to be back in the Sanyo family and this is the right phone for me to come back with. My first 2 phones with sprint were the sanyo 4700 & 6200, so this phone fits in well with what I have had in the past. Although it lacks features like bluetooth and a camera (options I dont really need in a phone), this phone is solid and should be a very high volume seller once people start getting hip to it. I think it will likely be more popular amongst guys, as it lacks the cute/sexy appeal that some of the ladies may want in a phone, but I could be wrong (look how many are driving rugged SUV's).